Pudong New Area in Shanghai rang in the Year of the Horse with a retail boom, as holiday promotions and themed events drew crowds to its shopping areas.

Sales across Pudong's key shopping areas totaled 1.55 billion yuan ($225.5 million) between Feb 15 and 22, up 21.5 percent year-on-year. Retail spending accounted for 1.41 billion yuan, a 25.2 percent increase, while food and beverage revenue reached 105 million yuan, up 4 percent.

Three city-level commercial hubs powered the holiday rush. In the Lujiazui shopping area, nine shopping malls drew more than 2.18 million visitors, with sales up 27.8 percent year-on-year. The L+ Mall attracted shoppers with family portrait events and gold and jewelry promotions, while Shanghai No 1 Yaohan department store launched a series of Spring Festival promotions, offering discounts across multiple categories, including cosmetics and apparel.

The Qiantan shopping area recorded 155 million yuan in sales, up 19.9 percent year-on-year. At Taikoo Li Qiantan shopping mall, Pop Mart's "Twinkle Twinkle" themed exhibition drew large crowds, while its Spring Festival and Valentine's Day limited edition items became popular choices among shoppers.

The Twinkle Twinkle festive installation is on display at the Taikoo Li Qiantan shopping mall. [Photo/WeChat ID: pdnews]

The resort area generated sales of 786 million yuan, up 17.6 percent year-on-year. Bicester Shanghai Village rolled out a Spring Festival campaign featuring special gift sets and curated products from more than 200 brands. Shanghai Disney Resort launched its Spring Festival celebrations, with a holiday market at Disneytown bringing together traditional food, cultural experiences, and folk performances.

Beyond the flagship zones, seven district-level and community commercial centers observed a total sales increase of 12.46 percent during the holiday. The Chuansha shopping area experienced more than 50 percent year-on-year sales growth, while the Longyang Road shopping area recorded a 14 percent rise.