There was no huge difference between the retail sales in the country's smaller cities and its metropolises, the Beijing Times said. Some smaller cities even exceeded the larger ones. The total retail sales of consumer goods in China's central Sichuan Province during the past holiday increased by 18 percent, 2.5 percentage pointes faster than Beijing, China's capital.

The major retail enterprises in Shanxi, Guizhou and Jilin provinces reported rises of at least 20 percent in the sales of consumer goods in the past seven days, the ministry said.

This year's Mid-autumn Festival came on October 6, which added to the country's sales in the food and beverage industry.

Many people in southwest China's Chongqing Municipality chose to celebrate the holiday in restaurants, boosting local retail sales in the industry by 22 percent.

Meanwhile, Beijing's restaurants were flooded by wedding parties, with the owners earning at least 20 percent more than last year's National Day holiday period, said the ministry.

Chinese consumers are spending more leisure time in book stores, libraries and museums, the report said.

They also like to participate in activities close to nature, and have a raised awareness towards saving energy, it said.

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