Daji-Chinese Open-Air Fairs

Daji, or big open-air fairs, typically take place on specific dates of the lunar calendar, for example, on dates with five or seven as the last digit. It is also common for them to be held during traditional Chinese holidays such as the Spring Festival and the Mid-Autumn Festival, as well as other local festivals. The exact dates and frequency of daji vary from region to region.

Daji originated from the ancient folk custom of trading goods, which dates back to the Han Dynasty. As transportation and communication were underdeveloped at that time, it was very difficult for households to obtain daily necessities. As a solution, people gathered at specific locations on set days to trade their surplus (剩余的) items for what they needed.

In addition to being venues for buying and selling, daji are occasions for socializing and entertainment. People from near and far crowd into these markets on daji days. Drawn by the aroma (香味) of street food, they line up in front of stands which serve steaming dumplings and hot noodle soup. While eating and enjoying street performances, they chat with each other and share stories of their daily lives. Before heading home, they fill their shopping bags with fresh fruit and vegetables from local farmers, at prices significantly cheaper than those found in supermarkets.