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Markets to bag yourself a bargain
By Xu Wenwen |
August 10, 2011, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
HOURS of pleasure can be had hunting for cheap curios and knickknacks, and the best place to do this is in local markets where a more distinct, more grassroots and more glorious experience can be had.
For tourists, this experience can be a rewarding one. Wandering in a city's supermarkets or shopping malls won't reveal any culture about the place, as they are all the same around the country, however, killing time in local markets will.
In Hangzhou, where many Shanghainese spend their leisure time, local markets offer a feel of the city's culture, allowing visitors to spend a whole day there, chatting with pals, bargaining with store owners and enjoying the pleasure of hunting for hidden treasures. Shanghai Daily introduces some of Hangzhou's best local markets.
Silk City
Buying a souvenir made of silk is a must for visitors to Hangzhou, the city known for its sericulture, and Hangzhou Silk City embracing hundreds of silk stores is an ideal place to find a bargain.
The outdoor market stretching for two blocks sells everything from ties to scarves to fabric made of silk - both artificial and real, among which some are trendy, some are decorated with Chinese-motif patterns and some are especially for children.
Creative pieces with Oriental features are recommended as souvenirs, such as a purse made of silk, a bag with Chinese embroidery and wine bottle covers shaped like a mini qipao or a Mandarin jacket.
Be prepared to haggle at this market and for reference, the price for a small artificial silk kerchief (50cm by 50cm) is about 2 yuan to 3 yuan, while a real silk kerchief the same size sells for around 20 yuan.
Address: 253 Xinhua Rd
Remnant markets
The remnant market located inside the Hangzhou Second-hand Market provides surplus materials from textile printing manufacturers and clothing factories, making it possible to get some cloth to make a dress, a scarf or a pillowcase from as little as 10 yuan (US$1.55).
The market is nicknamed by locals as a market of rags, however, the quality of clothes is fair and there is an assorted range of remnants in the market covering more than 10,000 square meters.
Although the materials there are not neatly organized, it gives people a sense of achievement to hunt for "treasure" among the millions of "rags." As a result, the market lures lots of designers and housewives who are able to turn such remnants into impressive clothes and home decor pieces.
Accessories such as buttons, lace, fringes and spangles can also be found in some stalls in the market, and can be used to embellish DIY clothing and home decor creations.
The city also has a smaller remnant market situated in Qianjiang Small Commodity Market, where the general price of goods is a little bit higher than those of the large one, although more large pieces of material can be found as the smaller market is home to many stalls selling bed linen.
? (Large) Remnant Market
Address: 2/F, Block 3, Hangzhou Second-hand Market, 589 Shixiang Rd
? (Small) Remnant Market
Address: 3/F, Shoe Town, Qianjiang Small Commodity Market, 445 Shangtang Rd
Bird and flower markets
Hangzhou has several bird and flower markets, and the biggest one is Wushan Bird and Flower Town at the east end of Hefang Street, which sells flowers on the first floor and pets on the second floor.
The advantage of the market is its position, which is close to the bustling Hefang Street and is nestled at Wushan Square, yet bargaining before buying is a must in the market. One tip when buying flowers in the market is not to buy the wrapping that might cost 5 yuan for each piece, but instead ask for flowers to be wrapped in newspaper.
Another big market is the Chengxi Bird, Flower and Craft Market situated behind the CenturyMart on Wen'er Road W. It sells flowers and plants in a very large outdoor yard so all the animals and plants here receive plenty of fresh air.
Its second floor contains a stationery market which not only provides ordinary stationery products but also art supplies.
And Fengqi Bird and Flower Market, which undertakes half of the flower deals in Zhejiang Province, wholesales half a billion flowers every year. It does not sell dogs and cats, but focuses on flowers and fish.
? Wushan Bird and Flower Town
Address: 1 Huaguang Rd
? Chengxi Bird, Flower and Craft Market
Address: 89 Gucui Rd
? Fengqi Bird and Flower Market
Address: 198 Kaixuan Rd
Wushan Night Market
Wushan Night Market is representative of a typical Hangzhou night market. Although it has been running for more than 20 years, it remains a meeting place for fashionable young people. This street which used to be a market full of curios is now a trendy commodity market where one can find everything from clothes, shoes and bags, clocks and lighters, computer accessories and DVDs, gems and porcelain, cosmetics and hair products.
It is open all year round except rainy days, and there are more than 400 booths in this road.
Visitors can easily spend a couple of hours browsing the night market, and they can also grab a bite to eat at one of the many snack stalls, milk tea shops and grassroots restaurants that circle the street.
Address: between Renhe and Huixing roads
Business hours: 5:30pm-11pm
For tourists, this experience can be a rewarding one. Wandering in a city's supermarkets or shopping malls won't reveal any culture about the place, as they are all the same around the country, however, killing time in local markets will.
In Hangzhou, where many Shanghainese spend their leisure time, local markets offer a feel of the city's culture, allowing visitors to spend a whole day there, chatting with pals, bargaining with store owners and enjoying the pleasure of hunting for hidden treasures. Shanghai Daily introduces some of Hangzhou's best local markets.
Silk City
Buying a souvenir made of silk is a must for visitors to Hangzhou, the city known for its sericulture, and Hangzhou Silk City embracing hundreds of silk stores is an ideal place to find a bargain.
The outdoor market stretching for two blocks sells everything from ties to scarves to fabric made of silk - both artificial and real, among which some are trendy, some are decorated with Chinese-motif patterns and some are especially for children.
Creative pieces with Oriental features are recommended as souvenirs, such as a purse made of silk, a bag with Chinese embroidery and wine bottle covers shaped like a mini qipao or a Mandarin jacket.
Be prepared to haggle at this market and for reference, the price for a small artificial silk kerchief (50cm by 50cm) is about 2 yuan to 3 yuan, while a real silk kerchief the same size sells for around 20 yuan.
Address: 253 Xinhua Rd
Remnant markets
The remnant market located inside the Hangzhou Second-hand Market provides surplus materials from textile printing manufacturers and clothing factories, making it possible to get some cloth to make a dress, a scarf or a pillowcase from as little as 10 yuan (US$1.55).
The market is nicknamed by locals as a market of rags, however, the quality of clothes is fair and there is an assorted range of remnants in the market covering more than 10,000 square meters.
Although the materials there are not neatly organized, it gives people a sense of achievement to hunt for "treasure" among the millions of "rags." As a result, the market lures lots of designers and housewives who are able to turn such remnants into impressive clothes and home decor pieces.
Accessories such as buttons, lace, fringes and spangles can also be found in some stalls in the market, and can be used to embellish DIY clothing and home decor creations.
The city also has a smaller remnant market situated in Qianjiang Small Commodity Market, where the general price of goods is a little bit higher than those of the large one, although more large pieces of material can be found as the smaller market is home to many stalls selling bed linen.
? (Large) Remnant Market
Address: 2/F, Block 3, Hangzhou Second-hand Market, 589 Shixiang Rd
? (Small) Remnant Market
Address: 3/F, Shoe Town, Qianjiang Small Commodity Market, 445 Shangtang Rd
Bird and flower markets
Hangzhou has several bird and flower markets, and the biggest one is Wushan Bird and Flower Town at the east end of Hefang Street, which sells flowers on the first floor and pets on the second floor.
The advantage of the market is its position, which is close to the bustling Hefang Street and is nestled at Wushan Square, yet bargaining before buying is a must in the market. One tip when buying flowers in the market is not to buy the wrapping that might cost 5 yuan for each piece, but instead ask for flowers to be wrapped in newspaper.
Another big market is the Chengxi Bird, Flower and Craft Market situated behind the CenturyMart on Wen'er Road W. It sells flowers and plants in a very large outdoor yard so all the animals and plants here receive plenty of fresh air.
Its second floor contains a stationery market which not only provides ordinary stationery products but also art supplies.
And Fengqi Bird and Flower Market, which undertakes half of the flower deals in Zhejiang Province, wholesales half a billion flowers every year. It does not sell dogs and cats, but focuses on flowers and fish.
? Wushan Bird and Flower Town
Address: 1 Huaguang Rd
? Chengxi Bird, Flower and Craft Market
Address: 89 Gucui Rd
? Fengqi Bird and Flower Market
Address: 198 Kaixuan Rd
Wushan Night Market
Wushan Night Market is representative of a typical Hangzhou night market. Although it has been running for more than 20 years, it remains a meeting place for fashionable young people. This street which used to be a market full of curios is now a trendy commodity market where one can find everything from clothes, shoes and bags, clocks and lighters, computer accessories and DVDs, gems and porcelain, cosmetics and hair products.
It is open all year round except rainy days, and there are more than 400 booths in this road.
Visitors can easily spend a couple of hours browsing the night market, and they can also grab a bite to eat at one of the many snack stalls, milk tea shops and grassroots restaurants that circle the street.
Address: between Renhe and Huixing roads
Business hours: 5:30pm-11pm
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