- What kinds of matters did you usually deal with?

All kinds of necessary matters, such as communicating with or facilitating the communications among the vendors, handling paperwork, coordinating and discussing with the City Office on various occasions like market reconstruction.

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- How do you communicate with the vendors?

Every vendor has their own personality. I respect that and I will try to stand in their shoes. I’d been in the market for a long time. I wouldn’t argue with the vendors and I didn’t think I’m right all the time. Every vendor shared the same status which meant there was no hierarchy in the market. When talking with them, I will respect everyone’s opinion and I tried my best to not let anyone feel uncomfortable. I would also compliment the vendors to encourage them.

 

It used to be more difficult to deal with when there were hundreds of stalls in the market. When the business went well, there were more customers which also led to more arguments. There were many gossips in the market. Some were about me like I didn’t get along with some vendors. I would keep these gossips in mind so I knew how to handle the arguments when it happened. Sometimes vendors got angry easily, they might even end up fighting with each other and they would ask me to coordinate. I would deal with the issues as soon as possible, or it could get worse. Some vendors also asked me for help on private matters. And they would try not to get involve in dispute because they felt embarrassed about bothering me all the time.

 

- Do you still assist the vendors at the market?

Although I am no longer the chairman now, I still assist the vendors at the market. I don’t intervene in the market matter but I will help them on other things. After retiring, I still visit the market every day to chat with the vendor.

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- When was the Zhongshan Market established?

About 30 years ago, at that time, almost every stall was occupied.

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- How was the Zhongshan Market like, before the Zhongshan Underpass was built?

At that time, there was a vacant area between the market and the railway. When an escargot stall appeared there, people started to hang out and drink beers at that area. As more and more vendors gathering at the area at night, it turned into a busy and prosperous night market while some vendors moved into the Zhongshan Market. It was traditional market in the morning and night market in the evening, which means that one stall would have two owners. Take my own stall for example, in the morning it was selling chicken and in the evening it became a stall for mutton hop pot. The night market was open till 4 or 5 in the morning when the traditional market was about to open. Basically the Zhongshan Market was open 24/7 at that time. In addition, the Zhongshan Market was next to the train station. The visitors would come to Zhongshan Market to have meals. At that time, the Tungtamen Night Market was not established yet, the Zhongshan Market was the most popular market.

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- What happened to the Zhongshan Market after the Zhongshan Underpass was built in 1994?

When the underpass was built, the road was closed and customers had to detour to get to the market. Many vendors gradually left the market. In the end, no vendor wanted to continue renting stalls at the area near Zhongshan Road. Initially, there was an area of one-and-a-half-floor building-type stalls in the center of the market where the vendors sold groceries, clothing, accessories, meat floss, fish floss, etc. However, since the vendors at that area also left the market, the area of building-type stalls blocked the view and flow of the market, causing safety concerns. They were eventually demolished during the reconstruction in 2003.

 

The greatest impact of the underpass was that people had to detour to get to the market from the train station. It was very inconvenient and it changed the flow of the market completely, leading to the decline of the business. Under multiple influences, the night market also gradually declined.

 

In the early days, there were few shops on the street outside of the Zhongshan Market, only some vendors of the morning market would sell the remaining goods on the street outside of the market. As more and more vendors joining in, a market outside of the Zhongshan Market was gradually formed.

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- How did the vendors adapt to the change?

It’s tough to run the business now because the customers rather buy things outside of the market than come into the market. As a result, the vendors outside are unlikely to rent stalls in the market. A traditional market usually should be equipped with a variety of stalls, such as chicken, fish, pork, vegetables, groceries, fruit, clothing, etc. The Zhongshan Market is incomplete now. Most of the vendors that still stay have been doing business in the market for a long time. They know me for years and they are more connected to the market.

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- What have you done to improve the current situation of the Zhongshan Market?

I had tried to communicate with the vendors outside and asked them to come inside with rent free for the first three months. But the vendors couldn't make it for a few days, because the business is so much better outside. I also contacted the City Office and the police station and asked them to clean the street. I have tried many methods to make the market prosper. One time I suggested the City Office to set up a night market selling traditional cuisine inside the Zhongshan Market.

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- What do you want the market to be in the future?

I hope the market will not become vacant. I hope the government can make the best use of it. No matter making it a shopping mall or supermarket. Anything that can bring customers and keep the market prosperous. Otherwise, it will be a waste of such a large market in the city center.