Travelsignposts China

  • Home
  • Trip Planner
  • Photos
  • Map
  • Weather
  • Site Map
  • Destinations
  • Sightseeing
  • Food
  • Shopping
  • Getting around
  • Useful facts

A “Qing Style” Market at Puning Street in Chengde

By Helen Page Leave a Comment

AT THE PUNING STREET QING MARKET YOU CAN BUY ALL KINDS OF CHINESE SOUVENIRS

Puning Street Qing market
Puning Street Qing market

On the way out of the Puyou Temple complex, we walk through the Puning Street market, a modern day re-creation of a Qing style cultural and market place. The Puning and Puyou Temples were built during the Qing Dynasty and the shop assistants are all dressed up in traditional period costumes to add atmosphere to the place. Although there are many shops selling cheap handicrafts and souvenirs, the market is nevertheless very colourful.

Shopping at Puyou Temple

The Puning Street market is a kaleidoscope of colours and is great for photography, except for the fact that the young women dressed in their Qing costumes do not like being photographed. When they see a camera pointed in their direction, they quickly dart into the shops or side streets.

It’s a shame as they are supposed to add to the atmosphere of the Qing market and entice visitors to shop. The little bit of blurb at the entrance to the street says that the attendants “will provide first-class service by Qing etiquette”, but one gets the impression that these young attendants are not on any mission to sell.

For those looking to pick up little bits of souvenirs, there’s plenty to look at here:

Puning Street Qing market
Stall selling traditional Chinese knots

The Chinese traditional decorative knots are very popular with the locals themselves. This decorative handicraft began as a folk art in the Tang and Song dynasties and became very popular during the Ming dynasty. These days you’ll find ornaments, imitation antique coins and all kinds of pendants attached to them.

Puning Street Qing market
Chinese opera masks and dolls

Chinese opera masks often depict the traits and characteristics of the role that the wearer is playing. If you’re buying one of these masks, take note of the colours as they bear meaning as well. For instance, the red colour on masks is indicative of a positive character and can also mean prosperity, loyalty, courage, etc. Black is a neutral colour indicating impartiality and integrity. Green tells the audience that the character is violent and yellow depicts cruelty.

Gaynor and Jane buying a paper fan each.

Puning Street Qing market
Buying paper fans

When walking down the main street, don’t forget to look into the side courtyards as there are shops there as well. You can’t miss them as they’re decorated with very colourful prayer flags.

Puning Street Qing market
Leaving the Puning Street market

The Puning Street Qing market is full of souvenirs that I didn’t need and I leave empty-handed. But for those who must shop, it is an entertaining bit of retail therapy.

See more photos of the Puning Street Qing market Here.

Click here to get a free PDF of this post

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn

Related

Filed Under: Shopping Tagged With: chengde, puning street market, puyou temple, qing dynasty market, shopping in chengde

About Helen Page

Helen Page is a prolific blogger and ardent traveller; she runs Travelsignposts China with her professional writer and photographer husband Tony.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

You can also find us on

  • Facebook
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Latest Additions

  • Xian’s Small Wild Goose Pagoda
  • A walk on the Xi’an City Wall
  • A Glimpse of Tujia Culture on a Shennong Stream Cruise
  • Xi’an’s Magnificent Shaanxi History Museum
  • The Chinese Art of Tea
  • Xi’an’s Fascinating Muslim Snack Street
  • The Great Mosque of Xi’an is an oasis of tranquility
  • Puning Temple – A Symbol of Universal Peace
  • A “Qing Style” Market at Puning Street in Chengde
  • Puyou Temple With Its Impressive Hall of Arhats

Plan and Book Your Trip


eNews and Updates

feedburner Sign up now to get emailed news as well as other site updates!

Get the Guerrilla Travel Photography ebook here now!
Destinations in China
Sightseeing attractions in China
China Photos

Who is behind Travelsignposts?

Helen and Tony Page at Singapore Changi Airport

We're Helen and Tony Page, and we love travelling - lucky as we've been doing it for the last few decades!

Tony has long been a professional photographer and writer, but Helen now writes most of the posts and takes a lot of photos herself!

Travelsignposts is our main travel planning site, but we've just launched Travelsignposts China and Tony also runs the Travelsignposts Photo and Guerrilla Travel Photography web sites, as well as publishing the Take Better Digital Photos and Guerrilla Travel Photography eBooks.

Read more about Helen and Tony or contact them.

Other Pages

  • Destinations
  • Sightseeing
  • Food
  • Shopping
  • Getting around
  • Useful facts

Resources

  • Guerrilla Travel Photography eBook Guerrilla Travel Photography eBook
  • Take Better Digital Photos eBook Take Better Digital Photos eBook
  • Take Better Digital Photos Free eCourse
  • Travel Signposts Photo – our main travel photography site

Copyright Travelsignposts Pty Ltd © 2023 ยท Log in

Get a free PDF of this post!
Just enter your email address below and we'll send it to you immediately.

Please enter your Email Address