A First Timer's Guide to Shopping in Beijing, China

Beijing, China is a wonderful place for the American tourist, but at times can be confusing and overwhelming, especially when it comes to shopping. Once I learned what to watch out for and what to embrace, Beijing became one of my favorite cities. Here are a few tips to make the most of your shopping experiences on your trip to Beijing.

Be Prepared to Bargain in Beijing

Bargaining is a normal part of shopping in Beijing, particularly in shops that do not cater to tourists. However, even the so-called "fixed price" shops are prepared to bargain, so don't settle for the first price offered to you. It's often very effective to start to walk away after bargaining a bit to see how set the shop owner is on the price. If he is willing to go down on the price, he will either call or come after you, with a new lower price.

There are times, however, when you just have to settle for the price on something you really want. For instance, I picked up a beautiful Chinese scroll painting on which the shop owner refused to reduce the price. But I loved it, far more than the other paintings that he was willing to bargain for, so I went ahead and agreed to the price.

Watch Out for Fake Merchandise in China

Don't believe it if a shop owner tells you something is rare and valuable. Chances are, it's a cheap imitation. For good reason, China is known as the knock-off and piracy capital of the world. Use a bit of common sense when shopping in Beijing; although things are often much cheaper there, you can't buy a Rolex watch for $20 anywhere in the world, even in Beijing.

Skip the Jewelry in China

Now I know what you're thinking; you probably think Beijing is a great place to buy jewelry such as jade bracelets and pearl necklaces and earrings. However, unless you're an expert who can spot fake pearls and jade, just assume the "genuine" jade and pearls are fake and pay accordingly.

Use Creative Communication Techniques in China

Chinese is a tough language for most Westerners to master. While you may desire to learn some Chinese before going, between the tones and sounds that simply don't exist in English, you may find it difficult to get your point across in spite of your best efforts.

Most of the shop owners you encounter can read, so as long as you have a Chinese phrase book or dictionary along, you can point at words to assist in communication. Select Mandarin Chinese materials that use simplified Chinese characters.

Numerals are written the same way we do, so if needed, you may write the price you are willing to pay on a piece of paper, or even in dirt or sand. One of my favorite Beijing shopping memories was when I squatted down near the ground and bargained with a shop owner as we took turns writing prices in the sand.

If you enjoyed this article, you may also enjoy these other articles by Rebecca Livermore:

A Travel Guide to the Great Wall of China

Etiquette at an Authentic Chinese Banquet

Chinese Women's Empowerment: Nushu is China's Secret Language Known Only by Women