Sunny Gold Street
A small two-storey market selling clothes, T-shirts, luggage, purses, wallets, some souvenirs etc. Nothing you can't also get at Yashow, but much smaller and calmer, so more relaxing. Convenient if you're staying at Lido hotel or in the area.
Liangma Flower Market
First floor is cut flowers, all very inexpensive. Around the sides are potted plants, home decorations, lamps. Upstairs are dishes and othe kitchenware.
Silk Street or the Silk Market
The original foreign-oriented market, in the first embassy district now the CBD. It was re-opened in March 2005 as a 5 storey air-conditioned building. You can find luggage, leather bags, electronics, sporting goods, jewellery, clothing and Chinese artwork. This market caters almost entirely to foreign customers. However, compared to other Asian markets in, say, Hong Kong and Bangkok, this market may be overpriced. Counterfeit Polo Ralph Lauren golf shirts in Hong Kong are roughly 30HKD US$4 while at the Silk Market, the general starting price is roughly US$50 and you would be lucky after lengthy bargaining to get the shirt for US$20. As another example of prices: bargaining for fake Diesel-brand jeans might start at ¥1200 and end up at ¥85. Shoes may not be worth buying here, as their soles are often uncomfortably thin. Tourists may want to consider spending their money elsewhere.
Sanlitun Yashow Clothing Market
This is very similar to Silk Street see above with slightly better prices. It's less touristy than Silk Street, and prices will start far closer to a reasonable sale price. The net result is the bargaining is far less aggressive and you will probably feel more comfortable with your purchases here. The vendors are generally pleasant and fun to negotiate with. A great time to visit is in the mid afternoon, when sales are slower. There is a floor dedicated to children's clothing. There are also shops with consumer electronics, china, bedding, and so on. This market is within walking distance of several hotels, including the Great Wall Sheraton. There is a fairly safe food court on the top floor. There are several bespoke tailors for men here; they will custom-make suits in less than 24 hours at prices that will amaze. You pick the fabric and style, they measure you, you come back for a trial fitting, and then you pick up the suits the next day.
Friendship Store
A relic of communist China: where all foreigners used to have to shop. Prices are very high, and not surprisingly there's hardly anyone there. Come here to browse in peace and see what items and styles you like: then go to Silk market or Yashow to bargain for them.
Ladies' Street
A varied shopping area in the new embassy district. Nuren Jie itself has restaurants and shops/market selling womens' clothing hence the name. There is also the Laitai Flower Market, which sells potted plants, planters, cut flowers, and above and below has art and home decorations. Similar small shops line the street opposite the flower market. Opposite Laitai is an area called "Super Bar Street" with bars and restaurants, and during the day also has a large indoor market with mostly electronics.