Silk Street Pearl Market – Here’s Why It’s Still Worth it for the Right Reasons

There is no way for you to miss Silk Street Pearl Market if you come to Beijing. It is the most well-known Chinese international tourism and shopping market, and in terms of tourism in Beijing, perhaps as famous as the Great Wall and Forbidden City. Note this place has a few aliases, including Silk Market, Silk Street Market or Xiushui Market, but they are all the same thing.

As the earliest free market and most famous business brand, Silk Street has more than three decades of history. Today there are nearly 2,000 stalls spread over the six floors selling goods such as silk, pearls, porcelain, tea, handicrafts, jewellery, toys, curios, traditional crafts, and of course, clothes. Notable stores that have a history in Silk Street Market include Ruifuixiang Silk, Wuyutai Teashop, Tongrentang, Qianxiangyi Silk, and Sheng Xifu Headwear.

Hundreds of foreign dignitaries and stars, such as Former U.S. President George Bush, Madame Roger, the President of Finland, the President of Bulgaria, and countless international sports stars, such as Phelps, Isinbayeva, Scola, Ginobili, have already visited the Silk Street in years gone by.

The big attraction here is the variety, all in one easy location. And, if you can haggle, you’ll probably get something you like at a price that you’ll be surely tell your friends about. If you enjoy shopping, you could easily spend half a day here.

Is it More than a Knock-Off Market?

The mall has a reputation for knock-off, copy and counterfeit goods, and over the years both the government and the trademark holders have tried to crack down on this. Regardless, it is still popular with those looking to buy designer copy clothes and shoes. In recent times, the mall has undergone some changes, moving away from copy goods and now featuring more higher-value items.

The market is more notable nowadays for

• Good quality tailored clothes, especially traditional Chinese style, along with suits and dresses
• Silk scarves and ties
• Cashmere sweaters
• Leather bags and wallets
• Chinese handicrafts, Souvenirs, Calligraphy and paintings
• Decorative homewares and gifts

With that said and pointed out, copy goods can still be found and seen. It’s just not as blatant as it was back in the early 2000s.

Haggle Like a Pro

Also remember, you need to haggle. You might be shocked that the first price you get quoted can actually be more than you would pay in your home country, and that’s the first test to measure your reaction from which they’ll understand where things are going to end up. Remember, everyone here serves hundreds of people a day, 365 days a year. In terms of Western shoppers, they know you better than you do!

Don’t be afraid to play the game. Your first response to their price should be a look of complete shock. Then quietly drop that you were expecting $x dollars (half of what they quoted. Their response will be a look of complete shock, or hollars of noooo! The game is afoot. The trick with haggling is to always keep good-humoured, ignore the stall owner when they try to play angry or upset and just always keep smiling and haggling and walking away. When you walk away is when they’ll often become more agreeable.

Also, note it’s cash only, and nobody accepts cards, although there are ATM’s here.

Also, for some, this market can be stressful as the stall owners are quite proactive in their sales approach. It’s impossible to walk past a store without hearing ‘looking, looking, what you want…?’ or even getting friendly pulled into the stall by the elbow. Don’t take any of it too seriously, just keep smiling and laughing.

Silk Street Pearl Market Floor Guide

What can you get there:  jewelry, cosmetics, household goods, fashion clothes, watches, office supplies, electronic goods and much more.

Open Hours: Daily 9 am – 9 pm

Nearby Hotel Pick: The top hotel near the Silk Market is the four-star Jianguo Hotel

How to get there: About 200 meters away from Yong’anli Station on Line 1 (take exit A1 or B)

Chinese Name: 新秀水街商厦

Address:  Num 8, Xiushui East Street, Chaoyang District. 地址: 朝阳区秀水东街8号

Where to Next: If your priority is authentic cultural shopping, combine it with a visit to the antiques and crafts market at Panjiayuan or the traditional shops along Liulichang

Map – inc. the top hotels near Silk Market Beijing