CRI听力:Night Markets Land in America

Every Friday and Saturday night, the Night Bazaar comes alive on Larimer Street in Denver.

The organizers describe it as an "authentic marketplace."

"It's kind of the new way to shop."

And so are customers.

"The only night market that I've been to is in China. They had snakes that you could taste the snake venom."

Night markets in China can be traced all the way back to the Tang Dynasty - over a thousand years ago.

Sometimes called night bazaars, they are street markets which operate at night, and are typically held in the open air.

They used to be limited to areas inhabited by ethnic Chinese, especially in Asia.

Traditional night markets are generally dedicated to more leisurely shopping, strolling, and eating than the more businesslike day markets.

But in Denver's night market, besides items such as food and drink, people can find a lot of other things too - even bicycle accessories.

James Unger's store is named Whiskey/Grade and sells apparel and accessories.

He said the Night Bazaar allows vendors to realize their dreams without too much outlay.

"This would be harder to do if we had to find our own building, or find our own space, and execute a long-term lease and all the other expenses that come with establishing a small business."

Visitors to this night market say it may be less exotic than the average shopping mall, but it is certainly more creative and personal.

The positive customer feedback encourages vendors like Unger.

"I think it's just a matter of time before these start popping up all over the United States."

The Night Bazaar opened last Autumn and is set to close at the end of March. After that, its organizers plan to try this new business concept in another place.

For CRI, this is Li Jianhua.