Silk Street market has become a magnet for foreign tourists in Beijing. [Photo by Wang Jing/China Daily]

Like many international cities, Beijing has blossomed into a shopping paradise for locals and tourists.

Shopping on weekends or major holidays can be a mixed blessing. On the plus side, business owners and vendors might give discounts to customers to drum up sales, but you will soon find yourself cheek-by-jowl in a flock of treasure-hunting shoppers.

International tourists may feel at home in this strange city when they see familiar international brands in sparkling Western-style shopping malls, such as those of Wangfujing Street, the Village at Sanlitun, and Qianmen and Jianguo-menwai streets.

For those on limited budgets, there are various private stores and markets in Beijing that offer everything from local folk arts and crafts to fashion knockoffs and other miscellaneous knickknacks. Visitors can better explore Beijing's culture in these areas, where prices will be much lower.

In addition, one of the perks of shopping in those private stores is that prices are not carved in stone: You can always bargain. It's advisable to do a little online research on the things you want to purchase before going, so you won't be taken for a ride.

The charm of shopping in Beijing all boils down to the sheer volume of available goods that can satisfy the most finicky sense of taste. If you have something in mind, finding the right place will enable you to get what you want with great efficiency. Otherwise, you might get lost in the labyrinth of shopping venues.

Here are some of the most distinctive shopping sites for visitors in Beijing: