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Economic downturn fails to dent festivities

By Chen Jia, Xin Dingding and Xiao Changyan (China Daily)
Updated: 2009-01-24 07:40

Unlike in recent years, Beijinger Bai Meng did not receive any bonus from her boss this year.

A local resident shop for "festival necessities" for the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year at a supermarket in Beijing, January 23, 2009. [Xinhua]

But the researcher with an American-owned chemical firm in Beijing still said she would spend the last day before the Spring Festival at one of the capital's largest supermarkets and splurge on ingredients for the traditional family reunion feast on the eve of the Lunar New Year on Sunday.

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"The dinner on the Spring Festival eve is very important for every family member, and I will shop and prepare it myself this year," Bai, 26, told China Daily on Friday.

"I didn't get the bonus this year because of the global financial crisis, and that's why we decided not to celebrate in a restaurant," she said.

From supermarkets to shopping malls, Beijingers like Bai are busy with last-minute preparations to celebrate Spring Festival, even as the global financial crisis and job security loomed large with the ushering in of the Year of the Ox. Shops displayed red lanterns and ox-motif paper-cuts as customary decorations of joy and hope.

"We gave a 70 percent discount on some products and arranged various entertainment shows in the mall to attract younger shoppers," said a marketing manager at Joy City in Xicheng district, one of Beijing's main shopping areas.

"More than 200,000 people came to our shops at Christmas last year, and I expect the number to be much higher during the Spring Festival," he said.

Airports and railway stations across the country also remain packed, with travelers eager to return to their hometowns for family reunions.

Bo Changyin, a migrant worker from Mingguang, Anhui province, said he only managed to buy railway tickets that allowed his family of three to stand 14 hours on their journey home.

A boy frolics in front of a sculpture of an ox mascot erected in Ditan Park (Temple of Earth) as the park prepares to launch a temple fair to celebrate the Year of Ox. The week-long fair will start on Sunday. [China Daily]

"My boss paid me my salary yesterday. That is why we are leaving Beijing late," the 47-year-old said. He is taking home 20,000 yuan ($2,900) he saved throughout the year working on a construction site.

"I am thrilled to be able to arrive home tomorrow. My father is waiting for me and we six brothers will together celebrate his 70th birthday. Standing 14 hours on the train is nothing," he said.

Workers on Friday also prepared red lantern decorations for the Spring Festival Temple Fair at the entrance to Ditan Park in Beijing.

On the same day, sculptures, a roller coaster, ferris wheels and carousel will turn Beijing's Olympic Park into a sea of joy and fun for the holiday.

An area of 15,000 sq m in the forest park has already turned into an artificial snow world, where visitors can enjoy skating, skiing, making snowmen and throwing snowballs. Ten penguins from Qingdao Ocean Park will welcome visitors, who can also have their photos taken with them.

Besides the Bird's Nest and Water Cube, the grand Olympic Square between the two buildings will attract numerous visitors over Spring Festival with a grand carnival, covering 40,000 sq m.