Beijing's "Ghost Markets": A Brief History & Where to Find Them

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Beijing's “ghost markets” (鬼市 guǐshì) can be traced back to the late Qing dynasty and the early Republic of China. The markets were established for selling and purchasing antiques and precious possessions in illegal ways. Some of these treasures came from the imperial palace, brought to the markets by noblemen or eunuchs who worked there, and they would normally sell heirlooms, antiques, precious scripts and paintings for money. The markets also attracted grave robbers and thieves who would bring their illegally obtained goods to the market.

Due to the illicit nature of these goods, these “ghost markets,” also often referred to as “night markets,” only operated under the cover of darkness, opening at midnight and closing at dawn. Trading in the darkness was difficult for both sellers and buyers, so they would carry small oil lamps around for better vision. From afar, the appearance of these oil lamps looked like “ghost lights,” and the people at the market would be reduced to shadowy ghost-like figures. In addition, both buyers and sellers made deals with gestures and argot, which made the market more mysterious. All these characteristics gave the market a gloomy and quirky atmosphere, and this is where the name “ghost market” comes from.

These markets in Beijing were reorganized after the People's Republic of China was established, but the name “ghost market” still remains today. Now, they have become markets that sell cost-effective commodities, including but not limited to vintage and second-hand goods, counterfeit antiques, cheap clothes and accessories, retro toys, porcelain and jade wares, bracelets, etc. One of the main features of these markets is that the prices are not fixed, and you can bargain with dealers.

Below we've outlined three modern-day “ghost markets” in Beijing that are popular and worth exploring. Let’s see what you can find in the markets.

Panjiayuan Market

Panjiayuan market has a diverse array of goods for sale, however, one of the products it's most famous for is cheap jewelry. It has everything from bracelets to bead strings, rings and more. You can even buy bead strings in bulk, and you can choose from things like crystal, agate, glass, etc. Normally, on shopping apps like Taobao, these bead strings would cost a few hundred RMB, but here you can get them for as low as RMB 5-20.

Panjiayuan is one of Beijing's most famous “ghost markets” and has had numerous high profile international visitors such as Hilary Clinton, Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn and former President of Sri Lanka Chandrika Bandaranaike Kumaratunga. In recent years, Panjiayuan has undergone numerous changes, and you can read more about what the market is like today in this post.

Panjiayuan Antique Market 潘家园旧货市场
18 Huaweili, Panjiayuan Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区-潘家园路华威里18号
Hours: 9am-11pm

Daliushu Night Market

In Daliushu Market, you can find a lot of porcelain, jade, and copper wares characterized by different dynasties of ancient China. Other highlights include quite a few old books and Chinese classical paintings. Also, various antique walnuts and gourds will immediately catch your eye if you are interested in Chinese Pan (盘 pán) culture – rubbing and rotating walnuts, beads, or gourds to make them shine.

Daliushu Night Market 大柳树夜市
1-4a Daliushu Lu, Chaoyang District (150 meters west of the corner of Daliushu Lu and Xiaowuji Lu)
朝阳区大柳树路甲1-4号（大柳树路与小武基路交叉口西150米）
Hours: Normally 3am-3pm every Wed (Tue night) but can be subject to change

Dongpeng Market

Dongpeng Market mainly sells second-hand goods, with everything from clothes, bags and shoes to digital products such as cameras, televisions, fans and keyboards. Here, you can find pretty much any old stuff you'd use in daily life. They have many old objects that might invoke a feeling of nostalgia and memories of childhood, including things like wire telephones, old sewing machines, and abandoned trophies.

Dongpeng Market 东鹏市场鬼市
240 meters northeast of Fatou Xili, Taozhuang Lu, Chaoyang District
朝阳区陶庄路垡头西里东北侧约240米
Hours: Every Sat, 5pm-1am

Images: Uni You, Dianping, Baidu