Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
slippers frequently modelled by Běijīng's senior citizens (from ¥118). It does cute, pat-
terned kid's slippers (from ¥58) too.
DASHILAR - QING DYNASTY SHOPPING MALL
Shops were barred from the city centre in imperial Běijīng, so the
hútòng
south of Qiánmén served as early ver-
sions of the modern-day malls that have sprung up in the capital. Dashilar (
CLICK HERE
)
was one of the most
popular and known especially for silk, although its name refers to a wicket gate that was closed at night to keep
prowlers out.
Bustling markets plying specialised products thronged the surrounding alleys - lace in one, lanterns in the
other, jade in the next. Now, many of the
hútòng
have been demolished and you're more likely to find someone
selling fake watches than anything of real value.
For some years, there have been persistent rumours that the western end of Dashilar, Dazhalan Xijie, is next
in line for a similar overhaul, one which would have a potentially dire effect on this still
hútòng
-rich neighbour-
hood. At the time of writing, work was going on but it was unclear if it was an updating of the street or the be-
ginning of an attempt to transform it into something like Nanluogu Xiang. Expect some changes when you visit.
SOGO
( Chóngguāng Bǎihuò Shāngchǎng; 6310 3388; 8 Xuanwumenwai Dajie, 10am-10pm; Caishikou)
Sogo
is one of Běijīng's most pleasant mall experiences. The mix of hip Japanese (Sogo is a
Japanese company) and European boutiques, the convenient layout and an excellent,
cheap food court on the 6th floor makes Sogo more fun than you'd expect a shopping
centre to be. Add espresso bars on each floor, the impressive basement supermarket (with
pharmacy) and the 6th-floor games arcade, where you can deposit kids while shopping,
and you're in mall heaven.
|SHOPPING MALL
