Xinjiekou Nan

Eclectic and energetic music hub popular with the locals
Word to the wise: Shopkeepers will inevitably quote you 30-40 percent more than the real price of the instrument, so don’t be afraid to haggle hard.

It's a musical paradise that's jam packed with specialist music stores, selling Western and Chinese instruments, as well as vintage records, CDs and music sheets. This is where the locals come to buy and sell instruments or take music lessons with the skilful shop owners.
By day, the street thrums with a colourful mix of people, making this a great place for watching as well as shopping. You'll find wannabe Bon Jovi’s jamming on the pavement alongside a venerable man playing the two stringed violin-like erhu and R'n'B fans rapping to the sound of the graceful Guzheng (Chinese zither).

Most shops sell high quality traditionally Chinese instruments, but there are dangerously similar copies of Western brands, so make sure you know your stuff before you fork out for the latest Fender. For great guitar deals, go to 'Hengyun' (恒运琴行) at number 105 and head to 'Lipengda' (利鹏达琴行) at number 125 for traditional instruments.