Beijing Curio City

Asia's biggest curio arts and crafts trade center, the Beijing Curio City is a four-story complex that houses scores of kitsch and curio shops and a few furniture vendors. The market specializes in antique pottery, paintings from China and other countries, bone carvings, antique furniture, antique carpets, antique timepieces, pearls and jade. Many dealers are connoisseurs and curio collectors.

Address: 27 Dong Sanhuan Nanlu, Chaoyang district

Tel: +86 10 5960 9999

Traffic: Bus Nos. 28, 300 and 368

Gaobeidian Classic Furniture Market

The market is Beijing's largest antique and imitation Chinese furniture market. Old furniture collected from Shanxi and Hebei provinces and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region can be found here. Take a close look at replicas: their quality will surprise you and save you money.

Address: Gaobeidian Village, Chaoyang district

Tel: +86 10 8576 6356

Traffic: Subway Batong Line, Gaobeidian Station; Bus Nos. 312, 397 and 728

Liulichang

Beijing's best-known, most historic cultural street is a good place to find antiques and collectibles. Here you can find old Chinese books, traditional paintings and brushes: the best place to get your very own Chinese name seal.

Address: Nan Xinhua Jie (Within walking distance south of the Beijing Subway Hepingmen Station), Xicheng district

Traffic: Bus Nos. 7, 14 and 15

Friendship Store

Address: 17 Jianguornenwai Dajie, Chaoyang district

Tel: +86 10 6500 3311

Traffic: Subway Line 1, Jianguomen Station; Bus No. 1 and 728

Gongmei Emporium

Address: 200 Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng district

Tel: +86 10 6528 9328

Traffic: Subway Line 1, Wangfujing Station