Market update

"When you come to the Shuangta Market, you can go to the eateries while watching art performances, and drink a cup of coffee whiling reading a book. This will completely overturn the traditional positioning of the farmers' market and become the best presentation of a mashup of market functions," says Zhang Jie, deputy director of Gusu district's economy and technology bureau.

The city's decision-makers are learning to grapple with the balance between the old and new on the premise of maintaining a clean and orderly city, and their effort in turn helps Suzhou to be seen by the Chinese a naturally ideal city, where the mist, rain and moist climate cultivates a culture and sweetness inclusive to all walks of life.

The Shuangta Market reconstruction project was initiated by the Gusu district's government, and constructed by Mingcheng Construction group. Shanghai-based Dragon TV's popular reality show Dream Transformer, similar to Marty Raney's Homestead Rescue on the Discovery Channel, is responsible for the filming of the project.

The capacious space, with its broad aisles and polished tile floor are impressive enough, whereas its internal layout features a properly functioning sewage system and market facilities, as if being in a big shopping mall. The grandmas and grandpas crowding the vegetable stalls are no longer the only guests. Young people, too, are enjoying the convenience, freshness and cleanliness-three of most important factors for them. Fruits, vegetables, meat and seafood stacked in a well-organized way by the merchants indulge customers with a refreshing shopping experience.

Besides the fresh produce, the market also offers the authentic taste of Suzhou, including dim sum, desserts, pastries, and a variety of cuisines. Long queues can be seen in the traditional snack area. A shop named "Laowanquan" sells mostly steamed, braised, stewed and hot brine snacks, "Dujialaosanzhen" specializes in cold and dry foods while "Mianjianyangchun" offers a variety of seasonal toppings of Suzhou style noodle soup.

Located in Dinghui Temple Lane, its completion took nearly five months but the market has since become an internet sensation and the talk of the town.