I love the fresh produce in China.  When I left our little farm village in Haiyang, I was so bummed to not be close to a fruit and veggie market…Until my friend Sherine took me to the Maidao Lu Vegetable and Fruit market! I actually just made up that name. I’m not sure what the real name is, but it’s what I call it because it’s off of Maidao Lu and Haikou Lu. But if it wasn’t for Sherine, I never would have found it because it’s really hidden. So here are the directions to get to it:

If you are on Mai Dao Lu, turn onto Haikou Lu.  One side of the Haikou lu street is a residence and the other side is a whole bunch shops.  Be on the side of the shops. Look for this entrance.  It’s a gate to a community, but you can go right through it:

The entrance is between this store:

 And this restaurant:   

Walk pass this laundry / cleaners store:

You’ll pass this garage – But be careful! Cars blaze out of here.

Keep walking until you see the playground, then turn left

The playground is impossible to miss.

 Walk down this small street:

Hello to Snow White

Go around the bend, in this is the building –

You made it!

And here you are!  The Maidao Lu Fruit and Vegetable market in Qingdao:

It’s raw, it’s dirty, it’s gritty- and I love it.

 

Do you see what I see?

Hello Péng Yǒu!  Wow, that doesn’t look very comfortable or clean, but you have a good attitude!

More veggies

Seasonal fruit

 

They’ll even juice fruit for you – and it seemed pretty clean…well…relatively speaking.

Chinese Tortillas!  They were pretty good for 10 rmb!

Butchered meat – beef, pork, chicken, lamb – it’s all here

Various tanks of crustaceans and fresh fish

Baby octopus and calamari

weird slimy creatures…kids love seeing it

And cooking, kitchen supplies

And the above was just HALF of the market.  The rest of the market has spices, rice, eggs, prepared foods, and a ton of other stuff.

Have fun!