Author: Sam

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With haggling shoppers and indignant store owners, the Bird and Flower Market is your typical Chinese market scene.  As its name suggests, shoppers might find it possible to purchase both flowers and birds here, but these are by no means the specialties of the market.  One can find a wide array of knick knacks, souvenirs, weapons, fish, turtles, rodents, dogs, and more.  However, be warned:  the antiques and many other items sold at the Bird & Flower Market are fake. 

A popular souvenir from Yunnan is a water pipe that locals use to smoke tobacco.  These pipes come in different sizes and are made of either metal or wood.  If you are looking to get your hands on one of these, the Bird and Flower Market is a good option. 

A trip to the Bird and Flower Market can easily provide travelers that have a very limited amount of time to spend in Yunnan with some treasures from Kunming to bring back to your loved ones at home.  Come prepared to haggle - negotiating will often result in paying less than 50% of the asking price.

How to get there:  The Bird & Flower Market is located between the city center and Renmin Zhong Lu.  Bus number 1 will drop you off about a 5 minute walk northeast of the market if you get off on Renmin Zhong Lu.  Walk a few blocks west until you see a small park (grassy area with old people hanging out) on the south side of the street.  Turn left and walk south down one of the streets and you will run directly into the market.  When you see the dogs you know you have reached the north end of the market.  One can also reach the Bird & Flower Market from the south on Nanping Jie.  Walk a block or two west of the Carrefour on Nanping Jie, turn right and walk another block or two and you are there.

Shoppers enjoying a day in the afternoon sun

Let the haggling begin!

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