Shopping in Beijing

In a city as large as Beijing, you know there have to be huge amounts of shopping opportunities in the city. Wangfujing Street Meaning Prince's Mansion well , Wangfujing is one of Beijing's best-known shopping streets. Located in the Dongcheng District in the heart of the city, the commercial center has roots that stretch back all the way to the Ming Dynasty. This pedestrian-only area is off-limits to cars and motor vehicles, but can still be quite crowded with foot traffic. It is just as popular, if not more so, at night as it is during the day. Bright neon lights and a lively nightlife bring customers to this area even after the sun sets. The walking street starts at the Wangfuijing Nankou, by the Oriental Plaza and Beijing Hotel, and continues all the way north to the Xin Dong An Plaza . Many brands unique to Beijing can be found on the walking streets. Stores such as the Shengxifu hat store, the Tongshenghe shoe shop, and the Wuyutai teahouse make their home in Wangfujing. If all this shopping has worked up an appetite, you might want to stop in at the Wangfujing Snack Street, a food court area that is jam-packed with fast food restaurants and snack stalls. Local street meats and candied fruits are a few of the favorite snacking options. Qianmen Street Just under a kilometer in length, Qianmen is another popular shopping street located in the center of Beijing. Running from the Archery Tower to Tiantan Park. The historic center has been a site for vendors for almost 600 years . Shortly before the 2008 Summer Olympics, the street was given a facelift and reopened to the public as a new shopping center. Local and international brands dot the street. Zara, H&M, Sephora , as well as Chinese staples such as the Ruifuxiang Store, Neiliansheng Store, Majuyuan Store, and the Hengdeli Store can be found on Qianmen. Popular and well-reviewed restaurants, such as Yitiaolong, Douyichu, and especially Quanjude , with its delicious roasted duck, are a great respite from all that shopping. For an extra special treat, take a ride on one of the antique trams that travel up and down the center. Silk Market (Xiushui Street) Over 1,700 retailers are housed in the Silk Street Market shopping center in the heart of Beijing. Lo cated in Xiushiodong Jie (East Xiushui Street), near the U.S. Embassy , this popular tourist attraction receives over 20,000 visitors on weekdays, and up to 50,000 on weekends. Any and everything is available here , and haggling is a great way to get what you w