China announces online shopping event

China will launch a month-long online shopping event for festive goods ahead of the upcoming Spring Festival, occurring on Jan. 29 this year.

The initiative, spearheaded by the Ministry of Commerce and organized under the guidance of several government departments and the China Consumers Association, will run from Jan. 7 to Feb. 5.

A vendor shows festive products on line to a customer at a fair for Spring Festival on Jan. 30, 2024. Xinhua

This event marks the first nationwide online sales promotion following the inclusion of the “Spring Festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of traditional New Year” on the UNESCO Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity in December 2024.

The event aims to meet people’s consumption needs during the festive season, promote traditional Chinese culture and boost e-commerce sales.

A launch ceremony for the event will be held tomorrow in Jiujiang, East China’s Jiangxi Province, featuring a variety of activities such as displays of festive goods and exhibitions showcasing intangible cultural heritage.

Various Chinese regions and e-commerce platforms will arrange for special events in celebration of the Spring Festival, including local product promotions, exhibitions, and performances themed around intangible cultural heritage.

For instance, starting from Jan. 22, Shanghai will host a Silk Road e-commerce event to exhibit tourism products for visitors coming to China for the Spring Festival.

Throughout this period, there will be a sale of festive goods on global versions of various e-commerce platforms to cater to the requirements of overseas Chinese and international clientele. (Xinhua)