Shopping in Beijing
When visiting other countries, make sure to grab great finds and fab deals you can’t find at home. Each place offers a unique shopping experience, and in Beijing it’s no different. But before you plunge into Beijing’s shopping places, it’s important to know where and how to shop wisely in order to get the best deals and avoid any mishaps.
In Beijing, stores are open all week long, from as early as 8:30 in the morning up to 8:00 pm, except during winter, when stores close an hour earlier. However, malls and other major establishments may stay open until 9:00 pm or much later. For shoppers who prefer to shop at night, night markets are available in Beijing to cater to your needs. They usually start at twilight.
Make sure to always keep your receipts in case you need to return or exchange something, and also for customs documentation purposes. Of course, if you make purchases from street vendors or stalls, receipts may not be available. Thus, inspecting your purchases carefully is important, as returns and exchanges may not be an option. China’s customs division is very strict with pirated items, so veer away from pirated CDs, because customs personnel are guaranteed to confiscate any pirated items they catch.
When shopping in Beijing, you have the perfect excuse to purchase impulsively, because prices can be quite cheap. Rare finds often pepper the city’s bazaars, so if you find something that catches your eye, make sure to grab it. You might not find it anywhere else in the marketplace.
Do keep in mind that many stores and stalls in Beijing don’t accept credit cards, especially bargain stalls, so make sure you bring enough local cash with you. When buying clothes, keep in mind that Chinese sizes are often smaller than what you are accustomed to. Make sure to try on any piece of clothing you plan on buying to make sure that your purchases fit perfectly.
Great Shopping Finds in Beijing
Before you travel to Beijing, ask friends and relatives who have been to the city for tips about great places for shopping. While in Beijing, you can take home a piece of Chinese culture by having some Chinese-patterned clothes made. There are various silk and tailor markets in Beijing that can put together a modernized Chinese outfit for you. Parade your finds when you get back home.
What kind of tourist doesn’t like the iconic souvenir shirt? Visit souvenir stores to pick up shirts depicting the great sights
in Beijing. They can serve as useful and affordable mementos of your trip to the city. Aside from the typical trip to the mall, visit unique places in Beijing that also offer a wonderful shopping experience.
Beijing’s shopping spots offer a mix of gadgets and other retail goods, and occasionally there are festivals and exhibitions that you can also enjoy while shopping. For travelers who are big on accessories, make sure to make a trip to Beijing’s accessories mecca. You won’t know where to start when you find yourself facing countless earrings, belts, necklaces, sunglasses, scarves, bangles, and other must-have accessories.