Located at the core center of the CBD in Beijing, Jianwai SOHO is much more than just an office and apartment space. It is also a haven for those with a youthful spirit and followers of the latest fashion trends.

Mickey's Space by Disney

Mickey's Space by Disney, a franchised store stocked with Disney dolls and toys, is a place where childhood memories will come flooding back.

Capturing the fun and fantasy of Disney, the store boasts imaginative settings and colorful eye-popping displays. Toys include items inspired by Disney characters, such as Mickey, Minnie, The Incredibles, Daisy, Donald, Pluto and Goofy. The cashier counter area features a huge, iconic Mickey shape on the back wall, with gigantic Mickey hands and shoes near the counter shaped to hold smaller products and souvenirs.

Small furniture and home accessories are also eye-catching, such as the Mickey shaped shower nozzle, lamps and bright-colored chairs. Other items include a Mickey keyboard, sound boxes and clocks.

Opening time: 10:30am-9pm.
Location: Room 0109, 2nd floor of No 6 villa, Jianwai SOHO
Tel: 010-58699221

Kid's Republic Picture Book Store

This bookstore takes the idea of curling up with a good book to new heights. With over 4,000 titles in Chinese, Japanese and English, weekend story time sessions and play areas, kids will be enthralled for hours.

It offers imported children's books published around the world, especially those from Japan, the United States and Europe. Some are available in their original languages only, some in translations of traditional or simplified Chinese, some bilingual in Japanese and Chinese or English and Chinese.

The store's hundreds of titles include famous authors and illustrators such as Eric Carle (illustrator) and Bill Martin Jr. (writer) of the United States, the Miss Maisey series by Lucy Cousins of the United Kingdom, Yoshiwo Nakae (writer) and Noriko Ueno (illustrator) of Japan, and books such as No Roses for Harry by Gene Zion (writer) and Margaret Bloy Graham (pictures).

Books range widely in cost, from 280 yuan ($34.70) for I Wish I were a Doll, a Taiwanese-translated book from Belgium, to 29.80 yuan ($3.69) for Guess How Much I Love You. There are also collectible and educational toys.

There's more than book and toy selling to make the place poplar. The store has activity areas designed to stimulate children's interest in and enjoyment with reading.

The store encourages parents to participate in reading with their kids, and on the weekend there are usually special reading activities for both children and their parents. The readings include video presentations and puppet shows.

Opening time: 10am-6pm.
Location: Room 1362, Tower 13, Jianwai SOHO
Tel: 010-58693032.

Japanese Trend Store

If you are a fan of Japanese fashion, this store is a must. Four walls are crammed with hundreds of brightly colored sports shoes, T-shirts, jeans and coats of the brands Neighborhood, No. 9, while the stands are filled with APE street clothing and BAPE toys and accessories.

The most popular are the APE camouflage clothes with original designs, vivid styles and bright colors; and Neighborhood jeans.

Opening time:  1:30pm-7:30pm
Location: Room 9339, 3rd floor, Tower 9, Jianwai SOHO
Tel: 010-58698789

Game Brother

This is the ideal place for digital game fans. You can find the most complete series of Sony PSP, PSII, PSIII, Nintendo NDSL, Will, and Microsoft XBOX360 here. The store also has the latest models of Sega's Bandai Namco pets from Japan.

Opening time: 10am-8pm.
Location: Room No. 9318, 3rd floor, Tower 9, Jianwai SOHO
Tel: 010-58699792