Already a fairly vibrant city, Shenzhen truly comes alive over Chinese New Year with pop-up stalls everywhere. One of these I discovered today was a Russian market, and I have to say, it was pretty epic.
What the Luo Hu?
Luo Hu is incredibly important when it comes to Shenzhen, not just because it borders Hong Kong, but also as the very beating heart of business within the original Chinese Special Economic Zone.
Yes, it’s a concrete jungle, but one with the kind of flair you only find in China, with backstreets awash with street food, dodgy stalls, and even street walkers.
And it’s for these reasons—partly, at least—that I have my office and, indeed, part-time residence here.
Chinese New Year Markets in Luo Hu
While street vendors are nothing new in Shenzhen—or indeed China—Chinese New Year takes it to another level. In its next iteration, the Year of the Snake, the streets really come alive.
And what do they sell? Pretty much everything—from sneakers to salt and, of course, fireworks. Around Shenzhen this year, there seemed to be a much greater focus on food.
This included lots of sausages and other unusual meats, chocolate, and my personal favorite: candied fruit on a stick, which is available throughout China. Think of it like a British toffee apple, if you will—although I’m sure China will claim they invented it.
The Russian Market in Luo Hu
The Russian market stall—actually the size of three or four stalls—stood out like a sore thumb opposite the China Unicom office. This is not what you expect in downtown China. Yes, China and Russia are now great friends (朋友们), but culturally, they’re worlds apart.
So, what could you get at the Russian market in Luo Hu? Well, at the entrance, there was a huge pile of salt, which, it would appear, is something the Russians do exceptionally well. And on this, you have to trust the Chinese—they truly know their salt.
There was also every kind of Russian candy you could imagine, with me opting for some chocolate-covered truffles. There were also the standard issue expensive Chinese chocolates that look nice but taste awful—I avoided those. There were sausages and pâtés as well, which I couldn’t resist trying.
Booze at the Russian Market in Luo Hu
Despite almost 20 years of living on and off in China, I still cannot abide Bai Jiu. Now, if you don’t know what Bai Jiu is, let me clarify—it is not “Chinese Rice Wine”! No, it’s a liquor so bad that even an alcoholic like me would rather not drink than touch this devil’s candy.
Russia, though, does things a little differently, with vodka being frankly incomparable to Bai Jiu. The Russian market had good Russian vodka in abundance, but it was some of the other liquors that caught my eye.
First, there was a 45% herbal drink that looked like Jägermeister on acid, as well as some very interesting-looking artisanal gins. I had previously thought gin was just the domain of the British, but after discovering one of the best gins in the world was made in Cambodia, I’ve been constantly surprised by how many countries are trying their hand at it.
Alas, there’s only so much booze one can buy in a day, so I settled on one bottle of vodka.
Russia and China: BFFs?
While the Russian market was pretty cool, it also emphasized the growing friendship between the two countries, as well as the Western exodus from China. Not only do I rarely see other foreigners in China now, but when I speak to locals, they often just assume I’m Russian.
Do I correct them? What’s the point?