Qingping Market- Old Guangzhou Pet Market

Qingping Market came into existence in 1979. It is the largest open-air street market in Guangzhou, and over 60, 000 local Cantonese go shopping there every day. Qingping Market situates across between Qingping Lu and Ti Yun Lu, in the north of Shamian Island (the former English and French Concession), and stretches out over with 2000 stalls along 1-km-long street.

The Qingpin market can be divided into two parts, one is for the pet-people: you may find both dried goods like starfish, snakes and so on available in some stalls, and also lived ones such as kittens, puppies,  bunnies, lizards, tortoises and golden fish  there. This whole place will give you a feeling just as if you enter a take-away mini zoo with every cute creatures within touch.

As for the other part, the traditional Chinese herbal medicine section is interesting and less disturbing, perhaps all the endangered species of herbal plants need to be spotted only with a pair of the most experienced eyes. Among all the medicine stalls, you may also find some antique shops alongside the street. With good luck and good bargain, you may find a piece of ancient jade or a scroll of traditional Chinese painting. But always be careful, as all the treasured masterpieces are not so instantly recognizable, even sometimes there are mostly cheap copies, so you need to think twice before you really made up your mind to buy something favorite. The most important thing is, always try bargaining!

Steph