For anyone planning to travel to Beijing who enjoys shopping and getting off the beaten track to where the locals hang out, it is definately worth making a trip out to the Beijing Zoo Market. This is an underground clothing market located opposite the Beijing Zoo, with the nearest subway stops being Xizhimen or Beijing Zoo. The market is located between the second and third ring road in the west of the city, close to the student areas surrounding the big universities. It may be a short trip from your Beijing Hotel but the subway is simple, fast and the most practical transport mode to take. There is also an aquarium nearby worth a visit.
The market itself is predominantly clothing and accessories, generally focusing on women’s apparel however there are stalls selling menswear and children’s clothing. There is less of a focus on imitation designer goods, however these are still available just at a smaller volume than the notorious tourist markets such as the Silk Market and Yashow. You can often find many high street branded items, often these are a mix of copies with tags sewn in and genuine overstock from the factories. In my recent visit there was very convincing knitwear and clothing from H&M, Fornarina, ASOS, Topshop, New Look and Zara, which is probably a combination of genuine and imitation. Prices here are very good and not subject to the huge inflation you will experience at the other markets for having a western face.
Haggling is possible here but generally only a small margin from the quoted price. Many items such as jewellery, scarves and other accessories are sold at fixed prices. During my visit in the busy Golden Week public holiday I found a range of bargains at the cheapest price available in the city. Here is a short list of rough prices as of October 2011:
Scarves (depending on thickness) 25-40rmb
Purses (branded and unbranded) 35rmb
Necklaces/Earrings 10-35rmb
Tights (many styles and patterns) 10-20rmb
Vest tops (branded and high street) 12-30rmb
Cardigans 40-65rmb
Jeans 50rmb
Shoes/Sandals (high heels are more) 40-70rmb
Coats and jackets 70-140rmb
Skirts 30rmb
Once you are all shopped out there are a few budget options for food within the market itself, mostly vendors dotted about selling ice cream, drinks or grilled corn on the cob. If you are after a more substantial meal before heading back to your Beijing Hotel there is a McDonalds just outside the subway entrance and a short walk away (directly joined on to Xizhimen subway station) is the large Capita Mall which has a range of eating options, alongside more shopping if you still have money left over!
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