Chongqing- Chongqing's New Year holiday witnessed the retail sales of 7.507 billion yuan (about 1.18 billion U.S. dollars), a year-on-year increase of 6.5%, among the main business districts, and key commercial and trade enterprises of the city, according to the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce Monday.

The domestic consumer market picked up

During the New Year holiday, highlights were seen in the consumer market of various regions, which demonstrates a steady recovery of the consumer market and a huge potential of China's domestic demand market.

Beijing

For instance, department stores, supermarkets, specialty stores, catering, and e-commerce companies monitored by the Beijing Municipal Commerce Bureau achieved sales of 3.89 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 18.8%.

The passenger flow of 52 key business districts in Beijing exceeded 16 million, a year-on-year increase of 35%.

Shanghai

The offline consumption payment amounted in Shanghai was 27.08 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of 12.8%.

Meanwhile, the total passenger flow monitored in 36 business districts in Shanghai reached 20.5 million, and the passenger flow scale has returned to about 90% before the COVID-19 epidemic.

Looking forward to 2022, as more measures to promote consumption and expand domestic demand accelerates, the consumer market is expected to pick up throughout the year. The role of consumption in stimulating economic growth will further be strengthened.

Rising enthusiasm in Chongqing's consumption

Under the local government's travel advisory of avoiding non-essential travel, city and surrounding tours have also become the first choice of Chongqing citizens.

During the New Year holiday, major business districts and commercial companies have launched diverse forms and rich content of consumption promotion activities to create a festive consumption atmosphere.

Among them, the sales of key large and medium-sized shopping malls in Yuzhong District increased by 13.2% year on year, and the sales of key monitored enterprises in Jiangbei District increased by 15.5% year on year.

Driven by various promotional activities, the retail sales of major commercial districts and key commercial enterprises in the central city area achieved steady growth, and the retail sales of the eight major commercial districts achieved a year-on-year increase of 17.6%.

Rural tour as a new tourism goal

Besides, in Chongqing, the New Year festive forms with hot springs, snow scenes, lantern festivals, and popular special catering were leading the upsurge of festival consumption.

The turnover of Chongqing's key monitored catering companies during the festive period increased by 10% year-on-year, while that of key monitored farmhouses in different districts and counties increased by 10.9% year-on-year.

Under the state of epidemic prevention and control, to avoid crowds, the Chongqing Municipal Commission of Commerce has carefully implemented the prevention and control measures in the business sector, where no COVID-19 epidemic case has occurred during the New Year holiday.

"I think driving away from the busy urban area, walking in the ancient town, and feeling the tranquility of nature sounds like a good choice," said Li Dan, a local resident who chose to set his location of the excursion in Dazu Rock Carvings and Wanling Ancient Town. "I did this to avoid urban agglomeration and congestion."

In addition to the bustling urban tourism, the leisure and comfort of rural tourism have also become a tourism goal pursued by the masses.

For example, Meixin Wine Town Scenic Area at Linshi Town, located in Fuling District, has welcomed more than 40,000 visitors on the first day of the holiday.