Beijing Shopping

Opened just in time for the 2008 Olympics, this swanky 19-building development features 250 brand flagship stores like Sephora and Montblanc, fashion boutiques, retail outlets, China's first Apple Store, and an 89-room boutique hotel.

Edgy slogan-ized t-shirts, re-imagined, Mao-era memorabilia, and Chinese kites are sold at this idiosyncratic store.

Located on Wangfujing Dajie street, the 2008 Olympics flagship store sells a huge range of official branded merchandise, plus some playful examples of sporting kitsch (check out their collection of gold Olympic memorabilia).

Each weekend, a mixed crowd descends on this large, open-air market for souvenirs like Chinese handicrafts, books, antiques, rugs, and paintings. Bargain hard.

Tibet enthusiast Chris Buckley sells exquisite handwoven Tibetan carpets, rugs, and antique furniture sourced in Lhasa, the Tibetan capital. The gallery-style store is located in the Kempinski Hotel.

Created seven centuries ago, the ponds of Houhai are lined with teahouses, trendy shops, and lantern-lit pubs – an idyllic Old Beijing backdrop for sunset cocktails, rickshaw rides, and sauntering with the locals.

Invented in China some 3,000 years ago, kites are still quite prominent throughout the country. Celebrate the tradition with a colorful high-flyer of your own – although cheaper versions are sold in markets throughout the city, this family-run shop sells intricate, hand-painted renditions of the craft (from elaborate dragons to delicate butterflies) that are well worth the higher prices.