Beijingkids has been an essential family resource for Beijing international families since 2006. And just as kids grow up in the blink of an eye, Beijing has grown and changed almost beyond recognition in that time. In Throwback Thursday we jump in the time machine, traveling through our 14 year-strong blog archives to dig out the most entertaining, fascinating, and thought-provoking stories for your reading pleasure. Ready? Let’s go…

With Beijing getting its groove back after months of COVID-19 related restrictions, one of the city’s most popular night markets amongst locals is back and in full swing again! The Daliushu Ghost Market is located by the East Fourth Ring Road and only takes place on Tuesday events after 5.30pm.

Visitors can browse through stall after stall of antiques, childhood memorabilia from the 80s, DVDs and books, food, and basically all kinds of odd knick-knacks that you didn’t think you needed in your life.

As the Beijinger’s writer Huang Chenkuang covered back in 2018, the market has been taking place in Beijing for over 40 years. If you want to venture over to explore Daliushu Ghost Market for yourself, be sure to bring a flashlight to check out the goods because there won’t be much street light after the sun goes down, and more importantly, don’t be afraid to haggle with the sellers. The unofficial first rule when visiting night markets anywhere in China is to never accept the opening offer!

How to get there: Take subway Line 7 to Nanlou Zizhuang. Exit from exit C, turn east and walk straight around 200 meters.

Daliushu Ghost Market 
3am-3pm every Wed. 150 meters East to the crossroad of Daliushu Road and Xiaowuji Road, Chaoyang District
大柳树夜市，朝阳区大柳树路与小武基路交叉口西150米

KEEP READING: Browse Beijing’s Last Ghost Market Before it Becomes an Apparition

Photos: Pixabay, Sina, Huang Chenkuang

While hunting for items at malls and marketplaces has become a safety hazard, innovative vendors in Beijing have found a new way to sell their products – through virtual markets. Instead of meeting in person, shoppers and vendors are added to a WeChat group, sharing info about products and QR codes for purchasing. Some virtual markets include schedules so that specific vendors ‘drop’ their product info and photos at a certain time, thus allowing shoppers time to absorb and browse, while others offer special discounts and flash sales only available to those in the group.

Thanks to this clever system, baby products, local crafts, designer clothes, artisan goods, collectibles, trinkets, are all available for purchase at your fingertips, all thanks to the many business-minded, inspirational individuals who share a love for creation, connection, and bridging passion projects. Together, they’ve not only fed our craving to shop but also filled in some of the gaps that the coronavirus has created in our lives.

Without further ado, let us hear what they have to say:

A fun necklace goes a long way

Rumble in the Jumble

Rumble in the Jumble is a monthly pop-up bazaar that usually happens at different locations throughout Beijing. In normal times, it often occurs outside, or in bars because, as founder Charlotte White puts it, “there’s nothing that makes us happier than having a nice cocktail while we browse vintage items and hand-crafted products made by some of the most awesome and creative people in Beijing!”

Rumble welcomes vendors of all kinds, but have a special enthusiasm for small businesses and artisans who are just getting started. When White realized the huge toll that the COVID-19 was taking on the creative community, she decided to start the series of Virtual Bazaars. “The first one, in May, was bigger and more popular than we could ever have imagined. Since then, there has been so much activity around the virtual markets that we couldn’t have stopped even if we wanted to!” 

White is now gearing up for the Virtual Rumble #4, which will be taking place on Jul 25.

Request to join via WeChat ID: CharLouise

Throwback to the good old days of actual markets

FLASH Sales (Maker’s Market)

Miranda Mullett, the designer behind To Float or Fly, an eco-friendly, hand-made fashion brand, decided to launch the  FLASH Sales Maker’s Market series back in April as a way to help fellow designers move inventory during the uncertain time, inspired by a playful threat from her boyfriend. “During the lockdown, we were organizing, and my boyfriend threatened to charge my bags – collections from years ago – rent if I didn’t do anything about them.” Mullett explains “Having all of this stored inventory is rather wasteful if you think about it, especially since my brand is ‘eco-friendly.’ So, I launched our first digital sample sale on WeChat. With 11 other designers, we were able to create a network of over 700 people across two groups. Each designer had a one-hour time slot to share product information across two days. I am happy to say I homed a large portion of my bags!”

A wide range of products are available in the Flash sale groups, including eco-friendly soap berries like these

Following the first successful market, the themed sales have continued with events ranging from fashion, home, food, and health & beauty. “The brands we partner with are all local, so it’s a great way to support local businesses and brands. I was also pleasantly surprised to find all the vendors from our last event were female entrepreneurs.”

Their next flash fashion sample sale is set for Jul 25-26, to be followed by another food flash sale is on Aug 8-9.

Request to join via WeChat ID: mirandamullett

Little Ones Market

The COVID-19 presented enormous challenges to the childcare industry at large, and for Sonia Wong, founder of all-natural, fresh baby food delivery brand Little Ones it was no different. Even worse, perhaps, as Little Ones was only founded January just before the crisis really took off. “Needless to say, it’s been a rocky start” says Wong “It was difficult to drive the business forward with so little certainty at hand. Today we count ourselves lucky – we also know of many other childcare businesses that are fighting and marching onwards day by day.”

Down but not out, Wong and her team decided to start the first Little Ones Market to energize the community with something new, fun, and exciting. “We wanted to create an online community where parents could still interact with their favorite brands from afar and discover new ones that embody the same values.”

The Little Ones Market offers all things natural, wholesome, and healthy for new parents and little ones between 0 and 3. For each market, Wong and her team handpick a selection of high quality local and international brands and services, ranging from food, skincare, home care, clothing, health care, early education, and entertainment. The markets also include one-day-only special discounts: everything a parent and infant could need.

Request to join via WeChat ID: S0niaw

All three virtual marketplaces will be updating shortly with future dates. To join the group chats, simply send a request to add their WeChat ID’s, and they’ll add you in. Happy shopping, I’ll see you there!

KEEP READING: What You Should Know About Your Legal Rights Before Your Maternity Leave

Images: Yura Fresh (via Unsplash), courtesy of event organizers

It seems that the COVID-19 pandemic is also bringing big brands down to their knees. Today, one of our local sources received an intriguing text message from the famous sporting goods retailer Decathlon, which indicated that their Laiguanying branch was closing down.

For years Decathalon has been the go-to place for Beijing’s parents when it came to sporting goods and apparel for the whole family. Browsing through the giant warehouse-like store felt like shopping in the US and their competitive prices let parents stock up on the season’s latest sporting equipment without breaking the bank.

The text message roughly translates to “The second wave on Taobao is upon us, as our Laiguangying branch closes down! Nine days left! Thousands of products have now been added, at all at lower prices! Free coupons to shop at our Siyuanqiao and Longde branches also available upon making a purchase, we are eagerly waiting to welcome you!.”

The “second wave on Taobao” presumably means that a new host of sales are now available when you shop for Decathlon apparel on Taobao. Decathlon has gone into discount overdrive off late. For the 6.18 shopping season, the sporting retailer has put up to 50% off on fitness equipment and clothing on Taobao.

Major discounts on athletic apparel

On their website, they are offering an end of season, inventory clearing discount of up to 80% off on goods.

The branch closure also raises an interesting proposition as to whether they’re closing down in-person stores and are instead expanding their online presence. Though the text message does mention that Decathlon will give customers free coupons to shop at their Siyuanqiao and Longde locations if they make purchases online. While the branch closure is to be lamented, Beijingers should be emboldened to buy their favorite sports apparel and gear from the store we know best.

KEEP READING: Sign Up for Taobao

Photos: Decathlon Group, beijingkids, Taobao, romania-insider.com