Wangfujing Dajie, Name Card of Beijing's Commerce

Wangfujing Dajie is a bustling pedestrian shopping mall and a place where old and new blend perfectly: it's a wonderful place just to sit, sip on a cool drink and "people-watch," because people come from all across China and from around the world.

As one of the oldest shopping streets in Beijing, Wangfujing features many "Time-Honored Brands" stores; most are more than 100 years old. International brands, fantastic shops, cinemas and restaurants, bookstores and an old, refurbished Western-styled church epitomize modern Beijing.

In the early evening, check out the "snack street" on the north side of Donghuamen Dajie, east of Wangfujing Dajie. Check out Wangfujing's bookstore to get the latest best-selling novels, works of masters of literature, language books and audio support to read while traveling through the country’s vast expanses after you leave the capital.

Address: Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng district

Traffic: Subway Line 1, Wangfujing Station; Bus Nos 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 37, and 728

The Xidan Commercial Area, north of West Chang'an Avenue, offers a wide range of shopping options. Xidan has five big shopping centers (Chung- Yo Shopping Center, Xidan Shopping Center, Grand Pacific, Joy City and Maison Mode) and Beijing's biggest bookstore, Beijing Books Building (see its excellent imported books section in the basement).

Address: Xidan Beidajie, Xicheng district

Traffic: Subway Lines land 4, Xidan Station; Bus Nos 1, 10, 102, 603, 728 and 808

As the oldest commercial street in Beijing, the fortunes of the Qianmen-Dashila shopping area have reflected the city's sometimes turbulent history.

Many Zhonghua Laozihao (Time- Honoured Chinese Brands) have welcomed customers for generations here. After recent renovations, the centuries-old shopping area is booming, because of its historic atmosphere and new conveniences.

Traffic: Subway Line 2, Qianmen Station; Bus Nos 2, 5, 9, 20 and 44

Just outside the Second Ring Road in western Beijing, there's a multitude of discount markets that sell everything from tools to toys. There are some great prices on clothing and small electronics, but be prepared to haggle to get the best price at any small stall. The biggest and most comprehensive markets in the area are Wantong, Guanyuan and Tianyi.

Traffic: Subway Line 2, Fuxingmen or Fuchengmen Station

Hongqiao Pearl Market, a World of Pearls

The Hongqiao Pearl Market is known as the Hongqiao Market (Hongqiao Shichang). Its annual sales volume of pearl products account for more than 30 percent of the world's total. Fill your baskets with pearls, bespoke jewelry, jade, arts and crafts, toys, antiques and clothing, as well as modern electronic goods, camera memory cards, clocks, watches, or all kinds of other interesting products. You can see other stores in this rapidly developing complex near the Temple of Heaven.

Address: 16 Hongqiao Lu, Dongcheng district

Traffic: Subway Line 5, Tiantan Dongmen Station; bus No 6, 34, 35 or 610

Maliandao Tea Street, China's First Tea Street

The Maliandao Tea Street is a must-visit place for you to walk around tea shops, taste diverse tea, get exquisite tea sets and learn more about Chinese tea culture. Regarded as the country’s first tea street, Maliandao offers six categories of Chinese teas, about 10,000 kinds of tea products, with 11 big tea cities and more than 3,000 merchants, making Maliandao North China's largest tea- trading base.

Addres: Maliandao Lu, Xicheng district

Traffic: Bus Nos 6, 38, 46, 57,122, 390 or 414

Beijing Curio City, Asia's Biggest Curio Arts and Crafts Trade Center

Beijing Curio City 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: Dong Sanhuan Nanlu, Chaoyang district

Traffic: Bus Nos 28, 300 or 368

Silk Street, China's First Store for Foreigners

The old Silk Alley was a treat for bargain-hunting tourists, yet it was hot in the summer and cold in the winter and jam-packed with people. Today, developments in the area have made way for bigger and brighter things: one of which is the new Silk Street, a mall where many traders and wares of the old alley have now occupied a comfortable, safe and new building that faces Beijing's main traffic route, Jianguomenwai Dajie.

Address: No 8 Xiushui Dongjie, Chaoyang district

Traffic: Subway Line 1, Yong'anli Station; bus Nos 1 or 37