Page 19 - YunnanTourismCultureTimes (111)

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FOOD | 好吃

Kunming: A taste of the wild

昆明：寻山野风味

During spring and summer, the abundant arrival ly providing a broad spectrum of wild vegetables,
of wild mountain vegetables and edible flowers ranging from popular options at 5 yuan per bunch to
transforms Wuliduo Farmers’ Market in Guandu premium varieties over 100 yuan per kilogram.
District, Kunming City, into a bustling destination. Furthermore, markets such as Kunming Daguan
This 24,000-square-meter market attracts over Zhuanxin Farmers’ Market, Yunnan Mushuihua
40,000 daily visitors, a number that swells to over Wild Mushroom Trading Center, and Donghua
60,000 on weekends. Farmers’ Market have all transformed into vibrant
Wuliduo Farmers’ Market is celebrated far and “attractions” for tourists. This increased visitor traf-
wide for its vast selection of goods and affordable fic has also prompted significant aesthetic improve-
prices, making it a favorite destination for locals to ments across Kunming’s various wet markets. Stalls
purchase fresh spring produce. Beyond residents, are now meticulously organized into distinct functional
it also attracts international visitors seeking an au- zones for vegetables, meats, aquatic products, and
thentic experience, transforming a market visit into more, consistently maintaining a high standard of
a unique way to immerse themselves in Yunnan’s cleanliness and tidiness. Remarkably, some even intro-
vibrant local life. duce innovative new business formats, like bookstores
“Today, I brought 27 Malaysian tourists here and post offices, enhancing their unique charm.
for a ‘Yunnan life lesson,’” explained Wu Lijun, Opened in April this year, the Kunming Zhuanx-
the head of the tour group. “They were captivat- in-Dianchi Wet Market immediately captivates vis-
ed, snapping photos of eleuthero and broom, truly itors with its distinctive architectural design, fea-
marveling at how this market felt like a botanical turing red brick walls, green paint, and grey tile
garden.” Nearby, at a stall dedicated to wild moun- roofs. Adding to its nostalgic charm, shops named
tain vegetables, tourists clustered around vendor after prominent historical establishments such as
Li Hongquan, eager to learn about the diverse wild Fuchun Groceries, North Gate Grain Store, East
greens. Li shared, “We currently offer over 10 types City Restaurant, and Jianshe Road Cinema offer
of seasonal produce, with popular items like water an immersive glimpse into old Kunming. Beyond
nigella and eleuthero selling hundreds of catties dai- traditional sections for meat, eggs, fruits, and veg-
ly. We also have more than 30 other wild vegetables etables, the market also houses a Qilin Bookstore
ready to be stocked, bringing our total to 50 to 60 and a Caijiezi Post Office. The bookstore boasts
varieties of wild mountain vegetables for sale.” over 3,000 books sold at “wet market prices,”
Local food enthusiasts are equally eager to pur- alongside a collection of vintage objects, antique
chase. “Fried eggs with eleuthero is a spring deli- decorations, and cultural and creative products,
cacy Kunming locals must eat every year,” said Mr. including artisanal ice cream and “Yunnan Good-
Guo, a local resident, smiling as he held a bag of ies” series postcards. A tourist who had made a spe-
freshly bought tender flower buds. cial trip to this unique destination enthusiastically
“More than 10 vendors in our market specialize remarked, “At this market, you can not only buy
in selling various wild mountain vegetables and groceries but also enjoy a good book—truly satisfy-
edible flowers. Floral dishes like eleuthero, birch- ing for both your stomach and spirit.”
leaf pear, and davidia flowers are very popular Rooted in the vibrancy of market life, this cul-
among residents,” introduced Li Xuanfeng, who is tural encounter is transforming traditional farm-
in charge of the market management. He added that ers’ markets into dynamic showcases of Yunnan’s
the daily market supply of wild vegetables has re- unique way of life. When Malaysian tourists bar-
cently increased, and prices are continuously drop- gain with vendors, clutching an assortment of wild
ping, attracting citizens to purchase them. vegetables, the distinct flavors and lifestyle of
Through its direct sourcing model, Wuliduo Ag- Yunnan truly come alive.
ricultural Expo Plaza makes wild mountain and field
delicacies accessible to ordinary households.
The market currently features over
10 specialized vendors, collective-