Services

Whether you want to keep your green thumb in shape, bring Mother Nature into your apartment, or buy flowers for a special occasion, you will find everything you want and even more in Beijing's specialized markets. Here are some of the most popular and what they offer.

Beijing Laitai Flower Market - well known among the expatriate community - is one of the biggest in the capital. It offers a large choice of fresh flowers and potted flowers, as well as rows of green plants. Bonsai, cactus, magnificent orchids, white lilies - you won't know where to look!

As in any other flower markets, you will be able to order custom-made floral arrangements. The smallest and simplest will cost you around 40 yuan ($6). Also don't miss the potted aromatic herbs like mint, basil, thyme or rosemary that can provide you with fresh and organic seasonings.

On the market's periphery are shops selling aquariums, from the traditional fish bowls to the hi-tech and self-cleaning fish tanks. Here you will see a real sub-marine fashion show, where each fish is more colored than the other. Black, red with large and majestic fins, blue fluorescent, toadfish, clown fish or even sharks, you'll be spoiled for choice. You will also find all you need to decorate your aquarium (live corals or plants, colored stones, gravel ...) and products to maintain it, as well as fish food.

Another section of the market carries patio furniture, Chinese traditional arts and crafts, fountains and tableware.

Delivery is possible for a fee that depends on the distance and your haggling skills.

A short distance away is Liangma Flower Market, much smaller but similar tßo Laitai. Entering the building, the strong and heady floral scent is the first thing you will notice. In December, you will find real Christmas trees on the first floor and Christmas ornaments on the second floor. In addition to selling plants and flowers, it's also the perfect place to buy glasses, vases or candles. They come in all shapes, colors and sizes for a very reasonable price.

One of the stores on the second floor offers craft materials like organza at 5 yuan ($0.76) a meter, ribbon, printed wrapping paper, and silk paper.

If you're up for a trip in the southwest of the city, Yuquanying Flower Market is one of the biggest flower markets in Beijing. Small window plants such as cactuses can cost as little as 15 yuan ($2.3) while large ones like dracaenas go for about 400 yuan ($61.3). Seeds for all plants are also available as are a massive selection of good-looking fake plants, which can all be custom-made.

If you don't really have a green thumb, visit the "flower clinic" where they will teach you how to nurture your plants.

Shopkeepers will deliver any plant or arrangement (no matter how large) for free to anywhere in the city. It will take between two and four hours depending on the distance. You can order by phone or online.

If you can't afford a good air purifier, expensive but useful in Beijing, you should know that some green plants, for instance ficus, philodendron, areca, calathea or dracaena, have purifying properties and absorb chemicals like formaldehyde, ammoniac, chemicals from cleaning products and cigarette smoke.

Flower Shopping

Addresses

> Beijing Laitai Flower Market

9 Maizidian Xilu, Nuren Jie, Chaoyang District

From: Monday to Thursday: 9 a.m. - 6 p.m.

From: Friday to Sunday: 9 a.m. - 6:30 p.m.

Tel: 8610-64636141

> Liangma Flower Market

South bank of Liangma River, 758 Dongsanhuan Beilu, Chaoyang District

From: 8:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Tel: 8610-65042443

> Yuquanying Flower Market