Chinese "golden week" holiday fuels appetite, catering revenue

Chinese restaurants are experiencing a "golden week" when citizens, tourists and even newlyweds spent millions of dollars for the Beijing roast duck and other delicious food in the national week-long Labor Holiday.

The sales volume of restaurants in Beijing on Wednesday surged by 17 percent year on year to hit 8.24 million yuan (1 million U.S. dollars), reaching the peak point in recent years.

Quanjude Group, the largest Beijing roast duck producer, recorded nearly half of the total revenue, according to a survey by the Beijing business information consultation center.

However, the Chinese capital didn't perform so well in the industry last year. The economic hub of Shanghai and South China's economic engine of Guangzhou ranked first two places in terms of catering revenues in 2005.

About 3.9 millions of tourists and banquets for about 30,000 couple's weddings are expected to boost the catering industry in Shanghai during the seven-day holiday.

Sales volume of the Chinese catering industry summed up to 888.7 billion yuan in 2005 and the Ministry of Commerce predicted it will surge to 1 trillion yuan this year.

The per capita expense at restaurants will also increase from 680 yuan in 2005 to 800 yuan this year, according to a report issued by the ministry in March.

Business of the Chinese catering industry is especially brisk during major festivals, including the three "golden weeks" of the Spring Festival in the first quarter, the May Day and the National Day in October, as well as the three-day New Year holiday and on weekends.

Source: Xinhua