i heard that you can buy brand name snowboarding jackets (like burton)
in the street markets of beijing very cheaply. these are overstocked
or minor defects straight from the factory. i need an address or
directions to such street markets.

Good luck. The "overstocked" items often enough prove to actually be
cheap imitations.

Scriptor

I believe Scriptor is right, but here is a site with many places that
sell clothing:
http://www.sinohotelguide.com/aboutbeijing/shopping/area.html

And this website starts with a view of the entrance to the Silk
Market, or Silk Alley, a street bazar of stalls that sell all kinds of
textile goods in addition to silk:
http://www.chinatour.com/attraction/xiushuidongjie.htm

But I see that it may be out of business now.  The site underlines
that the "name" goods are properly counterfeits.