Beijing transforms wholesale market into innovation zone

Beijing's largest clothing wholesale markets, near the Beijing Zoo in Xicheng district, have transformed into a national-level finance and high-tech innovation zone as the capital makes efforts to upgrade its development structures.

These clothing wholesale markets began in the 1980s and over the years swelled to about 13,000 stalls covering more than 350,000 square meters.

However, the markets were blamed for causing severe traffic congestion, safety concerns and environmental disorder. They were also considered unfit for the capital's core functions set by the central government, which are politics, culture, international communication and science and technological innovation.

"The clothing wholesale markets becoming the financial and high-tech innovation zone is an example of Beijing's sustainable development with less resources," said Zhu Xinglong, an official in charge of Beijing's work on relocation and upgrading work.

Beijing has relocated more than 3,000 manufacturing companies out of the city in recent years, and added 7,700 convenience stores and service centers for citizens, which has both improved the city's economic structure and people's lives, he said.