How could a winter in Northeast China be complete without visiting a bustling market fair? Even when the temperature drops to a few degrees below zero, people will bundle up in thick down jackets and cotton-padded trousers to experience the lively atmosphere outside.

In Yingkou City, Liaoning Province, there is a bustling place called Hongqi Folk Market. It boasts a history of more than 300 years, which can be traced back to the Kangxi period of the Qing Dynasty. Its customer base extends north to Anshan City and south to Dalian City.

Goods at the Hongqi Folk Market can fully meet people’s daily needs. Things that can be found in an ordinary market are also available at the Hongqi Folk Market. Here, you can find not only Yingkou’s specialty delicacies such as fragrant pan-fried Spanish mackerel, mutton soup, and flavorful grilled kebabs, but also daily foods like fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts, frozen seafood, mountain products, and various types of flour-based snacks.

Dried persimmons and frozen pears were the most commonly seen foods in Northeast China in the past, and were the essential household items during winter. At the Hongqi Folk Market, these two frozen goods attract the steady flow of customers. There are also Northeastern people’s favourite tanghulu (sugarcoated haws). Although they can be eaten in summer, the sugar coatings on tanghulu in winter are more crispy and refreshing.

Furthermore, during holidays and festivals, the Hongqi Folk Market also hosts folk performances, traditional celebratory events, and intangible cultural heritage interactions. Visitors from both home and abroad can deeply understand and experience traditional culture while enjoying delicious food, in order to experience the joy of celebrating winter in unique and diverse ways.

Come and take a stroll through the Hongqi Folk Market in winter, and be as extroverted as the people of Northeast China! Soak yourself in the lively atmosphere of the winter in Northeast China!