Situated on the southeast corner of Beijing's third ring road, Panjiayuan market is the largest of its kind in China, selling everything from cultural relics, paintings, calligraphy and calligraphy supplies, pottery and porcelain, to old furniture. There are more than 3,000 stalls with dealers hailing from 24 provinces, many are from different ethnic minorities and sell products with a regional flavor. Cheap prices and large museum-like displays attract visitors both from home and abroad in large numbers.

The market is made up of over 3,000 individual stalls covering 48,500 sqm - there really is something for everyone here. Even Hilary Clinton has shopped at Panjiayuan. Although it's at it best on weekends, the antique zone is open every day while the arts and crafts warehouse zone is open weekends only.

Panjiayuan experienced an unusual development growing from a collection of unimportant and disorganized roadside stalls to a famous gathering place for collectors.

The market was established in 1992, and three years later the introduction of the two-day weekend contributed greatly to the popularity of the market. From 1995 to 1997, the government regulated and assisted its development by building a large indoor market, followed by other permanent buildings. Currently there are about 10, 000 dealers operating in the market, and the average daily number of visitors tops 60,000.

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