Category > shopping

An Ode to O2Sun

Welcome to book heaven! Like most book nerds, I can spend hours browsing a bookstore, and this is particularly true of the branches of the Fujianese bookstore chain O2Sun. Branches can be found all over China, and it is the kind of store that is definitely more oriented towards a younger, relatively hip reader with [...]

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PaperTalk: Celebrating the Charm of Paper

PaperTalk is one of my favourite, favourite places in Beijing. Nestled in Fangjia Hutong (方家胡同), this adorable shop specializes in paper products and specialty papers from all around the world. It is all very fitting considering that paper was a Chinese invention. PaperTalk Proprietor Haiyi is passionate about paper, and PaperTalk is a perfect platform [...]

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The Secret Boutique: Wuhao

Beijing is not a city particularly known for its fashion or its style, at least, not yet, but sometimes one stumbles across both. Hidden behind a door with only its street number, the stylish boutique Wuhao calls itself a “curated shop”. Situated in a gorgeous siheyuan–formerly occupied by Wanrong, the Last Empress, before she was [...]

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Chairman Obama!

Great leaders of China: Hu, Wen, Mao Deng, and Obama! The Republicans are right! Obama IS a Socialist! Here he is, rocking the Chairman Mao look. Never mind the Cultural Revolution, bring on the Capitalist Revolution. You can buy these little cards for 5 RMB each, as seen in Joy City in Xidan. * As [...]

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the cutest cafe in beijing

Beijing doesn’t lack for cute cafes, but Miao Cafe is easily the cutest cafe in the city.  In fact it is one of the cutest cafes I have been to anywhere in the world.  As its name suggests, Miao Cafe is cat-themed.  Located on a quiet street behind the Yashow Market in Sanlitun, it’s worlds [...]

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a room with a view

A follow-up to this post, this delightful little room is upstairs over at Sugar Jar 白糖罐, an indie record store in the 798 / Dashanzi area. As you can see from the photo, the ground floor comprises the record store itself, with an excellent selection of the local indie rockists. Although it’s uncertain if the [...]

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sweet toast of mine

While my friend and I were out meandering around Joy City Xidan, one of those new fancy malls that are springing up around Beijing like mushrooms, we went to a shop that practically screamed “quirky!” The shop in question was Potato & Co. Here is part of their store window. Not only did they carry [...]

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trader zhou’s

Trader Joe’s, meet Trader Zhou’s. Trader Joe’s in America, a grocery store mostly known for its excellent and cheap natural foods. (And two buck chuck.) (Image from Business Week.) Trader Zhou’s in Beijing, a wine shop. No two buck chuck in there!

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stingrays and rainbow fish at Tesco’s!

We went to China’s first Tesco supermarket for the first time on Sunday. While Scott swooned over being able to buy a can of Tesco brand Spaghetti Hoops for the outrageous price of 11 RMB (they are 30p in the UK, according to him), I was particularly excited over the lively seafood section. In fact, [...]

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pet crickets for sale

I came across this cricket, one of three, being sold in a music shop in the Gulou area. According to this fascinating article on the “king of insects”, crickets were kept for a variety of purposes. They were kept as pets, as fighters in bouts, as gifts to be sent to the emperor, and as [...]

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