THE Chinese New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, is a time of family gatherings, delectable feasts, and jubilation. As the festival is only a few days away, reservations for the Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner, often referred to as the “reunion meal,” at restaurants and hotels are in high demand, Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported.

According to the Shenzhen Hotel Association, reunion meals at four- or five-star hotels in Futian and Nanshan districts are nearly fully booked.

Reservations for private dining rooms at restaurants in Luohu, Bao’an, and Longhua districts are also close to capacity, while table reservations in dining halls range from 50% to 70% booked.

According to statistics, reservations for private dining rooms at restaurants in Pingshan and Longgang districts, Dapeng New Area, and the Shenshan Special Cooperation Zone range from 50% to 70% booked, while dining hall table reservations stand at about 20% to 30%.

Reservations at time-honored restaurants are in high demand, with renowned venues like Home Taste already fully booked and Shundelao nearly booked to capacity.

All six private dining rooms at North Sea Fishing Village, another venerable establishment, are fully booked, while table bookings in its dining hall stand at 50%.

As 2024 heralds the Year of the Dragon, many restaurants have unveiled dragon-themed reunion meal packages, which are well received among consumers. Meanwhile, some establishments have introduced takeaway options for patrons unable to secure a table.

The Chinese New Year’s Eve dinner is an important meal for families, and citizens usually choose upscale hotels for their reunions, an executive surnamed Zhou with the Shenzhen Hotel Association said. Meanwhile, well-known and popular eateries are also highly favored by citizens.

(Zhang Yu, Zhou Junshu)