Sales boom points to more relaxed, happier Chinese New Year Wang Cong Published: Feb 04, 2021 07:08 PM Residents shop for Chinese Lunar New Year decorations at a market in Hefei, east China's Anhui Province, Jan. 30, 2021. (Xinhua/Huang Bohan) Around this time last year, China was brought to a virtual standstill by the novel coronavirus, with widespread business shutdowns and millions of consumers trapped at home. This year, cascading wave of people rushing to local markets and online shopping platforms to stock up on holiday products offers a vivid testament to the country's recovery from COVID-19 pandemic. As the Chinese New Year draws near, sales of everything from food to apparel to electronics to cosmetics have climbed significantly. Most notably, sales of recreational and fitness equipment, such as electric mahjong machines and jump ropes, skyrocketed, foreshadowing a more relaxed and healthy holiday ahead in stark contrast with the gloom last year.