Entering the month of December, the taste of the year becomes stronger and stronger. Many business districts in Beijing have been dressed up to welcome guests. The festive "China Red" atmosphere has attracted many citizens to take photos and clock in, and a variety of New Year activities have also appeared. In the 2024 New Year goods, more national fashion and cultural and creative goods are added, and the consumer market in the Spring Festival is becoming increasingly prosperous. The New Year goods with good wishes are selling well.
The 28th Old Beijing New Year Goods Fair was opened recently, and a continuous stream of citizens came to the agricultural exhibition hall to "go to the fair". (Photographed by Pang Zhengzheng)
Wangfujing: "Elegance" is the first word in the market of Spring Festival
When you enter Wangfujing Street, you will be greeted with a strong taste of Spring Festival. Red lanterns and blessing characters are hung on the trees along the road, and merchants also put festive gifts in the most eye-catching position. Near the Spring Festival of the Year of the Dragon, tourists can participate in various cultural activities and immerse themselves in traditional Chinese culture.
In the atrium of Oriental Xintiandi Shopping Mall, there is a Spring Festival fashion and culture collection of "Dragon Rising East", and the first calligraphy and painting show shows many four treasures of study. "We made a special trip from Guangdong to Beijing to show you the art of Duan inkstone." Mo Shaofeng, a master of the four treasures of Chinese study inkstone making, is carving on the inkstone, gradually showing a lotus pond moonlight. "Spring Splendid Inkstone", "Sanyang Kaitai Inkstone"... Consumers can not only choose different shapes of Duan Inkstone on site, but also customize their favorite patterns.
In addition to Duan inkstone, Tanzhe purple inkstone and Rongbaozhai from Beijing also appeared on the scene, and some consumers brought home ink, paper and inkstone to write couplets and characters of blessing themselves. It is understood that many calligraphers will gather at the scene on the day of the eighth lunar month to write five types of characters, namely, seal character, clerical script, regular script, line and cursive script, and deliver the blessing of the Year of the Dragon to thousands of families. In this concentration of fashion and culture in the Spring Festival, a series of intangible cultural heritage experience activities such as costume fitting, rope weaving and bead stringing, paper cutting, as well as spreading, filigree enamel, woodcut New Year pictures, and Chinese knots will be unveiled in succession.
On the north side of the Oriental New World, the Shuxiang Market and Beijing's "gift house" have also added a lot of flavor to the Golden Street. People can not only choose calendar, refrigerator stickers, Chinese New Year hats and other new year cultural and creative products in various flash stores, but also buy all kinds of books to experience the restoration of ancient books. "I came to Wangfujing to buy the specialties I brought back to my hometown, and I selected many creative gifts." Mr. Sun, who is about to return home for the Spring Festival, said that this year's New Year gifts have more cultural connotations.
Chongwenmen: Guochao New Year goods are the most joyful
Spring Festival couplets, Fu characters and red lanterns, Chongwenmen business district is decorated with red elements full of New Year atmosphere. In the small square in front of the New World Department Store and Guorui Shopping Center, the New Year's Fair with the theme of "Chongwen Xishi · Guochao New Year's Fair" has opened. In addition to brand clothing, shoes and boots for discount promotion, the most popular items in the fair are various New Year's couplets, happy posters, lucky characters, Chinese knots, lanterns, etc.
In front of a small shop full of festival decorations, several citizens are selecting the characters with the dragon and zodiac and festival decorations. "In the Year of the Dragon, a series of dragon pendants like this are very popular!" said the clerk, pointing to the ornaments that were specially hung at the door. On the other side, Ms. Qin, a citizen, has just bought two couplets and some national trendy red envelopes and stickers. She is also holding the red thermal clothing, red underwear, underwear and socks she bought in the market. "The Year of the Dragon is my life year, and I'm going to celebrate it with great success!"
In front of the New World Department Store, there is also an outdoor corridor built to welcome the New Year. The classical door head, red beams and columns, and red lanterns in the middle attract many citizens to take photos here. Mr. Wang's family brought photographers to take photos of the whole family. Mr. Wang, who takes photos of his family every year, did not choose a studio in 2024, so he took a fancy to the Lantern Gallery.
The shopping mall is also a thriving scene. When entering the New World Department Store, you can look up and see red banners with festive words such as "Long Xing Da Yun" and "Long Chong Deng". In the underground supermarkets of shopping malls, more and more people are buying all kinds of nuts, candy, drinks, fruit gift boxes and Beijing specialty gift boxes. According to the salesperson, roast duck is still the first choice for shopping when returning home from Beijing for the Spring Festival, and its sales have increased significantly recently.
Sanlitun: art fashion is very fashionable
In the trendy landmark Sanlitun, all kinds of lighting art installations attract tourists to take photos. In every shop, Spring Festival decorations with elements of the Year of the Dragon can also be seen everywhere. "As soon as the little lights on the tree are hung up, the road will become more and more year-round!" The post-90s Xiao Rong is shopping with his friends, and they make an appointment to buy new clothes together.
Walking in the south area of Taikoo Li, a large red dinosaur sculpture in the window of a shop along the street attracted their attention. According to the salesperson, this is a work of art created by the sculptor Sui Jianguo, which is involved in life. Six red dinosaur sculptures are displayed on the scene, transforming the shop into an artistic space. The dialogue between art and fashion also attracts many young consumers who pursue individuality and creativity.
Not far away, an underwear store on Sanlitun West Street has become a thriving and festive atmosphere. Through the transparent glass window, visitors can see the whole row of limited gift boxes for the Year of the Dragon on the road. "I belong to the dragon. I happened to pass by shopping to buy a new set of pajamas for myself. It's a red hot year," said a customer happily.
Eating is indispensable to shopping. As the New Year approaches, restaurants in the business district are becoming more and more lively, and restaurants are also dressing up early. At 7:30 p.m. on weekdays, the popular restaurants on the third floor of Taikoo Linan District continued the grand occasion of ranking at the weekend. A long pink scale dragon sits on the ceiling of a Hangzhou restaurant, and many diners take photos and punch cards before sitting down. "This restaurant did not disappoint us when we got together with friends a few years ago." A table of diners said happily. (Ma Jinglu, Yang Tianyue)
