Part 10/15:
The wave of closures has deep social repercussions. Small business owners narrate their struggles: some have invested hundreds of thousands of yuan, only to see their investments evaporate, leaving them bankrupt and destitute. Stories of entrepreneurs closing shop after years of effort reveal the harsh realities underpinning China's current economic climate.
In crowded shopping malls and streets, the decline is palpable. Foot traffic has sharply decreased, with some areas facing abandoned storefronts and empty shopping centers. Entrepreneurs lament the lack of customers, with some even jokingly suggesting the presence of "ghosts" as the only visitors.