Beijing's Best Upcoming Markets for All Your Christmas Gift Needs
Weary of oh-so-impersonal Taobao and soulless shopping malls? Then get ready to open your wallet wide for the creative vendors slinging distinctive wares at these local markets and bazaars.
Upcoming markets
Dec 13-14: French & Italian Christmas Market
The Association of Zero Distance – a French organization dedicated to promoting French culture and instigating cultural exchange between France and China – will host the fourth edition of the French Christmas market in Beijing this week. Head to the Fortune Mall this weekend to browse a wide range of crafts from French and Italian makers that include jewelry, decorations, gifts, and of course, delicious French food! Santa Claus will also be making a special visit, for kids and big kids alike. Free. 11am-8pm. Fortune Mall
Dec 14: Hutong Winter Fayre
A true highlight of the festive season, the annual Hutong Winter Fayre is the place to go for hot mulled wine, good times, and a range of locally produced goods to help you finish your holiday shopping, including healthy snacks, handmade jams, skincare, jewelry, paintings and photographs. Read our full preview here. Free. 11am-4pm. The Hutong
Dec 14: “Give a present” Christmas Market at Zarah
Every holiday season, Café Zarah hosts the “Give a Present” Christmas market in their cozy (heated) courtyard. This year is no different as they collect presents for migrant children under their Christmas tree, as organized by the Migrant Children Foundation (MCF). When you're not giving a gift, take advantage of the market to do some shopping yourself, buying from a range of independent vendors offering jewelry, skincare products, cards, painting, and other accessories, as well as freshly baked Christmas cookies, German lebkuchen, and homemade waffles. Free. 11am-4pm. Café Zarah
Dec 14: A To Zine Indie Publishers’ Fair
Love zines? Run a zine? Or are just zine-curious? Join the A to Zine Indie Publishers Fair this Saturday as they huddle up with El Nido in Gulou’s most chill hutong courtyard with mulled wine, quirky art, good music, and lots of indie magazines, fiction zines, fanzines, comics, street art, and more to browse and buy. Free. Midday-7pm. El Nido
Dec 15: Loreli Affordable Art Market
If you're busy Saturday, do not fear as Loreli and myriad local artists will again take over El Nido on Sunday, gathering Beijing's top emerging painters, illustrators, and photographers to offer a vast array of affordable artwork, including more zines, comics, and prints. As the name of the event suggests, all the works here are reasonably priced, so there's sure to be something for every art lover, no matter your budget. There'll also be food, mulled wine, and entertainment to keep things lively. Free. Midday-5pm. El Nido
Dec 15: MCF Winter Festival
The Migrant Children's Foundation (more on them here) invites you to their winter holiday festival, which will be brimming with a great selection of Christmas decorations and crafts, a raffle, as well as fun activities for the little ones. All benefits will go to enriching and expanding the educational opportunities for disadvantaged children living in Beijing. Free. Midday-5pm. Beijing Riviera
Dec 22: Vintage Market at Camera Stylo
Hutong cinema venue hero Camera Stylo will host a vintage market on Dec 22 featuring over 20 different vendors selling clothes, antiques, film cameras, and a whole host of other treasures from yonder-year. If you're a fan of unique, one-of-a-kind finds you won't want to miss this one. Free. 1.30-7pm. Camera Stylo
Dec 24-25: F2N Green Wave Christmas Market
Farm to Neighbors (F2N) partners with Beijing Kerry Center to host this Christmas market on Christmas Eve and the big day itself. As a community platform dedicated to promoting sustainable lifestyles and green consumption, F2N puts an extra focus on educating buyers about sustainable farming products at their Green Wave market series by bringing together select organic vegetable vendors, as well as emphasizing low-packaging, low-waste handmade gifts, jewelry, crafts, and art. Free. 11am-7pm. Beijing Kerry Centre
Ongoing markets
Every Tuesday, Saturday, and Sunday: Beijing Farmers' Market
Since its first iteration in 2018, Beijing Farmers' Market has remained one of the most popular pop-up food markets in the city. Here you'll find organically grown food, artisanal cheeses, meats, vegan products, baked goods, herbs, skincare products, textiles, and more. In keeping with the farmers' market spirit, please bring your own shopping bags to minimize waste. Free. 10am-2pm. Various locations (follow WeChat account ID: countryfair to browse their latest market schedule)
Every Saturday and Sunday: Farm to Neighbors
Similar to their Green Wave Christmas Market above, F2N's weekly market advocates a zero-waste lifestyle and offers fresh local vegetables and fruits, Beijing-made cheeses, bread, cookies, numerous other delicious goodies, as well as jewelry, skincare, shoes, and clothes from various small independent designers and artisans. In keeping with the spirit of living an eco-friendly life, for this event and all of those listed above, please bring your own shopping bags to reduce waste. Free. Midday-6pm. B1, Grand Summit
READ: You Can Now Apply to Become a 2022 Winter Olympics Volunteer
Images: Andrew Neel (via Unsplash), courtesy of the organizers
