![Paper red envelop of lucky money are being replaced by electric money transfers via smartphones. [Photo: VCG]](http://img3.zhytuku.meldingcloud.com/images/zhycms_chinaplus/20190211/992a5540-0af9-491b-affa-059b6a7decd3.jpg?x-oss-process=image/resize,w_650)
823 million people in China sent or received “red envelopes,” or lucky money, through WeChat during the first 6 days of the weeklong Lunar New Year holiday this year, up 7.12 percent compared to the same period last year, according to WeChat owner Tencent.
The company says Beijing saw the largest number of red envelop exchanges in China. Guangzhou and Chongqing followed behind in second and third.
Tencent launched an updated version of the “red envelopes” this year, including customized appearances, New Year’s blessings and special emojis.
Meanwhile, Tencent says the overall number of messages sent through WeChat during the holidays increased by 64.2 percent compared to 2018.
The company says the post-90’s generation was the most active on WeChat during the holiday.
