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Hangzhou's
Pine Tree Market
Just off Shuguang Road ( ),
one of the Hangzhou's main thoroughfares near the Dragon Hotel, is one
of the most interesting free market centers I have seen. It consists of
an outdoor section for resellers and indoor section reserved strictly
for farmers.
Because the market is in an alleyway away from
city traffic it can operate from 6:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. daily. As with
most free markets, it is under the administration of the Industrial and
Commercial Bureau of the city.
Outdoor
Section for Resellers
| This section is
in a narrow residential alley that winds its way back from the main
street and spills onto a multilevel cement platform.
Colorful umbrellas protect
against frequent summer rains.
While farmers can set up in the outdoor
or indoor area, resellers are restricted to the outdoor area.
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Monthly
fees average RMB 300 (US$ 36.00), plus a nominal turnover tax of 1
RMB (US$ 0.12) per 500 kg. of produce brought to the market.
Outdoor stalls more expensive than indoor stalls.
Fees for a stall indoors are about 1/3 lower
than in the outdoor area, reflecting the local government's support
for the farmers. |
| The indoor market
area is strictly reserved for farmers from the township-village farms
that surround the city of Hangzhou. These farmers can reserve stalls
here daily or monthly.
Selling tables are white ceramic tile.
Farmers pay a monthly market fee, based
on the amount and type of produce they bring to the market. Farmers
told me that their monthly fees average about RMB 210 - 240 (US$
25.20 - 28.80). They don't pay a turnover tax.
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More than 2/3 of
the farmers in the indoor market area reserve stalls on a permanent
basis as evidenced by these permanent signs.
Signs identify the location of the farm
by district and township-village name.
Those who are not regulars have a chalk
board above their stall, showing the types of produce they're selling
that day and their daily fee. All the farmers here proudly display
their vendor license to distinguish them from resellers.
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