Korean Job Discussion Forums

[Wrench]

Heading there 4 days for the Lunar New Years and my bday. I heard that they will push us through the mandatory overpriced souvenir shop. I heard there are better places to shop. I couldn't find the thread but could any one tell me where are good places to shop in Beijing that are inexpensive.

[C.M.]

If haggling and trinkety junk are your thing then the alley-ways running parallel to WanFuJing street are excellent. Acres of kitschy junk...Original Little Red Books, Mao lighters, communist art (make that "art"), knock-offs, parodies, table cloths etc....lots of great outdoor food stands too. There is a wonderful silk market up the street (though I can't recall the name). WanFuJing street is like Myeong Dong; lots to see, lots to buy, and only a short hop from the Forbidden City, and Tiananmen Square.

[laogaiguk]

I was only there for three days (though I lived in China for awhile) and I only went to two places, but they were good. One is "Hong Qiao" market (pron. hong chiow). 1rst floor is lots of stuff (sunglasses, electronices, silk, etc.) 2nd floor is antiques and pearls, and third floor is clothing (99% sure of that)
The other is the russian black market street. Now, it is a just a covered lane like area going down a way with lots of tiny shops and stuff hanging up all around. It is not a large department-like store! If you are on the street with lots of russians and fur shops, you are close, but not on the right street. The street I am talking about makes a T (junction) at the end of it. I think there is an embassy at the end. If you went down it, you would go right and it would be close. It is near a hospital. Sorry, I don't have any more info. I don't remember.
Tips for bargaining in China.
Always walk away. They will 95% of the time chase with a better price unless you were asking for a price horribly off the mark.
They atleast double what you should actually pay for it. When they give you a price, I usually start at 30-40% of what they said. Sometimes less (but I got use to what things should cost in China).

Lastly, be prepared to be told that the British are bad. I booked one of these (my mother had come and I thought a English speaking tour would be good for her) and every building we came to, first thing said was the British burned it down in the Boxer Rebellion

[Wrench]

Thanks for tips. I am just looking for small "Authentic" (As authentic as I could get in China) type souvenirs I could send back home. Just small stuff nothing thats a big deal, maybe small statuetes, commy type memrobilia (jade would be nice). You know touristy stuff.

As for the British thing.. I am a Polish - Canadian I don't see a problem there. Poland once was communist.

If I ask at the hotel register good shoping area they will point me to it..

Question about currency. Where do I exchange (Korea or China) and do I all take Chinese currency and some American dollar?

[kangnam mafioso]

i did a 3 day tour. they take you to the overpriced tea shop and oriental medicine shop a jewelery shop. skip all that. go to bar street for drinking and the SILK market for all kinds of cheap stuff.

[fatpat]

My boyfriend and I (Fatpat) just got back from China. We were in Beijing for 4 days and we did a fair bit of shopping in the markets (Silk, Pearl and Yueshow fashion market). It's really good fun bargaining! Actually, I mostly observed Fatpat because he was much better at it than me, I can't help feeling a bit sorry for people/feeling stingy but that's what they are counting on! They see a foriegn face and know they can make some good money if that person has no idea. Pat would often get 80% off the origional price they gave. They try all sorts and it can take a while to get the price down but if you are persistent they will give it to you for the price you want. I would also advise going in the evening when they are tired of bargaining. All the markets we went to were fairly big with a number of floors and sold all sorts of things. I got some lovely souvenir things (little tin boxes and teapots) and pearl jewelrey. There is a lot of choice but all the stalls seem to sell very similar stuff so shop around for the best price. Other things we bought were really good knock off jeans, sports wear and a leather belt. DVD's - we got 5 films for 3 pounds! (2 of which are still at the cinema) and they are great quality! We also got a canon camera battery (not fake) and 1GB memory card and some really cool, high quality ipod speakers. If you like designer stuff (esp handbags and jeans) and don't mind fakes I would highly recommend China as they are definitely the best fakes I have seen anywhere. I also often saw people selling all sorts of bits and peices from a suitcase or on a blanket in the street and they were even cheaper than the market. I bought a cute little handmade pig charm from an old lady in the Temple of Heaven.

Have lots of fun!