As dusk falls on Zhengding county, an ancient town in Shijiazhuang, Hebei province, a daytime parking lot swiftly transforms into a bustling culinary hub.

The Zhengding International Commodities Night Market comes alive nightly with more than 600 steam-filled stalls offering regional specialties from across China, drawing crowds with its vibrant atmosphere and affordable street food.

"After dinner, we often ride our electric tricycle here. My sons love the super-long fries and durian cheese pies, while my husband and I enjoy grilled squid," said Wang Li, 42, a middle school Chinese teacher and mother of two, describing her family's weekly ritual.

"Right after parking near the entrance, we spot the durian pie stall. The aroma pulls us in immediately," Wang said.

They ordered one, thinking it resembled pizza, but the first bite surprised them — a crispy crust gave way to oozing durian pulp and stretchy cheese.

"Pure contentment! We circled back for seconds," she said, adding that she is amazed by the chance to taste specialties from across China in her hometown.

Wang said the market has operated for years, but the past two summers have brought explosive growth, giving locals more diverse and affordable options.

"Seeing our county's humble market trend nationally feels incredible. It proves just how expansive and delicious our offerings are," she said proudly.

Covering around 10,000 square meters near Zhengding Railway Station, the market has evolved significantly since its establishment in 2012.

"We started small, focusing on 'small stalls driving big livelihoods,'" said Liu Guangdi, chairman of the Zhengding Small Commodities City Group, which manages the market and a nearby wholesale-retail complex.

The area was originally an urban-rural fringe zone, Liu said. As rural residents returned home from city jobs, dense pedestrian flows created strong demand, drawing a growing number of vendors. To meet demand, the market installed streetlights, extended business hours and waived stall fees to attract vendors.

That development paid off. In April last year, the market went viral on social media, drawing more than 100,000 daily visitors at its peak. The number of visitors reached 3 million last year, creating 2,500 jobs.

The group spent 12 years studying markets nationwide, upgrading facilities such as underground wiring and supporting vendors, she said, but the viral boom from a single social media post still came as a surprise.

"The explosive growth was both expected and unexpected," Liu said.

Zhang Lei, who sells durian pie at the market, said quality drives the growth. "We use only fresh durian flesh and good cheese — no shortcuts. Families trust us," he said.

"It's impressively large and lively, with affordable food from across China, though I'd like to see more distinctive Zhengding snacks among the offerings," said Zhang Long, a Beijing resident who traveled to the town after seeing the market online.

The rapid increase in popularity brought challenges, including road traffic, mounting garbage and spotty mobile signals that hindered online payments and social media sharing.

"We immediately sought solutions, and the government provided strong support," Liu said.

Network providers upgraded nearby base stations, deploying 5G micro-stations to improve streaming and payments. The market added 50 cleaners and a 6-metric-ton mobile garbage compactor to maintain cleanliness until midnight, along with smart portable toilets.

A food traceability system, safety ledgers and rapid testing help ensure food quality. Mobile police stations and coordinated parking with traffic management help ease congestion.

The county is also leveraging its cultural heritage to promote nighttime tourism, integrating the market with scenic views of the ancient town's temples, architecture, light shows over the Hutuo River, and flower-viewing at Rongguo Mansion, a major scenic site. Free public parking and drinking water at key attractions aim to boost visitor satisfaction.

The Zhengding night market has become a case study on how local character, attentive service and cultural depth can turn a local market into a sustainable tourism magnet, according to a comment on social media platform Sina Weibo.

"In the future, the night market will continue to explore the integration of commerce, culture and tourism, injecting new vitality into the county's economic development," Liu said.

zhangyu1@chinadaily.com.cn