As the Spring Festival approaches, restaurants across China are witnessing a surge in early bookings for Chinese New Year's Eve dinners, with many establishments already fully booked.
The New Year's Eve dinner, where families gather to celebrate the Spring Festival, is regarded by some as the most important meal of the year for the Chinese people, eaten on the eve of the first day of the Chinese Lunar New Year.
According to Shanghai Restaurants Cuisine Association, major time-honored restaurants in the megacity have nearly sold out their private dining rooms for the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner.
At one such restaurant on the Nanjing Road pedestrian street, inquiries and reservations for New Year's Eve dinners have been pouring in.
"My parents and relatives will come to Shanghai from other cities to celebrate the Spring Festival with me so I am here to book a New Year's Eve dinner. My parents particularly love the time-honored restaurants in Shanghai," said a customer named Wang Guan.
Restaurants have made efforts to meet the diverse dining needs of customers this year, with some adding local specialties or making adjustment to the set menu based on the demand of the customers.
"In previous years, we mostly received regular customers living in Shanghai. However, the situation is different this year, as we have guests from other parts of the country and even other countries making reservations in advance, as well as inquiries coming in via phone. Guests from around the world are booking, as many people are planning to celebrate the Spring Festival in China," said Cai Mengyun, catering business manager of the restaurant.
The Spring Festival falls on Jan 29, 2025.
Restaurants see surge in early bookings for Chinese New Year's Eve dinners
