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The Qingping Market, Guangzhou is always a part of
the tour itinerary of all those on a trip to Guangzhou.
And understandably so for not only is it one of the
largest markets in China, but also one of the most famous
markets in this country. Well known for selling an amazing
variety of objects that includes some really unqiue
stuff, it is the largest street market in Guangzhou.
There are as many as 2000 stalls in the Qingping Market,
Guangzhou. Located in the north of Shamian
Island, it covers a 1 km long stretch of Qingping
Lu and Ti Yun Lu. Set up in the year 1979, it receives
as many as 60,000 people each day. A product of the
capitalist economic reforms initiated by Xiaoping, it
has the rare distinction of being one of the first private
markets in the People's Republic of China.
One is sure to be flabbergasted at knowing the names
of some of the products that are sold here. Python steaks,
dried rat meat, stir fried crickets are all there for
sale. Snakes, leopards, dried star fish as well as some
living animals are found in this market.
From antique porcelain to souvenirs of Chairman Mao,
more or less everything is available in this market
which does not quite have the glitz of the present day
shopping
malls but is rather a very crowded and trdaitional unit.
There is also a section in the Qingping Market, Guangzhou,
which sells Chinese herbal medicines. But what is sure
to catch your attention the most, are the buckets of
live scorpions, eels and cats. This really might sound
eerie to many of you but no where else in the world
will you get to see lines of shops with hooks from which
unidentifiable meat hangs. Turtles, sea fish line the
stalls and even dogs are there to be butchered.
After a visit to the Qingping Market, Guangzhou, one
can also get an insight into the kind of food that is
consumed by the locals. This is because this market
is frequented by the locals who purchase ingredients
for cooking their daily meals. It is best to go there
at noon so that you can see various interesting items
in a relaxed fashion.
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