(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-03-20 20:09

After shutting the door for three days, a shopowner surnamed Xie re-opened his spacious hair salon on North Duosenge Road on Tuesday. "It is too boring to hide for days on end. I also have to make money to maintain the salon. It is a pity we have too few customers today," said Xie.

Not far from Xie's salon, three lads were unloading milk from a truck to re-stock the Sifang Supermarket, a place frequented by local housewives.

To the side of the supermarket gate, a peddler surnamed Li hawked a pedicab of withered bananas at half-price. "I stocked these bananas last week. I used to sell bananas for eight yuan per kilogram. Now I have to clear them as I was stranded at home these past few days."

At the Sifang, Hongyan and Baiyi supermarkets in downtown Lhasa, residents took their time buying fruit, vegetables, oils and other daily necessities, showing no signs of panic buying.

"No one seems to have come here to stock up," said Li Yan, administration manager of Baiyi supermarket, which resumed operations on Monday. "Customers and sales are a little under our average level."

Despite the fright and losses, damaged businesses have largely set out to rebuild.

"I have been in Tibet for 25 years, and Lhasa has become my second home," said Jia Fuqing, a business coming from east China's Zhejiang Province. Jia has sold children's clothing and toys in Lhasa for 23 years. Step by step, he has expanded his business into a four-story kids' supermarket, known as the Blue Shield, at the North Duosengge Road.

His market was burned last Friday. Garments and shoes were destroyed by fire on the first and second floors; goods on the third and fourth floors were damaged beyond use by smoke.

"I have lost about eight million yuan from ruined goods and the expenses to rebuild the supermarket," said Jia, counting on his fingers. "Anyway, I will not leave my second home; I believe in the government."

Tuesday morning, Jia bought six sets of roller doors and had them installed.

"My whole family is living in Lhasa. My child was born and raised here. I will continue business here. I do not have much money on hand to rebuild my market, but I will re-open it even if to borrow money," said Jia.

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