Xidan, starting at the intersection of Xidan North Street and West Chang¡¯an Street, is one of the major shopping streets in Beijing, a venue comparable to Wangfujing. Wangfujing however is a pedestrian street, while buses and cars can cut through Xidan¨Dalbeit not very fast with so many shoppers.
The history of Xidan shopping area dates back to the Ming Dynasty (A.D.1368~1644). At that time, all the goods sent to the imperial court from the Southwest passed through the place, which eventually became a commercial center. Today, malls and department stores line up the street, and offer something for everyone at different price levels.
This sightseeing walk should take you 20-30 minutes to complete. If you plan to shop or window-shop, it will take you half a day at least. Xidan is very crowded on weekends and at night, which will affect the time you spend walking.
Let¡¯s start our walk from the northwest exit of the Xidan subway station. Assuming you came out of the right exit, you will see West Chang¡¯an Street to your left, and an area which looks like a small park on your right. You can grab some snacks there after you are done shopping, and enjoy a light outdoor meal on the spot.
Our goal is to hit the department stores first. March forward until you reach the intersection with Xidan Beidajie (Xidan North Street). You don¡¯t need to cross the street: simply turn right here, and walk north to reach your first destination.
The Zhongyou Department Store
The Zhongyou Department Store caters to the younger generation. This eight-story building offers the hottest and newest fashionable items for teenagers and college students bent in keeping up with the trend.
The store abounds with domestic and foreign brands popular with them: Chanel, Dior, and Lancome for cosmetics. Swarovski, Chow Tai Fook, and Chow Sang Sang for jewelry. Should you be interested in clothes, brands on offer include Only, Oasis, and Nautica. For shoes, go to the basement level: there you will find a large selection of popular sport shoe brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Puma.
Catering at this department store also reflects the tastes of its target customers: McDonald¡¯s, KFC, Starbucks, and a Buds ice cream bar on the basement floor.
The Grand Pacific Department Store
To reach the Grand Pacific Department Store, simply use the overpass to cross the street. The store is very easy to locate, you can¡¯t miss the huge ¡°Grand Pacific¡± sign on its facade. Unlike Zhongyou, Grand Pacific loves big spenders.
Opened in December 2003, Grand Pacific is still the largest department store in Beijing. Elaborately designed, the shopping areas -- seven floors and a basement floor in all -- feel spacious and comfortable to shop.
On the sidewalk outside the Grand Pacific Store, two bronze statues will catch your eye: one is a cellist, the other a singing rock star.
Enter the department store, and you will understand why it got such a reputation. Everything about the place screams high class, from its facilities to the high-tech equipment. The shop assistants are well trained, and extremely courteous. The items on display are made by famous brands, reserved for high-end consumers.
If you¡¯re hungry for western fast food, the basement floor offers numerous choices: bread loafs from Fresh Bakery, for instance.
Let¡¯s continue our walk, by crossing the street on the overpass, back to Zhongyou, and head north.
The Xidan Shopping Centre
You will pass by many small shops along your way. Their small size is a feature of most Chinese shops. They tend to focus on a single brand or type of product. Department stores likes the ones we just visited are relatively rare.
Pretty soon, you will come across the Xidan Shopping Center. Built on eight floors, the shopping center is mostly frequented by idle income earners, both young and old. Its first floor features various local specialties such as preserved fruits, and sugar-coated haws. On its second and third floors clothes are offered at moderate prices. From the fourth to the seventh floor, the focus is on apparel and accessories appealing to youngsters. The eighth floor is reserved to light dining. There, you will find a variety of snacks and fast food coming from all over China.
The last department store to visit in Xidan is also the most famous one. It is located right next to the Xidan Shopping Center, to the north.
The Xidan Department Store
With a history of over 70 years, the Xidan Department Store is the oldest, largest, and most reputed store on the Xidan Shopping Street. Over the years, it has developed into a modern, fashionable mall which caters to all levels of purchasing power.
The Xidan Department Store is divided into several sections, each with its distinctive style. For instance, the south building focuses on well-off adults: it carries brand-name cosmetics, watches and clothes. The north building attracts young men. Its sells sportswear, and casual attire.
As you enter the store, check out the sign by the entrance door to see where everything is located. Thankfully, there are English signs to help you navigate around.
The Mall in the Back
As you can imagine, the rent for the stores we visited is not cheap. So while the quality of the merchandise they carry is not an issue, you won¡¯t get any bargains. In order to find cheaper prices, you need to visit the shopping mall behind them.
To reach it, simply retrace your steps to Xidan Shopping Center. You should see a small street going left. Turn there. You will notice plenty of small shops, and the Hwa Apartment Hotel to your left.
Another McDonald¡¯s is standing there. If you count correctly, you will have seen 3 McDonald¡¯s, 2 KFCs, and 2 Starbucks during just this walk!
The Xidan Mingzhu Department Store stands on your right side, at the end of the street. This building features over a thousand vendor booths distributed on 5 floors above ground. They sell diverse items such as clothes, inexpensive jewelry, and handicrafts appealing to the Beijing youth. Prices are much cheaper at the stores we visited, but the quality is not guaranteed.
If you browse patiently, you will find many interesting items here. After all, not everything you buy needs to be branded by a famous designer. Be sure to haggle with the salespeople: you can usually get what you want at half the price tag.
Try various snacks from the Chinese provinces on the 6th floor. A coarse grain buffet restaurant named Jia Jia Roughage Food King is famous for its healthy selection, and low prices.
To return to the subway station, simply leave the Mingzhu Department Store, and turn right at the T-intersection. Continue forward, and you will find the Xidan station on your left. |
