Mother of pearls

Beijing's Hongqiao Pearl Market has long been a mecca for those looking for stunningly beautiful jewelry.

A 20-minute walk south from Chongwenmen subway station, the country's largest pearl market trades about 200 tons of pearls annually, while the world's yearly output is roughly 1,600 tons.

The market is home to all kinds of pearls, different in color, size and smoothness. Depending on the quality, the prices range from just a few yuan to thousands. There are seawater pearls, freshwater pearls, as well as coral, emeralds and other precious stones for sale. There are also plenty of fashionable pearl necklaces, exquisite pearl rings and simple yet elegant pearl pendants.