(Yicai Global) March 7 -- The jade market in Ruili, a Chinese city bordering Myanmar that is known for being a major trading center for the green gemstone, has bounced back rapidly following the end of a 19-month local lockdown and the return of livestream vendors.

The Jiegao border trade zone in Ruili ended its lockdown last month, enabling people to return. About 30 percent of jewelry merchants, some 80,000 people, came back in early February, said Zuo Yunpeng, deputy director of Ruili’s industry and biotech bureau, adding that more are expected to return this month.

Nearly 30,000 of those who have already come back are doing business via live-streaming because in-person shoppers are still far fewer than before the pandemic, said a jewelry seller from Jiegao's jade market, one of China's largest jade wholesale markets, adding that online visitor numbers have almost fully recovered.

The ‘City of Jade’ is the biggest trade crossroads between China and Myanmar, accounting for 25 percent of cross-border trade between the two countries, with the jade business an important pillar of the local economy.

Using the internet helps to overcome Ruili's remote location, Kuang Shan, secretary general of the Ruili Gem and Jade Association, told Yicai Global. Merchants are very active in developing their live-streaming e-sales business, Kuang noted.

In 2018, the Jiegao Jade Market Live Base was set up using Taobao Live, with monthly sales peaking at about CNY500 million (USD72 million).

Nearly 80 percent of the market's vendors, which number in the thousands, have an e-commerce business, and one-third host live stream events, said Si Guangyang, the live base’s general manager. Between 50 percent and 60 percent of live sales anchors have now resumed work and production, Si said.

This year's target is to restore online sales to more than 90 percent of the pre-pandemic level, according to Li Yuechao, the general manager of a jade market trader.

On Feb. 15, with the support of the local government, Ruili Jade Industrial Belt signed a deal with Taobao Live on a series of policies to attract more livestreamers back to the city.

Editors: Shi Yi, Martin Kadiev