Visiting Kunming for tourism,

apart from parks and other attractions,

there is a popular choice,

the lively and bustling wet markets.

From the famous Zhuanxin Market

to the vibrant Donghua Market

and the Wuliduo Market,

each wet market has its own character.

What makes Yunnan's wet markets so attractive?

After exploring these wet markets

and local bazaars in Kunming,

I believe you will find the answer.

Zhuanxin Wet Market

If we were to use an idiom to describe the Zhuanxin Wet Market, "bao luo wan xiang" (meaning "embracing all things") would be the most fitting. In this market, stories between people and people, as well as people and food, are constantly unfolding and evolving every day.

Every day, starting at 5 a.m., Zhuanxin Wet Market buzzes with activity, and it continues until 7 p.m. The bustling scene gradually subsides. In recent years, the Zhuanxin Wet Market has gained great fame due to its rich variety of delicious food and convenient transportation, making it a popular destination for internet-famous photo spot and attracting numerous visitors.

Strolling through Zhuanxin Wet Market is like attending an exhibition. Upon entering the market, the first impression, besides the crowds, is cleanliness, tidiness, and aesthetics. Every vendor is an aesthete, displaying vegetables of different colors-red, yellow, green-in neatly arranged sections. Any snapshot could grace the cover of a magazine. It is an extremely comfortable experience for visitors. Notably, the market is also a paradise for various wild ingredients, such as ottelia acuminata, lotus leaf tips, and other seasonal edible flowers, resembling a grand paradise of wild flavors.

In addition to the diverse range of vegetables, the street food in Zhuanxin Wet Market is also well-known, as evidenced by the long queues in front of the stalls every day. Fermented glutinous rice, tofu pudding rice noodles, Yangbi rice rolls, crispy rice cakes, grilled milk fans... It is impossible to taste them all in one go. One must return countless times.

This year, Zhuanxin Wet Market has also introduced an assembly of Yunnan's specialty snacks, including dipped rice noodles, lotus root powder soup, and Pu'er sweet skewers. When feeling tired from wandering around, one can go to the third floor to enjoy a snack or a drink, creating a particularly cozy and delightful experience.

Donghua Wet Market

The "Donghua Station" welcomes every "arriving" passenger, initiating a heartwarming experience of "gathering around and eating a bowl delicacy."

Turning a corner from the towering high-rises and bustling traffic, and following the direction of the old railway tracks, you can enter the recently renovated and unveiled Donghua Wet Market, where you can encounter a unique side of Kunming.

At the end of 2021, Yunnan State Farms Plateau Characteristic Agriculture Co., Ltd. carried out a comprehensive upgrade and transformation of Donghua Wet Market. The revitalized market, themed around railway culture, seamlessly integrates cultural creativity with the down-to-earth culture of a farmers market, showcasing a dazzling array of local products. Whether it's the vegetable section, fruit section, cooked food section, or dried goods section, every area is abundantly stocked, providing a soothing sight.

The market is a gathering place for Yunnan's flavors, offering a wide variety of specialty snacks. From fried potatoes, ice jelly, fried goat's cheese, to rose jelly cakes, dozens of delicious treats are laid out, ensuring there is a choice that matches your taste preferences.

Wuliduo Wet Market

In the hearts of old Kunming residents, Wuliduo is known as the largest and most affordable wet market in Kunming. In 2016, Wuliduo relocated from its predecessor, the Old Dongzhan Wet Market, to its new location, the Wuliduo Wet Market, and officially opened for business.

Wuliduo consists of three floors. The basement and the first floor sell vegetables, meat, fruits, cooked food, and more. The second floor features a supermarket and several specialty snack vendors.

One prominent feature of Wuliduo is that all goods are clearly priced and labeled. Simple cardboard price signs serve as the most straightforward form of advertising.

Elderly residents are the main shoppers, and having a shopping cart is a standard accessory. However, with the increasing popularity of visiting the market, more and more young people are entering Wuliduo. They squeeze into the bustling crowd to seek out delicious food, learn the art of bargaining from the elderly shoppers, and experience the vibrant atmosphere of the market.

Mushuihua Wild Mushroom Trading Center

Eating mushrooms is ingrained in the DNA of Yunnan people. Every year, as the rainy season arrives, a large number of wild mushrooms gather at the Mushuihua Wild Mushroom Trading Center, marking the annual "mushroom season" for the people of Kunming. During this time, the market is bustling with activity, with not only local residents shopping for seasonal treasures but also food connoisseurs and curious tourists seeking unique flavors.

The Mushuihua Wild Mushroom Trading Center is the largest wild mushroom trading market in China. Various edible wild mushrooms such as macrolepiota albuminosa, matsutake, russula virescens, and boletus edulis are displayed in abundance and distributed from this market to dining tables across the country, becoming delicious delicacies.

Unlike ordinary wet markets, although these mushrooms are piled on the ground for sale, many of them are quite valuable, with prices ranging from several hundred to several thousand yuan per kilogram being quite normal.

When it comes to cooking wild mushrooms, their golden partner-ham-is indispensable. Therefore, you will see many shops selling ham there. After selecting the wild mushrooms, you can easily purchase a piece of ham, conveniently preparing everything in one place.

In addition to fresh wild mushrooms, the market also has a large trading area for dried mushrooms. With high-quality freeze-drying technology, dried mushrooms can meet the year-round demand of the wild mushroom market.

Wild mushrooms are delicious, but cleaning them can be a headache. However, don't worry, the market offers specialized cleaning services priced between 6 to 30 yuan, depending on the type of mushroom.

In addition to the distinctive wet markets,

there is another place in Kunming that is worth a visit,

and that is the local bazaars.

On scheduled days and at specific locations,

the "market fair" becomes a grand event.

On that day, people gather spontaneously

to engage in business,

join the lively atmosphere,

and go treasure hunting.

Shouts, bargaining, and laughter fill the air

as people crowd together,

creating a bustling scene akin to a grand performance.

Haiyuansi Local Bazaar

Originally, the Haiyuansi Local Bazaar was set up inside the temple itself. Today, it has extended to the alleys and lanes across the street, and even the surrounding wet markets have become part of the "family" of Haiyuansi Local Bazaar.

On the bazaar, you can not only buy fresh and affordable fruits and vegetables, various flavors of snacks, daily necessities, and agricultural tools, but you may also get lucky and find rare and unique treasures. In short, "if you can imagine it, you can buy it."

During the bustling street fair days, there is one essential activity for the attendees of Haiyuansi Local Bazaar, and that is listening to "Huadeng" performances. Elderly people bring their own small stools and gather around the stage in the temple, enjoying the lively Huadeng opera with great delight.

Market days: Every Thursday

Transportation: Take bus routes 83, 85, 70, 180, or K13 and get off at Liyang Xingcheng Residential Area.

Dabanqiao Local Bazaar

Dabanqiao Local Bazaar is located 20 kilometers east of the suburbs, and has always been the liveliest activity here. On street fair days, the bazaar is crowded with a constant flow of people, shoulder to shoulder, and one can only move forward slowly.

There are many local farmers in the surrounding area. On Mondays and Thursdays, the designated street fair days, they bring their own farm products to set up stalls and sell them. If you want to buy organic fruits and vegetables, coming to Dabanqiao will guarantee a fruitful visit.

Market days: Every Monday and Thursday

Transportation: Take bus routes 11, 903, C136, or C67 and get off at Dabanqiao Station; or take Metro Line 3 and get off at Dabanqiao Station.

Xiaobanqiao Local Bazaar

Xiaobanqiao Local Bazaar is one of the largest street fairs in Kunming. Every Sunday, regardless of the weather or how busy they are, residents living nearby take time to stroll along the street. They may get a haircut, buy tobacco, enjoy a bowl of lamb soup hot pot, or simply join in the lively atmosphere without buying anything.

The village bazaar is divided into different sections, such as a clothing street, a street for flowers, birds, fish, and insects, a pet street, and more. It is like a super department store where you can find everything you need, including food, clothing, daily necessities, and entertainment, catering to the needs of different people.

By the way, it is said that the lamb soup hot pot on the street is exceptional, and many people make a special trip just to have a bowl.

Market day: Every Sunday.

Transportation: Take bus routes C12 or Z39 and get off at Xiaobanqiao Station.

Puji Local Bazaar

The street fair in Puji has a long history dating back to the Qing Dynasty, with a majority of participants being elderly people and residents from the surrounding villages and towns. The bazaar offers a wide variety of local products and fruits at affordable prices. Walking along the streets, you will often hear familiar and friendly local dialect phrases like "How much is it?" and "Can you lower it a bit?"

Accompanied by the sound of "pop, pop," the enticing aroma of freshly made popcorn wafts from roadside stalls. Meanwhile, skilled elder ladies meticulously embroider floral patterns on fabric, showcasing an array of intricately crafted embroidered shoes that dazzle the eyes.

Market days: Every month on the days with the number ending in 3 and 8 (i.e. every month on the 3rd, 8th, 13th, 18th, etc).

Transportation: Take bus routes 8, C1, C3, or C10 and get off at Puji Wet Market.

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(Editors: Christine, Rachel)