Antique Market Shopping in Beijing: Panjiayuan Market

Beijing is a shopper’s paradise! There are countless markets in the capital city of China where you can find anything you want or need.

There’s the famous Silk Market, where you can buy all kinds of clothes, electronics, suitcases, and more. There’s the Hongqiao Pearl Market, where you can buy (as you guessed) pearls from all around the world.  And then there’s the Panjiayuan Flea Market, a well-known antique market.

Check out my vlog exploring the market!

The Panjiayuan Flea Market is the largest market for selling antiques and second hand goods in Beijing (and possibly China.) You’ll find everything from jewelry and beautiful stones to pottery, calligraphy, Chinese paintings, musical instruments, furniture, and a variety of other items.

Going To The Panjiayuan Flea Market:

Getting to the Panjiayuan Flea Market is very easy – it’s located on the third ring of Beijing. Just take line 10 to Panjiayuan Station and use Exit B. The market is open 8:30 a.m. – 18:00 p.m. on weekdays and 4:30 a.m. – 18:00 p.m. on weekends. The stores in the market open everyday, but the street stalls just open on weekends, so the weekend is actually a great time for visiting in order to see everything.

If you’re planning on seriously shopping here, it’s advised to bring a magnifying glass to make sure you’re getting quality goods and not getting ripped off. Be careful of stories that vendors try telling you, as well.

If you’re also just wanting a market to walk around, practice your haggling, and take lots of photos of, Panjiayuan is a great location. The vendors set up their goods in square sections, beautifully arranging the bright colors and delicate textures to make their table stand out against their competitors. Take advantage of these layouts to snap some pics!

If you go in the early afternoon you might even catch some vendors during nap time.

Visiting Other Asian Markets

I love exploring different markets, not only in China, but in other parts of Asia as well. Asian markets have some of the best food, great prices that can be haggled down, and sometimes very strange items for sale!

Have you visited any Asian markets? What are your favorite things to buy or look at?