Another comeback for China’s street merchants
Faced with a sluggish economy, some cities are re-embracing them
One of China’s most widely revered works of art is called “Along The River During The Qingming Festival”. The painted scroll, five metres long, portrays bustling scenes of life in Kaifeng, the imperial capital, during the Song dynasty (960-1279). Prominent among the people and activities depicted are peddlers, merchants and craftsmen working out of street stalls. But today in China—and especially in the capital, Beijing—these tiny trading posts are often frowned upon by officials.
This article appeared in the China section of the print edition under the headline “Back in business”
From the July 15th 2023 edition
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