With the coming of the new year, there are two things you want to prepare for -- new hopes and a new calendar. However, at the calendar market, some are happy while some are sad.

With the creative and "multi-functional" calendar appealing to more shoppers, sales of traditional calendars are cold as winter's chill.

Shazikou is the stationery wholesale center in southern Beijing. Streets here have few people. In this small shop, hundreds of calendars of different styles are waiting for buyers. Before, there used to be a hot sale at the end of year. But this year is cold.

Shop keeper said, "Wages and rents have been going up almost double, but sales are only one third of last year."

The situation has forced many calendar sellers to think of altering their field. Individual buyers are always few, while corporate buyers are reducing their spending on stationery. With increasingly fierce competition, getting creative and offering better service seem to be the only way out.

At the Tianyi Mall in central Beijing, calendars of a new design have a totally different situation. Colorful and delicate, some can transform into an apron, a calculator, even a pencil vase. This one can become a plastic bag after use.

Calendars of new designs have a totally different situation.

A customer said, "I like creative calendars and those that are environmentally friendly."

Another highlight is the photo calendar, especially for children.

Shop keeper said, "You can either take photos here, or bring your art photo to our shop."

Family members and couples can print their happiness on each day of the coming 2012.

Calendars of new designs have a totally different situation.