As one of the ancient capitals of China, Beijing has been a myriad of businessmen, prominent officials and eminent personages; therefore, the antique transaction flourishes here. The modern Beijing has become the largest antique market in China and a paradise for domestic and oversea collectors. For sight-seeing crowds in Beijing, the distinctive antique markets never should be missed! The opportunity of sauntering in the markets might indeed acquaint yourself with the history and culture of Beijing and add to the pleasure of your trip.
Beijing Curio City
Location: No.21, Southern Road of 3rd Eastern Ring Road, Chaoyang District
Beijing Curio City is the largest indoor antique market in the world and one of the most impressive fairs of China. Choice curios and new arts and crafts articles are displayed for sale in this four-storey building. It sells a wide variety of goods are displayed for sell: Jingdezhen porcelains, Tang San Cai (Tri-colored glazed pottery of the Tang Dynasty), Cloisonne, Inner Mongolian crystal and agate, Burmese emerald, other pottery and porcelain, jewelry and jade articles, calligraphic works and paintings, antique clocks and watches, carpets and ancient furniture. It can claim to be the largest and most all-inclusive market in terms of its collections of national antiques and art works. It has attracted many celebrities, among them Hilary Clinton (wife of U.S. ex-president Bill Clinton), and Moshe Katsav, the Israeli ex-president.
Bus Route:
No.36, 368, 800 Inner, 802 to Zuo'an Road.
No.28, 53, 300 Outer, 513, 627, 638, 680, 852, 973, 976, 985 to Huawei Bridge South.
Panjiayuan Market
Location: No.18, Huawei Li, Panjiayuan Road, Chaoyang District
Beijing Curio City has an elegant ambience, while this cultural market has a more local, folk atmosphere. But it is more than a weekend market, and is a chief tourist destination in Beijing. The shopkeepers of come from different places of China and among them, there are quite a number of minority people. For sale are writing brushes, ink, inkstones and paper, ancient books, agate, jade objects, pottery, porcelain, ancient Chinese and foreign coins, bamboo and bone sculptures, leather figurines for shadow play, facial masks for Chinese opera, Buddhist articles, costumes of ethnic minorities and relics of the Cultural Revolution (1966-1976). An ideal place to buy Chinese folk art pieces!
Tips: The shops which sell the handcrafts only open at weekends, while the other shops open everyday.
Bus Routes: No.28, 368, 627, 638, 802, 938(Special), 974, 976, 976(inter zone), Yuntong 107 to Panjiayuan Bridge.
Hongqiao Market
Location: Opposite the east gate of the Temple of Heaven, No.46, Tiantan East Road, Chongwen District
Hongqiao Market is the largest collection and distribution center if pearls in North China, therefore, foreigner visitors call it the 'Pearl Market'. It is definitely a 'must see' for pearl-lovers while in Beijing. Pearls are mainly sold on the third floor in this multi-storey building. Here, you can talk and bargain with the vendors in English.
Tips: the finest pearl adornments are noted for their brilliance, flawlessness, and for being matched in color and shape. The style of the item should also be considered.
Bus Routes: No.6, 25, 34, 35, 36, 39, 41, 43, 60, 116, 208, 525, 610, 684, 685, 687, 707, 723, 743, 814 to Fahuasi (Fahua Temple).
Colored Glaze Factory (Liulichang) Cultural Street
Location: South Xinhua Street, Xuanwu District
In the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), the government built a Guan Kiln (official kiln) here to provide glaze tiles for the imperial court only; in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), the Guan Kiln was enlarged and the name 'Liulichang' has still be used ever since. This centuries-old street really deserves the name of 'cultural street'. All shops are endowed with an ancient architectural style. In the Chinese culture, the four treasures of the study: the writing brush, ink, the inkstone and paper are the lifelong companions of literary men. As such, this street is dedicated to the four great treasures, old books, calligraphic works, paintings, antiques and Chinese traditional handiworks. Rongbaozhai Art Gallery-Since 1672 is the most famous among these stores of the street.
Bus Route: No.7, 14, 15, 66, 70 To Liulichang.
Baoguosi Collection Market
Location: Inner Guang'an Gate Street , Xuanwu District
Compared with the Panjiayuan Market, Baoguosi Collection Market, found in 1997, is a late-comer. This market is a trading platform for pottery, porcelain, agate, jade objects, ancient furniture, Chinese and foreign calligraphy and paintings, ancient clocks, bone sculptures, carpets, Chinese embroidery, stones and root carvings, writing brushes, ink, inkstones, paper, ancient Chinese and foreign coins, and many other kinds. A real paradise for the collectors! Special exhibition halls open all the ear around include the World Coins and Stamps Showroom, Chinese Stamps Exhibition Hall, Chinese Coins Exhibition Hall and Comic Book Exhibition Hall. In reference to the ancient book transactions, the Baoguosi, along with the Longfu Temple and Colored Glaze Factory Cultural Street, has gained the fame since the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).
Bus Route: No.5, 6, 19, 38, 40, 57, 201, 381, 477, 613, 617, 687, 715, 717, 741, 743, Te 5 to Inner Guang'an Gate (Guang An Men Nei).
Liangma Antique Market
Location: Liangma Bridge Road, Chaoyang District
The Suzhou-style furniture in the Liangma Antique Market shows fine workmanship which is rare in Beijing market. Each piece of the furniture is marked with the label to safeguard the quality. Dropping in any of the shops in the street, you can learn how to discriminate and collect the real antique. Also for sale are carpets, porcelain, jade wares, calligraphy and paintings, ancient clocks, and other home decorations from collectors. The market has received tourists from more than 70 countries and regions, among them UN ex-Secretary-General Kofi Annan.
Bus Route: No.402, 413, 418, 420, 503, 659, 677, 688, 701, 955 to Anjialou.
Maliandao Tea Street
Location: Maliandao Road, Xuanwu District
Many big cities have tea markets while Maliandao Tea Street is the representative of the tea market in Beijing. This tea street is located near the Beijing West Railway Station. By the end of 2004, there have been eight large-scale tea markets in this street. Being the largest tea market in North China and one of the three largest in China, the tea street provides almost all the famous Chinese tea.
Bus Route: No.46, 414, 609 to Maliandao Nankou.
