China · MARKETS
This is the shortlist to send a friend: 15 market tours worth the money, each with its price, its traveller verdict and the one thing to know before you commit.
Xi’an mini-group day tour covering Terracotta Army, Big Wild Goose Pagoda, City Wall, and Muslim Quarter drop-off with pickup and lunch.
“It’s been a great tour! Rita is a very knowledgeable guide, we learnt a lot about Chinese history and Xi’an. Definitely recommend the tour!”
Shop Sichuan ingredients at Liangjiaxiang, learn spice basics with a local guide, then cook classic Chengdu dishes with a chef in a clean, hands-on kitchen.
“This was truly one of the best tours I've ever been on my whole life! Firstly, Im a solo traveler and sometimes finding tours for just one person can be a little difficult because most companies need at least two people for to be financially feasiblRead more”
Private Shanghai day tour with Zhujiajiao Water Town, Yu Garden and Bazaar, then Bund waterfront views, including pickup, guide, tickets.
“The Bund is very very beautifull place! Shure! We recommend!!!!”
A 2-hour Kowloon street market food tour with small group guide, snacks included, and local stops from wet markets to Canton Road.
“Stephen was an excellent tour guide! So much information and gave us a lot of insight in the locations.”
Shop at a Hong Kong market and learn organic Chinese dumplings hands-on, led by Feliz, with veggie options and a tasty sit-down meal.
“This was a fun and interactive excursion with Feliz to the markets and then to the restaurant to make our Dumplings from scratch. They were delicious! Feliz was wonderful and very knowledgeable!”
Learn to make Shanghai-style Xiao Long Bao from scratch after a Jordan market walk for organic pork or vegan fillings, small group.
“We had a great time, toured the market, bought our meat, and then learned how to make and eat the dumplings. She was a great teacher and they were delicious.”
Half-day Xi’an biang biang noodles with a spice market walk, hands-on cooking at a local home, and tea plus beer, for $75.
“My wife and I were lucky to have Fiona and Lily as our instructors! We would highly recommend this experience to anyone looking for an authentic market tour and cooking class with an experienced chef! Lily has so much knowledge in Chinese spices and cuisine and Fiona was super easy to understand. Thank you both for a memorable cooking class :)”
Xi'an tuktuk morning food tour: unlimited bites and drinks, Muslim Quarter breakfast, local market walk, 4-5 stops in 4 hours.
“Buren has been the best tour guide, he showed us traditional dishes in Xi'an made by the real locals and family business shops. He is so passionate about food and gave us very nice recommendations to visit after. Thank you so much!”
Half-day Chengdu cooking class with a spice market walk, Sichuan tea, and chef-led wok cooking, all with recipes and included meals.
“This class allowed me to make some of my (now) favorite dishes with just the right amount of support from the guide , chef, and classmates. Jerry, the guide and our chef were personable and informative. We got to know each other and had a wonderful experience. I learned so much about local foods, spices, tea, meat, vegetables and fruits. I highly recommend this for foodies and anyone who wants to learn more about the outstanding cuisine in Chengdu.”
Private Guangzhou food and city tour with English guide, market snacks, dim sum lunch, flexible sights, and hotel pickup by air-conditioned car.
“Excellent tour with Damon, one of the two owners of Guangzhou Tours. A couple run business, they were extremely proactive, reaching to me prior to arrival to ensure a smooth travel experience and meeting. Excellent local knowledge from someone native to the city. For my first experience in Guangzhou and with Cantonese culture and food I couldn’t have asked for a better guide. Give them a call and you won’t me disappointed!”
Combine a Chengdu spice market walk with a half-day Sichuan baozi cooking class, learn fillings and steam tricks, then eat with drinks.
“A great experience, the local market was fun, interesting and we got to try and use a little Chinese language. Lance our guide was great from start to finish and took lots of fabulous pictures which meant we could get with our cookery class. Read more”
Ngau Tau Kok wet market walk and small-group Chinese cooking class. Shop fresh ingredients, cook a 3-course meal, eat, then go.
“This food tour/cooking class was one of the most memorable experiences on our trip to Hong Kong. Bill was an amazing host - very friendly and knowledgable. Cooking authentic Chinese dishes was a lot of fun. The food was excellent even with our beginner dumpling making skills! There was plenty of food, so bring your appetite and be prepared to take home leftovers!”
Taste Xi'an Muslim Quarter night street food with an English guide, plus optional Great Mosque or Gaojia Courtyard, 2.5-3 hours.
“la visite du quartier musulman, quoiqu'elle puisse se faire en autonomie, n'a que plus de relief lorsqu'elle est accompagnée d'un guide qui peut faciliter l'échange avec les commerçants et orienter la visite en fonction des goûts culinaires. C'est aussi sympathique d'avoir un guide avec qui on peut échanger sur la vie de Xi'an et son histoire. Nous avons apprécié la prestation de Summer en tant que guide de notre visite. Elle a su satisfaire notre curiosité et nous faire découvrir l'essentiel de la gastronomie locale sans avoir à ingurgiter une plâtrée de nouilles que nous aurions eu du mal à digérer.”
Private Beijing market tour with tea tasting, hotel pickup, and guided bargaining at Panjiayuan and Hongqiao Pearl Market.
“Had a great time exploring the markets in Beijing. Very interesting to see local goods and unique items we never knew about. Our tour guide, Lucy, was very knowledgeable and provided a lot of insight, not just about the items at the marketRead more”
Organic xiao long bao and dumpling class in Hong Kong with a market walk, small group lessons, and optional Temple Street street food.
“The food was so good and able to make heaps to feed everyone. The teaching was fantastic and learned heaps. The environment was very welcoming and great for the family from 8yo to 74yo. I would very much recommend this for an authentic experience.”
Pick a landmark, a landscape or a meal, and start the trip there.
