It’s 2018. Beijing is gentrifying like crazy and becoming more and more developed every day. And yet, I ran into this obstacle on my way to work today.

The Chinese cabbage (da bai cai, or napa cabbage) is such a staple in China that its name translates literally to “big white vegetable.” I love that even now, in this day and age and in the middle of the city, I can still run into a wall of cabbage on the sidewalk, built overnight by some farmer from the suburb. I don’t know how much longer these scenes will exist in Beijing.