East China’s Jiangsu province has made every effort to revitalize economic operation through a variety of ways, as is evidenced by the sales promotions during the annual Lantern Festival.
In the Central Emporium in Nanjing, citizens were seen to guess lantern riddles and receive blessings, which made them feel the charm of traditional customs.
Li Lulu, Resident of Nanjing said, "Today, I happened to come to the shopping mall. There was a lantern riddle guessing activity. We guessed two lantern riddles and won a good omen for the New Year."
During the Lantern Festival, shopping centers across the province received a large number of customers. People went to visit relatives and friends and went shopping for parties, indicating booming consumer market and resumption of confidence.
In Xuzhou Hubu Mountain Historic and Cultural Block, the lanterns were shining brightly, and the citizens and tourists went to the market and tasted snacks, showing a strong festive atmosphere of the Lantern Festival.
Businessman in Xuzhou Hubu Mountain Historic and Cultural Block said, "This year's rabbit lantern is quite popular. I can sell for two or three thousand yuan this day. There are more customers and business is getting better and better."
In Nanjing Xinbai Shopping Mall Food Plaza, long lines were seen at the entrance of each restaurant, signaling that the recovery of the in-store dining.
During the Spring Festival, the province’s catering industry reported 13.03 billion yuan of retail sales, up 9% year on year.
Wang Chen, Director of Nanjing Xinbai Shopping Mall Food Plaza said, "From the first day of the year to the fifteenth day of the first month of the year, the food square received nearly 100 thousand people every day. One of the stores increased tenfold during the Spring Festival. Usually, its sales volume is about thousands of yuan per day. During the Spring Festival, the sales volume reached tens of thousands of yuan. Other stores also experienced explosive growth."
A duck blood and vermicelli soup shop in Yanling Lane, Nanjing, which has been operating for more than ten years, was filled to the full capacity while long lines were seen outside the shop.
Local Resident said, "We used to eat the soup and it tasted delicious. Today is the lantern festival,and everybody is in good feeling. So we took our child to come over here for the taste of the soup."
Pan Linhu, Restaurant boss said, "We witness improving business day by day, and we are feeling more and more confident. The spring of catering industry has arrived."
