The Ministry of Commerce launches the inaugural Silk Road E-Commerce Carnival for Spring Festival in Shanghai on Jan 22, 2025. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
The Ministry of Commerce launched the inaugural Silk Road E-Commerce Carnival for Spring Festival in Shanghai on Jan 22, aiming to boost consumption during the Chinese New Year.
The "Silk Road" e-commerce initiative serves as an international platform for trade and economic cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.
As part of the national Online Shopping Festival for the Chinese New Year Products, the event highlights three themes: Travel in China, Overseas Selling of Chinese New Year Goods, and Purchasing Chinese New Year Goods from Silk Road Countries and Regions.
During the carnival, consumers across China can access up to 10,000 overseas products from BRI countries and regions through online platforms without leaving their homes.
At the same time, offline markets in shopping malls and streets offer opportunities to use free tickets, coupons, free parking, and other benefits obtained through live-streaming events.
To attract overseas tourists, the carnival introduced dedicated travel routes showcasing Spring Festival culture across China. In Shanghai, these include iconic experiences such as the Yuyuan Garden Lantern Festival, the Bund, and night cruises along the Huangpu River.
China has also implemented tailored measures to welcome overseas visitors, including convenient payment options, luggage storage services, and multilingual menus.
Additionally, special group packages covering dining and hotel services during the Spring Festival have been launched for both domestic and international tourists.
Between 200 and 300 popular products have been selected for promotion in the overseas sections of leading Chinese e-commerce platforms, targeting consumers in Southeast Asia and nearly 20 countries where the Spring Festival is recognized as an official holiday.
In total, 20 consumption promotion activities — both online and offline — will be rolled out, according to the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce.
Shanghai unveils a series of consumption promotion events on Jan 22, 2025. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]
Major activities of the Silk Road E-Commerce Carnival for Spring Festival
1. Chinese New Year products Festival at Super Brand Mall
The themed activity at the Super Brand Mall will launch exquisite snacks, cosmetics, coffee, and many Southeast Asian products.
2. Free inbound trip offered by Trip.com
Online travel agency Trip.com will offer free half-day inbound trip integrated with characteristics of the Spring Festival during the Silk Road e-commerce consumption event period, allowing travelers to have a panoramic view of Shanghai, a city known for its mixture of local culture and modern style.
3. Global products available at Taobao
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd's online marketplace Taobao will put up a special section for Chinese products with the Spring Festival elements on its global website.
4. Spring Festival food list by Dingdong
Chinese online grocery platform Dingdong has launched more than 100 kinds of delicacies from over 10 countries at its select platform, along with a ranking of best-selling Chinese New Year products.
5. Online Chinese New Year products festival by the Hongqiao Import Commodity Exhibition and Trading Center
More than 700 products with up to 50 percent discount are available at the online Chinese New Year products festival by the Hongqiao Import Commodity Exhibition and Trading Center, a 365-day trading platform in Shanghai for the China International Import Expo. Among which, nearly 400 of them are special products from 17 countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.
6. Pakistan pavilion at the Global Hub
An event celebrating the Spring Festival with jewelry and handicraft from Pakistan will be launched via platforms, such as Chinese social media platform Douyin, by the Pakistan pavilion at the Global Hub of the Waigaoqiao Shanghai Pilot Free Trade Zone.
7. Year-end carnival by Greenland Global Commodity Trading Hub
A series of activities will be launched by Greenland Global Commodity Trading Hub together with the national pavilions in the hub, creating a one-stop shopping venue by offering more than 5,000 products from over 30 countries worldwide.
8. Chinese New Year products market by Benlai
An online Chinese New Year products market was launched by fresh food e-commerce platform Benlai, offering high-quality products from Silk Road countries including Italy, Spain, and Malaysia.
