Xiushui Silk Street is one of the most popular destinations in Beijing for travelers from around the world. When tourists want to see Beijing's scenic spots, they may go to the Forbidden City or the Great Wall; but if they need to buy something and see China's silk arts, they have to come to this street to have another experience.

The Xiushui Silk Street was started in 1982 when a group of ambitious youth started their business at Silk Eastern Road with very simple stalls at that time. They dealt in silk and foreign-trade apparels. Though simple and crude, the inherent charm of Silk Street then was not glossed over. The silk street got its name in 1985 when more and more vendors began to sell traditional Chinese silk products and crafts. Its reputation spread fast, and more and more customers and travelers were attracted by the reasonable prices.

 

The former Xiushui Silk Street is an outdoor market. Since 1985, Xiushui Silk Street has been popular with overseas tourists who have flocked to buy counterfeit and knock-off luxury clothes and accessories. Fake brands with good quality are what the Xiushui Silk Street was famous for, but measures have been taken to curb that as well.

On 19 March 2005, Beijing Silk Street High-rise, which drew lots of attention, is open for business officially. New Silk Street is built next to the original market. It has five floors on the ground and three on the underground, with a building area of altogether 28,000 sq. m, and thousands of stalls. After more than 20 years of development, the two characters "Xiu Shui" have become a famous brand among the sphere of commodity circulation in Beijing.

The Silk Street High-rise is tightly near CBD, the total floorage amount to 28,000 square meters, and there are 1,500 stalls in the market.

Open Hour: 9:30 a.m to 9:00 p.m.

Address: Xiushui Silk Street

Transportation: Take the subway and get off at Yonganli Station. The Northwest Exit of Yonganli Station is accessible to the under-ground market of the new Xiushui.

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