Millions of Chinese people return home to celebrate Lunar New Year

(CLO) On January 24, millions of Chinese people flocked to train stations and airports, carrying large suitcases and gifts such as fruit baskets to return home to celebrate Lunar New Year with their families.

Lunar New Year typically boosts business at stores, cinemas and restaurants as families gather, eat and shop.

To encourage spending amid a sluggish economy, the Chinese government has extended the official holiday from seven days to eight, the same as last year.

The government has also rolled out a number of measures to revive consumption, including promoting winter-themed holiday destinations and ensuring affordable airfares.

Other economic stimulus measures such as cutting interest rates, increasing basic pensions and expanding consumer exchange programs have also been implemented, but their effectiveness is unclear as many people remain worried about jobs and the economy.

Illustration: CN

Liu, a salesman in Beijing, said the real estate downturn and concerns about job security have made many people cautious about spending.

“It's getting harder and harder to make money and find work. There are more and more people unemployed and they all say it's getting harder,” he said.

Similarly, Qiang, a hairdresser in Beijing, said that the number of customers using hair dyeing and perming services during the holiday has dropped sharply compared to previous years. “We used to have eight to 10 such customers every day during this season in normal years. But last year and this year, we only had about two to three customers,” he said.

China’s Ministry of Transport expects about 9 billion trips to be made during the 40-day period around the festival, up from 8.4 billion last year. But some, like Nie, 57, are choosing not to return to their hometowns to earn extra income.

"If I stay in Beijing, I will get paid triple in four days, I don't want to give up the opportunity to earn money," said Nie, a 57-year-old woman who works at a sports center in Beijing. "I just started working here three months ago, I still haven't earned much money in 2024."

A positive sign came from the film industry, as pre-Lunar New Year ticket sales hit a record high of more than 400 million yuan ($55.24 million). The film "The Legend of the Condor Heroes" starring actor Xiao Zhan attracted great attention, bringing hope to the struggling film industry.

In addition, the demand for international travel has also increased sharply. According to Trip.com, the extended holiday has allowed many people to choose long trips with only two extra days of vacation.

Southeast Asia continues to be a popular destination, with ticket sales to Vietnam, Singapore and Indonesia increasing by more than 50%. Japan recorded a 58% increase, while demand to Hong Kong almost doubled compared to last year.

Hoai Phuong (according to Reuters, SCMP)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/hang-trieu-nguoi-dan-trung-quoc-do-ve-que-an-tet-nguyen-dan-post331859.html