Want to go on a fun, kind-of-quick outing? Come along with me and my friends as we check out this very Chinese flea/ "antique" market in the center of Tianjin.
The place is called Shen Yang Dao Antique Market, but I have absolutely no idea where it is or how to get there. Fortunately, my friends know where to go and that's just fine with me!
This market is only open on Thursday mornings. And it is full of almost anything you can dream of. (and some stuff you wish you hadn't dreamed of).
From beautiful and interesting pottery (side note: they seem to intentionally make their pottery dirty to make it look antique. Boy, I sure was fooled! Not.)
Need a snack? Meat on a stick is popular everywhere!
How about a Buddha?
More Buddhas and I think there are swords in those boxes. Buddahs and swords…HOW do those two go together???
Metal pots with a beautiful patina.
Need any Bushnell binoculars?
Lots and lots of jewelry and beads…
Not sure if these are made of real rocks (agates I think?) or maybe they're made of plastic.
Some whatever the heck these are….
Cool looking gourds! Wonder how they got them to grow like this:
This gentleman showed us this musical instrument. I have a feeling that one of these instruments will come home with me in the future.
How about these "antiques"? An old fashioned television set and vinyl records among a myriad of other objects (is that an old phone I see??).
Stuffed dog anyone??? Hey! He'd make the perfect guard dog!!!!
How about a (bear) claw with attached bones??? Ewwww!!!
Snake skin? Saxophone??? Jewelry? Why not all the above???
I think the owner of this shop was eating his lunch inside his tiny shop; waiting for customers. Yes, there is a live bird in that bird cage.
Ah yes, check out the massive crowds!!! It seems that Chinese people REALLY love to shop. There were so many people here it was difficult to walk around without getting crushed. Thank goodness for friends!
How about a statue of Mao?
This sign apparently has the name of the market on it. I took a photo of it so that we can find our way back to this place some other Thursday.
So- did I get anything at the market?
Yes!!! My friends helped haggle with a shopkeeper to get this vase. He wanted 800RMB initially but I walked away with it for 300RMB (about $50US).
I hope you had fun on this excursion to a flea/antique market! We'll have to do this again soon! Huge thanks to my friends for taking me on such an exciting excursion!!! I had so much fun and I hope you did too!