Shopping companion/guide in Beijing
Sep 29th, 2008, 08:20 AM
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Shopping companion/guide in Beijing
I was dumped by Violet. Thought I had hired her and that it was confirmed for a trip to Panjiayuan Market. When I wrote to firm up and give her my contact information etc.
I was told she was busy. Her loss.
Back to the drawing board. I would like someone who speaks Chinese to go with me to this market. Have no idea if I will even purchase one thing but it is for my comfort level more than anything.
Any ideas?
I was told she was busy. Her loss.
Back to the drawing board. I would like someone who speaks Chinese to go with me to this market. Have no idea if I will even purchase one thing but it is for my comfort level more than anything.
Any ideas?
Sep 29th, 2008, 08:58 AM
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Is there any chance of talking you out of this approach? Various warnings on the unreliability of Chinese guides have been posted on this site in recent times, and now a measure of unreliability seems to have been discovered first-hand.
But in general shopping is the last process in which you should involve a guide. Taking kick-backs from stalls/shops to which foreign visitors are guided is a standard source of income for guides, whose advice on price should never be listened to. Many foreign residents can tell you stories of shopping with a Chinese friend only to have her asked quietly how much of a pay-off she's expecting, or being told to come back to get it later. The more you spend the better they do.
If the aim is to look rather than shop (a wise position since this is a tourist-targeting market and 90% of what's for sale is fake, and that's one stallholder's estimate) then Pan Jia Yuan is indeed colourful. But it isn't vast, its stalls arranged in regular rows you can zig-zag up and down, each row labelled in English with indifferent accuracy. There are clear exits on two sides of the site, and little chance of getting lost.
Nor is getting there and away a problem. This is a major tourist site that (almost) every taxi driver knows, and all you need is the characters (潘家园市场) written down to show the driver, and your hotel's card to show when you want to go back. You can even easily get almost all the way there by metro (line ten to its current southern terminus and Jinsong, and then perhaps 20 minutes' walk south).
Your only concerns need to be modest caution against pick-pockets, and that when you leave (the north exit is best) you flag down a passing cab rather than picking one of those hanging about and that call out to you (although there's nothing more dangerous with those than a dodgy meter or an intent to take you back the long way round).
There are ethnic minority handicrafts and other oddities worth buying, too, but no real antiques or real historical items. Hand-painted copies of famous art? Framed black-and-white photographs of Beijing's back streets (very good; but limited edition as claimed? Not a chance.) And you're bound to pay too much, but if you know and accept that, you may not mind, and at least buy yourself it will only be the stallholder you pay. Just be pleasant, offer a tiny fraction of any first asking price and move up only in tiny fractions (first asking prices can easily be ten to fifteen times what you should pay, or even more, depending on circumstances).
If you really do want company you'll find plenty of other foreigners shopping there, although perhaps less wisely than you if you take this advice. You might also consider if looking for souvenirs that little represents China more accurately than a fake of some kind.
But the main point is that this isn't tough to do, that taking a guide may anyway be unwise, and that you'll probably have a very good time by yourself.
More advice on directions, shopping, alternative shopping venues etc., happily available here from myself and others.
Peter N-H
But in general shopping is the last process in which you should involve a guide. Taking kick-backs from stalls/shops to which foreign visitors are guided is a standard source of income for guides, whose advice on price should never be listened to. Many foreign residents can tell you stories of shopping with a Chinese friend only to have her asked quietly how much of a pay-off she's expecting, or being told to come back to get it later. The more you spend the better they do.
If the aim is to look rather than shop (a wise position since this is a tourist-targeting market and 90% of what's for sale is fake, and that's one stallholder's estimate) then Pan Jia Yuan is indeed colourful. But it isn't vast, its stalls arranged in regular rows you can zig-zag up and down, each row labelled in English with indifferent accuracy. There are clear exits on two sides of the site, and little chance of getting lost.
Nor is getting there and away a problem. This is a major tourist site that (almost) every taxi driver knows, and all you need is the characters (潘家园市场) written down to show the driver, and your hotel's card to show when you want to go back. You can even easily get almost all the way there by metro (line ten to its current southern terminus and Jinsong, and then perhaps 20 minutes' walk south).
Your only concerns need to be modest caution against pick-pockets, and that when you leave (the north exit is best) you flag down a passing cab rather than picking one of those hanging about and that call out to you (although there's nothing more dangerous with those than a dodgy meter or an intent to take you back the long way round).
There are ethnic minority handicrafts and other oddities worth buying, too, but no real antiques or real historical items. Hand-painted copies of famous art? Framed black-and-white photographs of Beijing's back streets (very good; but limited edition as claimed? Not a chance.) And you're bound to pay too much, but if you know and accept that, you may not mind, and at least buy yourself it will only be the stallholder you pay. Just be pleasant, offer a tiny fraction of any first asking price and move up only in tiny fractions (first asking prices can easily be ten to fifteen times what you should pay, or even more, depending on circumstances).
If you really do want company you'll find plenty of other foreigners shopping there, although perhaps less wisely than you if you take this advice. You might also consider if looking for souvenirs that little represents China more accurately than a fake of some kind.
But the main point is that this isn't tough to do, that taking a guide may anyway be unwise, and that you'll probably have a very good time by yourself.
More advice on directions, shopping, alternative shopping venues etc., happily available here from myself and others.
Peter N-H
Sep 29th, 2008, 10:17 AM
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Peter,
As usual great advise. Somehow in my mind I had this vision of acres and acres of a market, and that I needed someone to go with me or I would be lost.
IF there is something I covet I will have my trusted calculator and take it from there. Don't need any "antiques" or "limited editions"
but am open to what I see.
Thanks again.
As usual great advise. Somehow in my mind I had this vision of acres and acres of a market, and that I needed someone to go with me or I would be lost.
IF there is something I covet I will have my trusted calculator and take it from there. Don't need any "antiques" or "limited editions"
but am open to what I see.
Thanks again.
Sep 30th, 2008, 05:22 AM
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My daughter and I shopped at the Panjiayuan market and took a taxi there from our hotel. The market was pretty small, but interesting. I don't think you need a shopping guide. We also shopped at Pearl Market and Silk Market which are multi-story with many shops. We had some clothes custom made and were quite pleased with the results. I'm not much of a shopper but in Beijing I couldn't resist. Have fun, it's a great city.
Sep 30th, 2008, 05:37 AM
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NYwoman, I am working that weekend othersise I would join you! I have not been there but think it should be ok on your own. If you want to buy something ask for a pice and you both can use a calculator to haggle. That is what I usually do in a language barrier situation. If you still want someone to join you ask the hotel to reccommend someone (translator) and set a price. Basically they can act as a translator and guide. Peter has great info above.
Just an example I pay at a Chinese fair about 50 euro for a day to have a translator with me.
Just an example I pay at a Chinese fair about 50 euro for a day to have a translator with me.
