Nengrenli Wet Market (能仁里农贸市场)
Highlights: Filming location, hidden food gems
This market appeared in the movie Dying to Survive and is always bustling. The market and surrounding snack streets are packed with local flavors, offering a perfect taste of old southern Nanjing life.
Local specialties:
• Confucius Temple Noodle Shop (夫子庙面馆): Famous for beef pot stickers and soup dumplings
• Wang Po's Black Sticky Rice Buns (汪婆乌米饭团): Quintessential Nanjing breakfast / Staple of old Nanjing breakfasts
• A Cai Vegetable Pancake (阿财菜饼): Crispy pancakes with rich fillings
• Li’s Osmanthus Rice Ball Soup (李家桂花酒酿元宵): Sweet and glutinous Nanjing dessert
Address: Nengrenli 2nd Village, Yuhua North Road, Yuhua District, Nanjing
Opening hours: 6:00–18:00; snacks open later
Transport: Metro Line 1 to Zhonghuamen Station, 17 minutes on foot
Chanan Wet Market (茶南农贸市场)
Highlights: Great value, breakfast heaven
Known as a local secret spot, this market offers affordable fresh ingredients. Fuyuan Street nearby is famous for its wide variety of breakfast and snacks.
Local specialties:
• Xu Ayi Pastry Shop (许阿姨糕团店): Popular for salted egg yolk green rice cakes
• Anjia Osmanthus Glutinous Rice Balls (安家桂花汤圆): A nearly 30-year-old local shop
• Yanji Laoqijiawan Beef Pot Stickers (言记老七家湾牛肉锅贴店): Crispy and juicy signature snack
Address: No. 3 Fuyuan Street, Jianye District, Nanjing
Opening hours: 7:00–19:30
Transport: Metro Line 2 to Yunjinlu Station, 5 minutes on foot
Three Seven Eight Alley Wet Market (378巷农贸市场)
Highlights: Food paradise in old southern Nanjing
Close to Confucius Temple and Laomendong, this market is more like a huge food alley loved by locals. Full of Nanjing dialect and lively street scenes, it’s ideal for tasting local snacks.
Local specialties:
• Nanjing No.1 Sweet Lotus Root (南京蜜汁藕): Glutinous and sweet, a crowd favorite
• Luji & Shenji Smoked Fish (陆记/沈记熏鱼): Crispy fried smoked fish in sweet-and-sour sauce
• Li Yuanwu Soup Dumplings (李元武汤包): Thin wrappers and rich broth
Address: Sanqi Ba Alley, Qinhuai District, Nanjing
Opening hours: 6:00–19:00
Transport: Metro Line 3 to Wudingmen Station, 5 minutes on foot
Pudong Road Market (浦东路菜场)
Highlights: A time-honored popular market in northern Nanjing, full of authentic local street life and affordable fresh produce. Clean and well-organized, with indoor stalls for groceries and an alley full of classic local snacks. Prices are generally lower than downtown markets, with many popular cheap eats. Convenient parking available for drivers.
Local specialties:
• Aunt Yan’s Tofu Rolls (颜阿姨豆腐卷): Grilled over charcoal, crispy bottom, savory tofu & scallion filling.
• Old Han’s Firewood Wontons (老韩柴火馄饨): Thin wrappers, fresh soup, cooked in traditional firewood style.
• Xie Jia Braised Beef: Tender, flavorful braised beef and beef tendons.
• Lin Jia Lean Meat Duck (林家瘦型烤鸭): Crispy roast duck and classic Nanjing salted duck.
Address: No. 5-1 Pudong Road, Taishan Street, Jiangbei New District, Nanjing
Opening Hours: Around 06:00–19:00 (most snacks sell out before 11:00)
Transportation: Bus to Pudong Road · Pudongcun Station
Kexiang Wet Market (科巷菜场)
Highlights: Nanjing’s most popular long-standing market, full of vibrant local life, lined with delicious food, combining authentic street vibes and Jinling flavors. A well-known historic market loved by locals for generations, with strong down-to-earth atmosphere. High concentration of local snacks, allowing you to taste classic Nanjing food all in one place. Located in the city center with convenient transportation, perfect for food and market exploration.
Local specialties:
• Tao’s Dezhou Braised Chicken (陶记德州扒鸡): Tender meat with rich braised flavor
• Lüliu Ju Vegetarian Food (绿柳居素食): Vegetarian duck and braised delicacies, a time-honored vegetarian brand
• Freshly baked egg cakes (现烤草鸡蛋蛋糕): Soft, sweet and made on site
• Various braised food, salted duck, lotus root cakes, fermented glutinous rice and other Nanjing snacks
Address: Ke Xiang, Qinhuai District, Nanjing
Opening Hours: Around 06:00–20:00
Transportation: Metro Line 2/3 to Daxinggong Station, within walking distance
If you weren't thinking or planning on doing that much, you can also email me (sam@nanjingtourguide.com) about what kind of places you would like to visit, such as:
Places that are more historical?
Good places to hike?
Places for City Walk?
How about a Luxurious Restrooms Tour?
Just let me know and I will give you the answer and take you there.
Come and explore Nanjing’s most vibrant local market, brimming with the warmth of everyday life. Immerse yourself in its culture, delicious food, and the authentic lifestyle of locals, and discover a genuine day in the life of Nanjing people. Of all the authentic markets in Nanjing, these six stand out for their lively vibes, local delicacies and genuine daily life.
Xishanqiao Wet Market (西善桥菜场)
Highlights: Open-air market with original local vibes
A 500-metre open-air market with a retro, down-to-earth atmosphere. It’s one of the most authentic and unpolished market experiences in the city. No fancy chain stores, but full of traditional breakfasts such as fried buns, sesame cakes and steamed rice cakes. Great for soaking up real street life.
Local specialties:
• Multigrain Pancake (Anonymous Popular Stall): Crispy and flaky, the vendor generously fills every pancake.
• Highland Barley Baked Buns: Crispy on the outside, soft and slightly chewy inside.
• Handmade Egg Dumplings: Fresh egg wrappers filled with pork, thin-skinned and juicy, golden and appetizing. Perfect for hot pot.
Address: No. 176 Xishanqiao Street, Yuhua District, Nanjing
Opening Hours: Best in the early morning
Transportation: Less convenient by public transit; recommended to drive or take a taxi
Nanjing Tour Guide