You've done the sakura circuit in Japan. You've seen the Instagram posts. But China’s flower culture? It's been going for 2,000 years longer, with philosophical weight that makes hanami look like a recent trend. If you're ready to go deeper than sakura, this is where you start.

Some of the best ways to understand Chinese culture are hiding in plain sight: in the parks, the markets, and the street corners of everyday life. We've chosen two everyday activities to share with you and help you dive deeper into Chinese culture: people watching and shopping.