Visitors throng to a shopping festival opening at Saishang Old Street in Hohhot, capital city of North China's Inner Mongolia autonomous region, on Jan 14. A New Year's shopping mall, a stage performance, a decorated lawn for taking pictures and a lantern-themed area have been set up. [Photo by Ding Genhou/For en.hhhtnews.com]

At the shopping festival, a woman checks out some gifts for the upcoming Spring Festival, one of the most important traditional Chinese festivals, which falls on Jan 22 this year. [Photo by Ding Genhou/For en.hhhtnews.com]

A lion dance is staged at Saishang Old Street in Hohhot, on Jan 14. [Photo by Ding Genhou/For en.hhhtnews.com]

A girl checks out some sweets at the shopping festival. [Photo by Ding Genhou/For en.hhhtnews.com]

Handicrafts in the shape of rabbits are displayed at the shopping festival, heralding the Year of the Rabbit. [Photo by Ding Genhou/For en.hhhtnews.com]