A woman poses for pictures in front of a pig-shaped installation at a lantern fair on the second day of Chinese Lunar New Year of the Pig, at Wuhan Garden Expo in Wuhan, Hubei, China, February 6, 2019. Photo by Reuters/Darley Shen Domestic tourism during China’s biggest holiday generated revenue of 513.9 billion yuan ($76.2 billion), an annual increase of 8.2 percent, it said, citing the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Meanwhile, border crossings into and out of China rose 11 percent from the same 2018 period to 12.53 million, with Chinese residents crossing the border for personal reasons 7.22 million times, up 16 percent, Xinhua reported. The robust growth in domestic and international travel and spending over the Lunar New Year period, or Spring Festival, underscores the rise of Chinese tourism and comes in spite of a slowing economy. More than 6.2 million arrivals were recorded by border authorities during the week, an increase of 9.5 percent. There were over 6.3 million … [Read more...] about Travel in China grows over Lunar New Year holiday: report
Chinese lunar new year
Job jitters mount as China’s factories sputter ahead of Lunar New Year
Wang Zhishen was thrilled when Danish shipper A.P. Moller-Maersk (MAERSKb.CO) gave him two months’ paid leave, relishing the chance to spend time with his wife and daughters in China’s remote northwestern Gansu province. But his euphoria over what he thought was an unexpected bonus quickly turned to despair when Maersk fired Wang on January 3, less than a month after he packed his bags in the southern Chinese manufacturing center of Dongguan. Wang said he was one of 2,000 workers laid off at the company’s Dongguan transport container factory which has been idle since early December, as the impact of a trade war between Washington and Beijing ripples through industries from logistics to autos and technology. "I was sure it was a holiday," said Wang, 35, who said he worked as a painter at Maersk for nearly six years until he was sacked two weeks ago via China’s WeChat messaging service. Maersk, the world’s biggest container shipper, confirmed in an email to … [Read more...] about Job jitters mount as China’s factories sputter ahead of Lunar New Year
Skyscanner: Saigon high up on Lunar New Year travel favorites
There are only three weeks left for the Lunar New Year, or Tet, Vietnam’s biggest and most important holiday. Skycanner, a Scotland-based travel fare aggregator and travel metasearch engine, has come up with a list of the 18 best places in the world to welcome the Year of the Pig, stretching from Bangkok to Australia’s Sydney. Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam’s largest metropolis, has won plaudits from the travel site: "The streets in Saigon are beautifully decorated with lanterns, flower displays can be seen all over the city and you can enjoy special Tet treats such as banh tet." Bustling District 5, home to the largest Chinese community in Vietnam, is a place not be missed in the lead-up to Tet with Hai Thuong Lan Ong Street dazzling with the red and yellow of parallel sentences, hand scrolls, lucky money envelopes, and lanterns. On New Year’s Eve on February 4 the city will light up the sky with fireworks shows at six locations, including a high-altitude … [Read more...] about Skyscanner: Saigon high up on Lunar New Year travel favorites
5 destinations for Lunar New Year holiday in southern Vietnam
Ben Tre Province Cai Mon flower village in Cho Lach District, Ben Tre Province. Photo acquired by VnExpress Visitors to Cai Mon flower village in Cho Lach District in Ben Tre can see thousands of colorful flowers. With Lunar New Year approaching, locals hurry to harvest and sell various types of flowers. Therefore, in the final days of the lunar calendar a trip to the village can fill you with the New Year spirit and dazzle you with the beautiful floral scenes. Visitors can spend a day in some recreational complexes in Ben Tre and enjoy water biking, zip-lining, sailing, and fishing. Don’t forget to taste exotic tropical fruits like grapefruit, An Phuoc plum, Hoa Loc mango, coconut, and pineapple. The serene river scenes in this Mekong Delta province will help you forget your daily worries for a while. Can Tho City Ong pagoda in Can Tho City. Photo by VnExpress/Phong Vinh Can Tho is one of the most attractive destinations in the south of Vietnam. Despite … [Read more...] about 5 destinations for Lunar New Year holiday in southern Vietnam
Pagodas overwhelmed with pilgrims during Lunar New Year holiday
Around Town Pagodas overwhelmed with pilgrims during Lunar New Year holiday Nguyen Quy Monday, Feb 26, 2018,22:04 (GMT+7) Pagodas overwhelmed with pilgrims during Lunar New Year holidayNguyen Quy Visitors admire the unique architecture of the Lady Thien Hau Temple in District 5, HCMC - PHOTOS: HOANG PHONG The first lunar month is the busiest time of year at most pagodas and temples in HCMC as huge throngs of pilgrims are coming there to pray for health, wealth and good luck for the New Lunar Year. For centuries, many Vietnamese have kept the tradition of visiting pagodas during the first days of the lunar calendar to pray for peace and fortune for family. Famous pagodas in District 5 are always crowded with visitors. In particular, Minh Huong Pagoda where Quan Cong, an ancient Chinese historical figure, is worshiped for his loyalty and sincerity and the Lady Thien Hau Temple dedicated to Thien Hau, a traditional Chinese … [Read more...] about Pagodas overwhelmed with pilgrims during Lunar New Year holiday