No place for dogs in new look Tongzhou

Guo Jishi is the co-owner of one of the shops in Liyuan dog market. [Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

Capital's controversial canine market finally closes as part of the city's ongoing transformation, Du Juan and Liang Shuang report from Beijing.

Under the summer sun, behind a sign on which the words have peeled off, only a few shops are still open. Inside, several dogs lie lazily, waiting to be fed.

The other shops are either abandoned, or their owners only available through the telephone numbers on notices stuck to the doors.

Further inside, wild grass is reclaiming the land where there used to be a market for pet supplies.

This is what used to be North China's largest pet dog market looks like now.

Officially named Dongfangxin Pet Paradise, but more commonly called Liyuan Dog Market because of its location, the market is located in Beijing's southeast Tongzhou district.

Now, only a dozen or so shops are still open at the dog market, as it is officially closed - the site is to be redeveloped as part of the government's grand plan to transform the district into an administrative sub-center and cultural district.

"Sometimes we can hardly sell one dog for a whole day," said Guo Jishi, co-owner of one of the shops still open in the market, told China Daily. "But it's low season anyway in the summer because it's so hot."

He said the owner of the market has been compensated for the proposed move and many of the shop owners actually moved out last summer, but some of the them got called back by the owner of the market as he claimed he hadn't received all the compensation he was promised.

"At least I'll stay here for this month as the rent has been collected," said Guo. "If they collect the rent next month then I'll keep on going, but we'll see what happens."

However, the remaining shop owners are fully aware that it's just a matter of time before they have to say goodbye to the place.

"I have been working and living here for more than 10 years since my daughter married and moved to this area," said a dog shop owner surnamed Li. "But I have my own dog farm and will continue the business when we move to another place."