The Silk Market was for many years one of Beijing’s most well-known outdoor markets, attracting bargain hunting foreigners and Chinese alike. The original location was shut down several years ago, however, and the Silk Market moved indoors to a giant six-floor building on Jiangguomenwai DaJie just south of the American Embassy.

The move affected neither its shoppers nor its wares however. Each floor is jammed with stalls, and even more jammed with shoppers. Don’t let the name mislead you, silk is far from the only thing on offer; there’s also plenty of cashmere clothing, seasonal wear (ski jackets in winter and swimsuits in summer), the latest fashions, including an entire floor devoted entirely to shoes and bags, electronics, jewelry and souvenirs.

There’s a huge variety of stuff to buy, at such low prices that many newcomers to Beijing lose all common sense in the Silk Market. Remember to check carefully for quality when you do your buying. Some of the “name brand” items may be fakes, or they may be slightly imperfect factory discards.

Bargaining is an absolute must at the Silk Market. The shop clerks speak English surprisingly well, and they often have a basic grasp of a variety of other languages, so you should have no trouble discussing price.

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