Our home in the UK is near the Bicester Village outlet shopping center, an amazing place to pick up bargains on designer clothes, shoes, and bags. So imagine my delight when we moved to Beijing four years ago at finding out we would be living close to Beijing Scitech Premium Outlet Mall (Chinese-only website) on Xiangjiang Beilu. But despite covering 150,000sqm, two floors, and 150 stores, it turned out that my expectations were far from met – at least at first.

Levi jeans are a third more expensive than in London and you’ll need to take out a second mortgage to afford a pair of Bally shoes. Unfortunately, the price of luxury goods is already inflated by the time products reach China’s shores due to import taxes, so you won’t get the same discounts you would elsewhere.

A year later, in a desperate bid to find a pair of decent heels for a ball, I gave Scitech another go. I discovered to my delight a Nine West store with fabulous shoes at discounted prices. They’re last season’s styles, but who cares?

Since then, more stores have opened up with lower-end brands offering the best discounts. There are also pop-up stalls dotting the complex selling everything from designer sunglasses to kids’ shoes. If you look hard enough within the higher-end stores, you may actually find a few bargains there too.

Scitech Mall is ideal for an afternoon of browsing. Its open-plan environment is safe for kids to run around, with plenty of clean bathrooms and a few places to eat and drink. If you don’t want to walk from one end to the other, you can always hop on one of the complimentary carts.

Kids’ Clothing
The Gap Outlet has everything you need to kit out your kids, from newborn onesies, vests, and sleep suits to the famous Gap hoodies for every age range and color imaginable. For toddler girls, there are cute skirts, cotton sundresses, leggings, and tops for RMB 99-199. For toddler boys, there are funky t-shirts and cotton shorts for RMB 109-149. For older boys, you can get smart shirts, cotton trousers, and jeans; for the girls, you’ll find cool dresses, skinny fit jeans, and floral flip-flops.

For the summer time, there’s also a good selection of UV rash vests for RMB 129 and board shorts for RMB 149. Moms will find jersey sundresses, cotton a-line skirts, and shorts for RMB 109-209, plus the usual range of classic shirts, jeans, and casual trousers. For dads, there are t-shirts, button-ups, and a variety of trousers.

At the moment, there’s a clearance event on with an additional 40 percent off already discounted clothes. I’ve also seen a promotion where you get 40 percent off if you buy seven items or 30 percent off if you buy five. From June 20-22, you can pick up voucher cards, which will give you RMB 50 off when you spend RMB 350.

Other than Gap, choices for kids are limited. However, current pop-up stores include Naturino with shoes priced between RMB 400-500. There’s also UV swimwear, with tops, shorts, and all-in-ones for RMB 110-190; Nautica kids’ shorts, t-shirts and summer dresses; E-Land Teenie Weenie bear-themed clothing; and Kappa Kids sportswear.

Women’s Clothing
Moms have a few options. At the Diesel store, most items are half price; there’soften an extra discount on top of the tag prices, which the staff doesn’t exactly jump to tell you about. You might get an extra 10-30 percent off. A black silk sleeveless top was RMB 850 (down from RMB 1,700) and a floral silk maxi dress was RMB 1,700 (down from RMB 2,400); there was an extra 20 percent off the dress. Diesel stocks a range of sizes, so it’s not just for the XS ladies. Expect to pay RMB 1,500 for a pair of jeans (both men and women).

Esprit doesn’t stock many of the items you’ll see in their retail stores, which is a shame because the brand seems to have disappeared from Sanlitun Village and Solana. However, they do have casual clothing such as trousers, tops, and skirts with prices comparable to Gap’s. It’s a bit disorganized, with too many items on too many racks, but it’s worth rifling through if you’ve got time to spare.

Ports 1961, a fashion house originally founded in Toronto, specializes in luxury ready-to-wear items. You’ll find beautiful georgette shift dresses and silk-jersey dresses in vibrant colors and patterns, all perfect for a summer occasion. A white short drape dress was RMB 1,979 (down from RMB 3,299), a little black or in red silk dress was RMB 2,289 (down from RMB 3,499), and a banana yellow fitted dress a la Kate Middleton was RMB 1,299 (down from RMB 2,499).This store is worth a visit when the end-of-season sales are on; you can get another 40 percent off – or more – on many of the items.

Men’s Clothing
If it’s simple t-shirts and smart cotton trousers you’re after, head to Calvin Klein, where you can browse a range of t-shirts for RMB 390-590 and light summer trousers for RMB 700-1,200.

If the thought of your better half wearing flip-flops fills you with dread, the Armani store has some very smart black leather sandals at half price. The shop also has a good selection of t-shirts down to RMB 400.

Sportswear
In general, the sportswear selections at Scitech change with the seasons. That’s fine if you do all your exercise outdoors, but trying to find a running vest in February to use in the gym is nigh impossible, so stock up on lightweight clothes now while they’re still available.

Adidas has running tanks as low as RMB 169 and capris for RMB 239. For men, the savings are RMB 100-150 off tops and tracksuit bottoms. There are Stella McCartney tops for RMB 400 and bottoms for RMB 600, which is around a 30 percent saving. The store stocks all the latest running and cross-training shoes from RMB 399-599, about 25-30% off what you’d pay in their flagship Sanlitun store.

The Nike Factory Outlet has an even bigger range of training and running shoes (RMB 499-899), Dri-Fit running tops and capris for RMB 199. For men, golf polo tops and running shorts costRMB 299. You’ll also find everything you need for basketball, tennis and football.

Women’s Shoes
My favorite Nine West store continues to deliver the goods with its own brand and now Steve Madden too. Expect gorgeous, strappy heeled sandals in patent, pastel and print. There are courts, pumps, and in winter fabulous boots, with prices ranging from RMB 300-1,000 per pair.

Stella Luna has a range of wedge-heeled summer sandals for RMB 269-369, strappy heeled sandals for RMB 320 -420, and plenty of flats. For their current promotion, you get RMB 200 off if you spend RMB 1,000; RMB 300 off if you spend RMB 1,500; or RMB 400 off if you spend RMB 2,000.

For Lunch
The bad news is that Burgers and Beer is now closed, which is a real shame since it served decent burgers and was the best lunch option at Scitech. There’s always Starbucks with its usual panini sandwiches, cakes, and pastries. It’s a good choice if you have young kids, as there is a play area right outside.

You can keep an eye on theme whilst sipping your latte on the terrace. If they get too hot on all that plastic play equipment, there are fountains for them to dip their toes in. Subway is also adjacent to the play area and has outdoor seating.

KFC is always packed, mainly with people looking for a cheap ice cream sundae. For a more tasty ice cream option, head next door to Baskin Bobbins; their peanut butter chocolate ice cream is worth a visit to the mall alone.

There is also Danny’s Hotdog Stand, a juice bar and a Belgian waffle house. For Chinese food, there is Gourmet Plaza, which is always full to bursting with locals.

beijingkids Shunyi Correspondent Sally Wilson moved to Beijing in 2010 from the UK with her husband and son. Her daughter was born here in 2011 and both her kids keep her happily busy. In her spare time, Sally loves to stroll through Beijing’s hutongs and parks. She is a (most of the time) keen runner and loves reading: books, magazines, news, and celeb websites – anything really. Sally is also a bit of a foodie and loves trying out new restaurants.

Photos by Sally Wilson

As students residing in one of China’s rapidly developing megacities, we have all witnessed the air and water pollution on an appalling scale. Despite this, those of us who have heard of China’s “cancer villages” may still be skeptical of recent claims that these establishments are closely related to water contamination.But lately, the Chinese government confirmed that water pollution and China’s high cancer rates are directly linked. Several reliable sources estimate that the country “is home to 459 of [these ‘cancer villages’]” and will only foster the increase of more such villages.

China’s extreme economic growth has carried unthinkable human and environmental costs—the country’s infamous “cancer villages” is one such example.These so-called cancer villages have high cancer rates that soar far beyond the national average. Oftentimes, villagers access drinking water from nearby rivers—many of which have been heavily polluted by toxic chemical discharges from various factories. China Daily states that over 70 percent of China’s rivers and lakes are polluted and the government reports “almost half may contain water that is unfit for human contact”.However, most villagers are left with no other option but to use contaminated water for washing, agriculture, and drinking. One villager, Guo Xinxiang, tells China Daily that they drink river-water with no purification. Even more shockingly, the water he and several hundred others drink often contains red worms as long as chopsticks and as thin as thread.Countless fish float along China’s filthy rivers, having died from the pollution.The water in one village is black in color; in another, bright red. Not only is the water’s stench unbearable, mere “skin contact with it results in itching and even septic rashes.”

One villager states that in his village, “everybody … has some form of illness”. His mother is diagnosed with bronchitis,his nephew died of Evans syndrome and his neighbor is dying of oesophageal cancer, while another died of stomach cancer last year.In another village, one of China Daily’s investigators met a cancer patient whose neck was as thick as his head. It is difficult to pinpoint the exact source of these horrific illnesses, although recently, studies have reaffirmed that water pollution from factories is directly related to this unfortunate mystery.

Lately, Greenpeace undertook an investigation to examine the waste waters of two textile-manufacturing facilities in China as indicators of what China’s factories are generally like. They found that both facilities have been discharging a range of persistent and toxic chemicals into two of China’s largest rivers. In addition to assessing whether hazardous chemicals were being deposited into China’s rivers, Greenpeace sought to identify which companies the two facilities were supplying. Companies found to have commercial relationships with the two facilities include Abercrombie & Fitch, Adidas, Calvin Klein, Converse, Cortefiel, H&M, Li Ning, Meters Bonwe, Nike, Puma, and Youngor. As brand owners, these companies have significant influence on environmental impacts of production. They should take responsibility to cooperate with their suppliers in eliminating toxic waste created during the production process.As consumers, we have the power to pressure such firms.Recently, in response to consumer pressure, the three largest sportswear businesses – Nike, Puma, and Adidas – created basic labor and environmental health standards. Although it is not of the norm to believe one has the responsibility and ability to change the society in such ways, take up such a challenge. Do not dismiss seemingly irrational actions,when they have the potential to reap great benefits.

The environment has been exploited beyond the point of renewal. China’s water, soil, and air have been degraded to unthinkable severity. The only thing villagers residing in China’s growing “cancer villages” ask for is to “breathe clean air, drink safe water and use uncontaminated soil” – it is “all [they]ask for. China’s government is neither taking immediate nor enough regulation over the environmental and health impacts due to the country’s breakneck economic growth. As consumers, we have the responsibility to step in and pressure corporations. As consumers, we have choice in the products we purchase. But as global citizens, we hold the responsibility of exerting maximum effort to change things for the better.As global citizens, we have the ability to respond to the environment’s degradation and to those who do not have the means to improve their own quality of life.

Research released in june by the chinese center for disease control and prevention said deaths related to lung cancer in Shenqiu increased 14-fold for men and 20-fold for women between 1973 and 2005

"All I wish for is to breathe clean air, drink safe water and use uncontaminated soil. That’s all I ask for, but I guess that is just too much to ask." Wei Donying, activist.

The village’s ducks, chickens and geese began dying en masse.

"China is suffering from the negative impact of improper economic growth patterns. And the country will continue to pay the price for heavy pollutants in the future."

The latest sign of fast economic growth taking a heavy toll on the environment.

Photo courtesy of UNIT-E

We are all familiar with the popular fashion chains H&M, Zara, Forever 21 and Topshop, which constantly win the favor of not only teenagers, but also adults around the globe. What is it about these brands that allure us into the charms that they hold? Many have experienced a wrinkled and ripped t-shirt after a single wash, or seams that fall out of badly sewn dresses. Yet, these brands continue to flourish and make large profits, despite their palpable flaws. The key to this success is found in cunning, strategic marketing strategies based around a single adjective: fast.

From designing to manufacturing to transporting, speed is the reason these brands can generate maximum revenue and still have their defects. Expansion of the brand also allows the possibility of low prices and an unlimited target audience, which contribute to the eventual success of these multi-national corporations. 

Photo courtesy of UNIT-E