Day 4: The Art of Bargaining.

Today we spent the day at the Silk Market. It is located in the part of the city that was first exposed to foreigners. Originally, this was actually a street that sold Chinese silk to foreigners. In the early 2000's the market was placed into a new building where it is found now. This multistory building is now packed with shops selling everything from silk to fake iPads to baby clothing. 

We saw many fake name-brand purses, scarves, shoes and clothing. The items you see out front are very visibly fake. Sometimes the brand logos aren't even close to the real ones. However, if the seller sees that you are actually interested, they might dig under a shelf and bring out a better fake and if you seem very keen, they might go to some other room and come back a few minutes later with a box containing the best fake available. Some of these fakes can be quite good. However, you can still get ripped off if you don't know how to bargain. 

And Cece knows how to bargain.

There was something I wanted to buy and after one bad experience, in which Cece claims I got ripped off, I let Cece do all the talking while I ogled at the tightly-packed walls of fakes. We walked into the shop and started looking at the thing. Cece started complaining about the quality, compared it to others, etc. The seller offered it for 250 yuan and Cece started talking. Afterwards, I found out that she went straight for 30 and the seller lowered to 100. We started leaving the shop at that point. The seller started going own by the tens until she reached 50 at which point she refused to go any lower and we kept walking. 

A few rows down, we saw another shop selling the same thing and so we barged in, complained a bit about the quality and then Cece offered 40 yuan and that's how much it was sold for. Later Cece explained that she used the first shop to test what the reasonable limit was and then offered 10 below that at the next shop. I guess there's a reason she's starting work on Wall Street this summer!

Earlier, I had my own bargaining experience after which I kept my mouth shut the rest of the time. I was offered a price of 650 yuan. Cece was talking softly and quietly to the seller so I didn't think anything serious was going on. Hoping to show my bargaining know-how, I refused the price, so it went down a few notches. Then I jumped down to 150 and stayed at that. At that point Cece stopped talking. The seller started refusing but eventually gave in and we left with a new purchase. At that point, Cece told me that she was about to settle the deal for 60 yuan when I proposed my stupid 150. Oh well. I thought I was doing so well!

After the previous market, I did not even bother taking photos here.  Each floor had its own specialization. There were not only fakes of big name brands, but also fakes brands such as Forever 21. there were even fakes of OPI nail polish and makeup! 

Not only luxury products were faked, but also backpacking packpacks. There were many fake Northfaces and Lowe Alpines! Who would have thought? Since most of the products being faked are made in China, there's a good chance that the good fakes aren't far from the originals and perhaps even started out in the same factories ...

Outside the market is a pretty busy place which was the first place offered to foreigners. Therefore, there is a Starbucks and a McDonalds almost next door to eachother.

As a matter of principle, I had to go to a Chinese McDonalds. The fries were the same as always, the chicken nuggets could have been bigger and juicier. The menu was much smaller but it did have some Chinese flair.

McDonalds and Starbucks are not the only American culinary influences in Beijing.

When cars first started getting widely purchased in the early 2000's, the market was more or less a free-for-all. However, the cars started getting out of control so now there is a lottery everyone must enter to get a license. That is the license that goes on the car and a car cannot be purchased without a license. Of course, paying a little extra to the right person might make significantly expedite the process. This new system has also created a new possible crime: stealing license plates off of cars. 

A three-wheeled car. 

This is one of the bigger and newer and richer shopping malls in Beijing called The Palace. The above two pictures show a huge screen that is completely lit up at night. People can also pay to have their own media displayed (ahem guys thinking of how to pop the question!).

So the Hollister boys aren't the only bit of California in Beijing.

The place where British Eton School kiddies go while their parents must stay in Beijing for some time. The locals can also go here, but for a certain tuition.

Some newer buildings, truly monumental. And a bit of traffic. 

Cars actually don't stop. I've tested this. I do not recommend standing in front of even a slow-moving car, even if you think it is your american-driving-rules right of way. You'll be thought of as a lunatic.

Cheers,

Nina.