"A small market reflects big livelihood concerns." Farmers' markets are a window showcasing a city's civilized image and a yardstick for measuring improvements in people's livelihoods.

　　Since the beginning of this year, Xuzhou City has carried out a collective "makeover" on 9 old farmers' markets in the urban area. At present, the renovated and upgraded old farmers' markets are not only neater and more attractive in appearance, but also more spacious and orderly inside, having transformed themselves with a glamorous "new look."

　　Currently, the Xuzhou Municipal Party Committee and Municipal Government have also formulated a project plan to complete the renovation and upgrading of 20 old farmers' markets between 2014 and 2015, with completion scheduled before the end of 2016. By then, the environment of farmers' markets in the urban area and the city's appearance will be significantly improved.

　　"Since the beginning of this year, a collective 'makeover' has been carried out on 9 old farmers' markets in the urban area. Because its hardware facilities were relatively poor, Dengta Farmers' Market became one of the first targets for rectification and underwent a comprehensive upgrade and renovation in May this year. The exterior of the market has been completely redecorated, with a new entrance sign installed; shiny floor tiles have been laid inside; stalls have been reclassified and rezoned; a complete drainage system and ventilation conditions have been set up; live poultry and aquatic products are sold in fully enclosed areas; and raw and cooked food are sold in separate zones," said a relevant person in charge from the Municipal Commerce Bureau. "At present, 6 farmers' markets—Dengta, Erqi, Ruifeng, Tianqiao, Yuanqiao, and Kuishan—have completed renovation and started operation. Another 3 farmers' markets, including Kuangxi and Xiyuan, are undergoing renovation construction, and the main construction is expected to be completed before the end of the year."

　　Starting this year, the municipal government has also included a number of neighborhood center projects in the annual key urban construction projects. Among them, the Qiaojiahu Neighborhood Center project has completed waterproofing treatment of the bottom floor, and the rebar binding on the negative first floor has been finished; pile foundation construction is now underway. The Jinshan Neighborhood Center project has completed changes to preliminary procedures, bidding, and foundation excavation, and is now carrying out foundation construction.

　　The Municipal Commerce Bureau, together with the Municipal Planning Bureau, has also revised the "Layout Plan for Farmers' Markets (Neighborhood Centers) in the Main Urban Area of Xuzhou City." According to the standard of a service radius of 1 to 1.5 kilometers for each farmers' market (neighborhood center) and 100 square meters per thousand people, 138 farmers' markets (neighborhood centers) have been preliminarily designated in the urban area (including Tongshan, Jiawang, Xuzhou Economic and Technological Development Zone, and the New Urban District). The site selection not only takes into account solving the problems of unreasonable distribution in the old urban area and the lack of farmers' market functions in some areas, but also coordinates with future urban development and considers planned site selection in advance, forming a scientific and reasonable network layout that will allow Xuzhou residents to enjoy better living services.