Although the world financial crisis has cast a big shadow on China's prosperous eastern coastal regions, companies in these areas are very likely to see the first gleam of economic recovery in 2009, according to experts.

Just two months ago, more than 60,000 businessmen in the eastern Zhejiang's Yiwu small ware town -- the world's largest small commodities market -- were tasting bitterness, as they faced declining foreign demand and fewer orders resulting from the global economic downturn.

However, the turning point came after the country's traditional Lunar New Year holiday in late January. On the first trading day after the holiday, the commodity hub witnessed 165,000 customers, representing an increase of 10 percent over the same day last year, and the businessmen there were expecting more customers.

Compared with the stagnancy of last year, the market regained its vigor as most of the trade dealers came to find business opportunities and increase their orders for commodities.