Bookings for dining and travel up as holiday approaches

Shanghai’s tourism and catering market has shown strong momentum and vitality ahead of the upcoming May Day holiday based on bookings.

Hotpot chain Haidilao said on Monday that more than 100,000 tables at its 1,300-plus outlets nationwide had been reserved as of Sunday and the figure was still growing.

To prepare for the holiday market, it has launched several new dishes to offer diners a refreshing spring flavor.

These include a package of fungus, peach-flavored yogurt, and a mousse cake featuring popular anime series “Chibi Maruko-chan.”

Paigu niangao, or pork chops with rice cakes, a signature Shanghai dish cuisine, has also been added to the menu.