Let's Go Outlet Shopping!

Outlets. The word jolts right to our animal brains with the same excitement of “all you can eat buffet” and “free sample”. The prospect of great deals is just too good to pass up. 

Luckily the Qingpu Bailian Outlets live up to outlet expectations and are worth a visit. There is a wide selection of brands across price points and it is well designed and pretty enough to enjoy walking around.

Getting There

The Bailian Outlets are west of Hongqiao Airport in Qingpu District. There is a nearby metro stop Jiasong Zhong Road on Line 17, from there it is a 10-15 minute walk to the outlets. It took 1 hour and 30 minutes from city centre. By cab the trip will cost around 100 RMB, one way, for the same distance. If you have your own car, you’re in luck, there is onsite free parking. 

The mall is open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. (9:30 on weekends). I visited on a weekday afternoon when the crowds were small, but a weekend will definitely be busier.

The Lay of the Land

There are roughly three sections to the outdoor mall. At the main entrance are the luxury brands. There are ropes and lines of people waiting outside popular brands like Gucci and Coach. The high-end stores regulate the staff to shopper ratio. Most other stores in the outlets implement the classic China store policy of requiring an attendant to follow you around and hawk products.

Past that, there is a small stream with fountains and plastic pink flamingos. Crossing over the stream you have a few kiosks for perfume and makeup where you can find MAC lipsticks for 147rmb (original 219rmb), and a few more high-end brands, like Polo Ralph Lauren, designed to look like its own villa, before progressing into mainstream shops. This section is a two floor double concentric “U” shape. The inner portion has popular brands like Nike and Adidas. The outer U has a kid’s clothes portion, outdoor gear portion, Chinese boutique portion, and streetwear portion.

The Deals

Generally most stores have standard markdowns of 30 percent off, written as the fraction of the price you pay (7折). Some have steeper discounts. A Burberry trench coat was 9,100 RMB, half off the listed original price 18,200 RMB.

The outlets are good for shoe shopping with brands like Dr Martens, Ugg, Crocs, Converse, Vans, Nike, Adidas, Fila, New Balance, and Puma. It’s also a good season to buy winter jackets. If you’re planning to ski or snowboard around the time of Beijing Winter Olympics this coming February, stop by the activewear brands The North Face, Columbia, or Moncler. Brand name handbags are also a good deal. Visit Coach, Gucci, Tory Burch, and Kate Spade.

Crossbody Bag 2,975 RMB, original price 5,950 RMB

Shopping is exactly what you think of with an outlet mall. The selection of items isn’t going to be all the best from the brand, you’re going to have to dig and hunt around. But it is the real brand, just maybe the less popular styles. (Though Theory Coffee was questionable, which didn’t sell items from the Theory brand. It sold “French Collection” labeled items instead.)

Take a Break

Shopping is tiring and can be boring for some (though we can't relate). A kid’s play area with swings and rides is good entertainment for the kids. On hot summer days you can grab a milk tea at Coco or Yi Dian Dian. Refuel in Starbucks’s futuristic building and grab an outdoor seat by the creek. For food there are familiar places to eat at McDonald's, KFC, and Yang’s Dumplings in the back with Pizza Hut.

The Brands

And many more. 

Bailian Outlets

Address: 2888 Huqingping Highway, Qingpu District

Hours: 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. (weekends 9:30 p.m.)