Section 21: Sketch

"Jalan Pasar Lama" (Old Market Street) was one of the liveliest streets in Bahau from the 1960s to the 1980s. It was located in a narrow alley that was no more than 150 meters long, yet it housed over forty small and large shops. During Chinese, Indian, and Malay festivals, as well as during the grain exchange period in Yuanqiao (borrowing grains on the 7th of every month and returning them on the 21st), this street was teeming with people, creating an extraordinary atmosphere. Especially on the eve of major festivals, shops would often stay open until late at night, and on regular days, they would operate until around 8 o'clock in the evening.

Entering the early 1980s, the advent of videotapes and the rise of Hong Kong TV dramas had a significant impact on the entertainment market. As a result, many shops had to close early as people flocked to watch TV dramas. Simultaneously, the pace of development in the town was accelerating. However, the shops on Old Market Street faced immense pressure to relocate due to being built on temporary land contracts. Ultimately, in 1990, these businesses were forced to move to a hawker center. (Source: Fu Xiangyuan(符祥源)