Silk Market Beijing- Beijing shopping guide

Silk Market used to be a long, narrow street (xiushuijie) where locals sold their goods in stalls lined on the both sides of the street. The market was demolished in the early 2005, and it moved into a brand new building nearby in the March of 2005. The vendors were offered the stalls inside this modern building.

Do not be misled by its name, the Silk Market has more than just silk. Items which you can find in this market include: shoes, jeans, scarves, trousers, jackets, shirts, cashmere, Chinese souvenirs, Chinese rugs/carpets, golf equipment, pearls, watches, sunglasses, silk by the roll, Chinese paintings, small electronics and many other things.

Apart from the almost real-looking designer wear which was present at the old market, you can now enjoy shopping for a wealth of traditional Chinese knick knacks to bring home for your family. If you don't have too much time for shopping in Beijing, this could be the only place you need to visit.

Prices here are not fixed. Everything can be had way cheaper than at any of the stores in the city. However bargaining is essential. Prices are generally very reasonable here compared to your home country and if you are a skilled bargainer, you might be able to get things ridiculously cheap, but if you are soft -hearted and don't like confrontation, then you may get taken for a ride. So make sure of how to bargain before you venture into Xui Shui mall. Bargaining is a kind of art. We’d like to offer you some guideline if you are not familiar with it.

Don’t speak out the price you want to pay for an item unless it’s near the end of the process. Always try and drop the seller's offering price as much as possible before revealing your price.

Don’t worry about offending the seller with the low price you show out, they deal with people who are bigger jerks than you everyday. You won’t hurt their feeling if you bargain hard, as long as you keep smiling throughout. The seller is much more likely to continue bargaining with a happy smiling face.

BE AWARE the initial price offered by the seller is usually at least 40% over the general price acceptable. It can be up to 500% over.

DO walk away once you've given them your final price, even before. If you get a called back, you know you are close. If you do not get called back, go to a similar stall and try again with a slightly higher price.

The sellers in the mall can speak some relative English. The English being spoken by them will often consist of "cheaper", "you say how much", "good quality", "no profit", "highest price". Numbers are tapped out on a giant calculator to avoid confusion.

Silk Market Your best bet is to keep repeating the phrase "cheaper" to them as much as you can before revealing your price.

Decide on your price based on the chart above, how much you like it, and your perception of the quality of the item.

If you want like it and want to experience the interests of bargain, go ahead to Silk Market.Maybe you can fine a better bargaining method. Do tell us, when you have any.

The Xiu Shui Market is located along Chang An avenue near the Yong An Li (120) line 1 subway station. It opens from 09:00 am to 21:00 in the evening everyday. You can now walk directly from the subway into the mall via an underground passageway without stepping outside into the scorching heat of summer or the terrible cold of winter.Alternatively you can take a taxi using the Chinese name shown below.Print and hand to your taxi driver.