Choice venues provide many options for the curious

Farmers' markets are proving popular destinations — particularly for young people — as they showcase a city's authentic customs and traditions.

The following venues offer not only distinctive local specialties but also creative innovation beyond their commercial functions.

Beijing: Sanyuanli Market

An interest in cooking is likely to be triggered by strolling through this market in Chaoyang district, Beijing. Established in 1992, it offers a wide range of fresh vegetables, meat and cheese, and specialty ingredients from around the world. This produce meets even the most demanding customer requests from neighboring expatriate communities and five-star hotels. The 130-plus stall owners are seasoned experts in sourcing all manner of produce. They also arrange fruit and vegetables into colorful displays and provide visitors with information about origin and taste of the produce, and cooking methods for ingredients. Numerous stall owners are proficient in foreign languages.

Shanghai: Wuzhong Market

This market reopened to the public in 2019. Its dark-green retro appearance is highlighted by a golden logo, green-and-white mosaic tiles, arched porches and curved windows. Many locals' favorite food, ranging from Chongming rice from Shanghai, Zhoushan seafood from Zhejiang province, mushrooms from Yunnan province, and Thai mangoes, can be found at the outlet. There is also a variety of semifinished produce and cooked food. This is a good place to experience the delicacy and complexity of local cuisine.

Xi'an: Jianguomen Market

Situated at the eastern end of the city wall in Xi'an, Shaanxi province, the market is steeped in the vibrant life of the ancient city. In 2021, new and trendy cultural elements were introduced to the venue, but local residents' way of life was retained, attracting large numbers of young visitors. The ground floor features abundant supplies of neatly arranged fruit and vegetables, and bustles with early-morning customers. The ceiling of the fruit market is adorned with colorful graffiti. Visitors' purchases of fresh produce are processed on the second floor, while the third floor has been transformed into an art exhibition hall compete with tall fiberglass windows that allow plenty of sunlight.

Various themed art exhibitions are staged for free. The neighborhood also hosts handicraft, poetry, book gatherings and flea market events.

Xiamen: The Eighth Seafood Market

Located in Xiamen, Fujian province, the market took shape in the 1920s, and has since become one of the city's biggest seafood outlets. There are many entrances to the venue, with some shortcuts hidden away in small alleyways known only to local residents. Its location next to a dock ensures that seafood reaches customers quickly. A wide range of seafood is available, including giant king crabs, lobsters and small fish and shrimp. In recent years, vendors have also introduced processing services for tourists to taste the seafood they buy.

Kunming: Zhuanxin Farmers' Market

Situated in Kunming, Yunnan province, this market is busy with customers haggling over purchases. It is one of the most traditional and well-known agricultural markets in the city. Customers can find practically everything they need for the dining table, especially distinctive local specialties. The market also serves as a food price indicator for Kunming. Another highlight is the artistic arrangement of food. The combination of red chili peppers, carrots, pumpkins, peas, eggplants, white calabash gourds and light-blue crabs resembles a vibrant oil painting. The cooked food section offers a wide range of local flavors.

Harbin: Daoli Food Market

This market in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, is close to the well-known tourist attraction St. Sophia Cathedral. The first of its kind in the city, the market is more than 120 years old. Many well-known Chinese writers have included the venue in their works. This two-floor outlet covers 130,000 square meters and it takes half a day to fully explore what it has to offer. Local bread bigger than a human head, red sausages and steaming pork stew all promise to satisfy visitors' taste buds. This super-clean market offers a modern shopping mall environment, and many locals often drag along their suitcases to buy groceries.