What to Buy in Beijing (北京)
China's capital is the home of imperial crafts — cloisonné, jade, silk and the snacks of old Beijing. The Forbidden City gift shop alone could fill a suitcase.
6 must-buy souvenirs
Cloisonné (Jingtai Lan) 景泰蓝
Beijing's signature enamel-on-copper craft, with intricate blue-and-turquoise patterns. Genuine cloisonné is heavy and hand-wired.
📍 Beijing Enamel Factory in Wangfujing
Rabbit God figurines (Tu Ye) 兔爷
Colorful painted rabbit figurines, a traditional Mid-Autumn folk toy unique to Beijing — now a beloved souvenir.
📍 Liulichang cultural street
Peking Opera masks 京剧脸谱
Hand-painted opera masks and painted eggs. Each mask color tells a character's story — red for loyalty, black for honesty.
📍 Dashilan hutong shops
Daoxiangcun pastries 稻香村糕点
Old Beijing's most famous pastry house since 1895 — packed gift boxes of sweet and savory treats.
📍 Any Daoxiangcun store
Roast duck gift packs 烤鸭礼盒
Vacuum-packed Peking duck from Quanjude or Bianyifang — the classic 'taste of Beijing' to take home.
📍 Airport and Quanjude shops
Forbidden City wenchuang 故宫文创
Clever stationery and miniatures from the Palace Museum — from calligraphy rulers to emperor-shaped fridge magnets.
📍 Forbidden City gift shop
Shopping Tips
- ·Museum shops (Forbidden City, National Museum) sell high-quality wenchuang at fair prices.
- ·Dashilan and Liulichang hutongs are the classic craft-shopping streets.
- ·Daoxiangcun bakery boxes make easy, packable gifts.