AT least 80,000 people showed up at the CITIC City Plaza for the New Year's Eve count-down party and bargain sales.

The Jusco supermarket was packed with shoppers from different countries and regions who spoke different languages and dialects. But they had one thing in common -- all were bargain hunters.

A marketing manager surnamed Chen who is with the plaza's management office said that the daily revenue for all the stores "obviously surged."

Dance shows at the Chuangjing Mingdian fashion store in Nanshan District on Thursday afternoon and at the Jiuzhou Department Store in Bao'an District on Thursday night also attracted tens of thousands of shoppers and onlookers.

The retailers offered attractive discounts and promotions and all reported more customers and increased sales.

It is estimated that more than 30 percent of the shoppers were visitors to Shenzhen with a lot of disposable income. The Sun Plaza, a department store in the Dongmen area which is about three kilometers from the Luohu boarder, said four out of ten shoppers were from Hong Kong.

While the mainland visitors favored brand-name home appliances, mobile phones cosmetics and clothing, their Hong Kong compatriots eyed food and high-end bedding, as well as appliances and clothes, according to the stores.

The shopping promotion will end Saturday and a concert featuring original songs by Shenzhen composers will be held at Shenzhen Stadium Friday night.

 
Editor: Wings