Beijing Shopping Spree

Muxiyuan, Beijing’s biggest and most chaotic fabric market

Getting there

Your best bet is to take the subway. Hop on Line 5 to Liujiayao, exit A, then jump in a cab for approximately ten minutes to Muxiyuan.
You will turn right onto the main strip where you need to look out for the Zhongrenzhong market to the east, and Jingdu market to the west.
Most taxi drivers won’t know these markets by name, but once you ask around you’ll be pointed in the right direction. Alternatively, you can take bus number 2 from Qianmen, which terminates at Muxiyuan long distance bus station next to the main markets.

so..im looking for silk and lace.... only ;)

Silk
If you fancy going down the silk route then make a beeline for the Zhongrenzhong north market. Laoying Silk is the most famous shop on the block, specialising in silk from Hangzhou, and if you’re lucky you may meet Laoying himself.
It’s the best place to hit up if you’re hoping to make a qipao as it has every variety of Chinese fabric imaginable. Silk is usually not cut very widely at around 114cm, so bear this in mind when selecting the amount. Laoying’s silk and brocade silk is around 50RMB per metre.
To make sure you’re buying real silk, take a loose thread and light it. If it’s real, it will turn to ash and smell like burning hair. If it’s fake, it will melt or smell like paper.
The Guangsheng Silk Company can be a little hit or miss, depending on what samples they have at the time of visiting. However it’s a firm favourite with the designer set.
They tout silk ranging from just 30-100RMB per metre and there’s a great selection of silk linings too. For those who wish to avoid shiny silk, Ye Tian Wei Silk Co is the place to go – the selection here is very neutral, and almost looks like linen (40-100RMB/metre).

Ribbon, lace, extras
For exquisite lace fabric and trimmings, both Kai Da Knitting & Textiles and EMA Ribbon & Lace have the widest selection. Material ranges from 10-60RMB/metre, while trimmings cost from 1-6RMB.
And if you’re a Chinese popstar or actress, it’s more than likely your designer will have been to Jingfeng Handicrafts to select your fabric.
This glitzy two floor emporium is perfect for seeking out a fancy dress costume, with feather boas, sequins and masks all in abundance.
There are some really beautiful fabrics here – even if you’re not hunting for a wedding dress or a fi gure skater’s outfit. With handsewn silks and lace at 165RMB/metre, we found fabric here we didn’t see elsewhere in Muxiyuan.
If you’re a do-it-yourself kind of person, make a beeline for Yaoyuan Yaoyu, which sells everything you could possibly need to get kitted out like a genuine seamstress.
With a rainbow of threads at 3RMB per roll, tape measures and pins (5RMB), Velcro in every colour (9RMB per set), and elastic (5RMB per metre), it’s worth stopping off here if you’re constructing your own masterpiece.

Guangsheng Silk Company Stall 15-16, Row 7, Zhongrenzhong Qingfang Shichang Bei, Muxiyuan, Fengtai district (8727 5088, 139 0102 2364). Open 8.30am-6pm daily.



ah.... suddenly i felt... its not fair