Beijing - Post Report Question and Answers

Is this a "shopping post"? Are there interesting handicrafts, artwork, antiques, or other items that people typically buy there?

Loads to buy. It may be hard to determine authenticity when it comes to antiques. - Nov 2021


Yes, but you'd need some language. - Nov 2020


Yes, so many things - furniture, pearls, and so much more. - May 2020


Yes: furniture, calligraphy, pottery. - Nov 2019


This is a first-world city and a lot of the old markets are being razed. This is definitely not that kind of country any more. There is the Pearl Market but it is so commercial. You can find handmade lamps and furniture but the prices are not cheap. - Oct 2017


Paintings, rugs at the Qianmen Carpet Factory, tons and tons of food. - Dec 2015


Jade, pearls, porcelain. - Apr 2015


Furniture, paintings and pearls. - Jul 2014


Antique furniture, fake handbags, pirated DVDs - Jun 2013


Artwork of all kinds; trips around the country. - Aug 2011


Massage! - Apr 2011


A society with 1.4 billion people makes few unique things. Settle for things that are definitely Chinese. The best gift I've found is silk bathrobes at YaShow market - real pure Chinese silk, very high quality, about $30. There really isn't much to buy here, though - it's all the same stuff you can get at Wal-Mart in the US, except lower quality and at higher prices (China has a 17% value added tax, and with incomes so low, the quality of items sold here tends to be either akin to dollar stores or super high end luxury goods). Of course, you can always buy a "Pravda" bag or a "Cucci" watch. If you're a geek, head to Zhongguancun. The fake (aka "Shanzhai") iPhones are hilarious, and you can buy incredibly powerful laser pointers with a 2km range. - Jan 2011


Fake everything if you're into name brands. Jade, pearls, silk dresses, cashmere coats, lamps. - Apr 2010


Furniture and silk. - Jan 2010


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