The Xiangyang Market, Shanghai's famous bargain bazaar for clothing, knick-knacks and gifts, will take an earlier than normal curtain-call tomorrow, as its last day, Youth Daily reported today.

The operator of the market will stop shoppers from entering the market some time before 9:30pm, its regular closing time, depending on the customer flow tomorrow night.

The daily flow of the market has doubled to an unusual high of 100,000 since Monday, even infrequent to see on weekends, since the news of its impending doom.

A senior official from the operator contributed the last boom to the significantly lower prices preceding the market's closure tomorrow.

A wet market neighboring the Xiangyang was fully demolished yesterday. The market, covering more than 6,000 square meters, was the last giant wet market in the city's downtown area.

The Xuhui District government has begun construction on another wet market 300 meters away from the original site, to bring convenience to the neighboring residents. It is expected to open in February.

According to the city's plan, the popular No. 2 Food Store, and some restaurants in the Xiangyang vicinity, will be relocated to make way for the future Metro Line No. 10 and No. 12.

The historic buildings in the area will remain the same, the government said.

(Shanghai Daily June 29, 2006)