Address: Wang Fu Jing, Located just off Chang An Road
( 王府井 )

Beijing is not generally a pedestrian friendly city. However, the famous Wangfujing shopping street, just minutes from Tiananmen Square, is certainly the exception to the rule. The area has an eclectic mix of high end fashion boutiques and much more affordable shops. There are many restaurants in the area, but even if you’re not there to eat or shop, it is still a great place to people watch or just to wander and enjoy the crowds. Whilst all the action seems to be in the main steet, be sure to browse the interesting places tucked away in the side steets and alleys. 

 

On the south end of Wangfujing is the Oriental Plaza. The Plaza is a huge shopping mall that contains a movie theatre, plenty of restaurants, and countless clothing stores, including many designer outlets, which, judging by the prices, are the real deal. Shopping in the Oriental Plaza is a very different experience to trawling the markets of Beijing; if it’s bargains you are looking for you are in the wrong place. This is a glitzy and upmarket mall. 

 

Wangfujing is also a good place to go hunting for books, as the Foreign Languages Bookstore is a very good resource for English speaking travelers or expats in the city.

 

Also See: Wangfujing Food Street.