Hello educational travelers!
Not too long ago, I shared with y’all that I ventured back to China with my family over the holidays last year to do some more exploring.
You can read more about that here.
In continuing with our posts on why China is such a great place for educational tours, I wanted to share with you today one of my new favorite spots for shopping in all of Beijing. Read on to learn more about the Panjiayuan Antique Market.
So you’re looking for a place to haggle and know that Beijing isn’t just about sightseeing. Well, let me introduce you to the gem that is the Panjiayuan Antique Market.
After a few days of hard sightseeing on your student tour, you may be in need of some light retail therapy. That’s where the numerous and popular street markets that dot the capital city come into play. Many of them dating all the way back to the Qing Dynasty (1644-1912)!
Students and teachers can find the Panjiayuan Antique Market on the southern portion of the 3rd East ring road. Though slightly off the beaten path, it’s well worth the trip! Covering an area of 520,000 square feet, this market is surely the largest, most complex, and sought-after antique market in all of Beijing! Selling everything from life-size Buddha statues and sculptures, to Chines jade, furniture, paintings, porcelain, calligraphy products, jewelry, fabrics, and so much more, the Panjiayuan Antique Market has something for everyone!
This lively place was even once called the “Dirt Market” because peasants would cart in items they supposedly dug up themselves, pick a suitable area, and get to hawking their wares. Nowadays, the market has done a 180 and isn’t a patch of dirt. Merchants are instead selling every imaginable curio, artifact, and knock-off you could imagine from their shops and stalls. There is such a wonderful selection that it can leave you overwhelmed by the number of vendors.
My suggestion for students on an educational tour is to plan on going early in the morning. It’s even better on the weekend! That way, you can wander around to get a feel for the place and what it has to offer before jumping in and practicing your bargaining skills. Just remember to never accept the first offer, and the price will most always go down when you start to walk away. Be sure to search out the vintage propaganda pictures as well. They are extremely fascinating!
With so many wonderful items spilling out of the street stalls and shop windows, participants on an educational student tour should have no problem finding some treasures to carry with them on their journey back home. Simply come armed with a smile and a willingness to haggle and you’ll do just fine!
Oh…one more thing! The Panjiayuan Antique Market is perfect when it’s coupled with a tour of one of Beijing’s famous hutongs! More on those in a future post so don’t forget to check back here at EA Tours.
Until next time,
Kate.