Kunming

As the sun rises every morning, flowers wet with dewdrops are already on sale at this flower wholesale market. Various common and rare flowers can be found here, from tropical butterfly orchids to flaming gerberas. Flowers are normally sold in bulk, but the market is worth a brows if only for the sheer spectacle.

Kunming's popular Nanping Street is a pedestrian-only commercial area packed with shops and restaurants, both local and international. It has continued to be the city's liveliest stretch for decades, and remains busy with shoppers and diners even after sundown.

Another popular commercial area is that of Zhengyi Road, a stone's throw away from Nanping Pedestrian Street. If you continue westward, you'll come upon one of Kunming's popular Bird and Flower Markets (Jingxing) selling songbirds, fish, and folk crafts.

One of the largest wholesale tea markets in Yunnan features countless tea vendors and stalls selling all things tea, from brewing equipment to artisan porcelain tea sets. Pu'er hails from Yunnan, so there are plenty of varieties on offer. Apart from the native brews, it also sells the vast array of Chinese teas from other provinces. Mind that making yourself understood without at least some knowledge of Chinese will be difficult, so it's advisable to have a Chinese speaker on your team, or have your desired tea varieties all written down as you request them. Do not settle for the first price that's been announced.

The bustling Culture Alley in Kunming is a narrow street packed with bars, cafes and boutiques, with many stand-alone stores good for memorable souvenirs.