The largest pearl store near the Temple of Heaven
Close to the Temple of Heaven lies a well-known pearl market. Every day it attracts many visitors from home and abroad. Recently I visited it on my way back to the Beijing GuoHong Hotel and was impressed with the Fanghua Pearl and Jewel store. If you want to find a beautiful pearl necklace, don’t miss this shop.
This well-decorated shop is on the 4th floor of the market. You will find numerous pearl necklaces neatly displayed in the shop. The colors included milk white, golden yellow, pink, and black.
As the No.1 retailer of high-quality peals in Beijing, Fanghua has been in the business for twenty years. According to the shop manager, the main categories of pearls here are fresh water pearls, sea water pearls, and South Sea pearls.
Don’t worry about buying fake pearls here. The shop assistant here will explain to you how to distinguish real pearls from fake ones. There’s a rule for judging fine pearls: the rounder and shinier, the better.
Photos on the wall showed foreign dignitaries visiting the shop. I saw Margaret Thatcher, Putin’s wife, the Queen of Spain, and the Queen of Belgium. The photos are proof of the charm of the Oriental pearls.
An antique shop worth your visit
The Henan Plaza Beijing Hotel is very close to Chengtian Antique City in southeastern Beijing. If you want to visit some interesting antique shops, go to a shop that carries antiques, jade jewelry, and other Chinese artwork.
The first thing I saw was a collection of antique porcelain wares, including vases, bowls, and plates. Some of them were made in the Qing dynasty.
Mr. Tang, the shop owner, greeted me. He showed me a porcelain statue of Empress Dowager Cixi, a female ruler of the Qing dynasty. She sat on a stone bench with a big spotted dog. She was wearing a big black hat and a colorful button-down robe. Embroidered peonies and butterflies decorated her robe. In China, a peony represents wealth and status.
Jade jewelery items are also very popular here, including the pendants and bracelets. Jade symbolizes virtue and brings good health.
I also found Chinese paintings, calligraphy work, and wood carvings. They are all traditional Chinese art forms. This is a must-see shop right near your hotel in Beijing.
