Thanksgiving wave hits Chinese businesses

American Thanksgiving Day, which falls on Nov 24 this year, takes on an entirely different look in China, where malls and e-businesses are competing in sale promotions as the holiday approaches.

Malls and markets fixate on the word 'Thanksgiving' to dip into the pockets of their customers.

Warm outerwear and functional foods top the best sale items on many e-commerce websites as gifts for parents.

Taobao, China's biggest online shopping website, sells turkey masks for children. And Hogwarts School uniforms from Harry Potter are among the hot sellers.

Xu Yubo, an IT manager in Beijing, said Western cultures are very different from China and Thanksgiving Day is very Westernized. He'd rather celebrate Fathers' Day or Mothers' Day with his parents.

Luo Yu, an official from Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, thinks the festival itself may not mean much to Chinese people, but the Chinese can learn to be grateful, especially to their parents. He thinks many youths take their parents' love for granted..

Xiao Yang, a financing manger at a company in Beijing, said overseas festivals are being used by the business sector.

"When I stroll around the shopping mall, I don't see any thankful atmosphere, but flattery promotion," he said.