Lakeside market becomes rural entrepreneurship hub in Huzhou

The lively Youfeng Youth Market in Changxing county, Huzhou, Zhejiang province. [Photo/Tide News]

A lakeside market in Changxing county, Huzhou, Zhejiang province, has transformed a former wasteland into a rural tourism and entrepreneurship space, attracting thousands of visitors each day.

Located in Chendugang village, along the shore of Taihu Lake, the Youfeng Youth Market receives about 6,000 visitors daily during the summer season. The site began operating in the first half of 2025.

The 1.8-hectare market features 33 renovated container shops, housing 28 businesses run by 32 young entrepreneurs. The stalls cover coffee, cultural and creative products, barbecue, and travel photography, with youth-operated businesses accounting for more than 90 percent of the total. During peak periods, daily sales can approach 100,000 yuan ($14,828).

The project preserved more than 300 camphor trees and created four areas for lakeside leisure, container-based retail, forest camping, and performances. It also replaced scattered roadside vending with organized commercial spaces while turning previously underused collective and rural land into tourism assets.

The market is part of the Taihu No 9 Road project, a 99-kilometer scenic route that links lakeside villages, scenic spots, and businesses. Since its launch, the route has helped increase collective operating income in 16 villages by 4.71 million yuan, while encouraging young people and villagers to participate in local development.