Street bazaars become Labor Day holiday hit
Traditional street bazaars were a hit in Shanghai's downtown commercial centers over the Labor Day holiday as the city moves to boost consumption while also ensuring public safety during the COVID-19 pandemic.
The outdoor bazaars feature open-air shopping space and are meant to move shoppers out of indoor stores. Separate stalls or carts at the bazaars also prevent dense gathering among customers.
During the novel coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan, once the hardest-hit region in China, street bazaars helped ensure the supply of daily necessities while reducing infection risks.
Several such street bazaars popped up across Shanghai during the recent five-day holiday to help small businesses recover from the pandemic.
The Liuhe Road bazaar near the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall was among the most popular destinations during the holiday. It opened between noon and 9pm from April 30 to May 5.
About 60 stalls in a row of transparent tents were placed between two buildings of the Shanghai No.1 Department Store. Cultural and fashion products such as necklaces and ceramics attracted shoppers and tourists on the pedestrian street.
Visitors take selfies at a street bazaar on Daxue Road in Yangpu District during the Labor Day holiday.
"There is definitely a rebound in sales and customers," said Liu Peiwen, a stall owner selling aromatherapy oils. Her stall mainly attracted young women interested in healthy lifestyle.
Liu said the organizer of the bazaar offered masks and other protections for business operators as well as reminded them to keep a safe distance from customers.
Another vendor of traditional Chinese sachets, who took part in the bazaar for the first time, said the street stalls attracted not only young customers but also many seniors.
“During the pandemic, we also offer delivery services for those who live far away,” she added.
This is the second time the department store, which opened in 1936, has hosted such a bazaar. During the Qixi Festival (Chinese Valentine's Day) last year, the bazaar on Liuhe Road made its debut over five days.
"Due to its popularity, we plan to host such bazaars every month to attract more young customers to the traditional shopping mall," said an official with the department store.
On Daxue Road in Yangpu District, an outdoor trunk bazaar was held between May 1 and 3. Business owners placed their products in the open trunks to attract customers.
"The road has gradually become more dynamic again as the COVID-19 outbreak wanes in China," said Li Ya, owner of a popular milk tea store on the street. Some streetside businesses like Li's were invited to set up temporary stalls at the bazaar over the holiday.
The 700-meter-long Daxue Road features restaurants, outdoor cafes and teahouses. It's promoted as a spot where investors, artists and scientists can exchange ideas and search for opportunities.
The Liuhe Road bazaar attracts a steady stream of customers near the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall.
A pop-up fair held outside the Jing’an Kerry Center became another popular attraction.
The fair, open from May 1 to 5, features games, stalls, snacks and entertainment in a spring garden setting. The road was paved with artificial grass and decorated with colorful balloons.
Thanks to the nice weather, the fair drew plenty of visitors on Monday. But most of them still wore masks and free hand sanitizer was available.
"It is sunny today and we decided to bring our dogs out,” a couple from Japan said. “There are a lot of activities and shops over here.”
Venessa Zheng came to the fair with her friends. Wearing a floral dress and carrying a straw bag, she looked dressed for a picnic and took many pictures with her friends.
“Finally, my beloved open-air fair has reopened. I missed it so much after the night fair held in the winter,” she said. “There are a lot of beautiful and unique handmade accessories here.”
Lana Khovracheva, from Moscow, ran a tea shop in the fair. It’s her first time to take part in the fair, and the crowds surprised her. She said her shop was a hit with both Chinese and foreigners.
A pop-up fair outside the Jing’an Kerry Center during the Labor Day holiday.
One vendor from perfume store DÉMI.BAI, however, expressed her uncertainty over the sales.
“There are a lot of onlookers but buyers are still rare. I feel like the sales are not like the year before,” she said.
One reason, according to her, is that many people have flocked to department stores to enjoy discounts and coupons during the Double Five Shopping Festival.
The B1 floor of the Jing’an Kerry Center was also popular among shoppers on Monday.
Until the end of May, every day from 11am to 2pm, a fair is held to promote new products from time-honored brands in Jing’an. Popular products include herbal essential oil combs from 350-year-old Leiyunshang TCM pharmacy, and pankou (frog fastener) bookmarks from 84-year-old Longfeng Cheongsam.
Zhu Shunshun, a designer from the marketing department of Leiyunshang, hosted a livestream on Bilibili to promote herbal essential oil combs. It was his first stream, but soon he attracted about 400 viewers.
“They asked me to show the combs in different angles and asked me to explain what the combs are made from, where to buy them and how much,” Zhu said.
According to Kaikai, which owns these brands, medical workers can get vouchers if they show their medical licenses. More brands will take part in the fair in the following month, such as 91-year-old suit maker Humsuit and 103-year-old women's clothes seller Hongxiang.
Customers look through cultural products at the Liuhe Road bazaar.
A pop-up fair outside the Jing’an Kerry Center during the Labor Day holiday.
The Liuhe Road bazaar attracts many customers near the Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall.
