Any Beijinger out there?

[McCurry]

Just moved to Beijing, wondering if there are any rocking shops/deals around town. I know Uniqlo is super cheap and decent, but any other decent brands that are afforable around town? Some of the name brand are marsupially expensive, but come on I know a lot of name brands are made in China and Japan is just few clicks away, got to be some sweet shops/deals around no?

ThankS!

 

[ghostdog123]

muji, net(if it exists in China), also walk around all your local Sogos, Korean/Japanese import brands of subpar quality should abound.

I'm far more experienced with Taiwan really... I would suggest night markets but apparently in China they do not sell clothes there.

 

[NaTionS]

Nothing worth buying in Beijing, spend your money on good food.

 

[McCurry]

Rats, isn't A.P.C. made in China, they got to smuggle some over to the capital right? I know Muji and Uniqlo are popular here, but is that all we got from our neighbor Japs?

 

[Synthese]

Originally Posted by NaTionS

Nothing worth buying in Beijing, spend your money on good food.

there is none in beijing

 

[Eason]

Originally Posted by NaTionS

Nothing worth buying in Beijing, spend your money on good food.

Originally Posted by Synthese

there is none in beijing
This. There is also no good shopping. Bosa Magine would be a good brand at Zara prices. But it's at designer levels and though made in italy, it's still a Chinese brand and the quality isn't at the price point. I just remembered how much I ******* hate Beijing. I hope somebody nukes that shithole. Today.

 

[NaTionS]

I found the food pretty good there. Lamb on a stick from street vendors and hotpot were delicious. Also Beijing duck. I'm getting hungry just writing this.

 

[Nereis]

Guangzhou is where its at for cheap eats and good food in general. Mind you like everywhere in China the service is terrible.

 

[dacox]

+1 again to China shopping kinda sucks. Foreign brands usually way overpriced, Chinese brands quality usually sucks, H&M/Zara... eh
Uniqlo is not bad for basics. Maybe some MTM/bespoke, but again, quality is usually pretty ******.

I know Nanjing and Shanghai best though, but don't think Beijing is much different.

Edit: RE streetfood: I eat it. It usually tastes good. I've also gotten food poisoning.

 

[drmmr]

Ah, land of pirated anything. Most recently (afaik), red wine. Char Siew buns with fillings made of cardboard. Tainted baby foods.

Hated that place the day I got into the city. But I must say, Peking duck is absolutely brilliant. Nothing else does Beijing offer though.

 

[Duff_Man]

Originally Posted by Eason

I've seen Beijing look sunny and brilliant precisely once my entire life, and I doubt I'll ever see it that clear and beautiful ever again.

 

[ghostdog123]

Originally Posted by drmmr

Ah, land of pirated anything. Most recently (afaik), red wine. Char Siew buns with fillings made of cardboard. Tainted baby foods.

Hated that place the day I got into the city. But I must say, Peking duck is absolutely brilliant. Nothing else does Beijing offer though.

Why are you using 2 different romanizations of the same word in consecutive sentences?

 

[McCurry]

Yeah this city is pretty messed up. I got an interview at Vancouver next week, and crossing my fingers that I land that job.

There are just way too much '3rd world country' issues over here. I don't even know where to start

but shame that there are no fashion police down here. Just a bunch of marsupially rich government officials (and their spawns) wearing the most expensive **** that they can get their hands on.. because it gives them status

 

[subdivide]

I lived in Shanghai from 2004 to 2008 and enjoyed buying vintage clothes on ebay, and making the most of the tailoring markets, which Beijing has a few of too.

Walk in there with some magazine cutout photos, or very clearly detailed drawings of what you want, and they'll make it for you. The more you know about garment construction, the better. While most of the fabrics for sale in the markets are crappy, look hard enough and you'll find great stuff. Suits and blazers usually come out the best, but so do overcoats, vests and jackets.

I would usually make a trip just to buy fabrics, bring them home, and come up with designs based on the fabric. Then I'd go back to the market, get measured, and discuss what I wanted. It's incredibly cheap, and the more you're able to explain in Chinese, the better the results will be. Find a tailor who does what you want, and stick with him or her.

Retail in China sucks in every way.

 

[drum]

Originally Posted by McCurry

Just a bunch of marsupially rich government officials (and their spawns) wearing the most expensive **** that they can get their hands on.. because it gives them status

I always lol at this whenever I'm in Asia, and it's not just limited to clothes either. They'll buy any material good that screams how much money they spent on it, although I've seen some people cut out the 'subtlety', instead waving around huge wads of cash in public.