Wei Jie claudiamente@hotmail.com SHEKOU hosted a lively flea market at the All City shopping mall Saturday afternoon, aiming to encourage both local and expat residents to take practical actions for environmental protection while fostering cultural exchange. The event coincided with World Environment Day, which is celebrated annually on June 5. Organized by the Shekou Management and Service Center for Expats (Shekou MSCE) in collaboration with Seashore Primary School and the All City shopping mall, the flea market attracted 40 local and expat vendors who set up stalls and sold a wide variety of items that they no longer needed, including books, toys, stationery, and handicrafts. Visitors stepping into the market were greeted by a vibrant “trading bazaar” atmosphere. Calls like “Only 3 yuan [US$0.42]! Come and take a look!” echoed from vendors. Enthusiastic students from Seashore Primary School volunteered as “young shopkeepers” to help promote the sellers’ goods, and their creative marketing efforts drew in curious crowds. Ana, a vendor from Romania who attended with her children, said, “I brought my kids here hoping to improve their communication and expression skills. We sold second-hand books, and many Chinese and foreign residents bought from us. We made many new friends, and the location was perfect. Thank you for organizing such a wonderful event!” Many foreign vendors introduced their products in entry-level Chinese, exchanging smiles and thumbs-ups with Chinese residents who warmly bargained back in simple English. Aparajitha, from India, added, “This is so meaningful. It was my first time participating in the Shekou flea market and I’m really happy to bring second-hand goods here. For the next market, I hope to bring even more items and contribute more to environmental protection.” Nicole Tao, deputy director of the Shekou MSCE, noted that the market showcased the power of the circular economy by turning idle items into valuable resources, thereby encouraging a sustainable lifestyle in the community. Separately, the Shekou campus of No. 4 Primary School of Shekou Yucai Education Group was transformed into a bustling marketplace Friday afternoon. Also in celebration of World Environment Day, students sold books, stationery, and toys at a flea market to raise funds for their peers in less developed mountainous regions. “I sold four boxes of scented ballpoint pens that I had specifically prepared for the event,” said a third-grade boy. “I bought a little crab at the market and donated the rest of the money I earned this afternoon, but I forgot to count exactly how much I made.” | 