Laitai Flower Market Beijing

Flower Power: Beijing's Laitai Flower Market (Beijing Laitai Flower Trading Center) 莱太花卉市场

Beijing Laitai Flower Trading Center opened up in April 1998. It cost 150 million yuan and its building area amounts to 55000 square meters.

Laitai Flower Trading Center is located at the east 3rd Ring Road business district of Beijing. It is fourteen kilometers from the north embassy area while the third and fourth embassy areas will be built close by on the east side.

The Flower Trading Center is conveniently located only half a kilometer from the airport expressway and sixteen kilometers from the Beijing International Airport itself.

Laitai Flower Trading Center is made up of Laitai Flower Market and Laitai Flower Street. This is the biggest flower distributing center of northern China.

The building underwent extensive renovations from 2019.

Laitai Flower Market 莱太花卉商城

Laitai Flower Market is composed of the fake flower sale building and the fresh potted flower sale hall. The underground floor of the fake flower building has modern porcelain, lamps, carpets, straw and cane products, eating utensils, stone carvings and some small handicrafts.

HongFu (红福) is a special store from northeastern China. Many television programs have reported on this store. The products are made out of maize-leaves and are unique; therefore it is difficult to find another one like it. Fish are one of the mascots of China and express happiness and wealth.

You can buy beautiful fish made in solid wood here. "Carex meyeriana Kunth" is a kind of herbaceous plant which has been growing for many years. It is from one of the three extremely cold provinces in northeast China.

Many people from the countryside use this kind of plant to keep their feet warm. It has become so popular that these special plants are now sold abroad.

Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business. — Goods From Japan delivered to your home or business

Next door to Hong Fu there is a store selling colored enamels whose technique was invented around the end of the Qing dynasty of Kang Xi. These enameled items have a silky smooth surface, strong color and intricate paintings.

Another store beside Hong Fu offers you the chance to appreciate the paintings by the famous folk painter Pan Xiao Ling.

China is well known for its porcelain. Karolina Lehman carries on the tradition by giving her painted tableware a vibrant modern twist. Her eye-catching patterns with swirling goldfish, colorful birds and flowers, or traditional blue-and-white motifs adorn plates, dishes, ashtrays, candlesticks, and lamps can be bought from her store here.

Laitai Flower Market's first floor deals in various kinds of fake flowers in many shapes, colors and designs.

From here walk through to the fresh potted flower and plant hall where you will find a healthy array of flowers and plants of all varieties. Particularly striking are the many kinds of orchids found thriving in the warm greenhouse conditions of the market.

If you are a fish enthusiast, don't pass up the fish stalls along the side of the flower and plant hall. There are all types of fish foods and enough bits and pieces to decorate any aquarium to make it appear like the Great Barrier Reef. Deepblue Aqua (深蓝水族) can be found at stall #153 selling large aquatic equipment, sea fish and aquatic coral.

Cochin ceramic is a special type of art that originated in southern China. It was believed that it had a special power to ward off evil and bring good fortune and luck to its owner. This unusual and precious ceramic is always considered a great gift for honorable guests and is frequently taken overseas by travelers wanting to impress their hosts.

The second floor of Laitai Flower Market is home to the Laitai painting store. Take your favourite pictures to Xiaoxiangfang (肖像房) and they can make a lifelike sketch to decorate your home.

The enthusiasm of the manager ensures the popularity of the store among the many foreigners who live in this embassy area of Beijing. If you enjoy Chinese calligraphy there are many paintings to choose from or you can commission your own ideas to be painted.

Golf enthusiasts shouldn't miss the third floor which boasts a Golf Wholesale Market. A huge range of golf equipment including polo shirts, golf clubs, and golf bags can be bought for greatly discounted prices compared to those in many foreign countries. Golf balls cost a mere 3 yuan each. To make things easy credit cards are accepted here.

Laitai Flower Street 莱太花卉街

Laitai Flower Street is opposite the market with many stalls displaying a colourful range of flowers throughout the year.

Laitai Flower Street makes up one of the most colourful thoroughfares in Beijing. There are dozens of independent stores selling cigarettes, wine, baby clothes, home decorations, carpets and lamps.

There is even a Tibetan goods store (扎西德勒藏文化---央金卓玛店) where the English-speaking shop assistant will happily help you choose Tibetan items to decorate your home.

After wandering the market stalls and shops you may want to have a relaxing drink, so continue on along the street and turn left. You will find yourself at Super Bar Street (星吧街).

Many restaurants, coffee shops and bars have set up business on this street. For those keen to shop further there is also a second hand market on this street. CDs, second-hand cameras and phones have made this market area famous around Beijing.

Access

Address: 9 West Maizidian Road, Chaoyang district
地址: 北京市朝阳区麦子店西路9号
Dizhi: Beijingshi chaoyangqu maizidianlu 9 hao
Bus: 416, 405, 707, 682, Te 3, to Laitai flower market stop.

Taxi: Laitai shichang or Nu'er ren jie.

If you can't speak Chinese and you want to go Laitai flower market, try these characters 莱太花卉总店, or show the following map to the taxi driver.