Intime Department Store in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province [Photo/ zj.zjol.com.cn]

Hangzhou shopping malls regained popularity over the May Day holiday (May 1 to 5), with sales approaching that of last year.

According to statistics released by the Hangzhou commerce bureau, trade revenue generated by 28 shopping malls and complexes during the May Day holiday reached 346 million yuan ($48.82 million).

Officials said that the uptick in trade volume was due to the fact that many shops moved their sales online, and consumers had to turn to physical stores to buy luxuries as overseas purchasing channels were blocked due to the novel coronavirus crisis.

Wulin Business Area launched a series of activities to encourage consumption during the May Day holiday. 

Live-streaming promotional shows were a significant part of the activities. Many online celebrities were invited by shops in Wulin Business Area to help promote their products. 

Statistics show that online sales in Wulin Business Area accounted for nearly 30 percent of the total sales. 

Hangzhou shopping malls have also taken strong measures to control and prevent the epidemic. They disinfect the air conditioning systems regularly and have adopted ETC technology to check health codes and infrared thermometers to take visitors' temperatures.

Many consumers visit a shopping mall in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang province, during the May Day holiday. [Photo/ zj.zjol.com.cn]