Cities bank on traditional markets to aid economic recovery from pandemic

Last weekend, pedestrians tasted street food, artisans made crafts in small booths and children ran around playing games for prizes－demonstrating that nightlife has returned in many cities across China since the country has brought coronavirus under control.

On Saturday, the Shanghai government partnered with the city's commercial complexes and cultural hubs to launch a monthlong nightlife festival.

More than 180 featured activities－from food tasting to live concerts－were held across the city. In addition, visitors took advantage of shopping discounts and extended museum hours.

The festival's opening ceremony was at Sinan Mansions, whose 1920s-era Western European buildings house a host of bars and cafes.

Fan Meichen, deputy general manager of Sinan Mansions Management Co, said they have set up a night market with different themes, including food, arts and shops, and invited 100 artists, musicians, chefs and vendors.

The night market was already packed with people when the festival kicked off at 7:30 pm.

"We hope to help revive the economy from the coronavirus, and provide a gathering space for Shanghai residents to meet offline," she said.

There are 12 main night markets across the city, including Sinan Mansions, the Anyi Road weekend pop-up fair, Fengjing Road on the Bund, the Yu Garden commercial arcade and College Road near Fudan University.

Tian Suyuan, who works for a Shanghai IT company, went to the Anyi Road market on Saturday, the opening night of the city's nightlife festival.

"I thought there would be crowds, but I didn't expect so many people," Tian said. "It brings back childhood memories of going to the night market with my parents."

"I think it's a good move to give us a convenient place to go and entertain ourselves," she said.

The China International Import Expo venue was also turned into a market, where companies sold imports that were featured at the expo, such as cafe lattes with milk from New Zealand, rice from Japan and wines from Italy.

Tang Guifa, general manager of the National Exhibition and Convention Center (Shanghai), said the venue will hold night markets during weekends in June and resume exhibitions in July.

The night economy is rebounding from the hit it took from the coronavirus, not only in Shanghai, but also across the country.

In Wuhan, Hubei province, the signature kilometer-long Baocheng Road night market reopened last week after the city completed COVID-19 testing for its nearly 10 million residents and reported only 300 asymptomatic cases.

"The mass testing has comforted people in Wuhan," said Vice-Mayor Hu Yabo at a news conference on Tuesday.

In Harbin, Heilongjiang province, the local government passed a three-year action plan to revitalize its night economy.

Under the plan, the government will further upgrade its business street along the Songhua River, which flows through the city, and boost spending on nighttime shopping, dining, tourism and entertainment.

Chengdu, Sichuan province, adopted a similar plan that would build 100 nighttime economy model stores.

In Guangzhou, Guangdong province, Liu Hei-wan, a political adviser to the city and an entrepreneur from Macao, said at a news conference on Saturday that the city has long been known for its prosperous nighttime eateries but should further broaden its night economy offerings.