Shopping

ExpatsInChina has got the shopping buzz on where to go out in the streets of Beijing! So all you shop-aholics out there, put on your comfortable walking shoes, and get ready!

Supermarkets, department stores, grocer's shops, markets are common places for shopping.

If you want to wear occidental clothes, you may have to pay more than in your country of origin. European and American brands are quite famous.

Here you can shop at these places:

Friendship Store

A friendship store is a state-run store in China, which initially sold exclusively to tourists, foreigners, diplomats and government officials. At that time, the stores sold western, imported items, such as peanut butter, as well as Chinese arts and crafts. Today, friendship stores have no restrictions on customers.

The Beijing store has Starbucks, Delifrance, Baskin-Robbins, Pizza Hut and a book store, which offers a wide variety of magazine and newspapers in english. The Chinese government plans to replace this friendship store with a modern shopping center, composed of offices and a Conrad hotel. The new complex should be finnished before the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

There are also two friendship stores in Shanghai, on in the city and one in Hongqiao.

Department Stores

Most department stores are run by the state with some being run as individual or joint ventures. The merchandise available in Chinese department stores is similar to what you might expect to find in department stores anywhere in the world.

Markets and bazars

These are the best places - indoors or outdoors - to find very cheap products. The quality is often good, however, try to have a meticulious eye as some products will be fakes. The prices are very flexible and present a good opportunity to practice your bargaining skills. It's important to keep in mind that foreigners will often be charged double or even triple the price a seller is willing to go down to.