(101 Things About Shanghai) Sudden Shops

In Canada, it is highly unlikely that you would ever come across a street vendor setting up an impromptu, unlicensed shop on the sidewalk. In fact, really, it’s unlikely you would ever come across a street vendor.

When they exist, they have been vetted and licensed and are usually selling hot dogs from a cart belonging to a nationwide chain of hot dog vendors.

In Shanghai, you can buy unexpected fresh fish from a bucket on the sidewalk if your timing is right.  There are also greengrocers set up on towels in driveways, selling their bok choy until their bok choy is gone.

From wooden carts, you can get mugs, plates and bowls (of the best quality melamine!), feather dusters, picture frames, bootlegged English novels, omelets, towels, cloth handkerchiefs.  You can get your knives sharpened or your keys cut, but only if you time it right.

They may or may not exist in an hour.