Welcome to the Land of Discounts: Surprise Outlets

Tiffany Wang | Jul 5, 2011 4:00 pm | 17 comments | 13194 reads

According to Wikipedia, an “outlet store” is “a brick-and-mortar or online retail store in which manufacturers sell their stock directly to the public.” You know what that means, right? Discounts. Huge ones.

Little did you know that Bejiing is actually home to outlet malls – otherwise known as whole clusters of outlet stores – or at least one which we know of. In our latest issue, one of our featured What’s New Shops is Joyce Warehouse, the discounted version of Hong Kong’s high-end department store Joyce.

You’ll find it all the way outside of the northeast Fifth Ring Road, in a shopping center called Surprise Outlets. Who knew such establishments existed outside of America? You can read more about our initial reaction to the place here.

There are some local labels, from the famous Chinese gymnast’s brand Li Ning to Beijing’s own answer to American Apparel, wo2. But it's the bigger names that reign supreme: adidas, Roxy, Nike, 7 For All Mankind, BCBG, Y-3, IT, bread & butter, Quiksilver, Lane Crawford, Ed Hardy, Juicy Couture and Club Monaco, to name a few.

Of course, all this sounds fine and dandy … but how does one get there without a car? A cab from Dawanglu, the closest subway stop, will set you back about RMB 75 – plus there’s the matter of finding another ride to get home.

Surprise Outlets does run its own shuttle bus service to and from Dawanglu; the schedule is pasted below. The trip takes about 40 minutes either way.

Dawanglu to Surprise Outlets

Departs from Dawanglu at 8:30, 8:45, 10:00, 11:00, 13:30, 14:30, 15:30, 16:30, 17:50, 19:30, 20:35, 21:50

Surprise Outlets to Dawang Lu

Departs from Surprise Outlets at 9:20, 10:20, 12:50, 13:50, 14:50, 15:50, 17:00, 18:40, 20:00, 21:20

If you're planning to take the shuttle, we strongly encourage you to call ahead and find out whether these times are accurate. On the day that we visited Surprise Outlets, they had unexpectedly canceled a couple of shuttle bus trips heading back downtown.

Another option: The good news is that www.bjbus.com lists buses originating from Liangmaqiao, Dongzhimen and Dawanglu that will take you to the general vicinity of Surprise Outlets. The less good news is that those public buses don’t drop you off right at the entrance. In fact, you’ll have to walk a good 25 minutes to arrive at your final destination. We did spot some small motorized “rickshaws” by the Jingzhan bus stop (the closest one to the outlets), but it’s a good idea to bring a map with you just in case.

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Nidaye's picture Nidaye Submitted by Guest on Mon, 09/05/2011 - 16:54

squid wrote:
The place is not that far away from many major areas of Beijing. Does the writer think that every foreign person who might shop would live near Dawang Lu?

The place is ten minutes away from Wangjing, and about five minutes from the Shunyi villa areas. Place there is a subway just down the street. I don't get all the talk of it being a far away location.

You must be thinking of Scitech Outlets - there is no subway station near Surprise Outlets.

It is sort of out in the sticks (beside the 2nd airport expressway), so those without a car might find it more of an adventure getting there.

Nidaye's picture Nidaye Submitted by Guest on Mon, 09/05/2011 - 16:49

Well, we finally made it to Surprise Outlets (my earlier attempt took me to Scitech Outlets instead, as I had forgotten the name of this outlet mall). I actually ended up going to Surprise Outlets 3 times this past week (!). The Mothercare is really an outlet center, as they get the old/unsold stock from the other Mothercare stores. We picked up a bunch of baby clothes there and got some fantastic deals on a couple of car seats. Another favourite was the Adidas store.

Surprise Outlets isn't as large as the other US-style outlet mall here, Scitech Outlets, but on the plus side it's way less busy (I'm guessing due to the fact that it opened recently, but also partly due to the location). Also, there are several brands at Surprise Outlets which you don't often see here, and which I didn't get a chance to explore yet. Overall, it's a really relaxed experience shopping at Surprise Outlets, which is a nice change - it almost feels like you're no longer in Beijing. Of course, this will change once/if this mall gets really popular.

I should mention that both outlet malls are dog-friendly, though this is probably limited to the mall grounds, not the actual stores.

Anyways, thanks again to Tiffany for the review and the other posters for the tip about Mothercare.

admin's picture admin Submitted by Guest on Mon, 07/18/2011 - 14:20

Nidaye wrote:

Thanks for the review and especially the tip about Mothercare - how are the prices there?

Anyways, it sounds like this is worth making a trip there.

there's a mothercare in solana mall btw
http://www.beijing-kids.com/directory/Mothercare

Books by current and former Beijinger staffers

http://astore.amazon.com/truerunmedia-20

Nidaye's picture Nidaye Submitted by Guest on Mon, 07/18/2011 - 13:21

TommyDog wrote:
I've been to the mall. It's on one of my alternate routes to the airport.

It is very specifically American-style. It's sort of a psuedo-quaint village and reminded me of the huge outlet center outside NY city, name of which escapes me. My wife liked Club Monaco, which is a crapload less expensive than similar venues in the city center, and there is a Mothercare--an English chain of high-brow baby stuff. This is the best place for baby shopping anywhere that I've found (and I have looked) in either BJ, HK or Sing...keeping in mind that it's mainly clothes and furniture, strollers and not food and that sort of thing.

There was nothing else there that was of specific interest to me.

Thanks for the review and especially the tip about Mothercare - how are the prices there?

Anyways, it sounds like this is worth making a trip there.

TommyDog's picture TommyDog Submitted by Guest on Fri, 07/15/2011 - 12:55

I've been to the mall. It's on one of my alternate routes to the airport.

It is very specifically American-style. It's sort of a psuedo-quaint village and reminded me of the huge outlet center outside NY city, name of which escapes me. My wife liked Club Monaco, which is a crapload less expensive than similar venues in the city center, and there is a Mothercare--an English chain of high-brow baby stuff. This is the best place for baby shopping anywhere that I've found (and I have looked) in either BJ, HK or Sing...keeping in mind that it's mainly clothes and furniture, strollers and not food and that sort of thing.

There was nothing else there that was of specific interest to me.

squid's picture squid Submitted by Guest on Tue, 07/12/2011 - 15:02

The place is not that far away from many major areas of Beijing. Does the writer think that every foreign person who might shop would live near Dawang Lu?

The place is ten minutes away from Wangjing, and about five minutes from the Shunyi villa areas. Place there is a subway just down the street. I don't get all the talk of it being a far away location.

Having said that, although some things are cheaper there,its not really a true outlet mall like you might find in the states. The prices are very similar to what you would find at their other retail locations. Unless there is a sale on the thing you wanted, you won't find much different and many things are at full retail price. I did get some good running shoes that were on sale there,close to what you would pay on sale in Hong Kong.

AnNing16's picture AnNing16 Submitted by Guest on Mon, 07/11/2011 - 10:49

Ok, so we all know that Beijing's prices (especially on foreign clothing brands) are ridiculously high. Outlet malls are supposed to be significantly cheaper than store price. So, how do the prices at this mall compare to what these product would cost elsewhere in the world (say... HK or US)?

jlatty06's picture jlatty06 Submitted by Guest on Sat, 07/09/2011 - 22:26

Biker wrote:
This has to be one of the most pathetic attempts at describing where this outlet mall is.

"Shuttle from Dawang Lu?" Where on DaWang Lu? That's one heck of a long street. Line 1 stop? Which exit? And what does the shuttle look like?

"Buses originate from somewhere and drop you off somewhere else, but not really where you want to go." Classic "The Beijinger"

And the link to the "map" is ridiculous. Unreadable and unrecognizable.

Come on folks, get your act together. Ever heard of linking to Google Maps? Else, just stop it with these pointless reviews where you say "oh, it is next to the Jinjin Laolao building", as if every expat knows where that is. The reviews are absurd without a decent MAP. And that goes for ALL your "reviews". Use Google Maps! Even CW has figured it out.

@biker: It's always surprising to me how idiotic and useless some Beijing expats show themselves to be. Here, Ms. Wang has given us directions to this location that even an 8-year old could comprehend. Yet, you unfortunately need more. Must she hold your hand the next time she decides to go to the outlet? Maybe we can find a tour guide or someone with enough patience to deal with a spoiled, privileged brat. I'm sorry you find the map 'unreadable and unrecognizable.' It was quite beneficial to my finding this location. However, I must add that my mother stopped spoon feeding me when I was 2. I reckon yours has failed to discontinue this practice.

esperegus's picture esperegus Submitted by Guest on Wed, 07/06/2011 - 14:15

Huanchu,

The writer points out the "downsides" of taking the public bus as a contrast to the convenience of taking the straight-to-the-door shuttle bus. She's given three options for getting to this place. You can choose one of them or not go. It's fine.

Some people don't mind getting off a bus and then walking 25 minutes to get to a mall. Good for them. But some people don't want to do that. And it's not about being a whiny expat, because plenty of Chinese people wouldn't bother spending 40 minutes on a bus, then another 25 minutes walking, just to go to some clothes shops. They can live without this virtue you seem to think comes from sitting on a bus and then walking for a while.

By the way, I'm walking to Xidan tomorrow. Should only take about 2 hours, but hell I'll feel good at the end of it. Might even treat myself to a nice new Giorgiorgio Amnami top.

HuanChu's picture HuanChu Submitted by Guest on Tue, 07/05/2011 - 20:07

Quote:
The less good news is that those public buses don’t drop you off right at the entrance. In fact, you’ll have to walk a good 25 minutes to arrive at your final destination.

They don't drop you off right at the door?? Wtf?? How inconsiderate is that??

And you have to walk 25 minutes to get somewhere?! Outrageous!!!

Shuttle bus? Public bus?? When is China going to learn that they really need to cater for us better?? This kind of treatment, building places I might want to go to, more than 5 minutes from my house, will not be tolerated!!!!

A very smart man wrote:
Remember, the courage to be wrong is paramount in importance to the ability to be right.

Biker's picture Biker Submitted by Guest on Tue, 07/05/2011 - 19:01

This has to be one of the most pathetic attempts at describing where this outlet mall is.

"Shuttle from Dawang Lu?" Where on DaWang Lu? That's one heck of a long street. Line 1 stop? Which exit? And what does the shuttle look like?

"Buses originate from somewhere and drop you off somewhere else, but not really where you want to go." Classic "The Beijinger"

And the link to the "map" is ridiculous. Unreadable and unrecognizable.

Come on folks, get your act together. Ever heard of linking to Google Maps? Else, just stop it with these pointless reviews where you say "oh, it is next to the Jinjin Laolao building", as if every expat knows where that is. The reviews are absurd without a decent MAP. And that goes for ALL your "reviews". Use Google Maps! Even CW has figured it out.

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