Renshan Market: Huizhou's Local Flavors

March 15, 2026

Renshan Market: Huizhou's Local Flavors

Huidong Waterfront: Seafood, Sticky Rice, and Rustic Charm.

On our way back from Shanwei to Dongguan, we deliberately took a detour to Renshan Market in Huidong County, Huizhou City, hoping to find and purchase some local specialty ingredients near the waterfront.

Market Entrance and Street Scenes

As soon as we stepped out of the car and headed towards the market, the roadside was already bustling with vendors selling various local snacks. Particularly eye-catching was a golden-crisp, sesame-coated, deep-fried sticky rice sweet treat, whose local name, unfortunately, we did not know.

In front of a tea shop along the way, a small tabby cat was "tucking its paws" and lying down leisurely, looking completely composed. It utterly disregarded the pedestrians and vehicles around it, maintaining an air of "seeing the world as nothing."

Not far away, a fruit stand displayed star fruits that were strikingly large and brightly orange-yellow, appearing fresh, sweet, and juicy, making them quite tempting.

In front of a shop named "Hulu Herbal Tea," a giant stainless steel gourd-shaped ornament reflected the lively street scene, making us curious if it truly held cooling, thirst-quenching herbal tea.

Abundant Seafood and Local Specialties

Huidong County is built by the sea, so fresh seafood is undoubtedly the "star" of Renshan Market and a must-buy for us travelers. The variety of marine products in the market was extremely rich, with all kinds of shellfish, fish, and shrimp dazzling the eyes. As someone from an inland area, I could not name most of them.

At a stall selling preserved foods, we discovered some ingredients with strong local characteristics: such as seemingly freshly made preserved eggs (the ash plaster on the eggshells had not completely dried), and various kinds of pickled pears—a method I had never encountered before.

Of course, as a market in the Guangdong region, dried seafood and bean products were also essential items.

The Rustic Charm of the Cooked Food Section

The market's cooked food section was equally lively. Siu mei (Cantonese roasted meats), a specialty of the Guangdong region, was naturally present. The golden, glistening roasted duck and the deep-red, enticing char siu (barbecued pork) were great appetite boosters.

Finally, we stopped at a cooked food stall primarily selling various types of sea fish balls, common ingredients for da bin lou (the Cantonese term for hot pot), and an assortment of bean products, all emanating a strong, warm sense of everyday life.