Consumers shopping at a retail store.

The “trade-in” initiative continues to gain momentum, as proved by bustling shopping malls and supermarkets, as well as surging social consumption. During this year’s National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, the reporter observed a diverse range of consumption scenarios in Liuzhou, where the real economy is thriving and the consumer market is brimming with energy.

Driven by the “trade-in” initiative, the sales of 3C digital products are on the increase. On October 2, at a digital product retail store on Donghuan Avenue in Chengzhong District, many consumers were testing and selecting products. Luo Xin, a staff member, said that with the launch of the new models of the brand’s smartphones, the store saw a significant influx of customers during the holiday. The brand introduced purchase discounts for new models which also enjoyed national subsidies, helping consumers upgrade their smartphones affordably through the “national subsidy + trade-in” approach. It is reported that many consumers have already placed orders for new models through online or on site channels, with some high-end models and popular colors falling short of demands. “Especially for best-selling models, consumers need to place orders in advance to secure delivery from other cities within Guangxi,” said Luo.

The “first-store economy” has added luster to Liuzhou’s consumer markets. Since its opening on September 30, Domino’s Pizza (China) has attracted a large number of diners in Liuzhou. A spokesperson from the brand noted that Liuzhou’s consumption potential and development prospects have drawn the brand to establish a presence. “We chose to open the store just before the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays, anticipating a surge in both tourist traffic and local dining demands, as well as a sharp increase in social dining scenarios among local younger clients.” The spokesperson explained that to attract customers, the brand had launched promotions through online social media and on-site collaborations with commercial property resources, while also offering store-opening discounts on the brand’s official ordering platform. Additionally, efforts were made to enhance interactions with younger clients, helping them better integrate into the dining social scene. “The bustling atmosphere of the store during the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holidays reflected the vibrancy of local dining consumption, giving us confidence in the future of the Liuzhou market,” said the spokesperson.

Local camping, which satisfies people’s desire to get close to the nature, relax both mentally and physically, as well as enjoy social interactions, is also highly favored by the residents. “We seven people only spent about 190 yuan to book the camping site. The organizers provided a tent, tables, chairs, and barbecue equipment—it was considerably value-for-money,” said Ms. Huang, a resident, who gathered friends for a barbecue and moon viewing at a camping base by the Liujiang River in Yufeng District on the evening of October 7th. She mentioned that she had made the reservation two days in advance to secure her preferred spot. It is reported that the camping base can accommodate up to 800 people, and all spots were fully booked that day. The camping trend has also boosted the demands for related services such as camping gear rentals, barbecue ingredient processing and delivery.

It is reported that during the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival holiday, businesses in some urban areas of Liuzhou, including supermarkets, accommodations and restaurants, further tapped into festive consumption potential by organizing immersive and highly interactive activities along with various promotions.