The Lunar New Year is more than just an important occasion when the entire family reunites – it is also the most expensive event of the year for some Chinese While many Chinese would complain about having eaten too much during the Lunar New Year holidays – feasting is after all a key part of the festivities – others would lament about how their wallets have drastically lost weight. Latest data by China’s Ministry of Commerce shows that retailers and restaurants across the nation generated about 840 billion yuan in revenue, up 11.4 percent year-on-year, during the seven-day Chinese New Year holiday this year.