Closed to My Heart: Beijing Shutters One of Its Last Remaining Downtown Wholesale Markets

We weren't sure if any still existed after last year's unceasing reports of closures, but Beijing has managed to claim yet another victim for its ongoing campaign against wholesale markets.

The Top Century large-scale wholesale market is slated to close by the end of August, forcing some 400 vendors to relocate away from its downtown location (next to Zhushikou Station on Line 7).

The closure marks the end of 15 years of service that the 30,000sqm facility has served the community with acclaim. A year after it opened in 2003, Top Century was praised in Chinese news reports for having reinvigorated a "sleeping" Beijing economy. 

And yet, having garnered a reputation for selling counterfeit goods as recently as this past June, Top Century will finally be shuttered on account of its "impact on downtown traffic," reported the Beijing News.

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Whereas this may be the death of retail, Top Century will continue to serve a higher purpose. Come November, the wholesale market will be turned into "218 Wenchuang Gardens." According to Top Century deputy general manager Wang Fang, Wenchuang Gardens will be a high-end office space for "high-growth enterprises with high brand value," adding that the new development will retain a few of its "original high-quality merchants."

The market's remaining merchants are busy conducting clearance sales that have attracted bargain hunters from around the city, a familiar sight we've previously seen with other Beijing wholesale market closures.

Last year saw the city shut down Alien Street, Tianyi Market, Tianyu Market, Tianhe Baima Market, Dongding Market, Wantong Market, the Ladies' Street Market and a number of venues around the Beijing Zoo as well as Shiji Tianle and Zhonghe. The 258 Maizidian Electronic World shut down in March but has since reopened in a neutered state. Meanwhile, Lotte Mart closed down all of its 21 Beijing locations after suffering a year of dismal sales affected by THAAD-related boycotts.

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But where Beijing is giving up on wholesale markets and foreign-owned supermarkets, it is whole-heartedly welcoming Hema Fresh supermarkets as the Alibaba-operated retailer plans on opening 30 Beijing locations before the end of the year. And the brick-and-mortar options don't stop there: This year will also see Chaoyang District open some 60 wet markets for its residents while the city plans on opening dozens of bookstores within two years.

As such, it's with an alarming sense of alacrity that Beijing has continued to close familiar haunts that decimate neighborhoods in favor of developments that contribute to a traditional theme but don't necessarily fulfill their purpose, throwing off any rhythm that residents may expect from their home.

All in all, it could be that all these changes will make Beijing become a great city. As residents, we just hope it remains a great place for us as well.

More stories from this author here.

E-Mail: charlesliu1 (at) qq (dot) com
Twitter: @Sinopath

Images: Sina Blog, BJ News