Where True ‘Beijingers’ Grocery Shop: Tianyu Market

I’ve lived in Beijing almost four years now, and I’d like to think that I know what’s up, what’s new, what’s going on in this lively, brilliant city. But I’m embarrassed to admit that my knowledge of food shopping is close to zero. Aside from Jenny Lou’s, April Gourmet, and JingKeLong, I’m pretty lost.

In my defense, I was perfectly happy to eat out daily and just keep some basic snacks and fruit at home to munch on.  But that was before my one bedroom apartment became a home for two more.

So I asked around and discovered one of the best markets in the area – Tuanjiehu’s Market – Tianyu. With a giant bowling pin at the entrance with several buildings filled with everything you could want for cheaper than any other grocery market I’ve ever visited.

On the east side of the market, you will find a massive building filled with vendors selling displays of fruit, vegetables, spices, all varieties of rice grains, freshly made dough and noodles. And all for dirt cheap. I’m talking a big difference even between this market and even the fruit stalls on the side of streets. A whole bag of veggies (Shittake mushrooms, spinach, onion, garlic, a block of fresh tofu, 2 cucumbers = RMB 15).

Tip: If you head there when the markets are closing, some of the vendors come outside to sell some of their riper fruits for very low.

Just across from this fruit/veggie market, you can find a building selling all kinds of seafood and meat.  I would tell you more but I was too scared to go inside (some funky looking fish in there with fish guts on the floor).

Other buildings sell household items, bikes, stationary, and probably anything and everything you could want.  I haven’t fully explored all the buildings within the market, but it’s pretty massive.

How I never realized I lived two minutes away is beyond me. Shame on me.

But better late than never right?

Beauty in Bloom at the Great Wall

Lasting only a few weeks of the year, you can witness a rare sighting – the Great Wall filled with beautiful white and pink cherry blossom trees.

Blooming all over the grassy hills on both sides of the Great Wall, this extraordinary scenery is definitely worth a trip up to view in person.

With the advice of my very wise friend Kelly, I was able to make a trip out to hike from the JingShanLing to Simatai section of the wall this beautiful weekend. After multiple trips up to the wall and all of its different sections, this last trip was by far the most memorable and pleasant. A day with clear skies, sunshine and a refreshing breeze, I really couldn’t ask for better weather conditions to conquer this challenging trek.

Cherry blossoms not only represent the Spring season, their breath-taking beauty and the short-lived nature of their transient existence make cherry blossoms symbolic of mortality and an enduring metaphor for the fleeting nature of life.

Cherry blossoms are also an omen of good fortune and an emblem of love and affection.

LumDimSum Photo Gallery of my hike from JingShanLing to Simatai on the Great Wall: