The Chinese Lunar New Year, also known as Spring Festival, is the most important festival for the Chinese. It's a time when families get together to eat, drink and be merry, among other things like spending lots of money, according to a survey results from the Social Survey Institution of China (SSIC) released on Monday.

 

According to Wang Xing, poll center director of SSIC, the survey was conducted in more than 10 cities in China, including Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Chongqing, Zhengzhou, Nanjing, Wuhan, Changsha, Shenyang, Harbin and Shijiazhuang. A total of 2,000 respondents participated through telephone interviews or questionnaires.

 

A time for travel

 

Because Spring Festival is still the most important festival in the year for most people, it is usually a time for a holiday. About 40% of respondents said they would visit friends and relatives; 34% said that they will stay at home; 16% have travel plans; 4% will work during the holiday; 3% will read, and 3% responded "Others".

 

The seven days of public holidays during this time also spell boom time for the tourism industry. According to the survey, for those planning to travel, 51% of them will choose group tours and 49% will choose independent travel. Many will travel within China. Of those who would travel out of the mainland, Hong Kong was the top choice.

 

Sending New Year greetings

 

The survey shows that 41% of respondents will send their greetings by SMS (short message service); 36% by telephone; 18% through house visits; 3% by e-mail, e-cards or Internet video; and only 2% will send greeting cards.

 

Spending money during Spring Festival

 

Spring Festival is typically a time when people spend a lot of money. About 21% of respondents said that they will spend less than 1,000 yuan (US$124) during the festival; 43% will spend between 1,000 and 3,000 yuan (US$124-372); 22% will spend between 3,000 and 5,000 yuan (US$372-620); 6% will spend between 5,000 and 10,000 yuan (US$620-1,240); and 8% expect to spend over 10,000 yuan (US$1,240).

 

What they're spending their money on

 

This was a multiple choice question and the collated responses showed that 41% of respondents will buy goods for the New Year; 37% will buy new clothes; 41% will give red packets; 67% will spend on entertainment and dining; 34% will buy gifts for friends and relatives; 16% will travel; and 14% will buy home appliances, furniture, mobile phones and other necessities which might be on sale during the festival.

 

Traditionally, family members spend their time together preparing the New Year's Eve dinner, regarded as the most important dinner in the year.

 

However, increased affluence over the years has given people a reason to dine out, which is slowly becoming the trend.

 

The survey shows that about 40% of respondents will dine out, and among them, 45% said that they will spend less than 1,000 yuan (US$124) on the meal, 24% will spend between 1,000 and 2,000 yuan (US$124-248), 18% will spend between 2,000 and 3,000 yuan (US$248-372), 6% will spend between 3,000 and 5,000 yuan (US$372-620), and 7% will likely spend over 5,000 yuan (US$620).

 

Gifts for friends and family are also high on the list of expenses for the festive season. 57% of respondents said that they would choose health products; 49% wine or liquor; 43% pre-packed gift boxes or hampers; 46% would give fruits; 14% local products; 11% cultural or culture-related products; 7% would buy clothes; and 16% would choose gifts which have a special meaning or buy something that their friends or relatives actually need.

 

Buying tickets to get home

 

Many of the respondents are people who have gone to the cities to work, and many go home to celebrate Spring Festival with their families. The festive season is the busiest period for airlines, railways and long-distance buses, and it is extremely difficult to get a ticket home during this time. About 53% of respondents complained about how difficult it was to buy tickets; 60% choose to take the train, and 65% did not agree with raising ticket prices during the festive period.

 

Yearning for a return to tradition

 

Some 63% of respondents said that the New Year has become tasteless and lacks tradition; 19% think that the New Year has become simpler and less complicated; 8% think that it is just an excuse to spend money; and 10% think that Spring Festival is now no different from the Labor Day or National Day holidays.

 

(China.org.cn by Xu Lin, January 28, 2006)