Travel China and Beyond

The Silk Street Market - Beijing

Many foreign visitors to Beijing end up visiting a market during their stay in Beijing. The Silk Street Market (XiuShui) is probably one of the most visited places to bargain in Beijing. Why…? Well, because of its location — if not necessarily because of the deals it offers.
The Old Silk Street market (prior to 2005) today’s Silk Street market

The Silk Street Market is located off JianGuo Road near the downtown Embassy area (and more specifically very near one of the US embassy campuses) on Xiushuidong Jie.
If you drive there, you will find parking in-fron of the market building and most of the time it is free or a couple of RMB. There is parking all around the actual market building…

What makes the Silk Street market different from any of the other markets in Beijing? Well, its biggest plus is its central location and clean environment. The main goods you can get at this market are clothing items - shirts, pants, jackets (both winter and summer ones), slik clothing, and lots of souvenirs. But overall, be aware that the prices at the Silk Street market are not the best in town. Due to its central location and proximity to major hotels — China World hotel, Traders Hotel, JianGuo hotel, Hotel Beijing, Grand Hyatt — expect to have to haggle more aggresively in order to get a good deal.

My wife has purchased several coats and jackets from this market over the years, and many friends of mine (visiting Beijing) have purchased the usual souveniers, robes, hats, here.

Earlier this year, though we had an unpleasant experience whilte trying to buy leather jackets. We found a stall that had a wide selection of styles and after trying a number of them, we narrowed the choice for the mens jacket to one particular design. It fit me well and seemed like a good jacket. Before starting to bargain for it I examined the leather and found a big scratch in the material. I pointed that out to one of the vendors in that stall and she quickly stated that they will get me a new one….. She proceeded to take the jacket away while another lady (part of the stall crew) started talking with me about life etc.

As I was waiting I walked on the other side of the stall (there was a big rack of coats in the middle of the stall dividing it in two sections) while still chatting with the second clerk. I was surprised to see the first lady who was supposedly off to get me another / new jacket, busily applying shoe polish to the jacket I had just tried on….!!!!

She was essentially trying to cover the defect on the jacket with black shoe polish !!! As she saw me she was startled and droped the polish tube and tried to kick it under the rack of coats. I quickly grabbed the jacket from her and started asking her why was she doing what she was doing with the shoe polish…. You would not believe it but she tried to deny doing anything wrong… I told her that I will call the policy on her and she changed the story to “…Oh lets work on another jacket… Let us get you a new one…”

Needless to say I left without buying anything from that stall. My advice to my friends after this experience was to stay away from leather at the Silk Street market. So keep that in mind.

Well, I hope this brief write up is helpful to you. Enjoy your shopping trip to Xiushui Street
And do keep in mind that Beijing has several other big markets (HongQiao, Yashou market in SanLiTun, and others) — so keep your options open.

Enjoy your travels!!!