[Vibrant China] Consumption in shopping malls has a strong "New Year flavor": restaurants have long queues and the gold consumer market is heating up

　　China News Service, January 16th (Zuo Yuqing, Zhongxin Finance and Economics) The Spring Festival is approaching. With the continuous optimization of epidemic prevention and control measures, people travel more and the vitality of offline consumption is gradually released. Major business districts are heavily crowded New Year package.

The business district is crowded with people, and the restaurant also queues up during non-dinner hours

　　On January 14, the day of the Northern Xiaonian, Beijing Xidan Joy City was full of passengers, and many shops lined up at the payment counters.

Among them, the restaurant business is particularly prosperous.

　　"After visiting the shopping mall at two o'clock in the afternoon, I wanted to find a place to eat, but I asked several restaurants, and all of them had to queue up for about 20 tables." A consumer sighed to Zhongxin Finance, "It took more than half an hour to find a restaurant. After waiting for another half an hour for a seat, it really feels like Chinese New Year.”

Customers queuing in a mall.

Photo by Zuo Yuqing

　　Zhongxin Finance noticed that from noon to dinner, there are many people waiting at the door of most restaurants in Xidan Joy City; some tea shops and dim sum shops also have long queues at the ordering places... accompanied by tables. The aroma of food rises, and the taste of the year becomes stronger.

　　To welcome the Spring Festival, many shopping malls held New Year's Day sales promotions.

For example, Chaoyang Joy City offered discounts on catering, gold jewelry, shoes, hats and clothing, and recommended a number of specialty stores; Small program collection card lottery and other activities; Beijing Huiju Center launched a variety of 1 yuan flash coupons, full discount activities participated by over a hundred brands, and launched free play experience activities for children, so that children can enjoy the joy in the New Year atmosphere.

Adding gold at the end of the year, the

　　Adding gold at the end of the year is a way for many people to look for a "good luck" during the New Year.

Although the price of gold has been rising recently, it has not stopped people's enthusiasm for buying gold.

　　In Caibai Jewelry Headquarters Store in Beijing, the gold buying area has continued to pick up over the past few days, and the sales staff are extremely busy.

Zhongxin Finance noticed that among the various people who bought gold, there were parents with children, old people with gray hair, and many young people.

People buying at the transfer beads counter of Caibai Jewelry Headquarters Store.

Photo by Zuo Yuqing

　　Among them, transfer beads are the most popular among consumers. There are layers of people in front of the counter, and it is difficult for the outermost customers to tiptoe and probe to see the exhibits on the counter.

The site had to temporarily build a shopping channel to guide consumers to purchase and pay in an orderly manner.

"I didn't expect to have to queue up to buy a braided rope with transfer beads." A mother with a child said that she bought a rabbit-shaped transfer bead for her child.

　　Also popular is investing in gold bullion.

Sales staff told Zhongxin Finance that compared with gold jewelry, gold bars are relatively cheap and more suitable for investment.

　　China New Finance and Economics observed that among all kinds of investment gold bars, gold bars with rabbit patterns are the most popular.

"After all, it is the Year of the Rabbit, and it is also commemorative while preserving value." A consumer told Zhongxin Finance and Economics.

The mid-to-high-end liquor market is picking up and the most popular

　　In the liquor market in 2022, inventory pressure has attracted the attention of the industry.

As the Spring Festival approaches, the liquor market is picking up again.

　　Zhongxin Finance and Economics visited and found that many liquors priced at 100 yuan are still in promotional activities for buying gifts or cash back.

A salesperson from a tobacco and alcohol supermarket in Beijing told Zhongxin Finance that there are corresponding discounts and promotions for liquor before the Spring Festival, mid-to-high-end liquor is more popular, and the market for high-end liquor is better, which reduces the pressure on liquor inventory.

In a supermarket in Beijing, Baijiu at a price of 100 yuan is still in promotional activities for buying gifts or cash back.

Photo by Zuo Yuqing

　　The recovery of the liquor market also appeared in low-tier cities.

　　The person in charge of a shopping mall in a low-tier city told Zhongxin Finance and Economics that the price of liquor has been stable recently, and sales have increased by 5% year-on-year.

"The main reason is that famous wines have boosted sales." He said that the current sales of baijiu priced at 200-400 yuan are relatively good, and the sales of high-end wines such as Moutai and Wuliangye have increased by about 12%.

　　It is worth mentioning that, in order to welcome the Spring Festival, many liquor companies such as Moutai, Wuliangye, Luzhou Laojiao, and Gujing Gongjiu have also launched zodiac wines for the Year of the Rabbit, most of which are sold in limited quantities.

Promote consumption and issue coupons in many places

　　In order to stimulate the vitality of consumption, various consumption coupons have been issued intensively in many places in recent days, and a series of consumption promotion activities have been launched.

　　For example, on January 5, Guangzhou announced that it will issue a second round of 10 million yuan consumer coupons to the public on January 17, with a valid period covering the entire Chinese New Year holiday; from January 6, Zhengzhou will successively issue 15 million yuan consumer vouchers for home appliances ; From January 10th to February 28th, Shenyang issued 100 million yuan of Chinese New Year consumer coupons; on January 11th, the second phase of Tianjin's "Jin Tesco" consumer coupon issuance activity was officially launched, with a total of 115 million yuan issued...

　　According to media reports, since December 2022, more than 40 cities have announced the issuance of consumer coupons, covering automobiles, catering, ice and snow sports, cultural tourism and other fields. Some areas have also proposed reduction or exemption of tickets for scenic spots to attract tourists.

　　At the same time, online promotion of consumption is developing simultaneously with offline.

According to the Ministry of Commerce, the "2023 National Online New Year's Shopping Festival" will be held from December 30, 2022 to January 28, 2023. The main venue of this New Year's Shopping Festival is located in Guangdong, and various supporting activities will also be held in various branch venues. .

All regions work together to bring consumers a variety of online promotions.

　　The lively atmosphere in the shopping malls and the strong flavor of the New Year are showing people a China full of vitality.

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