Silk Market!!!!!

Those who decide to visit Beijing must take a trip to the Silk Market! (Sorry that this sounds like an advertisement) There are a ridiculous amount of stores selling things from jewelry, clothes, shoes, bags and Chinese handicrafts. Seven floors filled with hundred and hundreds of stores. But bargaining skills is an necessity, so if you don't know how to bargain, make sure you go with someone who CAN! It was ridiculous the amount that you could lower the prices to. I was looking at a pea coat and the lady told me "I usually give it to foreigners for 2,000 but for you, I give it to you for 1,600 RMB" (this was in Chinese of course). That's ridiculous because just 5 minutes ago some man offered the coat to me for 300 RMB as a starting price. After 15 minutes of haggling with her, she gave it to me for 180 RMB (even though she wasn't very happy)! In another instance, when I was looking at some Chinese mud dolls, the lady offered it to me for 35 RMB each, but eventually sold me 3 dolls for 15 RMB total. To think of how easily people can be jipped at these places, that just amazing.
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