Kyōbun

Kyōbun [孮潘; きょうぶん] are traditional Kantonese commercial districts, descended from historical marketplaces, which take the form of long streets closed to car traffic and lined with shopfronts, street stalls and small businesses. Local kyōbun cater to the needs of nearby residents with a diverse mix of speciality shops and few large retailers. However, large metropolitan kyōbun will often feature huge advertisements and a lack of small shops, their outlets mostly belonging to international foreign retailers. In many neighbourhoods, kyōbun areas serve as communal gathering spaces, holding festivals, processions and other events throughout the year.
Many older kyōbun developed along roads leading to a large shrine or temple. More modern kyōbun often connect to the nearest train or subway station, or other public gathering points such as large parks or landmarks. Most suburbs and towns of Kanton have kyōbun of varying size, and larger kyōbun may be located in shopping malls and complexes.
== Features ==
A neighbourhood kyōbun may be anchored by one or two large retailers (such as a grocery store or clothing store), however the majority of retailers are small shops which specialise in specific products such as fruits, vegetables, meat, books, clothing, antiques, furniture, housewares, or stationary, alongside specific services like barber shops, laundromats, printing shops, computer tech centres, tailors or dry cleaners. Restaurants are often close together, within a smaller section of the kyōbun dedicated to eating and dining. Public services located within or near to a kyōbun often include a post office or a small kaishi police station. In larger cities, more centrally-located kyōbun include more chain retailers, along with hotels, convenience stores, and leisure centres.