"Repair alley" becomes lively hub for neighborhood-friendly repair services in Tianjin

A technician repairs a home appliance at a shop in the "repair alley" in north China's Tianjin, Dec. 9, 2025. A "repair alley" established in June 2024 has become a lively hub for neighborhood-friendly repair services in Tianjin. In this dedicated zone, local residents have easy access to daily services such as knife sharpening, darning, locksmiths and watch repair. (Xinhua/Xu Jiayi)

A shopkeeper checks a sharpened knife at a shop in the "repair alley" in north China's Tianjin, Dec. 9, 2025. A "repair alley" established in June 2024 has become a lively hub for neighborhood-friendly repair services in Tianjin. In this dedicated zone, local residents have easy access to daily services such as knife sharpening, darning, locksmiths and watch repair. (Xinhua/Xu Jiayi)

A technician repairs a home appliance at a shop in the "repair alley" in north China's Tianjin, Dec. 9, 2025. A "repair alley" established in June 2024 has become a lively hub for neighborhood-friendly repair services in Tianjin. In this dedicated zone, local residents have easy access to daily services such as knife sharpening, darning, locksmiths and watch repair. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

A craftsman repairs a small wooden furniture at a shop in the "repair alley" in north China's Tianjin, Dec. 9, 2025. A "repair alley" established in June 2024 has become a lively hub for neighborhood-friendly repair services in Tianjin. In this dedicated zone, local residents have easy access to daily services such as knife sharpening, darning, locksmiths and watch repair. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

A shopkeeper (L) repairs a bicycle at a shop in the "repair alley" in north China's Tianjin, Dec. 9, 2025. A "repair alley" established in June 2024 has become a lively hub for neighborhood-friendly repair services in Tianjin. In this dedicated zone, local residents have easy access to daily services such as knife sharpening, darning, locksmiths and watch repair. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

This photo taken on Dec. 9, 2025 shows a view of the "repair alley" in north China's Tianjin. A "repair alley" established in June 2024 has become a lively hub for neighborhood-friendly repair services in Tianjin. In this dedicated zone, local residents have easy access to daily services such as knife sharpening, darning, locksmiths and watch repair. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

A cobbler repairs a shoe at a shop in the "repair alley" in north China's Tianjin, Dec. 9, 2025. A "repair alley" established in June 2024 has become a lively hub for neighborhood-friendly repair services in Tianjin. In this dedicated zone, local residents have easy access to daily services such as knife sharpening, darning, locksmiths and watch repair. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

A shopkeeper frames a calligraphy work at a shop in the "repair alley" in north China's Tianjin, Dec. 9, 2025. A "repair alley" established in June 2024 has become a lively hub for neighborhood-friendly repair services in Tianjin. In this dedicated zone, local residents have easy access to daily services such as knife sharpening, darning, locksmiths and watch repair. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

A craftsman repairs a watch at a shop in the "repair alley" in north China's Tianjin, Dec. 9, 2025. A "repair alley" established in June 2024 has become a lively hub for neighborhood-friendly repair services in Tianjin. In this dedicated zone, local residents have easy access to daily services such as knife sharpening, darning, locksmiths and watch repair. (Xinhua/Xu Jiayi)

A cobbler repairs a shoe at a shop in the "repair alley" in north China's Tianjin, Dec. 9, 2025. A "repair alley" established in June 2024 has become a lively hub for neighborhood-friendly repair services in Tianjin. In this dedicated zone, local residents have easy access to daily services such as knife sharpening, darning, locksmiths and watch repair. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

A shopkeeper mends clothes at a shop in the "repair alley" in north China's Tianjin, Dec. 9, 2025. A "repair alley" established in June 2024 has become a lively hub for neighborhood-friendly repair services in Tianjin. In this dedicated zone, local residents have easy access to daily services such as knife sharpening, darning, locksmiths and watch repair. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

A craftsman cleans a watch part at a shop in the "repair alley" in north China's Tianjin, Dec. 9, 2025. A "repair alley" established in June 2024 has become a lively hub for neighborhood-friendly repair services in Tianjin. In this dedicated zone, local residents have easy access to daily services such as knife sharpening, darning, locksmiths and watch repair. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

A shopkeeper (R) introduces cutlery to a customer at a shop in the "repair alley" in north China's Tianjin, Dec. 9, 2025. A "repair alley" established in June 2024 has become a lively hub for neighborhood-friendly repair services in Tianjin. In this dedicated zone, local residents have easy access to daily services such as knife sharpening, darning, locksmiths and watch repair. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

This photo taken on Dec. 9, 2025 shows a view of the "repair alley" in north China's Tianjin. A "repair alley" established in June 2024 has become a lively hub for neighborhood-friendly repair services in Tianjin. In this dedicated zone, local residents have easy access to daily services such as knife sharpening, darning, locksmiths and watch repair. (Xinhua/Li Ran)

A shopkeeper (L) introduces the details of repairing clothes at a shop in the "repair alley" in north China's Tianjin, Dec. 9, 2025. A "repair alley" established in June 2024 has become a lively hub for neighborhood-friendly repair services in Tianjin. In this dedicated zone, local residents have easy access to daily services such as knife sharpening, darning, locksmiths and watch repair. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

A shopkeeper (L) introduces a knife to a customer at a shop in the "repair alley" in north China's Tianjin, Dec. 9, 2025. A "repair alley" established in June 2024 has become a lively hub for neighborhood-friendly repair services in Tianjin. In this dedicated zone, local residents have easy access to daily services such as knife sharpening, darning, locksmiths and watch repair. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)

A shopkeeper crafts leather goods at a shop in the "repair alley" in north China's Tianjin, Dec. 9, 2025. A "repair alley" established in June 2024 has become a lively hub for neighborhood-friendly repair services in Tianjin. In this dedicated zone, local residents have easy access to daily services such as knife sharpening, darning, locksmiths and watch repair. (Xinhua/Zhang Cheng)