We start our day at Sijiqing, one of China's largest and most legendary apparel wholesale hubs. This is a sprawling network of multi-story buildings where fashion trends are born. You'll see high-energy live-streamers, wholesalers moving massive bundles, and endless rows of clothing ranging from high-street fashion and premium knitwear to stylish accessories.

Navigating Sijiqing can be overwhelming for outsiders. I will guide you to the best buildings (like the boutique or high-quality sections), translate the sizing (which runs differently in China), and help you negotiate wholesale prices even if you are only buying single pieces.

After a thrilling morning of shopping, it’s time to reward ourselves. We head to the Hangzhou City Kitchen, a massive, modern, and hyper-clean culinary complex. The ground floor houses a spectacular wet market filled with giant tanks of live seafood (from massive king crabs and lobsters to local river prawns, scallops, and shellfish).

Together, we will walk the stalls to pick out your favorite live seafood (again, I’ll help ensure we get fair local prices per kilogram). Once purchased, we will take your haul upstairs to a professional kitchen stall. You can choose how you want it prepared (garlic steamed, salt & pepper fried, or ginger scallion tossed). Sit back, relax, and enjoy an incredibly fresh, feast-level meal at a fraction of restaurant prices.