The first working day after the long holiday. Bad weather doesn't stop people coming to the service center of the Shanghai free trade zone to become the first lucky ones to register companies here.

A man deals with formalities in the service hall of the free trade zone (FTZ), east China's Shanghai, Oct. 8, 2013. Some 260 people has applied for registration of companies within the FTZ on Tuesday morning. [Xinhua]

"We arrived here before 7 o'clock this morning. Although it rains so heavily, we want to get the first number to register in the window." Investor Sun Baohua said.

Since the pilot zone was officially opened on the 29th September, the heat among investors has continued and escalated. To encourage investment in the zone, the authorities have lowered the threshold and simplified the procedure.

"The service center has put the windows of taxation, industrial and commercial bureau and other departments all together. We don't need to go to different offices for stamping any more." Investor Guo Xiangyang said.

An officer deals with the application in the service hall of the free trade zone (FTZ), east China's Shanghai, Oct. 8, 2013. Some 260 people has applied for registration of companies within the FTZ on Tuesday morning. [Xinhua]

Setting up the companies is just their first step in making the most of the opening up policies here and cashing in these opportunities. And the authorities are also exploring new rules in the more market-oriented environment.

"We are now using the 'loose entry and strict regulation' policy. The registration of companies and entering market has become easier, but the regulating will be strict." Zhong Jia with foreign investment department of Shanghai Industrial & Commercial Bureau said.