210 Million QQ Users Receive 1.79 Billion Red Envelopes During Spring Festival by Walking 3.4 Trillion Steps

On February 19, QQ, a Tencent product, released data on red envelope gifting during the Spring Festival. A total of 210 million participants received 1.79 billion red envelopes by walking a cumulative 3.4 trillion steps, or about 2.24 billion kilometers (1.4 billion miles), equal to 40 times the distance from Earth to Mars.

This year’s QQ Red Envelope Activity participants walked 35.9 billion steps more than last year. Each participant walked 5,347 steps per day on average. Participants born in the ’90s walked 5443 steps per day, more than any other age group. They were also the luckiest ones, receiving more red envelopes than others. Participants born after the ’00s ranked second highest with an average of 5,391 steps per day.

During the 2018 Spring Festival, how many steps did you walk?

Tencent QQ launched the Red Envelope Activity for the Spring Festival. From the first day to the third day of the first month of the lunar calendar, participants drew “lucky money” by walking. For each 100 steps, a participant can draw one red envelope. On Chinese New Year’s Eve, a total of 166 million QQ users participated in the activity and drew 609 million red envelopes. From the first day to the third day of the first month of the lunar calendar, more than 210 million people joined the activity and drew 1.79 billion red envelopes. On Chinese New Year, participants walked an average of 5,347 steps per day, exceeding last year’s numbers.

210 million users participated in the activity and received 1.79 billion red envelopes

From the first day to the third day of the first month of the lunar calendar, more than 210 million people participated in the QQ Red Envelope Activity, receiving a total of 1.79 billion red envelopes by walking. During these three days, participants walked a cumulative 3.4 trillion steps, or about 2.24 billion kilometers (1.4 billion miles), equal to 40 times the distance from Earth to Mars.

In this activity, participants drew one red envelope for every 100 steps walked. The activity aimed to promote social interaction and personal health. When visiting families and friends, participants accumulated hundreds of steps. When visiting their hometowns, participants walked thousands of steps.

35.9 billion steps more than last year, and participants born in the ’90s walked the most

In 2018, participants of the QQ Red Envelope Activity walked 35.9 billion more steps than last year. Each participant walked 5,347 steps per day on average. The Spring Festival promotes national health awareness and encourages Chinese people to pursue healthier lifestyles.

Participants born in the ’90s walked 5,443 steps per day, more than any other age group. They were also the luckiest ones, as 70 percent of them received “lucky money”, and they received the most red envelopes. Participants born after the ’00s ranked second with an average of 5,391 steps per day.

Young participants performed notably well in the QQ activity. As the largest social platform for young people, QQ focuses on catering to the social needs of this population. QQ red envelopes guided young people from online socialization to offline socialization to fully enjoy the Spring Festival. It encouraged young people to put down their mobile phones and participate in offline social life. The activity also prompted people to visit family and friends during the festival, to ring in the year in a healthier way, and to participate in offline social life.

Chongqing was Championed as Most Active City, and Male Capricorns were Most Active

Participants in southwestern China walked the most of any region. Specifically, users in Chongqing walked 6,397 per day on average, ranking first. Chengdu and Kunming ranked second and third places with 6,138 and 6,108 average daily steps, respectively.

Individually, male participants performed best. Male participants averaged 5,681 daily steps, while female participants averaged 5,012 daily steps. Of Zodiac signs, Capricorn participants walked the most with an average of 5,421 daily steps. Gemini participants ranked the second with a daily average of 5,406 steps. Libra participants closed in at third place with daily average of 5,402 steps.

Since last year, Chinese people had increased enthusiasm for physical activity. People are exercising more than before, indicating enhanced health awareness. Spring Festival red envelope gifting is a cultural norm, and the QQ Red Envelope Activity linked walking with traditional customs. The activity introduced positive elements including exercise and health to the Spring Festival. It encouraged people to visit family and friends, hometowns, and pursue healthier lifestyle for the rest of the year.

This article originally appeared in Tencent Tech and was translated by Pandaily.