Beyond shopping, China's traditional markets enjoy youth-driven revival

NANCHANG -- Markets have served local people in China for thousands of years. Now they are enjoying a revival among young people, offering far more than commodities.

As dusk fell, the Taoxichuan art district in Jingdezhen, China's porcelain capital in Jiangxi province in the east of the country, lit up as more than 1,000 stalls began welcoming visitors.

Tao Yue has visited the market for three years, traveling from Nanchang, the provincial capital about 200 kilometers away. She described it as a much-anticipated destination.

"Apart from appreciating an array of creative products, you can also talk to the stallholders and learn why they came to Jingdezhen in the first place, and how a porcelain product was designed and colored," said the 25-year-old woman. "Gradually, you learn many stories behind the cups and plates. That is the charm of the market."

The art district opened in October 2016 with just 55 stalls. Since then, it has attracted around 28,000 stallholders in total, with an average age of 28.

Xiong Jinpeng, who graduated from university in 2023, was drawn by the idea that "life is but a journey, and I want to take a chance and be my own boss." His stall now averages roughly 40,000 yuan ($5,991) in monthly sales, while he has also built a steady stream of online orders.

Yang Fan, a stallholder born in the 1990s, said the market offers more than ceramics: it offers a trendy and elegant lifestyle. "The market is not merely a place for buying and selling. It is also a venue for people to connect with each other."