August 8, 2024
BEIJING – In Chongqing, making fresh vegetables available on dining tables is just a subway ride away.
The unique Chongqing Basket Carrier Line has now ushered in a sequel — a dedicated bunker market for the farmers who take the subway to the city to sell their produce.
With the convenience of the early morning subway and now a stable selling venue, both farmers and citizens are benefiting.
The Basket Carrier Line had already captured wide attention from netizens with Metro Line 4 witnessing a stable influx of nearby villagers every morning, since Shichuan Station started operation.
The farmers carry baskets filled with vegetables and fruits and board the first train from Shichuan Station to the city to sell their produce. Over time, the subway line earned the nickname Basket Carrier Line.
Farmers living around Shichuan township can take Metro Line 4 to markets in Yuzui, Renhe, Guanyinqiao and other areas to sell their produce. To better serve the vegetable farmers in the area, with the support of the Shichuan township government in Yubei district, an enterprise decided to provide the underground bunkers it owned to the farmers as their selling spaces.
What is it like to buy and sell produce in the underground bunkers? Around 6 am, farmers take Line 4, transfer to Line 10 and arrive at the underground bunker market near the Hongtudi Metro Station. The market currently operates once a week, opening on Saturday mornings from 8 am to 11 am.
As soon as the market opens, it bustles with activity.
Farmers arrange their freshly grown vegetables, including green beans, leeks, chile peppers and fresh corn on stands, and are greeted by eager early shoppers. Calls, bargaining, laughter — it’s a symphony of daily life filling the air.
Unlike traditional open-air markets, the underground bunker market offers shelter for the farmers, providing a cool refuge in summer and warmth in winter.
It not only serves as a sanctuary for the farmers but also acts as a new urban landmark, inviting more citizens to visit and choose their produce.
“Rain or shine, I’m not afraid,” a farmer said. “We’ll come here every time; this place is just perfect!”
Many residents travel from other districts to shop here, finding the produce not only cheaper than supermarkets but also greener and fresher.