SUPERmarket Time: China

In contrast to my last post I wanted give a glimpse into a modern Chinese supermarket, the type that is taking the place of the more traditional open-air markets by providing the same one-stop-shop--an interest of mine and a focal point of my trip has been an examination of how we meet our basic needs, in particular food. These photos are from a trip to a Carrefour market, a French chain, in the city of Kunming. My shooting was cut short by the employees who weren't comfortable by my image grabbing...

These sorts of stores are a relatively new phenomenon in China and are still only found in cities where higher prices are paid for the time saving convenience. The diversity of offering was actually really impressive, far surpassing the average American grocery store...

After hitting the 1st floor for your clothing, shoes, home care supplies, etc... this escalator takes you and your cart to food offerings on the 2nd floor. 

Most meat is not prepacked, though in contrast to open air-markets it is refrigerated.

Customers dig through to find a piece to their liking. 

Cured meats

Dried Fish

Oodles of Noodles 

Most fruit doesn't say where it's from.

New Zealand Apples 

Tea--it's not frowned upon to pick it up with your hands and smell it, glasses by each display the hue it will stain water. 

More Tea

Self-serve shrimp and I don't know what...

Pick a fish off the ice...

Or a live one from the tanks. Besides fish they also have eels, frogs and crayfish in live-wells. 

 The scene is not so different than a American grocer--though in China Bud is only 3.6 ABV and it proudly states rice as an ingredient on the front label.  

The wine section was expansive. 

 All sorts of pre-made tea.