News with Viewpoint·Industry Insights | "Markets" Blooming Everywhere - How Can "Market Economy" Break Through?

CNR Beijing, March 16 — (Reporter Wang Xian, Zhou Hong, Zhang Jiyu) According to China Voice of the China Media Group’s “News with Perspectives,” from weekend cultural and creative handmade markets to non-heritage trendy toys in commercial districts, various forms of “markets” are becoming a common sight around us. “Non-heritage markets,” “weekend markets,” and “cultural and creative markets” are almost everywhere, with vendors engaging with consumers, forming “community economies.” As markets become a regular phenomenon, can they become a new type of urban development? How can “market economy” break out of its niche? In a special segment of “News with Perspectives,” the China Voice of the China Media Group interviews Huang Qin, Deputy Minister of the Xuhui District Propaganda Department and Director of the Civilization Office, and marketing expert Xiao Mingchao.

Shanghai, Riverside Market and Crowds (Photo provided by interviewee)

Markets: A Modern Urban Lifestyle

“The concept of markets has existed since ancient times… but today’s markets have become a way of city life,” Xiao Mingchao defines the current craze for markets. They are no longer just simple trading venues but have integrated check-ins, interaction, aesthetics, and cultural consumption, becoming an emerging comprehensive economic model and new consumption scene.

Huang Qin also has her own thoughts on the concept of markets. In the past, they were called bazaars; now, they are called markets. Is it just a simple reversal of words, or is there a real difference? She says that whether it’s a bazaar or a market, both involve concentrated buying and selling. Bazaars represent tradition, while markets are more modern, with broader trading content. Besides general consumer goods, markets often feature cultural and creative products, handmade experiences, and intangible cultural heritage displays, offering strong experiential elements and more diverse content. Currently, markets serve not only as simple places for consumption or transactions but also as experiences with social and cultural atmospheres.

Xiao Mingchao emphasizes that the process of browsing a market itself is a release of emotional value for consumers and an important social scene. Consumers may meet artisans and vendors, sharing and gaining social value through interactions.

Government as the Facilitator: Exploring the Original Intent of Public Welfare and Service

Markets are blooming everywhere, often backed by government “stages.” Huang Qin shares a classic case from Xuhui District in Shanghai: three years ago, they first tried hosting a large-scale volunteer service public market in Xuhui Riverside. The event featured over 50 booths across five categories, including convenient services, health science popularization, consultation and publicity, cultural heritage, and volunteer recruitment. From barber and eyeglass cleaning services to traditional crafts like yellow earth grass dyeing, intangible cultural heritage crochet, and Chinese knot making, many residents and tourists came to participate. Huang Qin felt that government-organized markets effectively built platforms, transforming volunteer services from traditional point-to-point assistance into group mutual aid, offering more choices and richer experiences. Visiting markets also allows people to do public welfare casually, making volunteer service more meaningful and fun.

In terms of operational mechanisms, Xuhui District continues to explore. After successfully hosting the volunteer service market, they launched the “Civilized Big Market” brand project during the second volunteer-themed event. This involved establishing regular booth recruitment, setting up booth managers and alliances, creating a list of nearly a hundred service projects across eight categories, online ordering at the grassroots level, government dispatch and delivery, cross-sector collaboration, and seasonal thematic activities. Huang Qin states this is also a sustainable recruitment mechanism.

How to Avoid “Same Old, Same Old”?

With the rapid increase in the number of markets, homogenization has begun to appear. The “Four Golden Classics” of New Year markets (writing Spring Festival couplets, paper-cutting, lion dance, lanterns) and the ubiquitous “miss you” themes reflect pattern replication and lack of innovation.

Xiao Mingchao points out, “The essence of markets is to turn spectators into participants.” He believes that avoiding “hollowing out” depends on clear positioning and a main content line, so consumers are willing to pay for content, participation, and cultural value. He also suggests that future markets need to be more vertically segmented—“one centimeter wide, a thousand meters deep.” For example, dedicated bread markets, planner markets, or markets centered around pet or cycling interests are more vibrant than “department store-style” markets.

Huang Qin adds from practical experience some ways to create distinctive features: first, provide “necessary or high-quality services,” such as inviting top-tier hospital experts into neighborhoods; second, sell “seasonal or特色好物,” like fresh products directly supplied from farmers; third, design “interactive experience projects” that incorporate local intangible cultural heritage. Additionally, markets should have “visual appeal,” becoming a scenic element integrated with the surrounding environment.

Riverside Market and Crowds (Photo provided by interviewee)

Future Outlook: Continually Creating “New” Market Experiences

Regarding future upgrades, Huang Qin believes that the government must ensure safety and order as a foundation. For consumers, a good market should allow them to “discover new things”—encounter new products, acquire new items, and enjoy new scenery.

Xiao Mingchao envisions his ideal market: it needs a compelling story, with a complete chain from theme to layout. “It should bring consumers new ideas, new knowledge, new experiences, and new emotions.”

From ancient bazaars to modern markets, what has changed is not just the name but the core. Moving from single transactions to diverse experiences, from commercial activities to innovative carriers of lifestyle and social governance, when markets feature unique content, thoughtful operation, and continuous storytelling, they can transcend fleeting online fame and truly become a lasting part of the city’s fabric—carrying culture, warmth, and surprises.

Spring is here, and it’s the perfect season to visit markets.