Silk Market.
In Beijing the saying goes, “Everything is negotiable,” and nowhere is this statement more applicable than at the historic Xieshui Jie (literally "Silk Road"), otherwise known as the Silk Market.
While most of the “name brand” products shoppers find here are of questionable manufacture, prices are of a most flexible nature, and the fun of the experience lies in the haggle. The phrase “Tai gui le!“ ("Too expensive!"), if repeated often enough, will bring total cost down considerably, and natives will appreciate foreigners' efforts to speak their language, as well as their knowledge of the art of haggling. Prices are often inflated to five or more times the product's worth, so it doesn't hurt to initially bring the price down to a seemingly ridiculous level.
With five floors of vendors, luggage, footware, outdoor adventure equipment, linens, and men’s and women’s clothing can be browsed for hours. Shoppers will find “friends” they never knew they had, and be asked to “looka, looka” at everything the heart desires (or at least a very real-looking replica).
Directions: Take the Line 1 Subway to the Yong'anli station, one stop east of the Jianguomen transfer station (connecting with line 2). Use the well-marked exit to enter the silk market directly from the subway station. Alternatively, one can arrive at the Xieshui shopping center by a number of bus lines.