Silk Street

Silk Street

China's only world-renowned market, proudly featured on the global tourism map; in the eyes of foreign visitors, it's a must-visit destination alongside the Great Wall, the Forbidden City, and Peking duck—this is Silk Street. Over 20 years ago, a group of hopeful young people set up simple stalls along East Silk Street in Beijing, taking advantage of the area’s proximity to the embassy district to trade in silk and foreign trade garments. Though modest and still finding its footing, it was already radiating innate elegance with the poise of a seasoned presence.

Word quickly spread, attracting more and more visitors and admiration. Gradually, it became overwhelmed and a bit exhausted—the fame of Silk Street had grown too great, foot traffic too concentrated, and its capacity stretched beyond its limits. It needed rest, and a rebirth through transformation. And so, the new Silk Street was born.

About Silk Street

Take Beijing Subway Line 1 to Yong’anli Station to reach Silk Street. This Chinese goods market, found on many world tourism maps, was once jokingly referred to as “China's only world-renowned market.” “Climb the Great Wall, visit the Forbidden City, eat Peking duck, and shop at Silk Street”—Beijing’s Silk Street, along with these other “symbols of Beijing,” has become a landmark for travelers from around the world. Established in 1980, the Silk Street market initially consisted of just a few scattered shops nestled among embassies and diplomatic residences, with few nearby residents and little promise as a consumer market. Who could have imagined that ten years later, it would become a bustling “folk trading center” sought after by overseas tourists, even earning the moniker from economists of a “21st-century Along the River During the Qingming Festival, tailored by the scissors of reform and opening-up.” With trendy merchandise, a unique location, a “bargaining” business model, and multilingual interactions, Silk Street carved out an irreplaceable position as a melting pot of brands, fashion, and diverse cultures. On January 6, 2005, the old “Silk Street Market” closed for renovation; on March 19, the new “Silk Street” officially opened, bidding farewell to the open-air conditions of the old market and continuing the “Silk Street” legacy within a building. The new “Silk Street” is essentially a department store, covering a construction area of 28,000 square meters with 1,500 stalls, offering shelter for merchants. In the past, Silk Street attracted overseas tourists with highly realistic “brand-name” imitations. Today’s Silk Street is evolving. “Cultural Silk Street, Fashionable Silk Street, Branded Silk Street, Innovative Silk Street” is the image the new “Silk Street” is cultivating.

At the new “Silk Street,” you can find authentic clothing in the “Premium Corridor” or hunt for creatively designed goods from foreign trade orders. Moreover, the new “Silk Street” now boasts the highest density of time-honored Chinese brands: Quanjude, Ruifuxiang, Tongrentang, Qianxiangyi, Neiliansheng, and Shengxifu all have a presence here. From branded apparel, handicrafts, pearls, silk, and antiques to iconic Chinese offerings, and including Peking duck restaurants, Western cafes, fast-food joints, and convenient supermarkets—this is Beijing’s “Silk Street.”