In China, a Quieter Lunar New Year Reflects Economic Strain and Unease

In China, a Quieter Lunar New Year Reflects Economic Strain and Unease

During what is traditionally the noisiest and most festive time of the year—the Lunar New Year holidays—many streets across China were strikingly subdued, residents say. From rural villages to Beijing’s busy shopping district, people across multiple regions in China told The Epoch Times that this year’s holidays were “unusually quiet.” They described that foot traffic was sparse, markets were empty, and firecrackers—once synonymous with the holi…