Beijing Zoo Wholesale Shopping Market (动物园服装批发市场)! aka My Favorite Place in BJ!

Julong Foreign Trade Market (聚龙外贸市场)

American Style clothing and accessories for dirt cheap. That my friend, is not easy to find in China. If you favor brands like American Apparel, H&M, Asos, Zara, Levi's, Hollister, Paul Frank, and whatnots, here's your place to go.   

Shopkeepers treat picture-taking like the plague, so please know, all these photos were taking furtively, like a Foxconn employee secretly trying to document abuse at work, minus the Foxconn and abuse.

One of the many entrances to the underground market.

Packed with people. Try to go when it opens to avoid crowds.

"I'm not a governor I just like hoes" shirt. Just goes to show how current and up-to-date this place is.

This stall focused on Alexander McQueen Fashion

Dresses @ the wannabe Alexander McQueen Stall. I question if their styles are actually based on actual AMcQ items. 

American Apparel Store (in air quotes, as you should assume everything here to be). It's very good for basics like Tee, Tanks, Sweaters, Hoodies, Skirts, Leggins etc. Most items are 3 for 100RMB. I love how their tags say "Made in USA" just like the real thing. 

More pictures of AA items. There's one main store (in the first picture) and several stalls scattered in the Market. Know that they're all owned by the same people, so there's not going to be much variance in prices if that's why you're looking for.

One of the many "All-things Paul Frank" stalls.

American Eagle Jeans in every imaginable style. Some of them look look exactly the same as my AE jeans purchased in the US, which leads me to believe these jeans are authentic factory excess pieces. (55RMB per pair).

Lacoste collared shirts

Minnetonka Boots

Belts!

Bags!

Blouses

More blouses

Bustier Tops. Very UO / Free People style. 

Oversized and festive sweaters

Zara Coat (120RMB)

Jeggings in any colors you can imagine (30RMB - 40RMB)

A few of the pieces I took home:

Prices vary, but nothing should be more than 200RMB ($33USD). To give you a general sense of pricing: T-shirts are 30RMB, sweaters at 80RMB, coats at 150RMB, pants at 50RMB, leggings at 30RMB. You get the idea. The clothes change as quickly as the seasons do, so be prepared to make quick decisions if you find a piece you like. For the most part, shopkeepers won't let you try on the clothing beforehand, unless you pay, in which case you can try on and exchange for the same item in a different size if the sizing's off. If I'm happy with >50% of my purchases, I consider it a good trip.  

Also, make sure to check the items before you leave the stall to make sure there are no defects. With these kind of prices, don't expect top quality. Think F21 or H&M level quality (which many of these items are).

Around this shopping area are loads of other similarly formatted ridiculously large multi-stored individual stalls that sell clothing. However, these places cater mainly to Mainland fashion (which means the more bedazzling, different fabrics, different layers, weird english, the better) and produce more misses than hits for me. But definitely feel free to check it out if the hundreds of stalls in this area aren't enough.  

• Address: 北京市西城区西直门外大街135号展览馆广场 There's an entrance right at the corner of where Ito Yakado / McDonald's (112号 Xizhimen Outer St) is located
• Directions: From the subway, get off at the Beiijing Zoo exit.
• Hours: 8AM - 4PM, 7 days a week