Hello friends, I’m DaWen. Today we’re exploring the city markets of Kunming, China. Kunming is located in southwest China.
Arriving at the Market
It’s known as the “City of Eternal Spring” due to its mild climate year-round. It’s now 9 AM. People are gradually arriving at the market to shop for fresh and affordable goods.
Mulberries and Loquats
These are mulberries. They burst with juice when gently squeezed. Mulberries are the most natural candy under the early summer sun. Me: How much are the mulberries? Vendor: 15 yuan/kg Me: I’ll take 500 grams. Bursting with juice, sweet and tangy! Me: How much are the loquats? Vendor: 25 yuan/kg Loquats are often used by Chinese people as medicinal fruit.
Sweet, juicy, and delicious! Loquats originate from China. According to ancient literature, they have been cultivated in China for over 2,000 years.
Jumbo Sachima
This vendor sells various handmade candies. This is caramel syrup in the making. Puffed millet sticks are poured into the syrup. Soft and fluffy, filled with caramel and grain aroma.
Peas are a staple on Yunnan dining tables. Often made into cold jelly noodles. Have you ever tried these chili-shaped eggplants? Me: Are these for stir-frying with meat? Elder: Stir-fry it with sour papaya and season it—it’s delicious! Taro flowers are wild vegetables. They’re crisp in texture and fragrant in flavor.
Lotus root is one of the most beloved ingredients in Chinese cuisine. Commonly used in soups and cold appetizers
Lamp, Poultry, and Carp
. Locals often use lamb for hotpot—fragrant and nourishing. Since it’s a weekday, most customers at the market are seniors. Locals often cook chicken in rich-flavored “Huangmen Chicken.” Its savory sauce makes it irresistible bite after bite.
Salty and aromatic ham is a treasure in Kunming kitchens. Tilapia and carp are the most common fish in Kunming markets. Carp is a symbol of good fortune and is often served at the table. This stall sells five-spice marinated chicken. Ordinary pork skin becomes a delicious snack once deep-fried.
This is Tartary buckwheat. Locals grind it into batter for pastries. This stall sells grilled pork strips. Kunming-style grilled pork is first sliced and marinated.
Charcoal-Grilled Pork Strips
Then it’s charcoal-grilled. The exterior turns crisp, while the meat inside remains juicy and tender. Just the sound of slicing through the crisp meat tells you how tasty it is!
The charcoal fire fully renders the fat from the pork skin. So it’s crispy, fragrant, and not greasy at all. Savory, crunchy, and addictive!
In a traditional market like this, having zero cooking skills is your best ticket in! This stall sells freshly fried black carp.
Richly Fried Black Carp
The fish is marinated, chopped, and deep-fried. Vendor: 1340 grams, 51 yuan. The fried fish is cooked in rapeseed oil.
Living here, it’s best not to know even how to fry an egg. Just let the street chefs cook authentic food for you! This stall sells pea jelly noodles.
Flavorful Pea Jelly Noodles
All of these noodles are made from peas. These are all pea jelly. The different colors come from natural plant-based ingredients. Have you tried jelly noodles with so many toppings?
These noodles are extremely soft, silky, and refreshing. Each bite is a burst of blended flavors! This stall sells small pears soaked in licorice water. Chilled, crisp, sweet, and sour—perfectly appetizing! Perfect as an appetizer or a palate cleanser. This stall makes cough drops with various Chinese herbs.
Herbal Candy and Honey
These are the raw herbal ingredients. This stall sells honey infused with herbs. Chinese people value the health benefits of herbs greatly. They are used in medicine, wine infusion, and even in honey for health tonics. This stall sells various flavorful cooking sauces. Each sauce carries the bold flavors of southwest China—fragrant, spicy, and rich.
Fragrant Sauce Stall
This one is a mushroom sauce. Fish mint is a wild herb with a unique smell. It’s especially loved in southwest China. Often used in cold dishes. Despite its unassuming look, its strong smell makes it a local favorite. This stall sells stuffed grilled tofu—a classic snack.
Fish Mint and Stuffed Tofu
(20:11) Vendor: More chili or less? Me: Medium spicy. The stuffing is fish mint. It’s a mix of chili powder and fish mint. The aroma of fish mint is truly one of a kind! You can tell right away—it’s not for the faint of heart! This stall sells chicken and veggie rice rolls. At noon, people begin eating lunch in the market.
Chicken Veggie Rice Wrap
The main dish for lunch is stewed ham. Kunming ham only needs to be stewed in plain water—no seasoning required. Its signature flavor is its rich, savory saltiness. The staple is a variety of buckwheat rice.
Braised Ham Lunch
Vendor: “25 yuan.” This is my lunch for today. Savory and tender—not greasy at all.
This mixed buckwheat rice looks loose and not sticky. It’s aromatic but a bit dry—best enjoyed with soup. Dining outdoors with locals lets you soak up the hustle and bustle and feel the soul of the city. The taste of a city lies hidden in its busiest markets. Kunming’s charm and flavors are worth savoring every time.
Thanks for watching—see you on the next delicious journey!
Join me as I explore a traditional food market in downtown Kunming, Yunnan, where city life meets authentic local flavors. In this episode, I dive into the heart of Chinese street food, featuring a variety of fresh and flavorful highlights — from juicy mulberries and loquats to crispy charcoal-grilled pork strips, richly fried carp, and multi-flavored pea jelly noodles. This bustling urban market is packed with fresh produce, regional snacks, and savory cooked dishes, showing how convenient and vibrant daily life is for local residents. At lunchtime, I joined the crowd at a street-side stall and enjoyed a hearty plate of braised ham, a local comfort favorite. Whether you’re into Asian cuisine, street food tours, or discovering Chinese market culture, this video offers an immersive look into the flavors and rhythms of city life in one of China’s most charming food capitals.