Many people may regard wet markets selling fresh meat, vegetables, seafood and fruits as damp and dirty, but 17 such markets in Nanshan District are not, because they have been renovated recently to be clean, neat and smart.

With improved sewage systems, waste water from seafood stalls in the 17 markets can be drained away quickly; aisles in the stalls have been broadened to provide more space for shoppers; smart ventilation systems make the markets clean and fresh; meat, vegetables, seafood and fruits are sold on stalls marked in different colors so that shoppers can easily spot them; and all stalls have been equipped with digital scales and QR codes with which shoppers can track the origins of the items on sale.

Shekou Market 蛇口市场

Opened in the 1990s, the Shekou Market is famous for seafood and shoppers can easily find fresh shrimp and fish, as well as red king crabs, lobsters and abalones. Many vendors are locals who have been here for more than 30 years and in this festive season, you can select a variety of cured pork, cured sausages and dried seafood. A wooden boat installation in the market gives an air of nostalgia reminiscent of the days this area used to be a fishing village.

Add: 49 Yucun Road (渔村路49号)

Metro: Line 2 to Dongjiaotou Station (东角头站), Exit A

Houhai Wholesale Market 后海批发市场

Also opened in the 1990s, the Houhai Wholesale Market gets a new look with colorful murals with themes of food and drink, festivals and the 24 solar terms of the traditional Chinese calendar. Reference prices of farm products are shown on a screen in the entrance of the market; each vendor’s information is also on display at each stall; if a vendor cheats consumers on quantity or prices, consumers can report to the market supervision department.

Add: 104 Jinhai Road (近海路104号)

Metro: Line 2 to Haiyue Station (海月站), Exit C

Nanshan Market 南山市场

The decades-old Nanshan Market is also famous for seafood and Chaoshan food ingredients.

Add: 2008 Nanxin Road (南新路2008号)

Metro: Line 11 to Nanshan Station (南山站), Exit H

• Hemin Market in Taoyuancun (和民街市桃源村店) near Taoyuancun Metro Station (桃源村站)

• Longjing Market (龙井市场) near Longjing Metro Station (龙井站)

• Guangqiancun Market (光前村市场), Hemin Market in Songpingshan (和民街市松坪山店) and Chaguang Life Market (茶光生活街市) near Zhuguang Metro Station (珠光站)

• Yuanmin Meat and Vegetable Market (源民肉菜市场) and Huimin Market (惠民街市) near Chaguang Metro Station (茶光站)

• Pingshan Market (平山市场) near University Town Metro Station (大学城站)

• Nanyou Seafood Wholesale Market (南油海鲜批发街市) near Nanyou Metro Station (南油站)

• Dachong Market (大冲街市) near Hi-tech Park Metro Station (高新园站)

• Jiuxiangling Jieli Market (九祥岭洁丽综合市场) near Xili Metro Station (西丽站)

• OCT Market (华侨城综合市场) near OCT Metro Station (华侨城站)

• Tanglang Meat and Vegetable Market (塘朗肉菜市场) and Tianliao Market (田寮市场) near Tanglang Metro Station (塘朗站)

(Cao Zhen)