Shanghai launches two major consumption events

Shanghai is going to launch two major consumption events, the Double Five shopping festival and the Shanghai Summer international consumption season, from late April through October this year, in an effort to boost consumption on the course of forging an international consumption hub, according to officials.

The Double Five shopping festival, its fifth edition this year, would be held from late April until the end of June this year. The event of this year will integrate elements of business, tourism, culture, sports, exhibitions, goods and services, said Zhu Min, director of the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce during a news conference on Wednesday.

"Targeting to become the city's economic growth driver as well as an important platform for consumption and investment, the shopping festival is coming up with innovative measures to boost consumption, enhance high quality retail offerings, and improve business environments," Zhu said.

More than 1,000 activities are going to be held throughout this year's shopping festival, comprising the launch ceremony, the achievement announcing ceremony, 15 benchmark activities, themed activities hosted by Shanghai's 16 districts, among various other featured activities, said Zhu.

The 15 benchmark activities will include a nightlife festival, arts season, green consumption, an automotive consumption carnival, an imported products shopping festival, a digital life festival, a global food festival, a diamond and jewelries culture festival, a sports consumption festival and more.

With the closure of the Double Five shopping festival in end of June, Shanghai will launch a brand new consumption event called Shanghai Summer international consumption season which runs from the first weekend in July until the second weekend in October, said Zhu.

Giving full play to Shanghai's strengths in rich cultural and tourism resources, high quality products and services, international aviation hub, global cruise port, and convenient transportation of railway and roads, as many as 65 high quality events of concerts, music festivals, performances, cultural and art exhibitions, and major sports events will be held during the summer season.