Panjiayuan Folk Culture Market promised reproduction antiques and knick-knacks and lots of interesting things. Sounds like my type of place. The map said it starts to close around noon. Glad it was wrong, the sign at the entrance of this flea market said till 4pm. It was neat to go to, but they were asking a lot for their knick-knacks. All their reproductions they are trying to pass as the real deal. Image seeing the real deal of "real old" on several different aisles!?!
I did find some cheap mini stone carved dragons that I thought I could use as extra game pieces at 3rmb each ~$.50 and did bargain for some embroidered pieces. I'm glad I hear them quoting the Chinese the same prices they started quoting me. There was stall upon stall of nuts for rolling, nut bracelets and beads of every kind but the blown glass painted on the inside. Lots of stones cut and uncut. I wasn't that impressed.
When I asked my mother-in-law about the fascination with the nuts, she explained it was yet another thing the emperor had, and the rolling of 2 in your hand as exercise. I asked why not the metal ball chimes. Those are cheap. So they want to feel or look important.
Yaxiu Market was left really quickly. I took the bus and walked the rest of the way with my trusty map. I actually walked right past it because they called it Yashow Market or something on the outside and Clothing Market. I wanted to go here to look at the fabric. The fabric is not for quilting, but only suit, shirt and silk fabric with their tailors to make you something. I did find a shop that sells sheets and would make a quilt top, out of curiosity I asked the price of a Queen quilt top, they showed me two saying one was of higher quality. Saying one was 1200 rmb and the other 480 rmb. Both were of the same quality. I said no and offered my 10% of the price. She said no. The stalls in this mall were teeming, as I passed a scarf shop she said one of the scarves was 350rmb. I asked for 35. She just turned around. As I was just walking around they will follow you, hound you in English and try to grab your arm to lead you to their shop. Too aggressive for me, I quickly exited.
A few blocks later there is a beggar in the street and not being patient to stand there, would walk up to people and grab their arms! Sorry that doesn't work for me. I kept on walking, apparently right past a different market. Oh well probably pushy people there too. More walking led me to find an organic store, several small grocery stores and a Japanese supermarket. Yes! I got my lunch from here. In some of the smaller grocery stores there is a stairwell one person wide to walk up to get to the next area. Finding imported chocolate behind lock and key.
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