LISTINGS - The Rough Guide to Beijing - page 243

CDS AND DVDS
PiratedCDsandDVDs are sold by chancers who approach foreigners around the Silk Mar-
ket , on Dazhalan and in bars in Houhai and Sanlitun. The discs generally work, though some-
times the last few minutes are garbled. You can get DVDs for as little as ￥ 8, CDs for ￥ 5,
though the asking price starts out at ￥ 15. Note that with DVDs of newly released films,
you're likely to get a version shot illicitly in a cinema, with heads bobbing around at the bot-
tom of the screen. Otherwise, music shops selling legitimate CDs can be found throughout
the city; a couple of the best are reviewed here.
FAKING IT
China has a massive industry in fakes - nothing escapes the counterfeiters. You'll no doubt
hear assurances to the contrary, but you can assume that all antiques and collectable stamps,
coins and posters are replicas, that paintings are prints and that Rolex watches will stop
working as soon as you turn the corner. If you don't mind robbing artists of their liveli-
hood, pirated CDs and DVDs are very cheap, while even more of a bargain are the widely
available fake designer-label clothes and accessories.
Beijing Huashiweiye 北京花市伟业 , bĕijīng huāshìwĕiyè West side of Yashow Market;
Tuanjiehu subway (line 10); map . Forget the name of this place, since even the proprietors
aren't sure; it's marked from the outside as “CD DVD SHOP”, and that's what they sell.
Thanks to a wide selection of films, they've a regular base of expat customers. Daily
8am-5pm.
C Rock 99 Gulou Dongdajie 010 64072530; Andingmen subway (line 2); map . One of
the best places in the city to go hunting for CDs by local bands. The friendly owner will be
pleased to make recommendations and give you a listen to a few choice tracks. Hours vary;
generally 11am-5pm.
Hongyun 宏运音像中心 , hóngyùn yīnxiàng zhōngxīn 62 Xinjiekou Beidajie; Xinjiekou
subway (line 4); map . A huge collection of legitimate CDs, Western imports, Mando-pop and
local rock. Daily 8am-5pm.
< Back to Shopping
CLOTHES AND FABRICS
Clothes are a bargain in Beijing but be sure to check the quality carefully. Head for Jian-
guomen Dajie , where the Silk Market , the Friendship Store and the plazas offer something
for every budget. If you're particularly tall or have especially large feet you'll generally have
difficulty finding clothes and shoes to fit you, though there's a reasonable chance of finding
clothes in your size at the Silk Market. One big Asian trend that seems unlikely to catch on
in the West is the phenomenon of matching T-shirts for couples - if you want to check out