A girl shows New Year decorations in the shape of ox at a wholesale market in Beijing, capital of China, Jan. 3, 2009. As the Chinese lunar New Year approaches, Spring Festival decorations are becoming popular. The Chinese lunar New Year will start from Jan. 26 this year. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

      BEIJING, Jan. 3 (Xinhua) -- The sales revenue of commodities in Beijing in the three-day New Year holiday is expected to see a 16 percent growth over the same period last year.

    Based on a sample survey on 2,300 shops of 101 enterprises in the capital, the sales revenue is estimated at 1.08 billion yuan (158 million U.S. dollars) from Thursday through Saturday, according to the city's commercial information consultation center.

    The center said several major shopping malls saw sales revenue up 33 percent to 65 percent.

    It said business revenue of the 242 outlets of 36 major restaurants in the three days was up 17 percent over the same period last year.

A woman buys ox-shaped New Year decorations at a shopping mall in Zaozhuang, east China's Shandong Province, Jan. 3, 2009. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>