Market fair in east China city attracts influx of New Year goods purchasers as Spring Festival approaches

As Spring Festival, or the Chinese New Year, draws closer, a festive atmosphere is building on the Aoshanwei market in Qingdao City, east China's Shandong Province, attracting large crowds eager to shop for the holiday goods.

Purchasing Chinese New Year items is a cherished tradition among all Chinese people.

Every stall at the market is bustling with residents as sellers expertly pack their goods, creating a lively and vibrant atmosphere.

"Business is improving every day, with a growing number of customers for Chinese New Year goods," said Song, a retailer specializing in dried fruits.

Residents can find a wide range of goods, including food, antithetical couplets, lanterns and traditional Chinese costumes for kids.

"I saw a lot of delicious food, including marshmallows," said He Zihe, a boy.

This year, the Spring Festival falls on Feb 17, with the official holiday lasting nine days from Feb 15 to 23.

The Aoshanwei open-air market has a history of over 600 years and serves not only residents of Qingdao but also those from neighboring cities.

Market fair in east China city attracts influx of New Year goods purchasers as Spring Festival approaches

U.S. President Donald Trump said Monday that the U.S. military had used as many as 155 warplanes to rescue the second airman in Iran and was forced to destroy some cargo planes that got stuck to prevent them from falling into Iranian hands.

"We blew up the old planes," Trump told a press conference at the White House while focusing on details of the rescue.

The warplanes reportedly contained communications equipment and anti-missile technology that the Pentagon did not want Iran to seize.

The search-and-rescue mission was then removed by "faster, lighter planes," Trump said.

U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine told reporters that the U.S. A-10 Warthog downed on Friday was conducting a "sandy" mission -- positioning itself between the rescue force and enemy fire.

The aircraft was hit multiple times by Iranian fire, but the pilot managed to fly it out of Iran before ejecting over friendly territory, Caine said.

Trump says U.S. used 155 warplanes to rescue airman in Iran