On February 21, the twelfth day of the lunar new year, was the first day of operation after the Spring Festival for the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Gu'an) International Commodity City. At 6:10 AM, in a store on the third floor of Plaza 3, owner Li Xuejiao and her staff were already busy.

The shop was filled with various styles and colors of women's sweaters and tops. "Put the discounted clothes outside the door, and after ironing the new spring items, hang them in prominent positions..." Li Xuejiao instructed her staff while tidying up. "Let's make a good start on the first day of business this year."

At 7:00 AM, the mall opened its doors. Elegant women's clothing, fashionable men's wear, shoes, bags, and leather goods filled the stores. Buyers and consumers from Xinjiang, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Shandong, and other regions flowed in and out, creating a lively scene as they began shopping early in the morning. 

This is an aerial photo of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Gu'an) International Commodity City in Gu'an County, Langfang City, Hebei Province, taken in June 2022. Photo by Xinhua reporter Luo Xuefeng.

 The Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (Gu'an) International Commodity City is located in the Daqinghe Garden of the Gu'an High-tech Zone in Langfang City, Hebei Province. It serves as a landmark project for Gu'an County's effort to accommodate the non-capital functions of Beijing, covering approximately 1.04 million square meters. Positioned as a "fashion center in northern China," it is becoming a significant trend hub in the region.

On January 1, 2022, Plaza 3 of the Commodity City began trial operations, with Li Xuejiao among the first batch of merchants to move in. Before relocating to Gu'an, Li had been in the clothing business for 18 years, operating a 40-square-meter store in the Dahongmen wholesale market in Beijing, which was quite successful.

In 2017, as Beijing transitioned its development model and promoted regional coordination, the exit of the "Dongpi" market made Li reconsider her future. At that time, news about Dahongmen's impending transformation also emerged.

"After so many years in Beijing with good profits, I was reluctant to leave. Finding a new place where both life and business would be satisfactory was not easy," Li shared. She explored many wholesale markets in Tianjin, Shijiazhuang, and Cangzhou before finally deciding to settle in Gu'an.

Uncertain about the business prospects in Gu'an, Li was pleasantly surprised upon arrival. The various procedures for opening her store, such as obtaining business licenses and tax registrations, were conveniently handled at the service hall in Plaza 5. Renting a 160-square-meter shop came with free moving services, as well as rent and property fee reductions. "The savings in cash are more persuasive than anything," Li remarked.

To ensure merchants thrive, the Commodity City implemented a series of rental reductions and provided support services in transportation, housing, and logistics specifically for clothing industry merchants from Beijing.

Li's store has significantly upgraded since moving from Dahongmen. "Our store area is now four times larger, and we offer a much wider variety of clothing styles," she said. Due to its proximity to Beijing and convenient transportation, her original customers remained loyal, and she even gained new local clients.

"We've already stocked the first batch of spring clothing before the Lunar New Year, with over a hundred styles in-store, and more will arrive soon," Li noted. Some long-time customers now order online, and for clients in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei area, shipments typically arrive the next day.

Li's phone buzzes constantly with messages: inquiries about prices, style questions, new orders, and restocks. As the peak season for seasonal sales approaches, both new and returning customers are placing orders. Throughout the day, delivery and freight staff frequently visit her shop, keeping Li and her two employees busy.

The Commodity City also takes measures to help merchants expand their customer base. "They encourage merchants to set up online live streaming platforms, with some live broadcasts happening directly in the stores to attract customers to sales. I'm learning about live streaming too, hoping to boost both online and offline sales," Li explained.

Additionally, the Commodity City operates 10 free shuttle bus lines, providing one-hour direct access to 18 key areas, including Dahongmen in Beijing, facilitating easy travel for merchants. There are also over 300 routes for "bulk buying buses" that connect to more than 500 counties and districts nationwide.

Li Xuejiao (right) is verifying the inventory list. Photo by Men Cong.

This year marks the third year since Li Xuejiao moved to Gu'an, and her steadily increasing revenue reinforces her belief that her decision was correct. "Since relocating here, my business has improved. In 2022, my revenue grew by over 30% compared to 2021, and in 2023, it increased by more than 30% again," Li shared. Recently, a buyer from Northeast China placed an order for over 800 colorful tops, totaling 110,000 yuan.

Currently, Li rents an apartment in Gu'an, just a short drive of about ten minutes to the Commodity City. She admits that the cost of living in Gu'an is low, and her income exceeds what she made in Dahongmen, making her life more comfortable and enjoyable. "There are now over 2,000 merchants like me who have moved from Dahongmen to the Commodity City," Li noted.

As night fell, Li wrapped up her busy day and discussed her plans for the year: she hopes to expand her business further and aims to purchase a home in Gu'an.