Traditional wall calendars are falling out of favor as a growing number of people buy lunar calendars, known as Huang Li in Chinese, with the approach of 2005.

Huang Li is red and yellow and printed with both solar dates and Chinese lunar dates. Most importantly, it serves as a kind of Chinese horoscope with notes on lucky events and taboos for every day.

Socialists said people change their demands, as wall calendars are no longer an important device to tell the date and decorate a room.

"Under the present keen competition and increasing stress, people always feel an uncertainty in life and work. So Huang Li provides some mental hints for people to seek luck and fortune," said Zhang Youde, a sociologist at Shanghai University.

At a calendar wholesale shop on Fuyou Road, various kinds of Chinese lunar calendars are displayed in the most eye-catching location.

"People seem to like these traditional Chinese lunar calendars much more this year," said Xu Xinshen, the shop owner. "Big calendars are no longer attractive."

He said people like Huang Li, because it can advise what to do and what not to do on a certain day. Even young people are joining the trend.

"In addition, its smaller size also contributes to the popularity. People can put it on a desk, in a drawer or take it in a bag," Xu said.

"These portable calendars outshine those traditional big ones, which should be hung on a wall."

Customers agree.

"I won't buy those traditional big-sized calendars, since they don't have fortunes and I won't hammer a nail into a wall to hang a calendar," said a woman choosing calendars for her newly decorated apartment Sunday.

"It is interesting to check the fate on one certain day, though I don't exactly follow the advices given. However, I will still avoid doing the things banned by Huang Li on that day."

According to store owners, big calendars cost about double as much as a Huang Li calendar.

Huang Li calendars are usually priced between 10 yuan (US$1.2) and 20 yuan.

(Shanghai Daily December 6, 2004)