There are a wide range of books to choose from including a China section, travel books, fiction and non-fiction as well as a handful of magazine favourites such as Vogue, Harpers Bazaar and Vanity Fair. If the book you’re looking for is not available the Bookworm will happily order it for you. If it’s language books you are after (for example Chinese books or text books for teaching English) you’re better off going to the Foreign Languages Bookstore in Wangfujing which has a wide selection of each.

 

Only Beijing Bookworm members can use the library facility and attend the special events such as book talks. However, you don’t need to be a member to browse, buy books or eat. 

 

Membership fees per year are as follows:

Individual one year:            300 yuan (membership extension thereafter is 250 yuan)

Individual half year:            200 yuan (extension 150 yuan)

Family membership:         500 yuan (extension 500 yuan)

 

The menu is Western style including mainly sandwiches and soups. Although it is a little pricy, it is tasty nonetheless.   

 

There is no shortage of markets in Beijing, however, Ya Xiu is one of the bigger and better known markets geared towards tourists. Like Xiushui Jie Market  (Silk Alley) 秀水街, this indoor market contains row upon row of designer knock offs at dirt cheap prices, provided you have good bargaining skills.  Bargaining is a prerequisite and all the standard bargaining rules apply: the seller will name their price (which will be 3, 5, or even 10 times the final price), you’ll walk away after they refuse your price, and the seller will call you back saying ‘okay okay’. It’s all quite predictable, but well worth it if you get a kick out of cheap buys. The environment is not conducive to trying on garments, so you’ll have to estimate whether or not the article will fit.  Also, do not be too disappointed if your purchases last you only one or two seasons as you shouldn’t expect too much from the cheapish goods you’ve purchased.  Custom made suits can also be made by the many tailors who have shops in Ya Xiu.

 

Whilst the market does seem a bit chaotic there is some semblance of order: shoes and bags are in the basement, jewellery is on the top floor, and clothes galore fill the floors in between.  The top floor is also a good place to get a cheap (30 yuan) manicure.