Introducing the Panjiayuan Market
Founded in 1992, the Beijing Panjiayuan Flea Market, also called Ghost Market, is the largest, cheapest and most popular antique market in Asia. With a space of 5 hectares and over 4,000 stalls, the market mainly deals in antiques, arts, handicrafts as well as second hand goods. Also, there are many other types of goods in the market like a museum. It is a heaven for buying and appreciating antiques, traditional Chinese handicrafts, collectibles and decorations. Visitors could find calligraphy, Chinese painting, writing brushes, ivory carving, traditional Chinese musical instruments, porcelain, ancient furniture, cartoon books etc. There are also some peddlers from ethnic minorities like Hui, Mongol, Miao, Korean and Manchu, hawking their national handicrafts in the market. Actually, Panjiayuan Flea Market is becoming one of the must-go attractions in Beijing for visitors from home or aboard.
The market is divided into six sections: Roadside stands, Ancient Architecture, Classical Furniture, Modern collection, Sculpture and Stone Engraving, and the Catering section. The western part of the market is an open-air area where large stone sculptures are being sold. Next to it is a two-story building that houses both modern and traditional Chinese furniture. The vast middle section is a semi-covered area that forms the main part of the market. This section is open only on weekends with some Street Stores. At the southernmost part is a narrow lane where second-hand books, ancient scrolls and cartoon books are being sold. A wide range of other ancient arts and artifacts are on sale at stalls in the eastern part of the market in a big yard. Highest-quality antiques and exquisite handicrafts were sold in the small indoor stores in the north and east part of the market. Ever since the market opened, stalls in its semi-covered area of the middle part have been divided into four zones according to the items being sold.