As Shanghai's Xiangyang market prepares to succumb to the developers' bulldozers and shut up shop forever, thousands are flocking to the bazaar in search last minute bargains.
Closing down to make way for a new shopping development, the market, which has become a Mecca for Western tourists in search of cheap luxury-style goods and souvenirs, will cease trading tomorrow night.
In the meantime, shoppers realizing they will never again wander, or barge their way through, Xiangyang's crowded alleys, are blowing out with a last-ditch mega haggling fix.
"We've been getting more and more customers every day as the closure approaches, but its hard to say business is good because we're selling our stock off below cost price to shift as much of it as we can," said one stall holder, surnamed Wu, who sells cloth.
"I'm really sad to see the market close, and I've decided to emigrate to Canada rather than try and run my stall at a different market in Shanghai."
Other stall holders, however, were not so sorry to wave goodbye to Xiangyang.
One souvenir seller, who asked not to be named, said he would not shed any tears over the market's demise.
"Running the stall here is very hard work, the rents are high and I'm having to sell my stock off at a loss.
"After Friday I'll move to Longhua market where the rents are cheaper. I won't miss Xiangyang," he said.
Unsurprisingly, most foreign tourists refusing to be put off by the stifling heat in the markets narrow alleyways were lapping up bargains and questioning why the market had to make way for more development.
"This is what Shanghai is all about. There's no need for more shopping malls. You can go to a mall anywhere. I prefer shopping here," said Australian Jamie Watts, a sentiment his friend, fellow Aussie Steve Chen, agreed with.
"I think Shanghai is going to lose something when this market closes down. They'll lose a lot of tourists. If they move it just won't be the same," he said.
Mats Kullemberg from Sweden was happy to catch the last hurrah.
"The market is great fun. It's good for the tourist industry and local people, but I also understand there must be pressure to modernize Shanghai," he said.
Other less obvious victims of the closure are the shops immediately around the market, which are also closing their doors tomorrow as the demolition teams move in.
Caf Montmartre, a well-known French restaurant near the entrance to the market, is one of those slated for the chop.
"The market brought us a lot of customers and we did very well from it so I've been a bit depressed about having to move," said manager Phillippe Wang. "We are moving to new premises away from here. Whatever they build after Xiangyang it won't be as popular as the market has been."
(China Daily June 29, 2006)
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