Thousands of bargain hunters yesterday flocked to Shanghai's Xiangyang Market in search of discounts on knock-off name brand products before the market's doors were finally closed as part of the city government's efforts to protect intellectual property.
The shoppers - about a third of them from overseas - were scrambling for counterfeit items ranging from clothing and handbags to watches and pirated DVDs.
Vendors were selling imitation Gucci, Chanel and Louis Vuitton handbags at two for 50 yuan, while fake Omega watches were selling for 30 yuan.
Located near Xuhui district's Huaihai Middle Road, the Xiangyang Road Garment and Presents Market attracted about 50,000 visitors a day during its six years of life. Its 2,000 or so vendors sold a combined 500 million yuan in goods each year.
Two years ago, the Shanghai government banned bootleg products associated with about 40 top foreign brands. Official orders to that effect were posted on the gates to the Xiangyang Market.
Zhou Jian, vice-director of the district's propaganda department, said the crackdown was one way to 'eliminate piracy at its roots'.
'The government is strongly determined to fight piracy. Protecting intellectual property rights is one of our country's strategies now.