Major retailers see sizzling sales driven by robust spending

Major retail groups across the country reported strong Golden Week performances with double-digit sales growth, signaling renewed consumer confidence and a rebound in retail spending.

China Duty Free Group said its six duty-free stores in Hainan province — including Sanya International Duty-Free City and CDF Haikou International Duty-Free City — welcomed more than 450,000 customers and generated over 800 million yuan ($112.16 million) in sales during the eight-day holiday period.

This strong performance underscores the ongoing strength of the province's duty-free sector, which remains a key driver of China's tourism retail market.

CDF attributed the surge to an influx of new brand launches and a slate of interactive cultural and leisure activities designed to enhance the "shopping + entertainment" experience.

The retailer rolled out numerous "first-store" debuts and brand pop-ups, including the premiere of the Care Bears Cafe, a DIMOO "Shapes in Nature" art exhibition and themed spaces by Gucci and La Mer at its flagship in Sanya. To attract younger and family-oriented shoppers, Haikou International Duty-Free City added interactive features. Diptyque made its first appearance at Sanya Phoenix Airport Duty-Free Store, while Haikou Riyue Plaza added experiential elements such as "gold panning for ingots".

"We made thorough preparations for the holiday peak, providing visitors with diverse experiences through product trials, themed pop-ups and gift programs," said an executive from CDF Haikou International Duty-Free City's operations department.

CDF said it will continue to pursue a "duty-free+" strategy that integrates retail, tourism and culture, while optimizing its brand mix and upgrading service experiences to sustain momentum into the fourth quarter.

Adding to this positive retail momentum, China's broader consumer market also showed solid growth during the holiday. According to data from the Ministry of Commerce, retail sales among key monitored enterprises increased by 2.7 percent year-on-year, reflecting steady domestic demand despite ongoing macroeconomic headwinds.

Luxury mall operator K11 Group reported a 23 percent year-on-year rise in overall sales across its portfolio on the Chinese mainland. Jewelry and gold categories were standout performers, climbing 45 percent from a year earlier.

Its newly opened projects — K11 ECOAST in Shenzhen and K11 Mall in Guangzhou, both in Guangdong province — became highlights of the week, said the group. The two K11 malls, celebrating their first National Day with a series of cultural and art exhibitions, generated a surge in sales of trendy toys of nearly 51 percent. The mall in Guangzhou saw revenue grow 47 percent.

Hang Lung Properties, another major luxury mall operator, disclosed its Golden Week results. Sales across Hang Lung's portfolio on the Chinese mainland rose 15 percent in the first four days of the holiday. Shanghai's Grand Gateway 66 posted a 50 percent increase, while Hang Lung Plaza in Wuhan, Hubei province, surged 70 percent. The latter's sharp rebound followed a weak performance last year amid intense local competition.

Analysts noted that part of the sales spike at Grand Gateway 66 likely came from new tenant Laopu Gold, whose single-store sales are expected to lead the mall's performance this year, according to the brand's interim results.