Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
SHOPPING
The wildly popular
hútòng
of Nanluogu Xiang contain an eclectic mix of clothes and gifts, sold in trendy boutique
shops. It's an extremely pleasant place to shop for souvenirs, but avoid summer weekends if you can, when it gets
unfeasibly busy. At its northern end, Gulou Dongdajie has become a popular place for young Beijingers to shop for
vintage clothing, skater fashion and music gear.
RUÌFÚXIÁNG
( Ruìfúxiáng; 50 Di'anmenwai Dajie, Dongdajie, 10am-8.30pm; Shichahai)
Relatively new branch of
the 150-year-old Ruìfúxiáng silk store, this place does all manner of silk items, from
scarves and shawls (from ¥150) to slippers and hats (from ¥50). It's a great place to come
for Chinese-style clothing (women's
qípáo
start at around ¥500), including very cute chil-
dren's outfits (from ¥100). The quality is good, and the prices, which are marked, are all
very reasonable considering how famous the brand is.
|SILK CLOTHING
GRIFTED
( Guìfú Tiāndì; 32 Nanluogu Xiang, 10am-10pm; Nanluoguxiang)
A plethora of tongue-in-cheek gift
options is available at this friendly shop in the heart of trendy Nanluogu Xiang. Check out
the dolls of communist icons: Che Guevara, Fidel Castro, Mao, Marx and Lenin re-ima-
gined as soft toys, and the Mao-print cushions. There are also lanterns made from recycled
candy wrapping, quirky umbrellas and T-shirts. Most of the products here are made locally.
|SOUVENIRS
ESY DRAGON GIFT SHOP
( Shí Yí Jí; 19 Nanluogu Xiang, 9.30am-9.30pm; Nanluoguxiang)
Stocks a good range of souvenirs
that are of decent quality but small in size, and therefore cheap. You'll find pens, book-
marks and decorative Chinese knots for less than ¥10, while key rings emblazoned with
Chinese motifs start at ¥20. Sets of coasters or Chinese cloth slippers for kids can be had
for less than ¥80. If you're after something a bit fancier, there's a range of attractive hand-
painted porcelain cups at the back of the shop that go for around ¥300 each.
|SOUVENIRS
PLASTERED 8
( T- Chuàngkětiē Tìxù;
www.plasteredtshirts.com
; 61 Nanluogu Xiang, 61 10am-10pm; Nanluoguxiang)
Here
you'll find purveyors of ironic T-shirts (from ¥138) that are good to give as gifts or to keep
as mementos of Běijīng. Opposite the entrance to the shop is a rare surviving slogan from
the Cultural Revolution era, which exhorts the people to put their trust in the People's Lib-
eration Army (PLA; China's armed forces).
|T-SHIRTS
