West of Panjiayuan Bridge
10/6775-2405
HOURS: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m., Sat.-Sun. 4:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
METRO: Jinsong Road (Line 10)
Although the antiques you’ll find at Panjiayuan might not be as old as their sellers would have you believe, the market is a great source of quirky souvenirs and gifts.
It’s best to go on weekends when it opens at 4:30 a.m. Weekdays the market operates inside a warehouse from 8:30 a.m. and is less interesting.
Pick your way through stall upon stall of Peoples’ Liberation Army memorabilia, Tibetan trinkets, statues, old books and magazines, and every other curio imaginable. This area was a printing and textile hub in the Qing Dynasty, and its name refers to the clan village of the Pan family.
Make sure you bargain, and keep your eyes peeled for a true gem among the bric-a-brac.