A Chinese-style pastry shop in 1970 Cultural and Creative Park. [Photo/Zhejiang Daily]

Located in the central urban area of Yiwu, the 1970 Cultural and Creative Park has been a hive of activity since it was converted from an old railway station a few years ago.

In the first quarter of this year, the park had a daily traffic flow of 5,000 people, a year-on-year increase of 50 percent.

One reason for this is the deliberate selection of businesses that can draw and retain customers for extended periods of time.

The Zhang Da Su Chinese-style pastry shop, for example, does more than just sell pastries – it also holds cake-making lessons, flower arrangement classes, tea art training courses, and other cultural activities from time to time.

Such businesses have been critical to raising consumption levels in the park, which has also held different kinds of markets to lure visitors.