Railways, roads and airlines are seeing big crowds ahead of the Spring Festival. And shopping malls and supermarkets are also witnessing a surge in shoppers looking for goods ahead of the Chinese New Year celebrations.

At supermarkets and shopping malls, special sectors are catering to people who are seeking goods for the celebrations.

Gift boxes with time-honored speciality foods are as popular as ever. Snacks with wider varieties, and other treats, are all attracting the attention of consumers.

Zhou Jingtang, deputy GM of Xidan Shopping Mall, said, "Our sales volume in December rose 19 percent compared to one year ago. And from January the 1st to 12th, the sales volume rose 37 percent."

"Green food", such as organic fruit and vegetables, are enjoying increased popularity. In Xiamen's Farm Produce Expo, free-range ducks are selling well.

A vendor said, "We sold three hundred this morning, the company sent a hundred at noon, and they have been all just sold out. Even the ones with broken packaging have been sold. "

The restaurant business is also doing well. In one of Beijing's roast duck restaurants, all New Year dinners were reserved a month in advance.

Huang Yaping from Beijing Bianyifang Restaurant, said, "This year's sales are better than previous ones, we expect a 15% growth compared to a year earlier."

Big discounts and convenience also encourage many consumers to shop online. On the country's biggest online seller taobao.com, transactions worth 450 million yuan are being recorded everyday. Most of the sales concern food items, clothes and other goods related to the upcoming festival.

(CCTV January 16, 2009)