Let It Grow: Zakka Takes Root in Beiluogu Xiang

Stepping into Zakka feels a little like entering some sort of fairy world. The cramped plant shop is painted a calming powder blue and the minute space is filled floor-to-ceiling with shelves upon shelves of plant life.

Perfect for Beijing’s tiny apartment sizes, nearly all the plants would fit easily in the palm of your hand. But they make up what they lack in size with their brightly colored pots and fancy looks. The store mainly features cacti but also carries a number of leafier options and seashell wall accessories.

Hidden away from the bustle of traffic in Beiluogu Xiang just off of Gulou Dongdajie, this plant shop will have you buying something small even if you weren’t planning to. The price range is a decent RMB 20-30 with a couple bigger (fancier) items costing up to RMB 80. The little cacti are just so terribly cute, they kind of have the effect of puppies, except with spikes and without having to potty train them.

Must buy: Tiny cactus (RMB 20)
Also try: Liangma Flower Market

Go and browse the shelves on Beilougu Xiang just 30m north of the intersection with Gulou Dongdajie.

Photos: Julia Hartmann