There is a popular clothing market in Beijing, not only for Chinese teenagers, but also for foreign people visiting or studying in the capital. This place is located near Wudaokou (五道口) and took its name after its situation. College students, especially from overseas, make up of the base of its clientele. The Wudaokou clothing market mainly offers casual wear: jeans, cotton T-shirts, caps, and shoes. But you will also find accessories such as bags, cosmetics, and nail polish.

Enter the market, and you will see all sorts of clothes on display on the 1st floor. Decorative items are found on the 2nd floor. Many store owners greet prospective clients in Chinese, Korean, and English. The market is divided in three sections: Southern, Central, and Northern. Each comprises four aisles. Stroll around for a while, and you cannot but be soon ravished by the variety of clothing styles.

I entered a shop which offered jeans, sweaters, and shirts in the Korean style. According to the pretty shop owner, their selection is manufactured in Guangzhou but designed in Korea. She recommended a pair of deep-blue jeans of a good making priced at RMB 190, and explained that many Korean girls often come back to her shop.

I also paid a visit to another shop, located on the 1st floor. Its Korean owner and his two assistants could speak Chinese and Korean fluently, and some English. Most of their selection was girls’ wear. The shop offers a few large-size T-shirts well suited to Western customers.

The Wudaokou market is so big, it takes in general 4 to 5 hours to visit it entirely. When you feel exhausted, there are a few snack eateries outside of the market. They offer Malatang (麻辣烫, a kind of Chinese food), Zicaibaofan (紫菜包饭, a Korean snack), and Zhachoudoufu (炸臭豆腐, a kind of traditional Chinese snack).

Wudaokou shop owners accept bargaining with you. In general, prices for casual wear range from RMB 80 to RMB 500, and T-shirts and shoes sell for between RMB 50 and RMB 200. Accessories and baubles can be found for anywhere between RMB 10 and RMB 200.

As the place is definitely crowded, I advise you to keep a close tab on your personal things, money, mobile phone, etc.

What I appreciated:

Korean design, bargaining

What customers appreciate:

Fashion design, bigger-size items for overseas clients