I remember when we did the market research last
year, from recognizing present appearance of Luchou Market and interviewing
shop keepers to seeking historical evolvement of market, and seeking commodity
supply of market (checking wholesale price at Wanhua Fruit & Food Market in
the midnight, seeing bidding at Yilan Fishing Port and going along with the
shoulder pole group by train to experience the toils in selling squid rolls
from Yilan to Luchou), even in Tamshui Market and Taipei Songjiang Market
having similar ages to Luchou Market, we found that the growth of markets seemed
to have analogous comeliness and sorrow. Now let's listen to the people in
Luchou Market for their opinions on this market:
Former neighborhood chief:
Mr. Guo, the former neighborhood chief of Luchou
City Jenfu Li said that Luchou Market was mainly centralized around Yung Lien Temple and Da Chung
Temple having a not vast area in former times, there were a lot of mobile
stall-keepers doing business at the junction of present Desheng Street and Chengkung Road.
Current neighborhood chief:
Mr. Li,
the incumbent neighborhood chief of Luchou City Jenfu Li said that the market
has had 34 years of history. It is a private property, and there is a plan of
reconstruction, but maybe some conditions are not settled, so no plan can be
executed. At present, Jhunshan Market is being planned, the illegal
construction parts will be dismantled after June 2008 barring accidents,
pedestrian area and pageant stage etc will be built, and the ambience of the
market may well be designed as a street side cafe with Paris style.
Mr.
Li's family was very kind, Mrs. Li treated us to banana and mineral water, and
the neighborhood chief treated us to tea, we could ask for his help in case any
problems occur sometime. We
were full of expectations after heard the neighborhood chief's narration, and
we hope that Luchou Market can have a different appearance in the future.

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Mr.
Li, the incumbent neighborhood chief of Jenfu Li
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Mr.
Guo, the former neighborhood chief of Luchou City Jenfu Li
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Stories told by aged vendors
Luchou was a traffic artery in former times,
people living in nearby Sanchung, Bal, Wugu
and Hsinchuang would come here to buy food.
Whereas Yung Lien Temple was a place
assembling people at that time, where has religion where has people assembled.
Therefore, Jhunshan Market was started in 1950s. It was an outdoor market at
the very start, and vendors sold food by trolleys. Also, Jhunshan Theatre began
its operation.
The owner of Shuai Shuai Children' Garments Store
said, "There were a few people came to Jhunshan Market to buy food
formerly, so we pushed trolleys to the temple's gate to sell food."
Formerly
the market was four meters wide, any vehicle could not enter, because there
were really too many people here. Now the road is narrower due to shop keepers
of both sides moved their stands out, but people become less than before, so
both people and vehicles can enter the market.
Prospect:
We hope that Jhunshan Theatre can be a show hall, so that the children in
Luchou can have a place for performance, and no longer to perform by the road.
Also we hope Jhunshan Theatre can become a historic site.

Stories told by old customers
We asked some customers who came to Luchou Market
to buy food for their opinions on Luchou Market. Most of customers had a deep
sentiment for Luchou Market, they thought the biggest problem of the market was
the environmental mess and peripheral traffic chaos. However, most of customers
did like the goods in the market which were not only fresh but also not
expensive, so a lot of people have come to Jhunshan Market to buy food from
other villages and towns so far.


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