This is going to be my third trip to Beijing and have been to the Silk Market (both outside and inside) and the Pearl Market before - never been to Yaxiu (that I can think of) - what will I find there? Thanks. Also, how has market shopping in Beijing changed in the last three years (if at all)?

If you now go to Yaxiu you'll have completed the set of tourist-as-victim markets. What you'll find there is an entirely predictable mix of souvenirs, t-shirts and other clothing, minor electronics, a bit of over-priced tailoring, some silk, leather goods, DVDs, fake bags and jeans, shoes, and other bric-a-brac, most of which is better bought elsewhere if bought at all.

For a similar experience but without the pushy stallholders or another tourist in sight, try, for instance, what was known as Vantone and is now the Xin Shijie market, at the southeast exit of Fucheng Men subway station. Much the same things in a quieter environment and with much better prices. And there are many other similar markets targeting locals rather than foreigners, which should always be your first choices.

Peter N-H

Peter - first trip to China coming up. Does the range to negotiate prices differ in a market favoured by locals as opposed to tourists?

We really appreciate your posts.

My apologies - that question should have been directed to anyone with experience with Beijing markets.

As you might expect, prices in markets for locals generally start much lower (although still far too high) and finish lower still.

In those markets seeing plenty of tourists it's common to begin at ten, fifteen, or even more times the acceptable price. There are very many people who'll pop up in places like this saying that the 'right' way to do things is to bid one third of the first asking price and settle at half. They then go home having paid five times the right price as a result, and think they've done pretty well.

You can enter a tourist market on a quiet, rainy afternoon when there's no one about and get a ¥500 suitcase down to ¥80 with little difficulty. But go in at the same time as a tour groups and you'll be lucky if the vendors will even talk to you if you look like you know what you're doing. There are plenty of other sheep to fleece, and even a vendor who may have offered you ¥80 the previous day, and who will certainly remember you (they all have elephantine memories) may refuse to compromise her chances with the tour group members by accepting anything less than ¥250 in front of them.

Incidentally, the note above should read 'southwest exit'.

Peter N-H

Thank you