• The Mandarin term “跳蚤市场” is a paraphrase of the English term “flea market”.
• Although the concept of flea markets originated from western countries, similar markets can now be found around the world. Flea markets were originally meant for the sale of old goods such as clothes and furniture, which might have fleas in them. Hence, flea markets derived their name from the insects that once infested the wares sold in the markets.
• Flea markets are a special type of retail marketplace. They normally open for business on weekends or public holidays, with the stall owners gathering for a short period of time to sell all kinds of goods.
• Singapore’s oldest flea market is located on Sungei Road, and is colloquially known as gek sng kio. The Sungei Road Flea Market has witnessed Singapore's changes and developments for the past 80 years. However, the market finally ceased operation on 10 July 2017 as the area was slated for development into a residential area.
• Nowadays, some local wet markets will also host flea market events every weekend, to let residents set up stalls to sell their wares.
• In recent years, flea markets in Singapore not only sell cheap second-hand goods, but also have stalls selling locally made original items and handicrafts.

跳虱市场 (Hong Kong, Macau)

• In the 1920s and 1930s, there was an ice factory by the river along Sungei Road. To get to the ice factory, you had to pass through a bridge that spanned the Rochor Canal. This was how gek sng kio got its name. In the Hokkien (Minnan) dialect, gek sng means to frost over. (See “Sungei Road (colloquially known as gek sng kio)”)