Foreign merchants ask questions about robots and intelligent glasses for taking photographs at the SOHO area of the commodity market in Yiwu, Zhejiang province, on Aug 23. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

Yiwu commodity market, the world's largest circulation and distribution center for small commodities, unveiled a new business area on Aug 23.

SOHO, which is short for "show office, humanized office", integrates a display hall, a training room, a book bar, a design room, an experience center and a business bar.

Combining display and work functions, it is a new business mode aimed at attracting high-end purchasers. Yiwu hopes to promote the transformation and upgrading of its commodity sector by innovating new market modes.

So far, 15 companies have set up operations in the 8,774-square-meter SOHO area. They have all found the platform to be good for sharing resources and win-win cooperation.

"By gathering companies to work together and integrating commercial elements, we also want to inspire the businesspeople to consider more innovative ways of operating their businesses," said Lou Yuanbin, a staff member from Yiwu commodity city.