Second-tier city now 'unrecognizable'

Ma Yaoyao, who works at an airport check-in counter, and her boyfriend Hou Fengshi, bought most of their furniture from Ikea in Chengdu. Photo by Wu Chuanming / for China Daily

Lu Zhiying has seen almost a revolution in China's retail industry in the past 30 years. The 62-year-old, who used to work in the finance department of a factory making heating devices, says the modern-day second-tier city of Chengdu is unrecognizable from its former incarnation.

"If I had come here shopping then, there would have just been one department store with a very narrow choice of products. There would be no service concept whatsoever. The products would often be locally made and of poor quality," she says.

Lu, who was shopping with a former work colleague Fan Xirong, 65, in Chengdu, says international retailers have had a major impact, particularly in the last few years.

"It is hard to describe the impact this has all had on people's lives. Modern supermarkets such as Carrefour have really improved everything."

In Yibin, the third-tier city south of Chengdu, many of the local consumers have been impressed by the rapid improvements in the retail market.

Lu Zhiying (right), a 62-year-old shopper in Chengdu, says foreign retailers have had a major impact in the city's retail market in the past few years. Photo by Wu Chuanming / for China Daily

Zheng Qiuying, 20, who is training to be a pharmacist, believes new retailers coming into the city have made a difference.

"There has been a wider and wider choice over the past couple of years. I often shop at Walmart and there is a great choice there. I think while retail might not be as advanced as in neighboring Chongqing (a major second-tier city which is administered by the central government), they are moving in that direction," she says.

Zheng is waiting for the day luxury brands like Louis Vuitton come to the city.

"I think that would be great. Just being able to look at their products would be great. I don't think I could afford to buy any of them though, although they might make an expensive present," she says.

Xiong Ting, Pang Ting and Wu Zhongjing, all 19, say they have developed European habits like many other young Chinese. Photo by Wu Chuanming / for China Daily

Ma Yaoyao, 25, who works at an airport check-in desk and who was out shopping in Chengdu with her boyfriend Hou Fengshi, also 25 and an Air China pilot, says European and international retailers have made shopping similar to many other cities in the world.

"We are no longer so far behind what is available in other countries," she says.

The couple have bought most of the furniture for their house from Ikea.

"We really like the modern look. It looks comfortable and warm. We don't like the old traditional Chinese furniture stores."

Pang Ting, Wu Zhongjing and Xiong Ting, all 19 and accounting students at a Chengdu vocational college, shop at the nearby French supermarket Auchan, and are like many young Chinese who have developed European habits.

"We go there to buy daily necessities but also to buy Italian food, which we really like," Pang says.