CHONGQING (CQNEWS) -- Following the May Day Festival holiday, this Dragon Boat Festival holiday saw another boom in catering, entertainment, sales, and tourism. According to the news released by the Chongqing Municipal of Commerce on June 24, the Dragon Boat Festival holiday saw continuous growth in the consumption market in Chongqing. The China UMS data shows that the cumulative consumption amount in Chongqing increased by 12.2% year-on-year, a rise of 2.6 % over the same period in 2019.

Business districts

Thronged with visitors
“It took me 20 minutes to find a parking space in the garage and 30 minutes to leave the garage. I did not expect there would be so many tourists during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday,” said Ms. Chen, who is living in Jiangbei District and shared with us her experience of parking a car in THE MIXC in Jiulongpo District during the holiday.

THE MIXC is one of the popular shopping malls during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. More than 70 first stores of representative brands or new trendy brands in southwest China were opened in the north zone of THE MIXC on June 18, attracting numerous visitors. The shopping mall continued to heat up until the Dagron Boat Festival holiday, contributing to retail sales of 160 million yuan of the key enterprises in Jiulongpo District, with a year-on-year increase of 20.1%.

The Guangyinqiao business district in Jiangbei District is no less popular than THE MIXC. Jiangbei Commission of Commerce worked with the business districts in Jiangbei to offer a wide range of special discounts for consumers during the 618 shopping festival and the Dragon Boat Festival holiday. Data show that 15 key enterprises in Guanyinqiao achieved sales of 84.96 million yuan, up 12.6%; The sales of the 30 key enterprises in Jiangbei District reached 250 million yuan, showing an increase of 13.5%.

The Jiefangbei business district in Yuzhong District also offered big sales and launched activities during Dragon Boat Festival, contributing to a 39.4% increase in retail sales. Thanks to the opportunities brought by the first store of Nike Rise 1200 newly opened in southwest China, Yingli Darongcheng also contributed to a 94% surge in retail sales of the shopping mall.

The Dongyuan 1891 shopping mall, Landmark Riverside Park, Yuedi Shopping Center in Chayuan, Chongqing Department Stores, and VANGUARD in Nan’an District launched a series of activities to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, which effectively attracted lots of consumers. Sales of Landmark Riverside Park and Yuedi Shopping Center (Chayuan) showed an increase of 47.6% and 22.35% respectively, compared with the same period last year.

Data show that the key enterprises in the major business districts in downtown Chongqing reported a year-on-year increase of 18.7% in retail sales during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday.

Culture and Tourism

New modes and new scenarios boost consumption

In addition to business districts, tourist attractions in Chongqing witnessed huge crowds of tourists during the Dragon Boat Festival.

Chongqing Garden Expo Park launched a series of activities to celebrate the Dragon Boat Festival, such as gift winning, and perfume satchel manufacturing, allowing tourists to immerse themselves in a festive atmosphere.

The New China-Chic Workshop (Xinguochaofang) of Hongen Temple in Jiangbei District started activities with the theme of new Chinese fashion trends and the traditional festival, which brought an average daily visitor flow of 65,000 and an average daily income of more than 500,000 yuan during the three-day holiday.

Meixin Wine Town in Fuling is another travel hit in Chongqing, attracting lots of tourists with its Ferris wheel, the highest one in Chongqing. As of 18:00 on June 24, the scenic spot received 80,000 visitors.

Dragon-boat races are the most popular activity during Dragon Boat Festival holiday this year. Liangping, Changshou, Nanchuan, Tongnan, Rongchang, and Jiangjin have hosted dragon-boat races and attracted many citizens and tourists.

Catering

Long queues in some of the stores

Food and tourism have always been closely integrated.

A Chongqing resident, Tang Guanghua, came to Xianlongjing Hot Pot Park (in Nanshan) with his friend early at around 4:00 p.m. on June 24 for a purpose to enjoy a hot pot, the beautiful lotus flowers, and concert performances, only to find there no free table until 8:00 p.m.

"Any free table available?" "Our tables for the first round of customers have been booked up yesterday. Shall we reserve a second-round table for you?”

According to the store manager, the blooming lotus flowers and the daily brilliant shows have attracted many customers since this June. Over 300 customers booked a table in the store, the highest level during the three-day holiday. The sales increased by 30.7% compared to the same period last year.

During the holiday, all districts and counties in Chongqing launched over 80 preferential measures, such as consumer coupons and discounts. For example, Bishan released consumption vouchers of “Love in Chongqing, Have Fun in Bishan”, which brought consumption rise to catering and tourism businesses in the district. The first Longxi Fish Food Festival held in Liangping also offered special discounts to attract tourists and help increase the revenues of the countryside. (Translated by Yuki, Fathom Language Limited)