Beijing Part II - Pearl Market Information

This is Part II of a series of informational articles we are posting about Beijing. This one covers the Pearl Market and its adjacent markets. It includes invaluable information about the where, how and which vendors to shop from to get the best quality and the best deals. There's also additional information on transportation, food and other services available around the area.

Print this before you leave for Beijing. It will come in very handy. By the way, this list was generously put together by our more senior and experienced Beijing crews. Thanks guys for sharing the wisdom and the good deals!

This is what our more experienced crews recommend (copied from their printout almost word by word):

When bartering, take the price they first offer you and make a very low counter offer. Example, if given an initial price of 1200rmb's, rebut with 50rmb's. Be prepared to walk away. Remember to keep it a win/win deal with the sales people, they work seven days a week and operate on small margins of profit. Vendors cannot sell outside their stall, so be aware that when you enter a stall, that's when you can start bartering. If you feel like you got a good deal, then you probably did and if the noise of the sales people shouting their offers bothers you, wear a set of iPod headphones. They'll think you can't hear them and they will desist. I've tried this and it really works.

Toilets - The toilets are on the first or the fifth floor of the main Pearl Market building. Carry Kleenex to use as toilet paper and take a wash cloth and a bath gel from the hotel to wash your hands and disinfectant wipes.

Taxi - Do not take a taxi from the stand in front of the Pearl Market ( I wonder why? anyone know?)

Chinese Restaurant - The one across the street from the Taxi stand in front of the Pearl Market is excellent. (name? color of door? anyone know?) Wash your hands in the toilet rooms in the Pearl Market before you go. Try the cold cucumbers, fried green beans, shoe string potatoes (awesome), orange glazed fish, cashew chicken, the broccoli with garlic, and the stir fried beef. It's very inexpensive, but they serve good quality food.

Pick up time (for return) to Hotel - 1pm only!!

New Pearl Market vendors - Tianya Hongqiao Market
(building next to Pearl Main Pearl Market , attached to 5 storied Toy Store and across an alley)

- Basement Level - Ting Ting ( watches)
- Third Floor - C3 - 36 - Sherry's (jewelery)
- Third Floor - On the side wall - Lisa (jewelery)
- Third Floor - C3 - 30 - Cindy's - (jewelery)
- Third Floor - C2 - 20 - Emilie - (Tiffany)
- Third Floor - C5 - 19 - Alice - (jewelery)
- Third Floor - Top of escalator - Maggies ( jewelery)
- Fourth Floor - Bobo's
Toy Store - ( 5 floors)
- Toys on 1st floor
- Boxes and bags of 2nd floor


Main Pearl Market - Hongqiao Market -
- Stevens Electronics - 1st floor #158 - (iPods, cameras, batteries, English, no barter)
- Cathy's Pearls - 5th floor (best place for pearls, gemstones and crystals, English, safe for
Credit Cards, great quality of work, no barter.
- Debbie's Jewelery - 4th floor, #4328
- Jenny's scarfs and Pashminas - 1st floor, #199 - (English, no bartering)


TinHua Office Building -
(a separate building across an alley, behind The New Pearl Market and the Toy Store in opposite direction of the -main- Pearl Market building)

- Bobo's - #306
- Su Yi's - #408
- Monica's - 118


Jewelery Market (next to KFC - down steps and up some stairs - access from the street)
- Up stairs - Tommy & Susan's


Thank you once again to Pam Nooney (dcasw) for sharing all this wonderful information with us!

Now, get your comfy shoes on and go shopping! and if you have any recommendations about Beijing, please share them with us so we can post them for all to read. Send your stories to postcards@me.com. Don't forget to share this with others so we can grow and have fun!

ps- Brenda Dismuke's (dcasw) response/ comments about the above post :

"I read the Beijing posting and for the question on there here is my response.
The reason for not taking a taxi in front of the Pearl Market is that they do not use their meters. They want to give you a price and it is never a good one. Always ask for the meter to be used or get out of their taxi.

Also good vendors in the Pearl Market for jewelry are:

1. JING - on the 3rd floor (she has lots of different styles and can make you anything that you want by description or a picture) and right beside her is

2. NANCY - she used to work at Sharon's Pearls, a store upstairs that is much more expensive and worked with all the crews at that came to shop at that store. She sells great quality pearls at great prices.

Tell them both you are United and friends of Brenda and Nancy's. "

Thanks Brenda!!!!

Need a Tailor? Massage? Driver or a Guide in Beijing?

Beijing Information - Part I

Next time you fly to Beijing, please print this page before you leave. It will come in handy, I promise! It has useful information on preferred Flight Attendant "service providers" near our new hotel in downtown Beijing. The list contains suggested guides, drivers, massage and acupuncture therapists, etc - tried and tested by our most seasoned Beijing Flight Attendant fliers. This information was generously shared with us by Pam Nooney (dcasw), one of our Beijing shopping experts. Thanks a million Pam!!!

Here it goes:

For a Massage -

-Victor - comes to your room with a massage table - excellent
133-668-39496 - 100 rmb/hour (ex-Taipan Spa Masseuse)

- John - comes to your room with a massage table (ex instructor of massage - Tai Pan Spa)
135-525-61339 - 80 rmb/hour

-Li Lin - comes to your room
136-930-34694

- Dr. Li Ping - Massage and Acupuncture
136-613-36664

- Vicky - Oil Massage - comes to your room
135-013-41707

- Wang Fei - Massage & Nails - Acupuncture, Reflex Foot Massage & Body Massage
136-610-84056
email : 2005wangfei168@sina.com
3 years medical training
103 Building #4 - pink sign near SPR coffee

- Xiao Li - comes to your room with a massage table
135-216-71179
Formerly Taipan Spa Masseuse #316

- Yan Hua - (girl) - Massage table - Acupuncture studies
137-183-76047

If You Need a Tailor -

- Rose - Tailor #9
Will pick up and deliver from the hotel
Chen Yi Ping
136-513-31842

- Luo Juan - Tailor #13
Will pick up and deliver from the hotel
135-206-65468

If you Need your Nails or Hair Done -

- Sandy's Nail & Hair Salon
Behind building #6, across the street from the Marriott
139-101-45031

- Vicki & Hellen Nails -
Corner of building #3 - Across the street from the Marriott, in the walking plaza #106
With Sister's

If You Need an English Tour Guide or a Driver -

- Frank Wang - English tour guide with a car
139-108-79892

- Mr Li - Driver and car for hire
135-012-39341

- Wang Kiang - Li's brother - car for hire
135-223-19095

- Charlie Deng - Best Guide for the Forbidden City and Summer Palace!
130-200-63586

For Shopping -

- Beijing Sweetdreams Textile Duvets -
Mr. Li
136-012-62528
cnscec@yahoo.com
Best prices and US sizes
(Calif King, King, Queen & Twin comforter Duvets, Sheets -fitted and flat - Bedskirts and
Pillow Shams)
Delivers to hotel - Showroom in SoHo buildings
Call for directions and room number.

- Li's Sisters - #106
Shoe bags, Purses, Scarves, Pashminas
134-393-06889

BEIJING - The Great Wall

If you want to see the Great Wall and other sights in Beijing, especially on a budget, you can hire a driver for the whole day for about 500/700 RMB's ($70.00 - 115.00).

The drive to the Great Wall takes a little over an hour, and an early morning visit is highly suggested. If you leave Beijing by 6:30 am, you can see the sunrise over segments of the Wall and it's a spectacular view!

The other benefits of getting there early, are:
1). No crowds there that early
2). You can practically have the Wall to yourself
3). You can get back to the city and see the other great sights, like The Forbidden City, The Summer Palace, and still squeeze shopping after the sightseeing.

To hire a driver, call Susan and/or Bobby's at 13601255592 or 13701188206 - Beijing numbers.
to email ahead, write to: susan@sohu.com.

Have a great time!

Photos and story, courtesy of Josie-Lim Macauliffe (dcasw)