Traditional New Year fair brings festivity to Beijing

As Spring Festival draws closer, a sense of celebration is filling the streets of Beijing. The 30th Old Beijing New Year Goods Fair inaugurated at the National Agricultural Exhibition Center this week, attracting large crowds eager to shop for the holiday.

The fair brings together hundreds of specialty vendors from across China, as well as from overseas. Inside the exhibition halls, time-honored domestic food brands sit alongside regional specialties from Hunan, Sichuan, Inner Mongolia, Yunnan, Anhui, Guangdong, Tianjin and beyond. Smoked meats, cured ham, cheese, tea and traditional pastries are on display, with some booths offering free tastings to visitors.

An imported goods section adds an international flavor, featuring products such as Russian chocolates, Moldovan red wine, and New Zealand lamb. Bustling crowds, lively bargaining, and vendors' calls combine to create a vibrant holiday shopping atmosphere steeped in New Year cheer.

The fair will run through February 14, providing visitors with a one-stop destination to experience traditional festival culture and stock up for the celebrations ahead.