Shopping at the Panjiayuan Weekend Market - Beijing, China
The endless sprawl of stalls and shops at Beijing's Panjiayuan Market
The Panjiayuan Market is a super shopping market for all Chinese arts and crafts. It is made up of over three thousand individual stalls covering 48,500 square metres. There really is something for everyone here.
Even Hilary Clinton has shopped at Panjiayuan.
There is a little
overlap between stalls so you can compare and bargain but the range of goods is excellent.
Stall owners come from twenty-four provinces around China to sell their wares.
Panjiayuan Market is at its best on weekends. The Antique Zone is open every day and the Arts and Crafts Warehouse Zone is open on Saturday and Sunday only.
Shopping for jade. Sales people are friendly and easy to engage.
Some may speak English. It helps if you can learn Chinese numbers
- or use a pen and
paper to write them down and show as you bargain.
Stone cups and bowls with silver laid around them are beautiful.
Nor are they as expensive as they look so bargain hard!Teapots in all shapes and sizes.
You should be able to get a nice box too if you buy one.
Most fragile items come with a box or case.
Guided Shopping Tours
Our guides do not work on commission. They will help you find the best products and negotiate low prices. If you shop enough, this tour can pay for itself as our guides know the right prices for products and steer you away from bad deals.
E-mail our Beijing based western travel agents to enquire about your private shopping guide. We can also provide this service as part of a package tour.
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For those who love their Kung Fu Bruce Lee movies or are Lord of the Rings fans - swords and axes. Just don't try to carry them on the plane!
Stone statues and buddhas in the back of a truck ready for a road trip!
The Buddha Supermarket
For those who love beads...
Chairman Mao Tsedeng having a rest after a busy day shopping at Panjiayuan Market.
Always time and space for a game of Xiangpi (Chinese chess).
Chinese chests and baskets
Chinese revolutionaries on the left and peasants on the right.
There are rows of Chinese paintings and scroll paintings. Some scroll paintings are in pairs or sets.
They should come with nice boxes for safe travels. Realise these are generally handmade but mass produced and
should not be too expensive.
For those who like calligraphy or painting - a great place to buy a brush.
A poster of Mao leading the proletariat - lots of posters, calligraphy and Chinese books for sale.
Chairman Mao is a favorite. Here is a shop entirely dedicated to him and his wares.
Porcelain vases hand painted.
Small pairs of porcelain.
Rows and rows of tea pots.
Wood boxes and masks.
The Panjiayuan Market is located just off the Third Ring Road. Beijing map thanks to Odyssey Publications.
See the section on Chinese Currency to become familiar with spending money in China.
Also be sure and learn how to bargain.
For a journalistic view of the Panjiayuan Market read Ron Gluckman's story Panjiayuan - Beijing's Dirt (cheap) Market. Also of interest is
Ron's story on fake antiques in China.
