During the nine-day Spring Festival holiday, retail spending in Sichuan province showed strong momentum. On February 23, data released by the Sichuan Provincial Department of Commerce revealed that from February 15 to February 23, the integration of product and service consumption with supportive policies and refreshed shopping environments gave rise to new consumer trends.
New business formats and experiential settings flourished across urban commercial districts and specialty consumption venues. Cities throughout the province actively organized special holiday shopping events, where cultural elements and festive traditions merged, drawing large crowds. In Chengdu, Kuanzhai Alley launched a themed light exhibition blending digital technology, folk culture, and contemporary art. Tiezisi Water Street also hosted a variety of Lunar New Year activities recreating historical scenes. Other locations such as Wuhou Temple, Dong'an Lake, and the Expo Park offered immersive experiences combining temple fairs, lantern displays, and intangible cultural heritage.
In Mianyang, WanDa Mall and Parkson created one-stop consumption scenes integrating shopping, entertainment, and traditional customs. Zigong attracted visitors with lantern festivals and themed markets, while Ziyang and Guangyuan introduced nostalgic and eco-tourism activities to engage tourists.
According to official statistics, 411 monitored retail enterprises in Sichuan achieved sales of 2.78 billion yuan during the holiday, a year-on-year increase of 10.9%. Additionally, 120 newly developed consumption scenes attracted over 56 million visits, generating more than 4.6 billion yuan in revenue.
Government initiatives such as trade-in subsidies and invoice lotteries further stimulated spending. Trade-in programs for home appliances, digital products, and vehicles saw significant uptake, with subsidies totaling billions of yuan and driving substantial consumer expenditure. In Chengdu and Luzhou, invoice lottery campaigns encouraged spending by offering cash prizes, resulting in billions of yuan in additional sales.
Special efforts were made to cater to returning migrant workers, with over 170 promotional events and customized discount packages launched. Services such as recharge stations, shopping discounts, and specialty product bundles were well received. Products targeting elderly consumers, such as health monitors and massage devices, also saw sales increase by more than 40%.
Technology played a notable role in enhancing the festive atmosphere. Yibin, as one of the Spring Festival Gala's branch venues, drew visitors who used travel vouchers to purchase tech gadgets. In Mianyang, drone light shows and robotic performances added a modern touch to traditional celebrations.
With visa-free transit and improved payment convenience, Sichuan also saw a rise in international visitors. Chengdu ranked among the top destinations for foreign tourists, with Chengdu Tianfu International Airport handling over 60 international flights on the first day of the Lunar New Year. Festive activities like lantern festivals,非遗 displays, and snow tourism attracted numerous overseas guests, particularly from Southeast Asia.
Data from Fliggy indicated that Chengdu was among the top three preferred entry cities for international tourists during the holiday period.