Fuyou Antiques Market
From the outside, the Fuyou Antiques Market does not look like much. A few trinkets and plastic items are displayed outside, which is true of the majority of shops in the city. Visitors must delve inside the building on Fangbang Road to uncover the treasures that lie within. Permanent vendors set up shop every day on the first and second floors of the old building, though many more move in for the hustle and bustle of weekend trade. On Saturdays and Sundays, the third and fourth floors are fully occupied too, as well as space on the street outside.
Weekends are definitely the best time to visit the Fuyou Antiques Market. Though it does open at 5 am, there is not always a lot of action this early in the morning. Therefore, it is not like some European markets, where the first traders to begin setting up are already met with keen collectors, eyeing up their goods before they are even properly displayed. Things here at Fuyou are a little more relaxed and there is no need to arrive with bells on before the sun has risen. Grab a coffee and some breakfast, and come shopping at a more comfortable hour!
Each vendor at the Fuyou Antiques Market sets up on a numbered space on the floor of the building, creating a fairly organized space despite the size. By mid-morning, there is fantastic energy throughout the market, and snippets of chatting and bargaining can be heard throughout. Visitors will find porcelain items, jewelry, kitchenware, vases, Buddhist statues, Qing dynasty coins, calligraphy, paintings, pottery, artwork, and so much more.
Fuyou Antiques Market attracts visitors and vendors from both Shanghai and further afield. It is a great place for tourists to shop and discover some more authentic artifacts from Chinese history and culture. Of course, a grasp of the language is essential to fully enjoy this market, though tourists from abroad can bring a translator with them to assist with the bargaining!
