Shanghai’s Caojiadu Flower Market is where local florists go to get their stock and where orchids can be had for a song. Stall after stall is filled to the brim with every kind of flower under the sun. Potted plants claim the space near the ground-floor entrances while the cut flowers can be found down a ramp towards the back. There were even poinsettias and bamboo “Christmas trees” for sale.
On our first visit, we spent around US$35 and got four orchids (two per pot), 10 calla lilies, a huge bunch of ranunculus and a bundle of something that looked like rosemary branches with dozens of tiny pink blooms.
Take the escalator upstairs and you’ll find high-quality silk flowers, vases and home decor. It’s easy to get lost in the cluttered lanes of the cavernous warehouse and the ground floor is wet and slippery so be sure to wear appropriate shoes.
If you don’t have a green thumb but still want to liven up your home, you can pick up a small pet instead. Fish, birds, bunnies and even chinchillas are on offer, along with their cages and assorted accessories. Caojiadu is a loud, colorful place that’s fun to wander even if you don’t plan on buying anything!
Caojiadu Flower Market Address: 1148 Changshou Lu (near Wanhangdu Lu), Shanghai, China
You know how much I loved this place. Plan to spend a day there next visit. Mom