Traders at Beijing's famous Silk Street market handed over 200,000 yuan (US$25,000) at the weekend to help hundreds of poor students.

The cheque was given to the Beijing Youth Development Fund (BYDF), a non-profit charitable body, at a special ceremony at the market called "Light of Love Shines at Silk Street."

About 1,000 girls, all children of migrant workers working in Beijing, will benefit from the donation, with each receiving 200 yuan (US$25).

Known as "mobile" children, they have been brought by their parents to live and study in local communities in the capital. Most of them are from poor families.

The collection was arranged to celebrate the first anniversary of the market running at its current location, said property developer Zhang Yongping.

Li Shuman, a clothes trader and one of the donors, said she felt good to be able to help those less fortunate than herself.

"Most of the merchants in Silk Streets are also from underdeveloped rural areas, so we are willing to give a hand to the children," said Chen Shuhui, secretary-general of BYDF, who went on to praise the market's contributions to good causes.

Last March, a primary school in Yanqing, in the suburbs of Beijing, was set up thanks to the financial support of 200,000 yuan (US$25,000) given by the market.

Shoppers at the market praised the traders' charitable efforts.

"Giving something back to the community deserves public respect I really appreciate their generous offer to the needy," said Frank Mehnert, CEO of a US-based trade company. He is a frequent visitor to the market.

Home to more than 1,000 stalls selling clothes, shoes, bags, silk, tea and traditional Chinese handicrafts, Silk Street aims to showcase traditional Chinese commodity and culture to the world, and be a fashion leader for domestic consumers.

It opened in 1982 as an open air market, when local Beijingers began selling clothes.

(China Daily March 20, 2006)