Nov 2013

Yulin Comprehensive Market – Chengdu

Yulin Comprehensive Market - Chengdu - Sichuan - China

Exploring local markets, carefully selecting souvenirs and nibbling from stall to stall, is one of my all-time favorite things to do while on the road.

Reflecting on recent trips, my mind drifts to the sunny afternoon The Astronomer and I spent picnicking outside Valencia’s Mercado Central (those strawberries!), and the lovely walk along the canals of L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue at the Sunday market in Provence (those sausages!).

Yulin Comprehensive Market - Chengdu - Sichuan - China

While in Chengdu, we made equally splendid memories at Yulin Comprehensive Market, which was tucked behind an extensive housing complex and surrounded by a bustling park.

Just outside the market’s entrance were clusters of local folks sipping tea, chatting, and gambling. Chengdu residents are famous for their laid back lifestyle.

Yulin Comprehensive Market - Chengdu - Sichuan - China

Our first snack of the day was freshly fried and served up warm…

Yulin Comprehensive Market - Chengdu - Sichuan - China

We found a tang you guo zi (糖油果子) vendor as we approached the market from the south. These warm doughnut balls, slicked with caramel, sprinkled with sesame seeds, and speared through with a skewer, were wonderfully crisp on the outside and airy and glutinous on the inside.

I loved how the caramel coating teetered on a very fine line between sweet and burnt.

Yulin Comprehensive Market - Chengdu - Sichuan - China

After downing our doughnuts, The Astronomer and I strolled through the market to take in the incredible, edible scenery. These barbecued (and headless) rabbits looked quite tasty, but alas, it was too much food for the two of us.

Yulin Comprehensive Market - Chengdu - Sichuan - China

Snouts. Stacked and ready to be taken home.

Yulin Comprehensive Market - Chengdu - Sichuan - China

This vendor’s selection of prepared appetizers was incredible. I regret not purchasing a few grams of each for a taste! My head must’ve been in too excitable a state.

Yulin Comprehensive Market - Chengdu - Sichuan - China

Yulin Comprehensive Market - Chengdu - Sichuan - China

And then there were spices: mounds upon mounds of dried peppercorns and chilies, the keystones of Sichuan’s famous cuisine.

Yulin Comprehensive Market - Chengdu - Sichuan - China

I spent a solid fifteen minutes gawking at the vendor making fresh noodles. These wheat strands of various lengths and widths were destined for greatness in the hands of a skilled cook.

Yulin Comprehensive Market - Chengdu - Sichuan - China

I was deeply taken with the blue colored eggs…

Yulin Comprehensive Market - Chengdu - Sichuan - China

…as well as the century eggs, which were covered in something or other to introduce hydroxide ions and sodium into the eggs. Neat!

Yulin Comprehensive Market - Chengdu - Sichuan - China

Yulin Comprehensive Market - Chengdu - Sichuan - China

On the second floor of the market, we found vendors specializing in soy and mung beans, both fresh and processed into tofu and curd.

Yulin Comprehensive Market - Chengdu - Sichuan - China

Yulin Comprehensive Market - Chengdu - Sichuan - China

The second floor was also devoted to meat (and lots of it). It was kinda sorta fun (and twisted) trying to identify the animal on sale at each stand.

Yulin Comprehensive Market - Chengdu - Sichuan - China

In the midst of all the mung beans and carcasses was a random man selling mushrooms. I’d never encountered fungi that looked like this before!

Yulin Comprehensive Market - Chengdu - Sichuan - China

While there were plenty of prepared food options at the market, snacks portioned for immediate consumption were a little harder to find.

Yulin Comprehensive Market - Chengdu - Sichuan - China

We managed to locate a woman selling chuan bei liang fen (川北凉粉). These mung bean noodles were translucent and slippery with a balanced profile of sour and spicy.

Yulin Comprehensive Market - Chengdu - Sichuan - China

And finally, we purchased three yu mi bing (玉米饼) for the road.

Yulin Comprehensive Market - Chengdu - Sichuan - China

The griddled corn cakes tasted soft and mostly sweet. They weren’t the most exciting bites ever, but still a fine finish to a morning well spent.

Yulin Comprehensive Market (click on link for Google map)
12 Yulin W Street
Wuhou, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, 610041

Our previous culinary exploits in the People’s Republic of China:

Beijing

Chengdu

Hong Kong

Kunming

Shanghai

Xi’an

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