Beijing has excellent shopping facilities. These vary from up market malls to busy markets with excellent bargains. However don't expect to many bargains in the main shopping areas. Just remember the only thing thats cheap in China is the food. 

The best place to start shopping is the Silk Alley (Jinguomenwai, 50m west of Dongdaqiao Lu) which, as its name suggests, sells silk products and the usual range of knock-off designer items.

For pearls, in particular, Hongqiao (across from the East gate of the Temple of Heaven). At weekends a must is the antiques market at Paniayuan (just west of Panjiayuan bridge on the East Third Ring road, +861067752405). For anything Chinese from scrolls and jade to old colonial gramophones and the occasional tiger’s paw, Panjiayuan needs a couple of hours at least. Remember to bargain: reckon on a third of the starting price.

Sun Dong An Plaza
New in Beijing since 1998 is the Sun Dong An Plaza, reputed to be the largest shopping mall in Asia at a total of 2.1 million square feet. It is Beijing's most modern shopping plaza, with 14 levels, 60 escalators, 40 passenger elevators and five glass-sided sightseeing elevators. 

Capital Times Square
A retail complex with designer labels, cinema and restaurants.

Wangfujing Street
Wangfujing to the east of Tiananmen Square is the most famous commercial area in Beijing. Ten mansions for noblemen were built there in Ming Dynasty. The name of the street came from the name of a sweetwater well there. After Dongan Market was established in 1903, the area became the commercial centre of Beijing.

Wangfujing Commercial Street has a strong modern atmosphere today, with large shops, hotels, specialty shops and famous old shops and became the sister street of Champs Elysees in France. The main shops are Oriental Plaza, Wangfujing Department Store, Foreign Language Bookstore, Danyao Building, Gongmei Building, Wangfu Women Department Store, Moslem Building, Sun Dong An Plaza, Shengxifu, Tongshenghe, Donglaishun, Quanjude, Silian Hairdressing, Baicao Drugstore, etc.

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Liulichang Culture Street
Main commodities: antiques, calligraphic works and paintings

Liulichang Culture Street near Hepingmen subway station and good for antiques (antiques over one hundred years old have a red seal and you will need an export license) and paintings. A good street to explore traditional Chinese Culture and see traditional Buildings from the Ming and Qing Dynasties. Take the subway to Hepingmen and walk south along Nanxinhua.

Liulichang (colored glaze factory)  is a famous cultural street in Beijing established in the Yuan Dynasty. It used to house a colored glaze kiln and factory hence the name.

The present Liulichang has been reconstructed. The shops on both sides of the street are covered with blue bricks and gray tiles, and the brick carvings and colored paintings have a strong atmosphere of ancient streets. Many famous shops, such as Rongbaozhai and Chinese Bookstore are located on this street.

Dashilan
Dasilan an old commercial street on south of Tiananmen Square with old shops and where you can buy traditional handcrafts.

Xidan Area
Location: It is located at the geometric center of Beijing to the west of Tiananmen Square from Xuanwumen in the south and the east side of Hengertiao in the east to Xinjiekouhuokou in the north and the Second West Ring Road in the west. The length of the core section is 880 meters, and the total length is 5.4 kilometers. The street runs through Xidan city-level commercial center and two district-level commercial centers of Xisi and Xinjiekou.

Xidan Street is one of the most famous traditional commercial areas in Beijing where companies in the general merchandise, food and beverage, entertainment and banking sectors can be found. A large number of merchants gather there, and the daily average volume of the flow of customers is more than 200,000. It is in a very important position in the commercial pattern of Beijing.

At present, there are many large modern shops in Xidan Commercial Area, such as Xidan Market, Xidan Shopping Center, Xidan Scitech Shopping City and Zhongyou Department Store, and some old shops of the capital, such as Guixiangcun food shop, Wanli shoes shop, Yuanchanghou tea house, etc. Beijing Book Building is the place where book fans gather. 

Xidan Cultural Square with a floor area of more than 35,000 square meters integrating recreation, entertainment and shopping.  Xidan Cultural Square with underground restaurants, markets, cinema, bowling alley, swimming pool, rock-climbing club has become the largest venue for cultural entertainment along Chang’an Street. 

Main commodities: general merchandises, clothes and ornaments.

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Zhong Guan Cun Area 
In the North West Beijing the place for computer goods and software.

Beijing Markets

Dongwuyuan Wholesale Market
Where the stall holders at Yaxiu and Hongqiao buy so good bargains if you buy in bulk. Located at south of Beijing Zoo in Haidian District.

Golden Five Stars Market
A large market organised in selling areas. Located at Xueyuan Nanlu, Haidain District.

Fuzhang Market
A small market with designer clothes and other items. Located at Xueyuan Lu in Haidian District.

Hong Qiao Market
In the south central area of Beijing (sometimes called the Pearl Market) an indoor market for no name or fake sunglasses, watches, pearls and more. Located at 16 Hongqiao Lu which is to the north east of the Gate of Temple of Heaven in Chongwen District.

Jiayi Market
Lots of items and lots of bargains at Dongsanhuan Lu in Chaoyang District.

MEN Shopping Center
A clean organised market with a full range of items located at 36 Chaoyandmenwai Dajie.

Na-li Mall
Antiques, clothes, shoes and more at Sanlitun Beije, Chaoyang District.

Panjiayuan Antique Market
Numerous antique dealers selling everything located at panjiayuan Qiao, Chaoyang District. Chinese antiques market most of which is reproduction where bargaining is expected. Located at east of Dongsanhuan Nanlu and open on Saturday and Sunday.

Photo Market
A one stop photography shopping market located on the shoulder road of the fourth ring road near Wukesong Station.

Xiushui Market
Market style shopping mall known as the Silk market with clothing, replica  designer labels and where you are expected to bargain. Located at Yong’anli, Chaoyang District.

Yaxiu Market
A popular market for tourists located at 58 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyan District.

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Department Stores and Malls

Beijing COFCO Plaza
8 Jianguomennei Dajie, Dongcheng District (6526 6666).

China World Trade Center
Known locally as Guomao with lots of brand names. Located at 1 Jianguoomenwai Daijie (6505 2288)

Friendship Store
The Friendship store on Jianguopmenwai Dajie has Chinese goods, silks, carpets and rugs. Located at 17 Jianguomenwai Dajie (6500 3311).

Full Link Plaza
A smaller mall with some big name brands with a bargain basement. Located at 18 Chaoyangmen Dajie, Chaoyang District (6588 1997)

Lufthansa Shopping City
52 Liangmaqiao Road, Chaoyang District (6465 1188).

Oriental Plaza
1 East Chang An Jie, Dongcheng District (8518 6363).

Pacific Century Place
A2 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District (6539 3888).

The Peninsula Place
An upmarket mall with top brands. Located at 8 Jinyu Hitong, Wangfujing, Dongcheng district (6559 2888).

SOGO
The Japanese department store. Located at 8 Xuanwumenwai Dajie, Xuanwu District (6310 3388)

Wangfujing Department Store
Many floor of shopping to rival the largest department stores in the world. Located t 255 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District (6512 6677)

Bookstores

Yansha Books, Lufthansa Center, 50 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
Wangfujing Foreign Language Bookstore, 235 Wangfujing Daijie, Dongcheng District
The Bookworm, 4 Sanlitun Nanjie.

Electronics 

Computer Mart
10 Chaowai Street, Chaoyang District (6599 5911).

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