WeChat red packet users record new high during Lunar New Year holiday

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WeChat, a popular Chinese social media platform, reported a record high number of hongbao, or red packet, users during the Spring Festival holiday as mobile payments prevailed.

About 768 million people used the service during the holiday, an increase of 10 percent compared to the same period last year, according to the company.

The Chinese Lunar New Year is traditionally a time for family gatherings and blessings when people give red envelopes with cash inside to their relatives, especially the younger generation. This year's holiday ran from Feb. 15-21.

Someone from the east Chinese city of Nanchang was the luckiest user, receiving 3,429 red packets, while one generous user from west China's Chongqing Municipality gave 2,723 red packets.

China is the world's largest mobile payment market, with players like Tencent and Alibaba promoting use of their third-party payment tools to help turn the world's second largest economy into a cashless society.

WeChat data showed that Hong Kong became the most popular overseas shopping destination during the holiday, followed by Thailand and Japan.

Source(s): Xinhua News Agency