On February 18th, the top Qingdao New Year Festival, Turnip• Yuanxiao• Sugar Ball Fair, officially kicked off in Dabaodao Cultural Leisure Block, Shibei District. According to incomplete statistics, on the first day of the opening of the Sugar Ball Fair, the total turnover of the Dabaodao venue and the Taidong venue exceeded 21.19 million yuan. The total number of stalls in this Sugar Ball Fair is nearly 370. There are 16 sugar ball brand merchants with more than 60 sugar ball categories to participate in this event, with an average daily total traffic of 400,000 and a peak total traffic of up to 500,000 people.

The Turnip• Yuanxiao• Sugar Ball Fair has been passed down for hundreds of years as one of Qingdao's most important folk festivals during the Chinese New Year. The event returns after a 4-year absence, creating a lively festive atmosphere while the booming Chinese New Year consumption shows the new vitality of the historical area.

The Dabaodao venue will focus on local customs such as Chinese New Year folklore and intangible cultural heritage, bringing together lantern festivals, garden fairs, specialty bazaars, immersive light and shadow shows and other special events in the block, showcasing folk talent, bringing together various cuisines, and recreating the hustle and bustle of this traditional event in the Liyuan.

It is reported that the festival will last until February 25 (the sixteenth day of the first Chinese lunar month) and launch 4 major sections, a total of 43 thematic activities.

(By Yang Jiming)