Market vitality fueling growth, novel trends

BEIJING — While insufficient domestic demand remains a challenge, China has seen its consumption sector, a key driver of economic growth, unleash more vitality in recent months, with hustle and bustle in the market and new demand fueling and shaping trends.

According to the nine major tasks identified at the Central Economic Work Conference held in December, the foremost priorities for policymakers this year are to boost consumption, improve investment efficiency and expand domestic demand on all fronts.

From buzzing market activity and revealing economic data to evolving consumer scenarios, China's consumption dynamics not only reflect the pulse of economic recovery, but also highlight deeper structural transformations.

During this year's Spring Festival holiday, crowds flocked to ancient town scenic spots, restaurants were fully booked for New Year's Eve dinners, movie theaters were packed with large audiences, and home appliance stores saw customers lining up in significant numbers.

In Chaoshan area of South China's Guangdong province, more than 200,000 people were attracted to Yingge dance shows. Yingge is a type of folk dance that was listed among the first batch of China's national intangible cultural heritages in 2006.

Yingge dance is just one example of many cultural attractions that have become popular among tourists. According to data from Fliggy, a leading online travel agency, the number of tourists participating in "intangible cultural heritage tours" that include folk performances had increased by 36 percent year-on-year during the 2025 Spring Festival.