City Guide - Beijing - Shopping

Located at the southeast corner of the 3rd Ring Road in Beijing, covering an area of 48,500 square meters (520,000 square feet), Panjiayuan Flea Market is the largest, most complete, cheapest and most popular market selling second hand goods and curios in China. There are so many types of goods in the market that it is like a museum. It is a heaven for buying and appreciating antiques, crafts, collectibles and decorations. You can find calligraphy, Chinese painting, writing brushes, ivory carving, traditional Chinese musical instruments, porcelain, ancient furniture, etc. There are also some peddlers from ethnic minorities like Hui, Mongol, Miao, Korean and Manchu, hawking their national handicrafts. Actually, Panjiayuan Flea Market has become one of the must-go attractions of Beijing for tourists from home or aboard.

Porcelains and Other Craftworks

Porcelain is absolutely the most typical of Chinese craftworks showing eastern cultural features. Porcelain wares are highly prized by foreign visitors for their exquisite design and special styles. There are some ancient porcelain wares from hundreds of years ago, as well as less expensive imitations sold in the market. Other craftworks, such as paper-cuts, gold or silverware, bamboo carvings, bone carvings, woven cloth, dyed cloth, embroidery, lacquer ware and teapots, can be seen in the market, giving a general picture of Chinese folk life in old times.

Jewels and Jades

There are a lot of shops selling jewels and jades, in which you can find precious treasures, such as the Hetian Jade and nephrite, agate, amber, pearl, coral, turquoise, diamonds, ornamental stones, crystal, etc.

Ancient Propaganda Pictures

There are many booths selling ancient books and propaganda pictures. The pictures describe the cultural life after the foundation of the PRC and reflect the simple spirit of that time. Mr. Liu Zhanquan is a famous collector of hundreds of ancient propaganda pictures. The pictures enjoyed by visitors and show the features of the times.

Location of Liu Zhanquan's shop: No.212, 2/F, Modern Collection Area, Panjiayuan Flea Market

Calligraphies and Paintings

The market possesses rich sources of antique paintings and calligraphies, such as oil paintings, watercolor paintings, ink paintings, print-makings, sketches, decorative paintings and ancient calligraphies. A small number of them are precious original manuscripts, but most are imitations.

Carved Furniture

Traditional Chinese furniture requires a high-class wood-working technique, and has been well liked by locals for thousands of years. The furniture is skillfully carved with vivid flowers, spirits or animal designs. There are styles, such as Ming Dynasty Style, Qing Dynasty Style and Tibetan Style. Many kinds of carvings like doors, windows, cupboards and wardrobes are ideal decorations for the house with classical features.

Stamps

Stamp collectors can find many Chinese stamps here, such as the imitation stamps of twelve zodiacs.

Tips for Shopping

1. Bring a magnifying glass so that you can have a careful look at the goods and curios.
2. Select the sellers carefully. The sellers can be roughly divided into three categories: special stores where the goods are of high quality and high price, individual shops where good articles are mixed with bad ones, and stalls where the goods are of the lowest quality. Select the seller carefully and compare the goods and price.
3. Ask about the price first before reaching the items for a closer look and pass the goods carefully in case of breaking them. Otherwise, some of the sellers may demand high compensation.
4. Be careful with the bargains. Sometimes the bargains are counterfeits, problematic or even damaged goods.
5. Do not look at the items in dimly lit places or under the light. Instead, look at them in bright natural light to ensure the quality.
6. Do not easily believe the story of the goods told by the sellers. The story may be made up by the sellers to attract you to buy.
7. You can also find an expert with sharp eyes and plenty of related background knowledge to go with you.
8. When making a deal of great value, request a formal invoice and sign a contract in which fake compensation or refund terms should be included.

Address: No.200, west of Panjiayuan Bridge, Chaoyang District
Bus Route: Bus 36, 51, 802, 674, 28, 368, 627, 638 or 99 takes you there
Opening Time: 8:30 - 16: 30(Monday - Friday); 4:30 - 16:30 (Saturday and Sunday)
The stores in the market open everyday while the street stalls just open on weekends.