A Journey Through China’s Vibrant Night Markets

Feb 03, 2025by Bokksu Staff

China’s night market, which typically runs from sunset to sunrise, is an important part of the domestic shopping culture. These night bazaars may be popular all over Asia, but their concept originated in China.

Read our full guide before you visit your first Chinese night market. You’ll discover what to expect at this Asian market and how to enjoy the common flavors at home. Before we dive in, you need to understand the unique position of Chinese night bazaars among Asian markets.

What Makes China’s Night Markets So Unique?

Like we mentioned earlier, there are many kinds of night markets scattered across Asia. India, Japan, Taiwan, and Thailand all have their own versions. However, the night markets of China stand out from those overseas for several reasons.

The most unique attribute of the Chinese night markets is their festive atmosphere. Beautiful decorations and coloful lanterns are hung all around the streets.

Beautiful of decoration Lanterns light in Night Market

Unlike other Asian markets that feature snack vendors in small stalls, the Chinese version has massive food courts where shoppers can find a wide variety of meals. The markets in China also have a lot more open spaces than those in other countries.

Night markets originated in the Chinese Tang dynasty (618–907). Since then, they have embodied the commercial culture in the country. By selling food, drinks, fashion items, consumer goods, traditional services, and electronics, these places are a cornerstone of local life and community.

Exploring China’s Top Night Markets: A Foodie’s Paradise

Food lovers visiting China can get easy access to the country’s diverse street food offerings thanks to the abundance of night markets in places like Beijing, Shanghai, and Chengdu.

You don’t have to stress about which of these spots to explore. We made a list of the top night markets in China. Enjoy!

Fuqin Night Market (Chengdu): This commercial area is one of the oldest night markets in the city of Chengdu. It’s famous for selling some of the best barbecue dishes in the country, including BBQ sweet potato bread.

Fuqin Street night market located in Chengdu ,China. Taste the local foods -BBQ Brinjal ,Scallop and Squid with garlic and chilis.

Temple Street Night Market (Hong Kong): This market is located on a 600-meter street in Hong Kong. It’s the best place to buy all kinds of handicrafts, antiques, tea sets, and watches. The marketplace is home to many Chinese fortune-tellers who predict futures by reading faces, palms, and tarot cards.

Traditional Chinese colourful attire, toys, souvenirs for sale in Temple Street, Hong Kong

Beiyuanmen Night Market (Xi'an): This area is filled with food stores and courts where you can shop for pork buns, squids, chicken, beef, lamb, and other local culinary delights.

Street food night market with crowed pedestrain street in the Muslim Quarter at Xi'an China

Wangfujing Snack Street (Beijing): This is arguably your best opportunity to enjoy all of the different types of Chinese snacks in one place. You will meet many other tourists in the area, as it’s a magnet for foreign food lovers. Feel free to join English-speaking groups upon your arrival and ask questions about the best offerings.

Many Visitors and local are seen around a Wangfujing snack street on March 17, 2011 in Beijing, China

Tianzifang (Shanghai): The Tianzifang market is open for 24 hours (including Saturday), so your shopping spree doesn’t have to end at sunrise. It features affordable street food, bars, cafes, and restaurants.

What Food is Most Popular in China’s Night Markets?

These markets offer both regional specialty dishes and nationwide staples. The most beloved street foods are those commonly found in all Chinese night markets, regardless of the region.

Dumplings are available in every Chinese street market. Also known as jiaozi, they consist of thin dough filled with ground meats and veggies.

Skewered BBQ, or Shaokao, is the most popular form of Chinese barbeque in night markets. They are classified as a category of Chinese bite-sized street snacks known as xiaochi.

You’ll find pancakes in nearly every night bazaar in the country. Scallion pancake, or Cong You Bing, is the most common one. Other popular types include Chinese meat pie, zucchini pancake, egg pancake, and duck pancake.

Chinese Scallions pancake also known as green onion pancake or congyoubing

If you love deep-fried snacks, a Chinese night market is the place to be. Offerings included fried chicken (zhaziji), salt and pepper squid (jiao yan you yu), deep-fried crullers (Zhaliang), and spring rolls (chun juan).

The next few sections of this post will focus on our in-depth exploration of some of the popular culinary delights available in Chinese night markets.

Dumplings and Baozi: Steamed Goodness at Every Turn

The Chinese dumpling (jiaozi) is a small treat made up of a thin layer of dough wrapped around meat or vegetable filling. Baozi is a bun made by stuffing steamed bread with meat and vegetable fillings. Jiaozi and baozi may have their similarities, but they are not the same. However, both of them are popular in Chinese street food culture.

Jiaozi can be classified according to its preparation method. Hence, we have steamed, boiled, pan-fried, and deep-fried Chinese dumplings.

Baozi’s classification relies on the type of filling it contains. For example, xiaolongbao (soup-filled), shengjian mantou (meat-filled), doushabao (filled with sweetened bean paste), and bah-pau (filled with minced pork or diced chicken).

Savory Skewers: China’s Love for Grilled Meat

Skewers (chuan) are pieces of food stuck to long sticks made of wood or metal while cooking. The term can also refer to the stick alone, such as “wooden skewers.” In China, most skewers feature grilled or roasted meat and seafood.

Chuan Chuan Xiang in Jiefangbei Food Street, Chongqing, China

Different types of Chinese skewers can be found at night markets. When the stick holds spiced barbecue food, it’s known as shaokao. It can be prepared with chicken wings, lamb meat, pork shoulder, chicken skin, fish, potatoes, mushrooms, tofu, and lotus root.

Sweet Tooth Satisfaction: Chinese Desserts in the Night Market

Kids and adults of all ages can indulge in a wide variety of dessert options at night markets in China. The following are must-try sweet treats:

Candied fruit (tanghulu): The traditional Chinese sweet snack is made by coating fruits with rock sugar or hardened sugar syrup. Common fruits used for tanghulu include Chinese hawthorn, mandarin oranges, cherry tomatoes, strawberries, and kiwifruit.

Mooncakes: This is a symbolic dessert typically eaten in the autumn. It’s a fried or steamed pastry dish made to hold a dense, sweet filling of egg yolk and other ingredients.
Fried sesame balls: Crushed sesame seeds are rolled into sticky rice dough and fried. The resulting snack is often stuffed with sweet red bean paste.

Sweet potato balls: Cooked sweet potatoes are mixed with sugar, lemon zest, butter, marshmallow, and milk. The items are shaped into round balls and baked.

Fusion Foods and Modern Twists in China’s Night Markets

Chinese street vendors and culinary entrepreneurs are incorporating global flavors and modern culinary twists to traditional dishes. They recognize the tourism aspects of night markets and keep coming up with newer, more exceptional dishes.

The perfect example of a Chinese-Western fusion dish is a meal made by topping Chinese-style fried rice with shredded blue cheese and wrapping the combo with an omelet.

Fusion desserts are also available, such as crepes and coconut cakes stuffed with local fruits.

What Are 5 Traditional Foods Found in China’s Night Markets?

Some of the dishes served at these markets are staples in households and restaurants all over the country. Here are five iconic traditional Chinese foods found in night markets:

Jianbing: This is a type of wheat flour-based Chinese bread. The batter is spread over a hot plate and topped with ham, scallions, mustard pickles, hoisin sauce, and chili sauce. It’s then folded and served with all that delicious filling.
Roujiamo: Known in the United States as Chinese hamburger, this is a meat sandwich often sold as street food. The meat is prepared with about 20 different spices and seasonings.

Fried stinky tofu: Made with fermented tofu, it has a powerful odor, hence the name. The fermentation process can last for several months.

Xiaolongbao: This is a type of steamed bun filled with soup. It’s made with the use of a bamboo steaming basket called a xiaolong. The dish is classified as a type of baozi.
Peanut ice cream roll: This dessert is made by filling thin spring rolls with ice cream sundae and shaved peanut brittle. It offers the perfect balance of sweet and savory.

What Are Typical Chinese Snacks? Experience Chinese Night Market Flavors at Home

Iconic Chinese night market snacks include potato chips, rice crackers, and cakes. You don’t have to travel to China to enjoy some of these treats. Bokksu Market offers similar snacks and flavors, allowing customers to enjoy authentic tastes without leaving home. Available snack brands include Lay’s, Pringles, and Cheetos.

Lay's Potato Chips: Deep Ridged Pepper Chicken

Lay's has done it again with this delicious, unexpected pepper chicken flavor! If you're looking for a unique snack that will have you coming back for more, you'll want to try these potato chips. These crunchy ridged chips incorporate traditional Taiwanese salt and pepper chicken flavor into each bite you take. Dip them into soy sauce for an umami-filled snack

Common Allergens: Milk, Wheat, Soy.

1.4 oz

Savory Snacks to Satisfy Your Cravings

Bokksu Market offers similar products to those found at Chinese street markets. Duck is a popular addition to street dishes like pancakes and skewers. You can get a taste of this flavor through Lay's Spicy Duck Tongue, a potato chip product seasoned with the savory and fiery tastes of the Chinese dish.

Lay's Craft Potato Chips: Spicy Crayfish

Thin, crispy, and packed with a fiery seafood flavor, these Lay's Craft Potato Chips are a must-try for any seafood lover! These spicy crayfish potato chips come in a convenient can for on-the-go snacking. They're great as a side for sandwiches or as a topping for instant noodles!

Common Allergens: Milk, Shellfish, Wheat, Soy.

3.67 oz

You’ll get similar traditional flavors with Lay's Potato Chips: Smoked Pork Rib and Lay's Wavy Chips: Pure Tomato. For a premium umami-rich flavor, don’t miss out on Lay's Craft Potato Chips: Roasted Seaweed, a snack inspired by modern Japanese cuisine.

Lay's Craft Potato Chips: Roasted Seaweed

Lay's has combined two of the best snacks (potato chips and roasted seaweed) into one! These delicious craft potato chips offer a savory, salty, umami taste. They're thin and crispy, making them a highly addictive snack. Crumble them on top of sushi for an added crunch.

Common Allergens: Wheat, Soy.

3.67 oz

Sweet and Sour Delights: Finding the Right Balance

The sweet and sour snacks sold in China are famous for their fruity tastes. Bokksu Market can help you replicate the experience through our wide range of candies. We recommend Hongyuan Tapioca Candy: Milk Tea, Hongyuan Taffy Candy: Original, and Skittles Rainbow Lollipops: Mixed Fruit.

Instant Access to Asian Night Market Snacks with Bokksu

Bokksu Market provides instant access to Asian snacks without the need to travel to China. All you have to do is head over to our snacks section, and you’ll get access to a wide array of treats from Chinese, Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese, Thai, Indonesian, and Vietnamese cuisine. We also provide regular discount offers on all products throughout the year.

China’s night markets continue to evolve by blending tradition with modern trends. At Bokksu Market, we’re driven by a similar need to change with consumer needs, and our store offers a blend of heritage and innovation in snack options.

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