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Panjiayuan Antique Market ( 潘家园旧货市场 )
Beijing Pa nj iayuan Flea Market is located at the southwest of Panjiayuan bridge, South road of East third ring road, Chaoyang District, Beijing. Covering an area of 48,500㎡, it is divided into six sections: Roadside stands, Ancient Architecture, Classical Furniture, Modern collection, Sculpture and Stone Engraving, and the Catering section. Trading mostly in antiques, handicrafts, ornaments, and other collectibles, Panjiayuan has an annual revenue of several hundred million yuan. Having more than four thousand shop owners, this market has nearly ten thousand shop assistants in which sixty percent are from the other twenty-eight provinces and municipalities except Beijing. People here come from a variety of backgrounds, there are more than ten minorities of Hui, Man, Miao, Dong, Uigur, Mongolian, Korean, and other ethnic groups of China. Founded in 1992, this market has developed along with the success in business in folk antiques and handicrafts. Diffusing Chinese culture, it has become a large, quaintly classical market of antiques and handicrafts.
(Source: wikipedia)
The main entrance to the market proudly displays the name of the market in Chinese Calographic Characters. A most common sight that greets visitors and tourists alike at these attractions.
The mother of all "antique" markets is home to over 3,000 dealers who scour the countryside in search of antiques, family heirlooms and curios. This is the place to go for life-size terracotta warriors, vintage photographs, porcelain vases and figurines, Qing-style furniture and much, much more. The best bargains are offered early on weekend mornings, between 6 and 8.30am. Best on weekends, 4.30am-6pm (but open on weekdays as well).
The outer facade of the maket is lined with restored ancient buidlings, and now housing mostly commercial entities, mainly local Chinese eateries and cafes.
The market was converted from the manor of a wealthy Chinese that dates back to the Ming/Qing Dynasty. The architecture would suggest that as well.
Keeping in mind that this is an ancient manor, the compound within is huge to say the least. And a hustle and bustle !
One can get an inkling of the hive of activity within, as evidence by the preferred mode of transportation, all parked outside of the main compound.
Rows and rows, and seemingly endless. Mostly owned by the thousands of vendors, indicative of a highly competitive market within.
Thousands of bikes of all size, shapes and colour .... and as far as the eye can see !
Panjiayuan Antique Market ( 潘家园旧货市场 )
Beijing Pa nj iayuan Flea Market is located at the southwest of Panjiayuan bridge, South road of East third ring road, Chaoyang District, Beijing. Covering an area of 48,500?, it is divided into six sections: Roadside stands, Ancient Architecture, Classic...
I like that Marlboro themed one...
Did you pick up any antiques at the Panjiayuan Market? -MW
Revealed at the end !
The red bike caught my eye too ! Very striking! I can imagine the Chinese Marlboro Man riding into the sunset in one of these !
Part 1 - The vendors (Shops)
The market is dominated mainly by 2 types of vendors. Those with a proper shop front. And those commonly known as "road-side" vendors (ie w/o shops). Items sold in the shops are obviously different from the road-side vendors. Although not everything is ol...
Part 2 - The Vendors ("Road-Side Stalls")
The road side stalls that line the innner perimeter wall of the compound are no less interesting. Wares sold are different in nature from the shops, and a keen eye is necessary to a piece of treasure ! The stalls are very orderly lined along the streets, ...
Part 3 - Flea Market
If you think that is all to the antique market, think again..... A permanent steel roof structure has been erected, to house a Flea Market. This is within the same market compound, and impossible to miss ! This is where the real action starts ! Not for th...
Thank You for showing us the market Flamenco...
with your pictures. It somehow reminded me of the huge Chatuchek Market in Bangkok where they sell almost everything including great food and drinks. We spent a whole day there. I am referencing this post for when I make a trip to Beijing. Cheers,dreamer
Plan
For half a day, there is almost nothing else there besides the market. Although, it's a relatively huge market to explore. I went in the morning, spent a little more than 3 hrs, had a late lunch, then made my way to my next destination. And Bring your cam...
Part 4 - The Wares (ART)
No self respecting Chinese art & antique market should do without the obligatory Chinese Paintings. Of landscape, Of beauty, Of flora Of the nature This is actually a 5 metre long Caligraphy piece. And this is as much as my widest lens could capture. ...
Part 5 - The Wares (JADE)
If there was any doubt that the Chinese are obsessed with JADE, this market will unequivocally confirm that ! Jade is revered by the Chinese for its beauty and value. Jade is also believed to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck ! Jade bangles are a ...
Part 6 - The Wares (Nuts, Fruits & the Wierd)
Walnuts are serious business ! Yes, Walnuts ! And with a huge following it seems ! From the cheap to the highly prized ! I was told walnuts are graded by its colour, size and shape ! A street vendor polishing her nutz .... LOL One can even get a matching ...
LOL about the nutz!
I want one of those calabash, every Drunken Kung Fu movie has the guy carrying one of these! Did you see any of those special stones? There are supposed to be certain stones (made into necklaces and bracelets) or rocks that is good for healing and health....
Jackie Chan
Hey Ming, that was the exact image I had in mind when I saw the Calabash. These are undoubtedly made famous by the kungfu masters in the early Jackie Chan movies. They all claim their stones have multiple complication, including healing, something to do w...
LOL!!!
Drunken Master is a classic! :) Yes, the jade is something to be careful about buying, lots of fakes out there. Haven't heard about evil spirits but I do know that it actually changes colors the more you wear it. Thanks again for taking us along on your v...
Pinch of salt
Tend to take these superstition with a pinch of salt. Having said that, it's part of the culture, and being Chinese myself, very interesting to hear interpretations of local beliefs. Good to know local taboos as well, so that I don not inadvertently offen...
Final Chapter: Departure & the Spoils
Finally its time to depart the antique market. All in all, an interesting day. More to see than buy, really. But most certainly an interesting place to visit. After spending hours amongst huge crowds, its was time to feast (and to locate a more proper toi...
Mesmerizing!
Thank you for this great tour around market flamenco very insightful and joy full I must give it to jade part I adore jade!!! Sincerely Damjan
Jade
Has a very calming and soothing effect to behold. Just looking at it makes me calm! Some very nice pieces can be found, although u definitely need a keen eye to secure a good piece. That being my first trip, I was there more for photography, but am sure I...
if i ever get to China it will be on my visit list
thanks for all the pics and the explanation. i used to collect/deal in chinese blue and white porcelain and pottery so i can see i would enjoy myself immensely there. all my collection was sold, i just wish i had kept 1 piece. now you've got me in the moo...
Hey I love those as well !
Well, if I ever get round to buying one. Surprisingly, even wedgewood makes those in dragon motifs these dayz. Actually, there is a pottery market (with a working dragon klin open to visitors) as I am told, I am sure u will find something satisfactory the...
sadly no pics of any...
sadly no pics of any of it. i would like a nice charger sized plate, but prices have risen dramatically. i will look and one day something will pop up that suits me. best G On 12 Jun 2013 03:49, "www watchprosite" *Alert from:* www:watchprosite > *Posted ...
re: spoils
Supposedly KFC has really good egg tarts (dahn Taht). Did you see any? -MW
Yes Ming!
They are good, but not great. They come in 3 flavours 1. Original Flavoured 2. Red Bean Flavoured (a dash of red beans at the top before baking) 3. Portugese Egg Tarts (of Macau fame) But ....... and this is me being paranoid here .... I usually do not ea...
Sounds more like a rave to me
Not a rant but more like a rave. Except the toilet sanitation part..... :-) MTF
Boggie woggie
Waltzing and tango thru throngs of sweaty bodies turn any rave into a rant :) A great rave while it lasted ....
I haven´t been there for years ...
but I have serious doubts that it still is an antique market - 5% maybe :-) There always have been fakes , but these days there is an (almost) explosive growth of them and even at well-known auction houses you have about 80% of fakes. Nonetheless it was r...
That's the challenge!
Finding a genuine article! Modern antiques is what they most hawk these days ;) U have a very nicely painted example in Graham's birth year to boot!
i noticed that nice dragon...
i noticed that nice dragon as well. a nice decoration. G On 13 Jun 2013 15:06, "www watchprosite" *Alert from:* www:watchprosite > *Posted By:* flamenco (registered) on June 13th, 2013 - 07:06 > > *Title: That's the challenge! > * > > *
That would compliment your
Angular nicely .... While u practice the Drunken Fist over a London Pride ... LOL
haha. i would rather get...
haha. i would rather get a nice blue and white charger. why do we always regret what we sell? G On 13 Jun 2013 15:12, "www watchprosite" *Alert from:* www:watchprosite > *Posted By:* flamenco (registered) on June 13th, 2013 - 07:12 > > *Title: That would ...
"modern antiques" LOL
Calabash - well, I think there are still a few hundred in (private) stock ... :-)
Nice photos of one of my favourite hang out
places! But I'm not sure whey you totally missed out the antique watches in the flea market? There are always great Shanghai, Beijing and all big mainland brands watches on the matt for a bargain. When my luck is good, I see old Omegas and Seikos there! M...
Watches
Was under the impression that antique watches are sold. Could not find a single vendor that day!?! We have to go together some time, maybe some section that I missed?!? That said, it was a public holiday, and I could not have chosen a worse day to make my...
Skilled makers of antiques
The antiques picture reminded me of an newspaper article that I read a number of years ago while in Hong Kong. As I remember, a man was arrested trying to smuggle "antique" items supposedly from the Qin dynasty into Hong Kong from Shenzhen. The charges we...
Risks
Thanks for relating the incident, goes to show u can never be too prudent. As you pointed out, the counterfeiters have perfected the art of ageing and replicating these items, that even experts are fooled (or are they). There are always risks buying from ...
Great report
And although you didn't end up with much, the gourd you got is absolutely perfect in form. I also spend time in the markets in Shanghai, but rarely buy anything. Dean
Basking in the atmosphere
Taking it all in .... nice way to spend some time , observing the local culture and the people. Think most of us rarely buy anything, but that is not the point for most of us who visit these markets :) I can relate to that. Thank you for looking !
Thanks for sharing this nice photo report
next trip there I should pay a visit. Some of those ancient statute might contain "spirit", believe it or not.
Hey Quan
U are scarring me ! Have quite a collection of terracota warriors mini statutes back home. Personally, I like to feel a piece before making a purchase. If it does not feel right in the hands .. Probably better to concentrate on buying time pieces ... Less...
You must be referring to
the Dongtai Road antique market in Shanghai. The experience must be somewhat similar, although against a different backdrop. Thanks for looking!
Wow wonderful report flamenco!
Thanks for bringing us along on your trip. Fabulous report and it must be a joy to walk around and look at the wares there. My mom would love it there as she's a tough buyer and master bargainer. If the vendor quotes her $100, she'll say I'll buy it for $...
LOLLL
Anthony, I like your Mom already :))) I can certainly related, my mom's exactly the same! Maybe the reason I bought next to nothing was due to the absence of mom ... Thanks for looking
