A table tennis event at the fifth Zhejiang Provincial Sports Congress held in Taizhou. [Photo/Taizhou.com.cn]

The consumer market in Taizhou, East China's Zhejiang province, showed strong growth from January to May this year. 

The Taizhou municipal bureau of commerce reported that the city achieved a total retail sales volume of 36.71 billion yuan ($5.12 billion) from enterprises above the designated size, reflecting a year-on-year growth of 20.6 percent, the highest in the province.

The surge was particularly notable in May, with retail sales hitting 8.47 billion yuan, up 41.4 percent from the previous year. The increase was attributed to the May Day and Dragon Boat Festival holidays and various consumer stimulus policies. Key sectors like automobiles and home appliances saw significant year-on-year sales increases of 25.41 percent and 868.01 percent, respectively.

Sporting events are becoming a new growth driver. The first event of the fifth Zhejiang Provincial Sports Congress, a table tennis event in Wenling, a county-level city in Taizhou, drew athletes and large crowds to a nearby food market.

Scheduled from June to October, the games will continue to bring competitions to scenic spots, commercial districts, and shopping areas across the city. 

To maximize economic benefits, Taizhou plans to organize over 30 themed events, including food festivals, summer bazaars, and time-honored brand displays, converting event attendance into economic activity.