Photos: The last days of Tongchuan Lu Marine Market

In February this year, rumours began to spread online that Tongchuan Lu Marine Market was set to close. These stories were eventually confirmed and whilst local government officials have said the market won't close until October, vendors have already started moving over to a new site in Putuo.

The original market, which features all manner of seafood at rows of stalls stretching along both sides of Tongchuan Lu, has been under threat for a while, especially since the adjacent Caoyang Fruit Market’s closure was announced late last year. As authorities look to sanitise Shanghai’s market experience, it seems the Marine Market has paid the price for its somewhat ramshackle appearance and layout – with fish tanks (sometimes literally) spilling out onto the surrounding streets.

Xue Jinxia, crab seller

‘I opened this shop with my sister and we’ve been here for 20 years. Our store is open 24 hours. Now there’s not many people but when it gets busy, it gets really busy; the latter half of the year is the peak season. The stocks are low at the moment, but when autumn comes, trade is brisk. Our husbands are with the other men playing cards at the moment, which they do every day. They have nothing to do. Men are different from women; they don’t deal with spare time as well as us.’

Mrs Xue's crabs. The peak season for crabs only comes in autumn.

Lu Zhengbin, store owner

‘The closure is inevitable really. The authorities are looking to redevelop Shanghai into a modern city so a place as old as this only has one way to go. It would be too much to say that I am sad, but sentimental yes. I’ve run my business here for such a long time, since Tongchuan Market opened in 1996. I’ll be moving to the new location, but leaving this place… missing the people here and this neighbourhood is unavoidable.’

Cao Yunsheng, long-time customer of Mr Lu

‘I’ve been coming here for over a decade; I come here almost every day. We are all friends here in this market. Without a doubt I’ll go to the new spot when everyone moves there.’

Mr Lu's two daughters help out in his shop every day.

Mr Yue Guang Fei just caught a tortise with his friends at the river.

'We just caught a tortoise! Do you want to see it? We waited for one week to see it again. Don’t worry we are not going to eat it. We’re keeping it as a pet.'

Mr Yue with his friend Mr Hao, who sells nuts and fruits every day at the market.

Yu Yong, store owner

‘I’ve worked here for more than ten years now, but am I sad about the market closing? Nah! I’m a strong man.'