Spring Festival market kicks off in Qingdao

The Spring Festival market in Dabaodao area, Qingdao, East China's Shandong province kick off too much fanfare thanks to its many intangible cultural heritage displays and traders. [Photo/Qilu News]

The Spring Festival market in Dabaodao area, Qingdao, East China's Shandong province has kicked off too much fanfare thanks to its many intangible cultural heritage displays and traders, ringing in the upcoming Spring Festival, which falls on Feb 10 this year.

Over 200 merchants gathered in the cultural and leisure district in the northern part of the city to create a new immersive market experience featuring specialty foods, exquisite cultural and creative products, and folk performances, blending traditional customs of the Spring Festival with modern trends. A splendid dragon and lion dance performance attracted much attention.

"Here, you can eat, walk around, and check out an endless array of interesting stuff. It's perfect for taking photos and enjoying some leisure time. The atmosphere is amazing," said a student at Ocean University of China.

The market is expected to run for more than 40 days, concluding on Feb 25, spanning several important traditional festivals such as the Spring Festival and Lantern Festival. During this time, it is expected to attract many visitors.