Produce markets in Beijing's local neighborhood are one of the enduring delights of Asia. Far removed from the anodyne sameness of western supermarkets, the Chinese market is soaked in colour, rich in aroma and alive with the sound and traffic of people and fresh produce. The alive part is often taken literally of course, the Chinese appreciate freshness above all so be prepared for an unforgettable market experience.

Visits to these traditional markets are a cultural experience in themselves, bustling, garrulous, and overflowing with exotic fresh produce, they are an unforgettable assault on the senses. For all their noise and more or less ordered chaos, they have a truly engaging charm and most people find them addictive, becoming somewhat mega store-phobic of the likes of Carrefour, Wallmart and Tesco which are all making in-roads into a fast Westernizing Chinese psyche.

What these mammoth organizations can't offer however is the supreme freshness that the intimate arrangements between the markets and the local producers have fostered. The Chinese insist on freshness and will traditionally shop daily, usually in the early morning when the vegetables are still very much alive and kicking straight from the fields. Other things that are very much alive and kicking in the market, we'll introduce later, no cellophane covered frozen fish fillets or boxes of chicken nuggets here. This steadfast insistence on freshness also has another positive spin-off in that we enjoy only seasonal, locally grown produce, and in a relatively extreme environment such as Beijing's, that yields great variety throughout the year.

We'll visit specialist fish, meat, vegetable and spice markets according to what chef has in store for the day's menu. Once again our passionate and informed guides will be on hand to answer your inevitable barrage of questions on this uniquely Asian phenomenon. Also to help you communicate with the real characters of the market, the stall holders themselves, a robust, cheerful and opinionated bunch, and what they don't know about their wares and what can be made from them in the kitchen, isn't worth knowing. Be prepared, it's a lot more fun than pushing a trolley round the isles of your local mega-store.