Description: I think the first thing to note about Beijing's Silk Street is that it is not actually a street, rather it is a giant four floored indoor market. The second thing to remember is that very little of what you see on the shelves is actually anywhere remotely close to being genuine.
The fact that none of the merchandise inside the walls of the silk market is genuine may deter many serious shoppers. However, there is still plenty to be said for some of the copies that are on sale. On my first visit I went with my friend Alana, who was just taken aback by the variety of bags on offer. Now I will admit I am no fashion connoissieur, and I definitely know very little about hand-bags, clutch-bags, and the likes, but I was informed that even though none of them were exactly like the real thing the resemblance was uncanny, and many were very well made. She spent what felt like a week on the basement level, where bags and shoes are on offer and spent a small fortune on various bits. She even devised an ingenious system of buying varying sizes of bag so she could fit one inside another inside another inside another and so on, like a giant bag shaped babushka doll so as to be able to transport them home.
Along with the bags, some of the clothing is also excellent quality. My first visit was almost a year ago now, and I am still wearing the same "Calvin Klein" jeans that I purchased for around $10 and they are lasting and wearing superbly. On the other hand, some stuff is genuinely cheap and proves the old adage of "you get what you pay for." I bought a pair of supposedly Nike soccer boots, which did not even manage to make the kick-off of my first match in them before they showed signs of splitting.
For me the fun of the place doesn't come in searching for the perfect bag or the best looking shirt, instead, it comes in the haggling. The golden rule at Xishui is that no price is fixed. The average sale begins with the Chinese salesgirl quoting a ridiculously inflated price. Customer and vendor then barter away until a price is reached, often one that bares no resemblance to the initial quote.
The best part is the way the sellers will try anything and everything to get a sale. When selling to men there is often some sexual wares used, the odd gentle stroke of the hand or the compliment on how handsome it makes you look. As much as you know the girl is lying, it does offer a slight nudge towards parting with some hard-earned cash. It is like a jungle, and I have to say it is that part of it that I enjoy most.
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