Chaoyang District is huge, and the places to buy fresh fruits and veggies in the district are numerous. So go back to Beijing’s roots and take a trip to a dedicated food market instead of a supermarket to stock up your kitchen. Small markets are located around the city, but the following are bigger than your average market and have unique twists that make them worth visiting if you happen to find yourself in the area or in need of their specific specialties.

1) Sanyuanli Market 三源里菜市场

This market is one long walkway with vendors on either side. Tucked away in the middle of Chaoyang, Sanyuanli is known to many Beijingers as a place where expats can go to find rare produce at better prices than import stores. Avocadoes almost never show up in regular Chinese markets, but they are widely sold at Sanyuanli. Asparagus, blueberries, strawberries, and sweet peppers stick around at this market when they disappear from the markets that sell only seasonal foods. Prices don’t beat import stores by much these days, but the produce is fresher at the market.

The other feature of this market is the availability of dairy products like cheese, butter and whipping cream, as well as other foreign products like cereal and cake mixes. Canned goods, sauces, and oils in Western and Chinese brands alike fill shelves in several stalls. Meat and fish are available, though some expats choose not to buy these even from a well-known place like this. Altogether, though, the wide selection and Western products make Sanyuanli the best one-stop market in Chaoyang, maybe in all of Beijing.

Add: Shunyuan Jie, Chaoyang District, Beijing

地址: 北京市朝阳区顺源街

Opening hours: 05:00-19:00

Getting there: Take subway Line 10 to Liangmaqiao Station. It’s a bit of a walk or a cheap cab from there. To walk, take exit A and walk east along Xinyuan South Road. At the first intersection, take a right so you’re heading north, then veer right when the road forks. The market will be on your right.