Stock Up for the New Year! Unbeatable Prices! Taizhou's First Premium New Year Shopping Week Kicks Off

January 9, Taizhou Citizen’s Square was filled with a strong festive atmosphere as the city’s first Premium New Year Shopping Week officially began. Under the themes “Seek New Year Flavors, Discover Traditions, Shop for Goodies” and “Celebrate the New Year 2025 in Zhejiang,” the event brought together over 100 merchants offering attractive prices and high-quality products, drawing a continuous stream of shoppers.

“Value” Takes the Spotlight

What left the deepest impression on visitors was the outstanding value for money.

“Five jin of pork leg, please.” “I want the 3J cherries.” Right at the entrance, the Lingshi Pork and XianGuo Baba fruit stalls were already surrounded by eager shoppers, all hoping to get the freshest deals. “We price our cherries according to market rates—today, 2J and 3J cherries are 10 RMB cheaper than previously set prices. Feel free to pick with confidence!” said a staff member at the XianGuo Baba booth while swiftly packing orders. Thanks to its competitive pricing and high-quality fruits, XianGuo Baba ranked first in daily sales.

Not to be outdone, the Lingshi Pork stall also drew strong interest. “The black pork and white pork we’ve brought are top quality, and the prices during this event are much better than in our stores,” the stall manager confidently shared. A traditional “New Year Pig Blessing” activity also added to the festive vibe nearby.

A shopper, Ms. Chen, joined in: “Pork is a must for New Year’s feasts. The pork leg here is only 11.5 RMB per jin—even cheaper than the wet market.”

Over at the Tongkang Rice Wine booth, customers carried out boxes of rice wine one after another. “We always buy Tongkang—it’s great for hosting guests or enjoying ourselves. The prices here are much lower than in supermarkets,” one customer remarked. As a well-known local brand, Tongkang brought more than ten popular products, including Huadiao, Jiafan rice wine, hand-brewed rice wine, and distilled grain spirit.

One-Stop Shopping for All Tastes

The regional public brand section was also bustling with excited shoppers. “I’m surprised we can buy Xianju local specialties here—free-range chicken, native pork… my family will love these,” said Ms. Zhu, a local resident. Brands such as “Haoshi Linlin,” “Xian Yu Qi Yuan,” “Xiantian Sanmen,” and “Shenxian Danong” showcased a range of local products like honey pomelo juice, Wendan pomelo pastries, organic fruits and vegetables, and cured meats.

“You can tell these red dates are premium—sweet, peeled, and pitted. They’re a must for the New Year,” exclaimed Mr. Zhang while tasting red dates from Xinjiang’s Alaer. In the counterpart assistance zone, specialties from Alaer, Jilin’s Tonghua, Sichuan’s Langzhong, and Xinlong also proved popular, offering Taizhou residents a taste of diverse regional flavors without leaving the city.

The Saiwai Jiangjun stall became one of the day’s highlights, with a long queue forming for free lamb soup tastings. “Our lamb comes from Altay. We only use salt in the broth—no other seasonings,” the stall owner explained. The rich aroma of the simmering soup filled the air, and two dancers in traditional Xinjiang costumes performed, drawing even more visitors.

“Gifting health for the New Year is the way to go. Our Huoshan Dendrobium granules were selected for ‘Anhui’s Gifts’ and ‘China Tourism Commodities,’ recognized for their quality,” a representative from the Huoshan Dendrobium stall noted proudly. They offered a range of health products, including Dendrobium drinks, granulated beverages, and oral tablets.

From soft and sweet plum blossom cakes to fluffy Bai Shui Yang steamed buns and savory fried stuffed dough, a variety of hot, fresh snacks were available for shoppers to enjoy on the spot.

Beyond delicious foods, the shopping week also featured a wide selection of daily necessities and toys, such as Lexue’er electric warmers and stress-relief squeeze toys, making it a true one-stop destination for all New Year shopping needs.

Tech and Traditions Celebrate the Season

Several temporary calligraphy stations were set up where masters hand-wrote Spring Festival couplets. “I came early specifically to get a pair,” said Ms. Chen, carefully holding her new couplets with a happy smile. “This really brings in the New Year spirit.” On January 11, from 2 PM to 4 PM, a special couplet-giving event will be held.

Other traditional activities like making rice cakes, puffed rice, and non-hereditary sugar figure blowing also attracted crowds, immersing visitors in nostalgic New Year customs.

In the evening, the Taizhou Association for Science and Technology presented robotic dog demonstrations, drone displays, and an astronaut suit performance. These high-tech shows will run daily from 7:00 PM to 7:30 PM throughout the event.

Taizhou’s first Premium New Year Shopping Week features seven themed sections: Regional Public Brands, Common Prosperity Workshops, Counterpart Assistance Products, Local Snacks, Premium Goods, Trendy Souvenirs, and Traditional Custom Activities—offering something for everyone.

Shoppers who download the Wangchao APP also have a chance to receive gifts and cash red envelopes. The event runs from January 9 to 12, 10 AM to 9 PM daily.

Translator：Jiayang Lin