Trash & treasure

Beijing offers many opportunities for the streetwise consumer; well-known markets such as Silk Street and the Pearl Market are popular with tourists. However, it is the Panjiayuan antique market that offers the most friendly and courteous merchants, as well as an excellent selection of antique goods - but mostly fake.

Peter Mills, a visitor from the UK, offers his perspective of the market. "I was born in the year of the monkey, so I'm looking for something to remind me of that," he says. A moment later, an energetic vendor shows him an ornately carved jade monkey figurine. He shakes his head and walks away; apparently this was not the monkey he was looking for.

"They aren't as aggressive here as at the other markets, I have no objection to that," he mentions. Indeed, the vendors at Panjiayuan are polite while still being attentive; although their grasp of English isn't always great, they are a far cry from the rambunctious salesmen of Silk Street, who will often literally grab prospective buyers by the arm and drag them into their stalls.