Hangzhou's consumer market saw robust growth over the May Day holiday, with total spending across wholesale, retail, catering, accommodation, and entertainment reaching 15.74 billion yuan ($2.18 billion), up 9 percent year-on-year.

Notably, retail spending surged by 28.4 percent to 10.71 billion yuan, boosted by a nationwide trade-in subsidy program for consumer goods.

District-level incentives further fueled large-scale purchases. Shangcheng district issued 20 million yuan in car purchase subsidies, while Gongshu district rolled out a 35-million-yuan package combining vehicle trade-in and new car subsidies, driving nearly 100 million yuan in sales. In Xiaoshan, 14 major car dealers reported total sales of 300 million yuan, marking a 46-percent year-on-year increase.

Retail upgrades were also seen across online and physical platforms. In Yuhang district, daily trade-in subsidies exceeded 8 million yuan, pushing holiday sales of appliances, electronics, cars, and furniture past 300 million yuan. Linping district logged around 4,000 daily orders and 20 million yuan in subsidies, lifting total sales to 70 million yuan — up 33 percent from usual levels.

Hangzhou's commercial hubs became hotbeds of consumption, blending shopping with tourism, culture, and technology. The Hubin commercial area alone generated 2.15 billion yuan in spending, while Qianjiang New City saw 5.37 billion yuan in sales, up 16.3 percent year-on-year. The Wulin and Wushan areas drew crowds with first-launch events and interactive exhibitions, registering significant growth in both foot traffic and sales.

Dining also rebounded, with revenue from local restaurants up 3.4 percent and foot traffic rising 4.4 percent. Promotional campaigns across malls and supermarkets kept the holiday shopping spirit high. Shangcheng district's voucher programs led to a 31.7-percent sales increase at Hangzhou department stores and a 17.5-percent rise in footfall at Sam's Club. In Yuhang, over 10 major malls reported combined sales of over 200 million yuan.

With strong policy support and vibrant consumer activity, Hangzhou's May Day economy demonstrated the city's growing role as a leading retail and lifestyle destination.