Panjiayuan is Beijing's largest antique and curio market — 50,000 square meters across multiple sections, with 3,000+ vendors selling everything from Cultural Revolution propaganda posters, Qing-dynasty porcelain shards, Tibetan thangka paintings, hand-carved wooden Buddhas, jade jewelry, calligraphy brushes, military medals, vintage cameras, ancient coins, ethnic embroidery, and stone seals. Most products are reproductions or 'antique-style' (not real antiques), but the variety and atmosphere are unbeatable. The full market is open Saturday and Sunday from 4:30 AM (the famous early-morning 'ghost market' for serious dealers) to 6 PM; on weekdays only the indoor halls are open. Bargain hard — opening prices are 3-5× the real price. The covered halls are easier for first-timers; the open courtyards are the adventure. Cash is king, though Alipay/WeChat Pay work everywhere; foreign cards are rare. Metro Line 10 to Panjiayuan Station, walk 5 minutes east.

Address

18 Huaweili, Chaoyang District, Beijing

朝阳区华威里18号

Highlights

Weekend Ghost Market (鬼市)Saturday + Sunday from 4:30 AM; serious dealers buy at this hour
Cultural Revolution MemorabiliaMao buttons, posters, Little Red Books; historical period pieces
Bargain 3-5× DownOpening prices are vastly inflated; walk away tactic essential
Calligraphy & Seals (字画印章)Real artists demo and sell on weekends; can commission custom seals
Most Items Are ReproductionsGenuine antiques exist but rare; mostly aged-style replicas. Buy what you like, not what's 'real'