More than 660 million yuan was taken in by 36 shopping malls in Beijing during the three-day May Day holidays, an increase of 20 per cent over last year.

The highest turnover came from the Caibai department store, the largest gold jewelry market with eight outlets in the city, took in more than 100 million yuan, a year-on-year rise of 47.6 percent, the Municipal Commission of Commerce said.

Sales by the 36 malls were tracked by Beijing Commercial Information Consultation Center, which is part of the commission.

Among the single malls, Shin Kong Place, Junefield Sogo Department Store and the New World Shopping Center recorded the highest sales in terms of revenue.

"With the sudden change in the weather, people were rushing in to buy summer clothes," Zhao Jing, from New World's marketing department, said. "Fortunately, we had most of

our summer garments on the shop floor when the holiday weekend started."

Zhao said women's clothes accounted for more than 30 per cent of sales, the largest part of the weekend revenue of New World, at Chongwen district.

"That's because we have three floors selling the women's items," she said.

Zhongyou Mall, in the Xidan commercial area, took in 15 million yuan a day, a rise of 2 million yuan each day compared with the same period last year, said Liang Lina, a marketing staff of Zhongyou.

"Though the sales revenue was up during the holidays, there was no rise in the number of people coming through the store," Liang said. "This means that individual purchasing power has improved.

"Feminine items such as clothes, cosmetics, shoes and jewelry contributed most to our revenue. With summer approaching, cosmetic products such as sunscreen lotions and creams are selling very well."

Wang Xin, a 24-year-old an IT company employee, said she likes shopping very much on holidays because all malls have promotional activities.

"Yesterday I bought a dress and a T-shirt art the Grand Pacific Shopping Mall and with the discount I received, cost me only 300 yuan," she said.