When entering the wet market in Sai Ying Pun, the very first thing that jumped into your eyes is not the neatly-displayed fruits or vegetables that arouse your appetite, but the red lanterns that luster the fresh ingredients.
The colour of red is so meaningful in traditional Chinese culture, as it conveys a symbolic meaning of fortune and wealth. It is easily found at Sai Ying Pun wet market and epitomises the grassroots social life and culture in HK. Probably this is the reason that makes HK’s wet market so different from others around the world.
From the below photo gallery, you can get a taste of how the red colour makes the wet market luminescent.
Fish scales shimmer when white lights and cardinal lampshades shine upon them. (Source: Alyssa Yixin Chen)
The very first eye-catchy element in the wet market is not the vegetables or fruits that are arrayed orderly, but the red lanterns that are shining jarring white lights. (Source: Alyssa Yixin Chen)
Couplet can be seen in the majority of the stalls. (Source: Alyssa Yixin Chen)
Couplet is another indispensable part of the wet market in Sai Ying Pun, as it bears the most sincere wishes from the stalls, hoping that their business will boom. (Source: Alyssa Yixin Chen)
Fish (魚) symbolises harvest and abundance in Chinese culture, and it is always found in the wet market. The fish lanterns in red and gold and the red lanterns are compatible with each other. (Source: Alyssa Yixin Chen)
Tags: fruits and vegetables, Wet Market