Key malls see holiday spending up 4.8%

Zhang Yi and Yang Wenjie

JIADING District benefited commercially over the seven-day National Day holiday, reaping 1.08 billion yuan (US$152 million) at 21 key shopping malls, a 4.1 percent increase compared with last year.

Two new commercial complexes, Sunye Shopping Mall and the Blossom shopping center opened just before the holiday to help boost sales.

They met the needs of residents in Juyuan New Area because they did not have a commercial facility at such a scale before.

The top five malls took in 121.5 million yuan over the period, a 4.8 percent growth year on year.

Online shopping thrived. JD Mall, a major online retailer based in Jiading, had a 5 percent sales increase to 919 million yuan.

Spending on tourism, culture and leisure also flourished.

Exhibitions related to the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China attracted many visitors.

Movies such as “My People, My Country,”

“The Captain” and “The Climbers” were big hits in the season that got great comments and box office performance.

JD Cinema enjoyed bumper ticket sales, gaining more than 350,000 yuan during the holiday. “Ticket sales were 170 percent more than the same time last year,” a staff member said.

Other scenic spots such as Zhouqiao Old Street, Nanxiang Old Street and Shanghai Auto Museum had crowds of visitors. The main tourist attractions, including seven A-level sites, had about 287,000 visitors.