Chinese Lunar New Year triggers shopping spree in Beijing

BEIJING, Jan. 26(Chinese media) -- The worldwide financial

crisis has yet to dampen the shopping enthusiasm of people in Beijing, with

1,904 outlets recording a total turnover of 639 million yuan (about 85.2 million

U.S. dollars) on Sunday, the eve of the Spring Festival.

The sales volume is up 13.4 percent from the same

period last year, according to sources with the Beijing commerce information

center, which monitored the sales of the 1,904 stores.

The Caishikou department store topped the list with a

30 million-yuan turnover, a growth of 74.7 percent from the same day last year.

Beijing's restaurants also had a brisk business as

Spring Festival is a time for family reunion. Many of them have been fully

booked days before the festival.