Restaurant revenues in China reached 3.94 trillion yuan (about 550 billion U.S. dollars) in the first three quarters of 2024, showing a 6.2 percent growth, according to the National Bureau of Statistics.
Data indicates that almost 1.32 million restaurants were registered across China in the first half of 2024, with over 4,800 new registrations in Beijing alone.
In a newly opened mall called Super Hops-On in Beijing's Changping District, 30 percent of its existing stores are dedicated to food services.
"About 20 percent of our restaurants are regional firsts, with some being national or Beijing firsts," said marketing director Li Yihui.
Except for new fancy restaurants occurring in Beijing, smaller and everyday dining establishments are also becoming more popular.
A local "hulatang" (spicy soup) restaurant, which can yield an average daily revenue exceeding 20,000 yuan, adjusted its flavors to better meet Beijing customer expectations.
"We've reduced the spice level slightly to cater to local tastes and extended operating hours to match people's work schedules," said Jiao Wen, manager at Fangzhongshan Hulatang.
To meet diverse dining preferences, many restaurants have also launched fast-turnover outlets near office spaces and delivery-only kitchens.
China's catering sector revenue reaches 3.94 trln yuan in first 3 quarters
A palm-sized electric vehicle (EV) charger and a customized new energy garbage truck are among the latest cutting-edge products hogging the limelight at the 136th Canton Fair, which concluded its first phase on Saturday in south China's Guangzhou City.
The portable EV charger, developed by U.S. industrial conglomerate Honeywell and applicable to most types of EVs, turned a lot of heads at the event, also known as the China Import and Export Fair.
It can be used even at high-altitude areas and be connected to cell phones.
The charger is now available for purchase on online shopping platforms in the run-up to China's annual "Double 11", or Singles' Day, shopping festival which falls on Nov. 11.
"This is our latest product, and it sells at only 599 yuan during the 'Double 11.' We have raised the portable charger's rate of power to 3.5 kilowatts, and it can fully charge a car in around 10 hours. We are quite surprised to see so many more guests this year, especially those from South America and Eastern Europe, who are interested in new energy chargers. We expect a significant increase of orders this year," said Zhang Shaozhi, an exhibitor at Honeywell's exhibition booth.
Meanwhile, Skyworth, known as an electric appliance producer, is exhibiting its new garbage truck at the new energy vehicle area.
The truck, with a load capacity of 3.2 tonnes, features a driving cab which can be assembled by drivers themselves.
Equipped with a lighter vehicle chassis and noise absorption devices, the truck caters to the needs of environmental protection in South and Central Asian countries.
"The chassis is very light, so it can carry 600 kilograms more than a vehicle of the same class," said an exhibitor at Skyworth's exhibition booth.
The import exhibition at the Phase 1 of the Canton Fair has attracted 213 participating enterprises from 28 countries and regions. So far, the Phase 1 has seen more than 200 new product launch events online and offline.
The 136th Canton Fair opened on Oct. 15 and will run through Nov. 4 in three phases, with the second phase to be held between Oct. 23 and 27, and the third between Oct. 31 to Nov. 4, respectively.
Palm-sized EV charger, customized garbage truck shine at Canton Fair
