In this episode, I explored a large morning market in Tianjin, China, called Xiangjiangli.
The breakfast section of this market is hidden deep within the long alleyways of the Xiangjiangli residential area. On both sides of the winding streets, you'll find mini food carts preparing a variety of breakfast items. Starting at 6 a.m. each day, local residents of all ages line up at these mini breakfast stalls to purchase an array of delicious foods: sliced beef burgers, stone-ground soy milk, large fried dough sticks, tofu pudding, pork and mushroom rolls, fried Sanzi (crispy fried noodles), egg-filled pancakes, multi-grain crispy pancakes, fried cakes with sweet fillings, scallion pancakes, braised meat buns, braised meat rolls, cold noodles with vegetables, vegetable soup noodles, and many more tasty options. This breakfast area is truly a food paradise for the local residents, filled with the rich culinary culture of northern China.
Surrounding the breakfast area are streets filled with vendors selling fruits, vegetables, meats, and seafood. The market offers a wide variety of seasonal fruits and vegetables typical of northern China, and the sounds of vendors calling out and customers bargaining fill the air. What surprised me the most was how much cheaper shrimp and crabs are in Tianjin compared to inland regions of China.
The bustling crowds, the calls of the vendors, and the fragrant smoke from the food all combine to create an authentic scene of local life, making every inch of this place feel alive with the essence of daily living.
00:00 Video Overview
02:38 Sliced Beef Burgers
03:26 Fried Dough Sticks, Soy Milk, Tofu Pudding
10:28 Making of Baked Pancakes
12:08 Fried Pork and Mushroom Rolls
15:07 Sweet-filled Fried Cakes
18:00 Chinese Giant Hamburgers
22:06 Sanzi (Crispy Fried Noodles), Multi-Grain Pancakes
28:57 Brown Sugar Fried Cakes, Egg-Filled Pancakes
31:33 Making Large Thin Pancakes and Scallion Pancakes
37:06 Freshly Made Braised Meat Buns
39:44 Braised Meat Rolls
42:33 Cold Noodles with Veg, Veg Soup Noodles
46:17 The Lively Fruit, Veg, Meat, and Seafood Section
51:14 Reflections on the Morning Market