(Shanghai Daily)
Updated: 2006-06-26 10:22

Xiangyang market, which will close down on June 30, was once one of Shanghai's most popular shopping destinations.

Xiangyang market will officially close down on June 30, with many of its booth owners moving to markets in Pudong or the Luhua area, Shanghai Evening Post reported.

Nearly 300 of the booth owners have moved to an underground shopping area at the Science and Technology Museum Station. Another 400 will move to an "old plant" on Longhua Road, with the rest being transferred to other markets, like Qipu Road and Chenghuang Temple.

An owner, surnamed Zhang, said he paid rent for a subway market stall, called "Yataishenghui" in pinyin, because of its good environment and low rent.

But some owners are worried that the space isn't popular enough to attract a good customer base.

An official from the subway market said the owners have signed one-year contracts, and promised that they wouldn't sell "knock offs" to customers. The Xiangyang market is famous among both domestic and foreign tourists for cheap goods and counterfeit products.

The market is still under adjustment, so customers may have another month or two to visit.