Running a Stall at Hongqiao: An Italian Woman’s Pearl Boutique

Sophia, from Italy, is a young foreign stallholder at Hongqiao Market. During a trip to Beijing two years ago, she was captivated by the gentle luster of a strand of freshwater pearls and conceived the idea of selling Eastern pearls to customers in Europe. Opening the shop was easier than she had imagined. The market service desk helped her with the onboarding process, the international services window answered her questions about a business visa, and the partner organization liaison recommended a reliable translator. By incorporating European design into her pearl jewelry, Sophia soon built a base of returning customers. Today, she spends her mornings organizing stock and livestreaming, her afternoons welcoming buyers from different countries, and her weekends seeking design inspiration at the Temple of Heaven and in Beijing’s hutongs. Sophia says Hongqiao gave her a place to turn a passion into a business, while Beijing gave her a home where she could put down roots.