Jiangcun Poultry Wholesale Market in northern Guangzhou, China opened last weekend, according to New Express Daily. It is the largest of its kind in Southeastern Asia.

The market is located in Baiyun District, and covers 120,000 square meters.

(file photo/Yangcheng Evening News)

"Almost 1/3 of locally-consumed poultry will be sold here in the future," Mr. Tan, Director of Kwangfeng Company that runs the market. Currently the annual sales of poultry in Guangzhou is about 700 million.

There are over 200 stalls in the market, which is divided into 2 phases and the sales volume is expected to reach 200 million annually. The poultry to be sold cover a large variety of eatable birds including chicken, geese, ducks and emus.

Besides the poultry trading areas, the market is also equipped with an inspection & quarantine center, living area, commercial service area and parking lots. The market is also planning to establish an electronic auction center and banks.

At the market exit, there is advanced spraying equipment that specially disinfects vehicles to and fro. The market has been included in Guangzhou animal epidemic prevention system.

The market is the first in the industry in China that sets up a system that stalls take turns to remove all their poultries to clean and disinfect the stalls.

In addition, the market will also systematically mark and classify all the plastic cages to tell the poultry sources.

"The rent here is about the same as the other poultry markets in Guangzhou. But the merchandise prices are cheaper." A shopkeeper in the market said.