Wulin Road, located beside the West Lake, is a golden sign of Hangzhou's "night economy". As the peak of the first wave of the epidemic recedes, the alley, less than a kilometre long, is filled with neon lights and people. Although it is in the cold winter, it is steaming hot under the night of Wulin Night Market. In front of the stalls lined up with special snacks, jewellery and freshly cut portraits, stall owners are busy entertaining customers.

Zhao Xilong, 47 years old, has been setting up his stall at Wulin Night Market in Hangzhou since the second day of the Chinese New Year. The severely disabled man, with a burning degree of 95%, uses a palm leaf stem as a sinew and uses techniques such as buttoning, knotting, and interspersing with each other to weave leaves into animals such as grasshoppers, turtles, rabbits, butterflies, and frogs. These handicrafts woven by Zhao Xilong are vivid, wonderful and unique.

Zhao Xilong is introducing items to the customers. (Photo/Li Ping via Xinhua News)

"In October 2022, when I set up a stall in Longxiang Bridge in Hangzhou, the city management staff kindly advised me to set up a stall in Wulin Night Market, saying that there were a lot of people there and the government also encouraged that. After the night market management team learned about my situation, they not only exempted the monthly stall fee of nearly 3,000 yuan but also provided me with tables, stools and light installation for free." Zhao Xilong said. The warm help not only helped him solve the urgent problems but also helped him to take root in the Wulin night market in Hangzhou.

"My daughter is now a sophomore, and I believe that my life will be better and better if I set up a stall in this warm city," Zhao said he earns more than 3,000 yuan a month by weaving palm leaf handicrafts. The income improves the lives of his family and gives him something to look forward to.

Xiao Yijin, who has set up a stall in the Wulin night market for nearly 7 years, is a security guard. He works during the day and sets up a stall in the night market at night. It's always going from cold winter to hot summer. Xiao Yijin told reporters that it was nearly early morning when he returned home from the stall every day. Although a day's hard work made him physically exhausted, it was worth all the pain and tiredness to consider that setting up a stall with a monthly income of more than 4000 yuan would enable his family to live a better life.

Liu Xiaoqing, who once mailed her carefully woven hand-woven rope to Finnish customers, is an ingenious girl from Anhui Province who has been setting up a stall in the Wulin night market for more than 8 years. Through hard work with her husband, she bought a house and settled down in Hangzhou.

Liu Xiaoqing is selling items to customers. (Photo/Li Ping via Xinhua News)

"Although the night market is small, it can achieve the dreams of ordinary people." Liu Xiaoqing said that the Wulin night market helped rural girls like her realize their dreams of settling down in big cities. By setting up a stall in Wulin Night market, she has lived her dream life with her own hands and labour, so she cherishes every day of her business.

Wulin Night Market is a good place for tourists to relax and experience the local customs of Hangzhou, and for stall owners, it is a way to a better life. Wulin Night Market is opening a door for ordinary people to pursue a happier life with its openness and inclusiveness.

According to Ye Lianzhong, secretary of the Party branch and head of the management of the Wulin night market, there are 179 stalls of small vendors in the Wulin night market with a length of more than 300 meters. Here each stall owners have a story of struggle. "The night market is both an inclusive harbour and a stage to help them realize their dreams in life."So far, many people rely on the Wulin night market to gain a different brand new life.

People around are writing "Fu" characters at the Wulin Night Market. (Photo/Li Ping via Xinhua News)

It is learnt that in 2022, the management team of the Wulin night market voluntarily exempted 165 stall owners from more than 1 million yuan of booth fees, and set up 400000 yuan of hardship assistance funds to help more than 20 stall owners with difficult lives through difficult times. Policy support provides help and protection to stall owners.

This Spring Festival, the Wulin night market is bustling. These lively crowds symbolize the prosperous business of stall owners and the revival of Hangzhou's "night economy". There were many customers at each booth, some of them even in long lines. The stall owners were tired but happy, the busy figure of the stall owners reveals their happy mood. They jointly go to the simple and rustic dream in their hearts.

Translator: Liao Yiyi

Editor:Ye Ke, Liao Yiyi