Why You Must Shop at Beijing's Silk Market

The Beijing Silk Market opened in March of 2005 in an attempt to stop or at least slow down the sale of counterfeit or knock-off brand merchandise. Today it is known for its wide selection of counterfeits and knock-offs of famous brand merchandise. Polo, Armani, Tommy, North Face, Gucci, if it's a famous brand, it's for sale here. The Beijing Silk Market is also famous for the young ladies who manage the stalls.

We went to the Silk Market with our Chinese guide, Jackay. Jackay met us at the airport, has driven us around the city, and shown us the Great Wall. He has recommended restaurants and made our time in Beijing most delightful. I highly recommend hiring a guide. They are not expensive and it will be money well spent.

Before we entered the Silk Market Jackay gave us a lesson on bargaining. Typically we could expect to pay about one half or less of the price quoted. However, sometimes they start really high and if we think that is the case just walk away and find the item at another booth. If the sales clerk calls you back with a more reasonable starting price try and bargain. He also offered his services, which we used. Bargaining is fun but with higher priced items, Chinese people get a better deal than the tourists. Jackay's bargaining was a big service to us when my wife and I had trouble with the price on a cashmere scarf. When he stepped in the price dropped in half.

The sales clerks are all young ladies. Their English was very good. The fancier the items the better the grammar, so expect to hear cussing from the baseball cap girl but not the pearl necklace saleslady. I stopped at one booth to purchase silk ties for my son. Afterward the young lady struck up a conversation about the United States asking me many questions. She told me her name was Lisa and gave me her card. When my family caught up to me I introduced them to my new friend, Lisa.

Lisa took my wife and daughter across the aisle and sold them several bags of merchandise. I have no idea how the bargaining went, but everyone appeared happy. We walked over to another row of stalls and as my wife shopped this young lady struck up a conversation with me about the United States, introduced herself as Lisa, and gave me her card. Before we left the Silk Market that night I had about fifteen conversations with different Lisas about the United States and I still keep all of their cards. The girls can be pushy and I still laugh at the one who would not let go of my arm as she insisted she could get my large body into a pair of knock-off designer jeans.

The Silk Market has more than fifteen-hundred stalls on seven floors plus basements. There are many silk items for sale here but that is just the start. You can also find, jewelry, antiques, calligraphy, electronics, shoes, Chinese handicrafts, leather goods, toys, sporting goods, handmade items and of course the knock-offs. This is a shopper's paradise but not a place to window shop. The sales clerks sometimes double or triple up on you. Another trick they use is to get you into a corner so you cannot walk away. They are aggressive but this is part of the show.

The best strategy to counter the aggressiveness of the sales staff is to have a local Chinese person with you. When Jackay was just standing a few feet back but making himself noticed the sales clerks were more reasonable and allowed us to browse. After experiencing the Silk Market I came away believing that these ladies are the most amazing sales people I have ever encountered.

If your time in Beijing is limited, make this your stop for shopping. If you have more time to spend plan on coming back a couple times to really see everything which is available at the Beijing Silk Market. One visit does not do it justice but even a short visit is one you will never forget.