Shanghai energizes National Day holiday economy with diverse consumption options

Major commercial districts across Shanghai have rolled out a wave of trendsetting consumer experiences, including themed exhibitions, first-store openings and made-to-order retail scenarios, injecting fresh momentum into the seven-day National Day holiday consumer market.

At the Huaihai Road business district, an interactive water-sports-themed zone has been set up in the outdoor plaza, where a mini motorboat racing track lets visitors control model speedboats via remote control, navigating the course at full throttle.

Nearby, a bead-art workshop invites visitors to create their own designs, with finished pieces available to take home free of charge.

"I built a model of the Wusongkou Lighthouse. It took me about an hour and a half. The process was really immersive and I found it quite relaxing and therapeutic," said a tourist.

A limited-time color-space themed art exhibition has also opened to the public, alongside the debut of several Shanghai first stores from independent designer labels and new flagship outlets, delivering diverse and novel holiday experiences for consumers.

"It's very vibrant. A lot of people, a lot of actions happening. We've just actually started with this one, we are still going through the shopping mall," said a foreign tourist.

"During the holiday, foot traffic at our mall is up about 20 percent year on year, with sales revenue increasing 20 to 30 percent. Foreign visitors account for roughly 50 percent of the total, mainly from Europe and Southeast Asia," said Ren Zhi, general manager of Shanghai Bailian Yiteng Commercial Management, which operates TX Huaihai, a commercial complex in the district.

During the holiday, Shanghai launched a new global customization retail space, featuring bespoke Qipao, tailored suits, fine jewelry, beauty and wellness services, and intangible cultural heritage displays.

The venue also features popular, customized exhibits from previous China International Import Expo (CIIE) sessions, an iconic national-class event held annually in the city, bringing smash-hit products from the exhibition floor to mass consumers at more accessible prices.

"During the National Day holiday, we held a store-wide promotion offering discounts starting at 50 percent off, covering items ranging from Jingdezhen porcelain to custom-tailored suits from Shanghai, allowing visitors from around the world to experience the allure of Shanghai’s bespoke craftsmanship," said Zhang Zhenqiang, head of Greenland Bund Global Customization Center.

A shopping mall in Shanghai's Changning District coordinated with over 20 tenants, including restaurants and cinemas, to extend business hours and offered discounts and free parking at night.

"I went for a late-night hot pot meal at 23:30, and the restaurant offered a 42 percent discount," said a consumer.

"During the National Day holiday, we project a year-on-year increase of over 16 percent in total visitor traffic, with night market footfall rising by more than 40 percent and dining revenue growing by 30 percent compared to the same period last year," said Ding Zhongyun, commercial president of Shanghai Longemont Shopping Mall.

In addition, immersive light-and-shadow activities linked with adjacent shopping areas were also staged at the city's Jing'an Park, where visitors can get coupons and experience creative light-and-shadow installations.

Shanghai energizes National Day holiday economy with diverse consumption options

Cooperation and exchanges between China and Indonesia have yielded tangible results since the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road initiative was proposed 13 years ago, benefiting sectors from infrastructure to cultural exchange.

One of the major achievements is the construction of the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway, which links the Indonesian capital Jakarta with the city of Bandung in West Java Province. It has slashed the trip time from about four hours to just over 40 minutes.

As Indonesia's first high-speed rail line and the first in Southeast Asia, the railway has handled over 18 million passenger trips since it officially began commercial operations on Oct 17, 2023.

Along the railway, an industrial park is home to Wuling Motors Indonesia, a subsidiary of the major Chinese automobile manufacturer SAIC-GM-Wuling.

In the factory, more and more Indonesians are participating in different stages of vehicle production and assembly.

"When we first entered the Indonesian market, we mainly exported finished products. But now, what we export is technology, quality systems, and a full supply chain," said Yan Sui, head of the factory.

Young Indonesians working in various Chinese factories learn to operate advanced equipment, gain experience with new production methods and discover new career opportunities.

"At Wuling, I learned a great deal about automation, covering areas like conveyors, robotics, pneumatics and various mechanical and electrical systems. Technically speaking, I gained a lot of knowledge in Chinese factories," said Bintang, an Indonesian worker at the factory.

As bilateral cooperation among industries becomes more interconnected, so does the financial sector. Today, Indonesians traveling in China can use their own apps to make payments by simply scanning a QR code.

The two countries are also expanding cooperation in science and technology.

At Indonesia's Luban Workshop, a Chinese vocational training program, local youths acquire China's theoretical knowledge and experience, as well as practical skills they can apply in their jobs.

"Having able to have the device itself. PLC (programmable logic controller) and then able to learn how to design things in CAD (computer-aided design)," said Angga, an Indonesian university student.

The cooperation between the two countries also extends beyond the economy and technology sectors, into people-to-people cultural exchanges.

In August, the Chinese box-office hit "Dear You" was released nationwide in Indonesia, touching audiences with its historic diaspora experience and exploration of universal themes of displacement, nostalgia, and memories passed down through generations.

"This film is well worth watching for us, because it reflects the history of my parents' generation, a time from the past, and I feel very excited about it," said Chen Meizhuan, an Indonesian of Chinese descent.

China-Indonesia cooperation yields fruitful results across board