Wholesale markets relocation suspected of population shifting  

北京多个知名批发市场迁址河北 被质疑外来人口分流

昨天，有消息称，北京动物园批发市场将因为规划的调整，迁往河北。一起搬家的，还有雅宝路、大红门等多家批发市场。中国之声记者今天到商贩中间，到顾客中间。对于即将"搬家"，他们做好准备了？[查看全文]

(ECNS) -- Shoppers and wholesalers are anxious about the possible relocation of several big wholesale markets in Beijing, considered to be a way for city government to manage the shifting population, CNR reports.

Rumors on Saturday said several markets, including Beijing Zoo Wholesale Market in Xicheng district and Da Hong Men Wholesale Market in Fengtai district, will move to Beijing's neighboring Hebei province.

Li, one of hundreds of wholesalers at Beijing Zoo Market, is worried about the rumor. "Once it moves out to Hebei, there won't be as many clients as in Beijing," he said, adding that he would just close his business and go back home.

A tourist surnamed Zhang said she would drop into the market every time she came to Beijing. "If it moves to Hebei, I won't go there," she said. "It's too far away."

Other customers there agreed.

It's not the first time that such a rumor spread, as it was put forward by Deputy Mayor Chen Gang in September as a way to reduce population density in urban Beijing.

Low-end businesses with a large migrant population have led to social problems such as pollution, traffic jams and security issues, according to a report by Xicheng District.

Banishing low-end businesses is part of the city's plan to upgrade industries, it said.

But experts suggested the government pay attention to individuals' interests and suggested a piecemeal approach.