Guide to Liulichang antique market

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-05 13:59

A building at the Liulichang antique market in Beijing. [File Photo: godpp.gov.cn]

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Liulichang, or literally "colored-glaze factory," has been an artisan hub since the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), offering an array of antiques and artifacts.

Once the site of a colored-glaze kiln in the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), it has a history of 780 years. The antique market didn't come into being until the middle of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) when the kiln was moved.

Lining a 790-meter street, the market is bisected by Nanxinhua Street. Strolling along the market, you will find ancient Chinese style buildings housing paintings, calligraphy, old coins, seals, jade and collectible stamps.

The first few large stores are state-run authentic antique stores whose prices run from several thousand yuan to as high as a million per item. Those at the far ends of the market are private stores selling tea pots, painting paper, painting brushes, mostly non-antique Chinese art work and similar, attractively-priced items.

Check out the many famous "brand name" shops such as Rongbaozhai, Qingmige, and Haiwangcun, where you may find exquisite calligraphy and paintings. China Bookshop offers you material on Chinese arts and crafts.

Chinese paper-cuts, postcards and picture albums in the bookshop would also make unique and easy-to-carry souvenirs of your China tour. For your convenience, each shop has a small English introduction board at its gate.

For antique lovers, this is the time to come to Liulichang market.

"We state-run stores will offer a 30 percent to 40 percent discount during the Olympics. Normally the discount is only 10 percent. The price tags in our stores are usually final," said Gu Lijun, a saleswoman at Hongbaotang.

Located near the city center, Liulichang is within minutes of Hepingmen station on subway Line 2 or the flag fall taxi fare of 10 yuan (US$1.5) from Tian'anmen Square.

There's an Industrial and Commercial Bank of China nearby and coffee and tea houses provide snacks, drinks and shelter from the sun.