地摊重启：疫情后的新风景
The return of street vending
邓晶 供稿
In order to revive the coronavirus-stricken economy, China is now promoting the idea of the ditan, or “street vending” economy. According to a recent speech by the Chinese premier Li Keqiang, street vending is the “lifeblood” of the country and a key source of employment in the aftermath of the Covid-19 outbreak.
为了重振遭受疫情重创的经济，中国正在倡导“地摊经济”。在最近的一次讲话中，李克强总理称地摊经济为“中国的生机”，是新冠疫情后就业岗位的重要来源。
After Premier Li’s high-profile speech to get people back into the traditional form of commerce, people have been spurred to set up street stalls nationwide. Snacks, clothes, accessories and even rabbits — Chinese are selling their wares on the street, on pavements or in the trunk of cars.
在李克强总理高调鼓励人们重返传统商业形式之后，全国各地的人们受到鼓舞，在街头巷角摆摊卖货。小吃、衣服、饰品甚至是兔子——人们在街边、马路上或汽车后备箱售卖各类商品。
Local residents have welcomed the reopening of roadside businesses, which often supply goods at lower prices. To office workers, eating and shopping at roadside stalls is also a good option when they return from work at night..
地方居民十分欢迎路边摊的回归，因为街头商贩的商品通常价格低廉。对于上班族来说，路边夜市也不失为下班后就餐和购物的一项选择。
In fact, street vendors were once seen as a symbol of backwardness and poverty, with many city authorities removing roadside stalls on the pretext of keeping the city clean and easy to get around. Although China is now restarting the street vending economy amid concerns about unemployment, some local governments and state media have dampened expectations of a large-scale return to informal street sales.
事实上，街头摊贩曾被视为落后和贫穷的象征，许多城市当局以维持城市整洁、方便交通为由清除路边摊位。尽管我国如今出于对失业率的担忧而重启地摊经济，但一些地方政府和官方媒体打消了人们对这种非正式街头售卖活动大规模回归的期待。
Beijing Daily, the official newspaper of the Beijing municipal government, said in a commentary that the “street vending economy” is unsuitable for the capital, and the city hasn’t relaxed its rules on street stalls. Other official media followed suit, arguing that there exist many problems including food hygiene and product quality.
北京市政府的官方报纸《北京日报》发表评论称，“地摊经济”不适合首都，并表示北京市没有放宽对街头摆摊的规定。其他官方媒体也纷纷响应，认为地摊经济存在包括食品卫生和产品质量在内的许多问题。
Street vendors are an integral part of urban economy, adding vitality to city life, but it meanwhile brings enormous controversy. To develop the street vending economy, health and safety regulations and urban planning should be taken into consideration. Besides, establishing street vendors’ organizations will help to legitimize this informal economy and to make innovative policies that will enable vendors to have a voice in city development.
街头小贩是城市经济不可或缺的一部分，为城市生活增添了活力，但同时也引起巨大争议。 发展地摊经济应考虑卫生和安全法规以及城市规划等问题。此外，建立街头小贩组织有利于这种非正式经济活动的合法化，并有助于制定创新性政策，从而在城市发展过程中赋予小贩发言权。
VOCABULARY
revive v. 复苏
street vending economy 地摊经济
high profile adj. 高调的
spur v. 鼓舞；促进
street vendor 街头小贩
legitimize v. 合法化