You're in luck, I've got just what you need!

What you're looking for is a place called Beijing Mingjingyuan Glasses City which is just a little north of the Panjiayuan "Dirt Market" (as in Dirt Cheap goods) along the East Third Ring Road. It's at 43 Huawei Beili on the inside of the East Third Ring Road.

The building houses a whole bunch of vendors whom are mostly factory outlets for a bunch of Western brands. They'll figure out your prescription and you can choose from any frames that you find in the place and they'll put it all together for you. You can get whatever style of glasses you want including prescription sunglasses. It'll run you about RMB 150 a pair. Not dirt cheap, but a really good price for something functional and stylish, and dirt cheap compared to home for sure!

Since you're looking for "Cheap-o markets" you should head over to the Dirt Market, Panjiayuan, that LongShot mentions above. It's cheap, there's over 4,000 shops in the market, with nearly 10,000 dealers, from 28 provinces, so you got Han, Hui, Manchu, Miao, Dong, Uigur, Mongolian, and Koreans there.

There is an amazing assortment of stuff to look at, I'd say too much, you could easily spend a day just lost in that place, but you'll see ancient books, paintings, calligraphy, agate, jade, porcelain, bamboo, wood, or bone carvings, shadow play masks, ethnic costumes, relics of the Cultural Revolution, snuff bottles made in Hengshui, embroidery made in Jiangsu, boccaro wares from Yixing, bronze wares from Shaanxi, white jade from Xinjiang, and Jiaozhi pottery from Taiwan. Enjoy!

You can also look the Beijing Lantu Eptometry Debuc Glasses Center; phone (+8610) 8773 0788, it have the good quality for you but more expensive.

Believe what you read about the store near the Panjiayuan Market. I just read the same thing on the blog from the New York Times, their International Herald, Global Edition. I was looking for the same information. As to cheap, and fun markets, the Panjiayuan Market is the best. I like Hongqiao Market also.

Question.

Has anyone found a way to order any of these prescription glasses online? Or should I find a style that I like and contact the phone number above that QingQong posted ie. Beijing Lantu Eptometry Debuc Glasses Center; phone (+8610) 8773 0788

Any suggestions for someone not going to Beijing for a while but wanting to get some new glasses?

Hey there

Thanks everyone for posting on eyeglasses. I am leaving for the USA soon and that's the last thing on my list. So glad to find this information as glasses are ridiculously expensive in the USA.

If you're looking for cheap clothing without having to bargain too hard, get yourself to the Haidian District near the Beijing Zoo (subway station Xizhimen, bus stops Xizhimen Wai, Dongwuyuan or Beijing Zhanlanguan). Above the bus depot, is Jinkaili Wholesale Market, behind the bus depot there are two other such wholesale markets (Wai Mao & Dongwuyuan). If that's not overwhelming enough, head towards the square in front of the Beijing Exhibition Center and go to any of the stairways that lead underground. You'll find another wholesale market there. Most of these places close between 4 and 5. It may not look or smell that great, but if you give the clothes a wash and dab some clear nail polish on the buttons (so they don't come off), you'd be happy with your purchases.

For other stuff and a more organized wholesale market, head to Fuchengmen subway station. From there go west aout 3 blocks and find Tianyi Wholesale Market. Household goods, leather goods, socks, gloves, knick knack gifts, souvenirs, jewelry, pearls and the like. It is organized by floor and this place opens at 6:00am & closes at 6:00pm.

Best regards and happy shopping!

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