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Beijing Pearl Market: Location, Prices & Buying Tips
By Tina
August 17, 2026
Shopping in China is something you just have to do... We all know that, and Beijing is one of those places where you might end up heading home with quite a bit more than you bargained for.
One of the classics is the Pearl Market in Beijing, which is a huge market located next to the Temple of Heaven. In this market, pearls are just the beginning. Across its floors, you will find jewellery, silk, clothing, accessories and all kinds of souvenirs, haggling included.
In this Trip.com guide, we’ll tell you what’s worth buying, how much to pay, how to get there, and share some tips for navigating the Hongqiao Market without ending up buying the first thing you see.
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📍 How to Get to Pearl Market in Beijing?
The Beijing Pearl Market is at 9 Tiantan Road, Dongcheng District, just to the east of the Temple of Heaven. In other words, it's very easy to combine both visits into the same morning or afternoon. If you're looking for how to get to the Beijing Pearl Market, the metro is usually the most convenient option, although you can also hop in a taxi or use Didi (China's equivalent to Uber).
🚇 Getting here / transport | 📍 How to get there | ⏱️ Approx. time |
🚇 Metro | Take Line 5 to Tiantan Dongmen (天坛东门). From there, the market is just a few minutes' walk away. | 5-10 min walk from the station |
Exit through the east gate and cross over towards Tiantan Road. | 5-10 min walk | |
🛍️ Wangfujing | Metro with a connection to line 5, getting off at Tiantan Dongmen. | 25-35 mins |
🏮 Qianmen | Metro with a transfer to line 5. | 25-35 mins |
Walk to a nearby station and continue by metro to Tiantan Dongmen. | 35-45 mins | |
🚕 Taxi / Didi | Set Hongqiao Market (红桥市场) as your destination. It’s the most convenient option if you’re carrying bags or travelling in a group. | 15-30 min from the centre |
💡 Trip.com tip
The handiest combo is to visit the Temple of Heaven first and then walk over to the Hongqiao Market. That way, you don't have to trek across Beijing just for shopping, and you make the most of your day.
📍 Beijing Pearl Market address: 9 Tiantan Road, Dongcheng District, Beijing
🕐 Beijing Pearl Market Opening Hours
The Beijing Pearl Market has quite long opening hours, so there's no need to plan your whole day around it. Even so, choosing the right time makes a big difference, especially if you want to browse the stalls and haggle without so many people around.
- 🕐 Usual opening hours: 10:00 to 19:30, every day.
- 📅 Opening days: Hongqiao Market is open from Monday to Sunday, although hours may change during major Chinese holidays.
- ☀️ Best time to go: between 10:00 and 12:00, Monday to Friday. There are usually fewer visitors, so you can wander around the stalls at a much more leisurely pace.
- 🏯 Busiest time: in the afternoon, crowds start to arrive after visiting the nearby Temple of Heaven, especially during weekends and peak season.
- ⏱️ How much time you need: allow between 1 and 2 hours to wander through the market, compare prices, and shop at your leisure. If you're specifically looking for pearls or jewellery, you'll likely spend a bit longer.
- 🧧 Chinese holidays: during celebrations like Chinese New Year, it's worth checking the Pearl Market's opening hours before you head over, as some shops may open later or close.
💡 Trip.com tip
Visit the Temple of Heaven first thing in the morning and then head into the market. You'll avoid some of the busiest hours, and you'll have the whole afternoon free to explore more of Beijing.
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💎 What to Buy at Beijing Pearl Market?
Pearls and jewellery are the star buys at the Beijing Pearl Market. However, the Hongqiao Market is much bigger than it looks from the outside, and you will also find silk, clothing, bags, jade, tea sets and practically any souvenir you can imagine. It’s all about knowing where it’s worth stopping.
🦪 Pearls and jewellery
This is the part that makes it worth coming. The upper floors are home to many of the shops specialising in freshwater and saltwater pearls, with pieces ranging from simple earrings to much higher-quality necklaces.
Among the things you can find:
- Freshwater pearls: the most common and affordable option. Simple earrings can cost around ¥30-100 (£4-£12), while a necklace can start from ¥100-300 (£12-£36).
- Saltwater pearls: rarer and usually more expensive. A good quality piece can easily exceed ¥500 (£60) and increase significantly depending on the type of pearl.
- Necklaces and bracelets: you'll find everything from affordable tourist designs to selected, custom-assembled pieces.
- Earrings and rings: a good option if you want to buy pearls in Beijing without spending too much or taking up space in your suitcase.
- Jade: you'll find bracelets, pendants, rings and small figurines, but the quality and authenticity vary wildly.
- Other stones: coral, quartz, agate, and various semi-precious stones also appear.
🧣 Silk, clothing and accessories
Another quite entertaining part of this market is the textile and accessories stalls. Here, you really need to take a good look before buying, as the quality can vary significantly from one shop to the next.
🛍️ Product | 💴 Approximate price | 💷 Approximately |
🧣 Simple scarf | ¥30-80 | £3-7 |
🪡 Higher quality silk scarf | ¥100-300+ | £10-28+ |
👘 Traditional-style garment | ¥100-400 | £10-36 |
👕 Clothing and t-shirts | ¥40-150 | £4-14 |
👜 Bags and accessories | ¥80-300+ | £8-28+ |
Silk scarves are probably the most interesting purchase in this category: they’re lightweight, fit into any corner of your suitcase, and make for a great gift. Mind you, always ask about the composition. Just because something looks silky doesn’t necessarily mean it’s 100% silk.
It’s a similar story with clothes, bags and suitcases. There’s plenty to choose from, but these are products that are easy to find in other markets and shopping centres in Beijing, so there’s no need to buy them here at all costs.
🎁 Chinese souvenirs and gifts
Got room left in your suitcase? If so, this part can be dangerous. The market is full of little Beijing souvenirs that start off costing very little and end up turning into five different gifts.
Some practical purchases include:
- Decorated chopsticks: from ¥10-30 (£1-4) for simple sets.
- Chinese fans: around ¥20-80 (£2-10), depending on the material and decoration.
- Tea sets: from around ¥80-300 (£10-36); handcrafted models can cost significantly more.
- Small crafts and decorations: magnets, ornaments, calligraphy, and figurines from ¥10-50 (£1-£6).
- Costume jewellery and affordable pieces: from ¥20-100 (£2-£12).
- Small gifts: Chinese stamps, embroidered pouches, bookmarks and other easy-to-carry souvenirs from just a few yuan.
What to buy in Beijing? Typical souvenirs and shopping for travellers
🤝 Tips for Buying at Beijing Pearl Market
Haggling at the Pearl Market in Beijing is quite common. Don't automatically accept the first price: look at the same product in several stalls, make a counter-offer and negotiate calmly. There's also no such thing as always offering a specific percentage, because the margin changes depending on the shop and what you are buying.
And don't be afraid to walk away if the price isn't right for you. It's all part of the game, and in fact, the seller might just make you one last offer before you leave.
💎 How to recognise a high-quality pearl
When buying pearls in Beijing, pay particular attention to the lustre, surface, and shape. Pieces with an intense reflection, few imperfections, and a round shape usually have a higher value. For necklaces, it is also worth checking that the pearls are uniform in size and colour.
Mind you, these tips aren't enough to prove that a pearl is genuine. For expensive purchases in this market, compare several jewellers, ask whether they are freshwater or saltwater, and request a certificate where appropriate.
💳 How to Pay at Pearl Market in Beijing?
To pay at the Pearl Market in Beijing, the most practical option is to have Alipay set up on your phone. Tourists can link certain international cards to the app and pay by scanning the vendor's QR code, just like in most of China.
WeChat Pay is another widely used option that also allows you to link compatible international cards. Even so, it's worth carrying some cash in yuan (RMB) just in case a small stall prefers it.
💡 Trip.com tip
Set up Alipay before you travel to China and add your card in advance. You'll save yourself the hassle of doing it right outside the market, with your shopping waiting.
📶 Don't waste time looking for Wi-Fi when you arrive. Activate your eSIM for China with Trip.com, from just £0.44.
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1936122 booked
⚖️ Pearl Market or Silk Market: Which one is better?
Both are among the best-known Beijing markets for tourists, but it’s not worth treating them as if they were exactly the same. The Pearl Market wins for jewellery and gifts, while the Beijing Silk Market offers more variety for those who simply want to spend a few hours shopping.
🛍️ Appearance | 💎 Pearl Market | 🧣 Silk Market |
⭐ Speciality | Pearls and jewellery | Clothing and accessories |
🎁 Souvenirs | Lots of variety | Lots of variety |
🧣 Silk | Available | Greater prominence |
🤝 Haggling | A common sight at many stalls | A common sight at many stalls |
📍 Nearby | Temple of Heaven | Jianguomen |
🛍️ Perfect for | Jewellery, pearls and gifts | Clothing and varied shopping |
Although both always appear among the best markets in Beijing for shopping, each one has its own speciality.
🏯 Beijing Pearl Market and Temple of Heaven: A Perfect Combo
One of the great advantages of the Beijing Pearl Market is its location, right next to the Temple of Heaven. So it makes little sense to do both visits separately.
The most practical approach is to visit the Temple of Heaven in the morning, when there are fewer crowds and the temperatures are usually more pleasant. Afterwards, head out via the East Gate area and you'll be at the Pearl Market in just a 5-10 minute walk. You can allow about 2-3 hours for the Temple of Heaven and another 1-2 hours for the Pearl Market.
⭐ Is it worth visiting the Pearl Market in Beijing?
Yes, especially if you're already planning to visit the Temple of Heaven. It's so close that it's worth setting aside an hour to pop in, have a look around, and pick up a souvenir from Beijing.
✈️ Book your flight + hotel to China at the best price on Trip.com
❓ FAQ – Beijing Pearl Market
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Are the pearls at Beijing Pearl Market genuine?
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How much do pearls cost in Beijing?
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How do I get from the Pearl Market to the Temple of Heaven?
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Can I pay with Alipay at the Pearl Market?
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How long do I need to visit the Hongqiao Market?
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Is the Pearl Market or the Silk Market better?
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