Beijng Best Antiques... and Fakes - sorry - Reproductions

Beijing is an antique lover’s dream, although genuine pieces are now harder to find than ever. The reproductions market, however, is booming, and here you can find a treasure trove of some of the finest Chinese antiques, curios and traditional furniture reproductions in the world.

Lily’s Antiques
This enormous three-story, 4,000 square meter showroom and shop is the class of Gaobeidian furniture street – ground zero for antique and antique style furniture in Beijing. Over the years Lily’s has accumulated one of the most extensive collections of genuine antiques in China, and her staff are experts at restoration and reproductions.
The showroom dazzles across the spectrum of high class antique (mainly from Nothern China, in walnut and elmwood) and custom-made furniture. Wide selection of accessories also available. Also deals wholesale. Excellent service for international transportation of furniture.
Daily 8.30am-6pm. Gaobeidian Showroom, 6 Gaobeidian Furniture Street, Chaoyang District. (8579 2458) www.lilys-antiques.com 朝阳区高碑店家俱一条街69号

Beijing Curio City
Come here to stock up on decorative items like teapots, brushes, ink stones, Buddhist statues and other curios. You’ll have more fun if you visit early in the morning, before the tourists arrive, and assume that the pieces are not genuine antiques.
Daily 9.30am-6.30pm. 21 Dongsanhuan Nanlu, Chaoyang District. (6774 7711) 北京古玩城, 朝阳区东三环南路21号

Dynasty Antique Furniture
Imperial-era furnishings, modern couches and tables, and other accoutrements besides – this jack-of-all-trades store is a great place for splashing out on custom-made furniture.
Daily 10am-5.30pm. 1) B-38, Liangma Antique Market, Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. (6432 3532); 2) 58 Chaowai Antique Furniture Market, Chaoyang District. (6770 3525) 王朝古艺, 1) 朝阳区亮马桥路亮马古玩市场B-38; 2) 朝阳区兆佳古典家具市场58号

Flame Tree
This quaint little shop sits down a little alleyway just opposite the Workers’ Stadium, catering to an expat-heavy clientele with buys including handmade silver accessories and unique painted wooden furniture and boxes. There’s also a small import food store attached, boasting a good selection of imported alcohol.
Daily 10.30am-10.30pm. 7 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District. (6413 0828) 凤栖梧, 朝阳区工体北路7号

Liangma Antique Market
The vendors specialize in traditional furniture such as wood screens, chairs, armoires and lamps, as well as decorative items like porcelain, curios, rugs and scroll paintings of emperors – the percentage of genuine antiques is anyone’s guess.
Daily 9.30am-7pm. 27 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District. (6467 9664, 6462 1625) 亮马古玩市场, 朝阳区亮马桥路27号

Liulichang Antiques Street
This 750-meter long strip south of Hepingmen in Xuanwu District was once known as a Ming Dynasty gathering point for poets, scholars and literati. Today, the strip still resembles a traditional Chinese market street and offers curios, scroll paintings, calligraphy, old books, figurines and memorabilia to a roving crowd of tourists and culture buffs alike.
Daily from dawn to dusk. Liulichang, Xuanwu District. 宣武区琉璃厂

Panjiayuan Antique Market
The mother of all antique and reproductions markets, Panjiayuan is the place to go for life-size terracotta warriors, vintage photographs, porcelain vases and figurines, Qing-style furniture and much, much more. The best bargains are offered early on weekend mornings, between 6 and 8.30am. Best on weekends, 4.30am-6pm (but open on weekdays as well).
West of Panjiayuan Qiao, Chaoyang District. (6775 2405) 潘家园旧货市场, 朝阳区潘家园桥西边

Radiance
This Shunyi area dealer stocks Chinese and Western-style lamps, antique furniture and unique home accessory gifts in an impressive retail space.
1) A 118, Shunhuang Lu, Sunhe Xiang, Chaoyang District. (8459 5510, huang518@hotmail.com); 2) 9 Kaifa Jie, Xibai Xinzhuang, Shunyi District. (8049 6400) 瑞氏东方, 1) 朝阳区朝阳区孙河乡顺黄路甲118号; 2) 顺义区瑞氏东方，顺义区西百辛庄开发街9号

Tanghouse Gallery
Since 1988, Tanghouse has specialized in custom-made antique furniture reproductions, as well as sourcing and trading unique antiques, rugs and accessories.
Daily 9.30am-6pm. 4/F, Antique Furniture Market, 519 Fenzhongsi, Nansanhuan Donglu, Chaoyang District. (6764 2214, 139 1007 3689) www.etangroup.com 逸唐居. 朝阳区南三环东路分钟寺519号古玩城古典家具市场4层