Beijing D8 - Shoppings!

Intime Lotte @ Wangfujing Shopping Street

The itinerary for our last day in Beijing, that's today, was to shop till we drop at their 西单, Xidan Commercial shopping streets, akin to our Orchard Rd, but much larger in life... in fact, shopping malls in Beijing are often intimidatingly huge in scale! And 王府井, Wangfujing is surely an iconic shopping street that you've got to set foot in.

But Ric had taken quite ill today and had to be resting; so let's just talk about some of our shopping experiences and buys in the past few eventful days.

Original/ Copied Concert Dvds (¥15, S$3 per disc)

Starting with my last loot from 经典音像 DVDs today!

Ric had helped in some of these selections when we visited their distant outlet 7 days ago. This afternoon, i was bored in the hotel and sneaked down to their nearby shop, just downstairs! for more to feed my addiction. Here are their 4 locations in Beijing.

We have always bought concert DVDs from China for its excellent quality, especially the Blu-ray copied; but Beijing is exceptional for its large collection of Classical Symphony DVDs while concerts of Hong Kong/ Taiwanese artists were absent!?

In Singapore, such Classical Orchestra performing DVDs are expensive.

Hongqiao Pearl Market, 北京红桥珍珠市场

We had paid Hongqiao a repeat visit yesterday morning for some good quality product as souvenirs for families back home, and we were not buying the pearls ;)

Beijing's Hongqiao was like Shanghai's Xiangyang, infamous for their sales of pirated bags, wallets, clothes, belts and shoes of world's famous brands! If you like these dazzling brand logos, you could land some pleasing buys; we went for the good finishes product (that they were trying to imitate) but without the branding.

Best thing about here? You are welcome to bargain.
Remember to bargain down about 70% from the selling price. Excise your discretion, in cases where the selling price could be upped much more. But leave the seller some profit, and it'll be a win-win happy transaction :)

牛角梳, Ox Horn Combs and Massaging Horn Sticks (¥60, S$12) 

We were introduced to these China Cow horns by our China friends, when we start touring the country... some 8 years ago! Being of anti-static nature, the Buffalo's horn was said to improve hair luster too; our families loves the comb and we never fail to bring some home whenever we travel.

The product has its origins from Fujian, or the Xiamen and was not commonly found in Beijing. We were lucky to have these nice ones from a Panjiayuan Market stall.

Spectacles frame with lenses (About ¥180, S$36 per pair)

Within walking distance from the Panjiayuan Market is the 眼镜城, Panjiayuan Glasses Market! Select your frame, bargain the price, have your eyesight tested and you collect your spectacles in 20mins.

The price of owning at least 1 of these most fashionable pair is too little to resist!

100+

可多, Kodo

The other night when we were at the Nanluoguxiang remember? I didn't mention the many souvenirs/ gifts shops here. They sell fun stuffs that are cute and pretty rather than a necessities ;)

Heart-shaped Measuring Spoons set (¥9, S$1.80)

I got these from Kodo that has heart-warming inscriptions like, "A pinch of joy.", "A dash of tenderness.", "A spoonful of affection.", "A heap of love."!!!

H&M black ankle socks x5 (¥49.90, S$10), belt (¥49.90, S$10)

And to Singaporeans who were queuing and jumping for joy when H&M opened their flagship store in Orchard Rd just this month, you should be here. H&M stores were easily located in all their shopping streets!

We stumbled on 1 at 崇文门, Chongwenmen shopping street while getting some local products and sweets from the opposite 新世界商城, New World Shopping Mall yesterday.

H&M are as ubiquitous as Uniqlo here.

Tongren Wuji Baifeng Wan, 6gm pills x6  (¥57.60, S$11.52)

And we never missed out on Beijing's many renowned pharmacies, the most prestigious of them all, the 同仁堂, Beijing Tong Ren Tang.

A women's nourishing pills of Chinese medicine, i was wowed by its elaborated embroidered box! Perfect for a gift, yeah!