Cornering the market

Many are specialty finds, such as premium snow crabs from Japan, lobsters from Scotland and Canada, hilsa herring from Myanmar, Russian king crabs that weigh up to 4 kilograms, and more than 10 kinds of oysters from the US, New Zealand and South Korea.

Next to the seafood section is an open kitchen where waiters can directly send the fresh ingredients to chefs standing by to cook up customers' selections. Food lovers can round off the experience with a glass of craft beer or wine of their choice.

Despite the rise in popularity of online shopping in China, Liu says he is shunning online sales, since his main focus is to offer a relaxing "offline" experience to his customers.

Handicrafts are also an essential part of Hello Mart, and Liu has invited musicians and magicians to perform while artists sell their wares from booths in the flea market zone. There, customers can have wood carvings, leather goods and jewelry tailor-made for them, and enjoy the long-lost thrill of bargaining.

"In the future, we are planning to invite more intangible cultural heritage experts to set up booths here," says Liu.

He also plans to explore a variety of urban market styles, including a smaller-scale community version, an art museum-themed market presenting food as art, and a pop culture-themed market catering to the tastes of young urban dwellers.

Liu believes that a good urban market acts like a big house, where visitors feel as if they've returned home. The fruit and vegetable section is like the refrigerator. The food court is a kitchen and dining room. The art space serves as a study, and the children's corner is the living room where the whole family can have a good time.

Contact the writer at liyingxue@chinadaily.com.cn