Xinfadi Market has a long history dating back to the 1980s, when it was a small wholesale market for fruits and vegetables. It quickly grew in size and reputation, becoming one of the largest wholesale markets in Beijing.
Located in the heart of the city, Xinfadi Market is a major hub for the distribution of fresh produce to restaurants and supermarkets. The market's strategic location and extensive network of suppliers have contributed to its success.
In June 2020, Xinfadi Market was at the center of a major COVID-19 outbreak in Beijing, with over 200 cases linked to the market. The outbreak was a significant concern for the city's health authorities and residents.
History of Xinfadi Market
Xinfadi Market was originally a graveyard that was leveled to create farmland in 1958, and the area was later renamed "Xinfadi" or "newly developed land".
The area was mainly used for farming due to its sandy, loamy, brown soil, suitable for planting vegetables.
In 1985, the Beijing Bureau of Commodity Prices decided to relax control of the prices of seven key agricultural products, including vegetables, which led to the establishment of roadside stands selling vegetables.
These stands eventually turned into a street market, with many farmers from outside Beijing joining in.
Local officials tried to drive them out, but a member of the Fengtai District Bureau of Industry and Commerce recommended establishing a wholesale market in the village instead.
Xinfadi Village Vegetable Company manager Zhang Yuxi decided to build the market, using wire netting to enclose one hectare and 150,000 yuan of funding in 1988.
By 1989, the area used by the market had grown to 1.7 hectares, and it continued to expand to nearly 7 ha by 1992 and close to 70 ha by 1999.
The market used low fees and simple procedures to attract customers, and on holidays they did not charge administrative fees, which contributed to its growth.
The number of transactions grew, and in 1996 the market's vegetable sales exceeded 1.1 billion kilograms, representing 40% of vegetable sales in Beijing.
The market's scope expanded to include eight categories: vegetables, fruits, grains, oil, meat, seafood, eggs, and condiments.
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In 2003, the market accounted for 60% of Beijing's vegetable trade, and it occupied 100 hectares by 2010 with transactions worth 36 billion RMB.
As of 2016, the market covered 121 hectares, including a "service area" with hotels, restaurants, and other establishments that serve the market.
A renovation plan was budgeted for $220 million in 2017, which aimed to reduce the market's area to 68 hectares.
Beijing Covid-19 outbreak linked to large market
The Beijing Covid-19 outbreak has been linked to the Xinfadi market, a large food market in the city. On June 13, 2020, the public health authority temporarily closed the market due to a COVID-19 outbreak.
Over 50 new infections were detected through mass popular testing at the market in week 20. Tourism to the capital has been curtailed as a result, along with sporting events. Cai said on 13 June that "We must ponder our pains, draw lessons from it, and always tighten the string of epidemic prevention and control."
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As of Sunday morning, at least 51 symptomatic persons and at least 50 asymptomatic persons, have been reported linked to this market. The Fengtai district where the Xinfadi market has been reported to have been put on a “wartime footing” to stop the epidemic.
Analysis from 40 environmental samples also tested positive for COVID-19, with one specific location in the Xinfadi market being a cutting board used for imported salmon. The salmon in the Xinfadi market came from the Jinshen Seafood market about 8km away in Beijing.
The source of this outbreak is unknown, as is the source of the Wuhan outbreak linked initially to a market. The spread of the virus in the Xinfadi Beijing market in June 2020, could have occurred in at least three ways: (1) Person-to-person; (2) Animal to person; (3) Both 1 and 2.
Eleven neighbourhoods near the market were put under lockdown to control the outbreak. Officials announced that they would arrange temporary stands to sell fruits and vegetables, so that produce would still be available in Beijing while the market was closed.
On 15 June, 27 new cases were reported in Beijing, bringing the city's total to 106 since the previous Friday. Lockdowns were declared in residential communities surrounding the market.
As of 20 June, the authorities had sealed off 40 communities in Beijing, and told residents "not to leave their homes to avoid cross infection". Dayanglu Market halted its retail business on 21 June.
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Market Operations
During the Spring Festival, Beijing's Xinfadi Market will keep 2,000 stalls open out of its 4,500.
The market has been bustling with activity as it hosts a Spring Festival-themed promotional fair that started on January 13. On the opening day of the fair, a staggering 105,000 metric tons of products were sold, with total turnover reaching 726 million yuan ($107 million).
To ensure timely supply, the market has procured fruits from major production areas in advance. Citrus fruits such as tangerines, sugar oranges, and red grapefruits have been particularly popular during this time.
Strawberries, durians, and cherries are the top choices on many people's Spring Festival shopping lists. These fruits are likely in high demand due to their seasonal availability and cultural significance during the Spring Festival.
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