Shinan district, Qingdao is boosting the development of stalls and small shops to meet the demands of residents and creates more job opportunities.

In the Zhuhai Road subdistrict, a popular courtyard housing many stalls provides locals with fresh vegetables and fruit. 

After several years of development, 12 stalls are currently operating within the courtyard, offering vegetables, fruits, meat, and other necessities. Due to the reasonable prices and high quality, the stalls have garnered many regular customers.

Amid the outbreak of novel coronavirus, the stalls helped ensure a stable supply of vegetables for residents. Community workers helped stall owners regularly clean and disinfect the area.

In order to balance convenience and orderliness, local officials are planning to manage the stalls more closely. An enforcement team inspects the small market three times a day and directs stall owners to place their goods within designated areas only.

"I opened my store in the courtyard in 2008, and more and more people are buying my stuff as the district government supports us. It's convenient for locals to buy necessities here," said one local stall operator.

A stall operator arranges her goods in a small market in Zhuhai Road subdistrict, Shinan district, Qingdao. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]