China’s capital city is a fascinating mix of traditional buildings and gleaming new skyscrapers, and its shopping scene reflects this fusion. Charming century-old tea shops line narrow alleyways while in sleek, multi-story malls, global and local chains beckon shoppers. In Beijing, here’s where to find the best mix of tradition and trends on your shopping excursion.
798 Art ZoneThis complex of former factory buildings in Chaoyang district, northwestern Beijing, is one of the capital’s most unusual shopping destinations. The Bauhaus-style buildings from the mid-1950s used to house machinery that manufactured military goods. The factories were later decommissioned and, in the early 1980s, artists moved in. Today it’s a thriving gallery complex dotted with charming shops.