Shandong’s Grand Bazaars

The craze for attending Shandong’s grand bazaars has been reignited, with these markets deeply integrating into local culture and tourism. Many tourists now list attending these bazaars as a ‘hidden scenic spot’ to visit in Shandong. From Qingdao’s Bolig Big Bazaar, Zibo’s Zhoucun Big Bazaar, Dongying’s Niuzhuang Big Bazaar, to Linyi’s Feixian Big Bazaar… these ancient and traditional markets have long enjoyed a reputation that spans far and wide, attracting visitors from all corners of the globe.
For Shandong’s grand bazaars, their unique cultural heritage and accumulation ensure their enduring vitality and sustained development. For instance, records from the Kangxi era of the Qing Dynasty mention Zhoucun Big Bazaar as ‘the foremost market in Changshan County.’ Traditional delicacies such as Zhoucun baked cakes and Zhoucun five-spice beef still hold a place in these grand bazaars. Bolig Big Bazaar has evolved from a street market to a dedicated area of 160 acres, showcasing its rapid development trend.

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In addition to long-famous representative dishes like seafood pie, Bolig roast chicken, and Mujiao Island shrimp paste, as well as daily necessities like clothing and socks, one can also find unique folk crafts at the bazaar, such as Bolig red mats and Bolig wheat straw paintings, which are regular fixtures at the stalls. It is reported that the current annual transaction volume of Bolig Big Bazaar reaches 800 million yuan, an impressive achievement indeed!

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