Lunar New Year kicks off, putting fragile Chinese consumption in focus

Eight-day holiday set to gauge effectiveness of expanded subsidies

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A shopping park on the outskirts of Shanghai is decorated with lanterns for the Lunar New Year. (Photo by Wataru Suzuki)

WATARU SUZUKI

SHANGHAI -- China's Lunar New Year holidays, which began on Tuesday, will offer a glimpse of whether recent efforts by central and local governments to boost consumption via subsidies are bearing fruit.

During the eight-day break, millions of people will be traveling to see their families back home or to visit domestic tourism spots. Long lines formed at railway stations toward the end of last week, as some workers took additional days off to return early.

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