Beijingle bells

The financial crisis appears to have even Santa tightening his belt, so perhaps now is a good time to stop judging gifts by their price tag and start proving that it's the thought that counts. With Christmas less than a week away, it's time to start ticking off items on Christmas lists.

For those prepared to take a step off the beaten track, Beijing brings a bundle of booty, without breaking the bank.

While most tourists make a beeline for Silk Street and Pearl market, there are other options. For an "everything under one roof" experience, you can't beat Jinwuxing Market, located near Dazhongsi, on subway Line 13, at Mingguangcun, Xueyuan Nanlu.