"Can one buy affordable fresh vegetables everyday at their doorstep?" Stockhausen asked the guide when entering the Shanggang Trade Market in Pudong New Area. 

Stockhausen was "astonished" after buying half a kilo of fresh tomatoes for just 3.5 yuan ($0.5) at a stall in the farmers' market.  

"I thought you would bargain. Now that you didn't, I will give you a discount of half yuan", said stand owner Ma, giving the change to Stockhausen. 

A stall owner gives change to Stockhausen. [Photo/Jiefang Daily]

Stockhausen said in small German towns there are also agricultural markets where farmers sell fresh produce, but the prices are twice as high and the types of products are not as abundant as in this Shanghai market. 

The visit to the market is part of the distinctive itinerary offered by China Tourism Group for foreign travelers touring Shanghai. 

According to Sun Peng, who is in charge of inbound tourists at China Tourism Group, it's the first time the company has included a local agricultural market in the itinerary for foreign travelers, aiming to cater to the growing demand of Western visitors for experience-based tourism.  

Foreign visitors are wowed by the rich variety and affordable prices of farm produce in the Shanggang Trade Market. [Photo/Jiefang Daily]

[Photo/Jiefang Daily]

Another tourist, a photography enthusiast named Franz, captured the buzz of the market through his camera lens. Although not his first visit to Shanghai, it is the German's initial taste of an ordinary marketplace in the metropolis.  

Franz said back in his German hometown, he could only buy processed meat products in supermarkets, but in this Shanghai market, he watched how a stand owner cleaned a fish in a short time and presented the fresh product in front of the customers.

[Photo/Jiefang Daily]

"I never expected our market to one day become a tourist attraction. Can I call it an 'international market?'" quipped Fan, the owner of a tomato stall. "I suppose I need to learn a few more English sentences. Just saying 'hello' won't cut it anymore." 

[Photo/Jiefang Daily]

In a corner of the frozen products area, Xue, a stall owner, bantered with the foreign visitors and took photos of them. She said despite having received three groups of foreign visitors before, it's the first time they bought her products, which made her very proud.

[Photo/Jiefang Daily]

Foreigners stop to take photos of two people playing Chinese chess in a corner of the market. [Photo/Jiefang Daily]

[Photo/Jiefang Daily]

Source: Shanghai Observor