Visitors enjoy urban nightlife at Santing Road in Yiwu, Zhejiang province. [Photo/zgyww.cn]

Yiwu in Zhejiang province has a large immigrant population and boasts various late-night business activities, including catering, entertainment and small commodity sales, local media reported on Sept 2.

From 6:00 pm to 3:00 am, many locals, immigrants and expats hit the streets and get refreshed at the city's night markets where they can eat, buy and play.

According to statistics issued by the municipal government, Yiwu has a total of 49 approved night markets, some of which have operated for over 30 years.

Santing Road houses the biggest night market in Yiwu, with 763 commodity booths, 33 late-night canteens, as well as three service stations run by the local government.

"The market was first expected to offer jobs for the unemployed but today has developed into the most popular late-night destination in Yiwu," said Lou Qiansong, a spokesperson for the administrative committee of Santing Road Market.

Nowadays, the booths and canteens at Santing Road receive 20,000 to 30,000 visitors, including about 7,000 expats, on a daily basis.

"With the visitor volume rapidly increasing, the night markets have become an extension of the Yiwu International Trade Market, attracting purchasers from India, Pakistan, Africa, and the Middle-East," added Lou.