China's luxury hotels sell street food to survive tough business climate
But for many consumers in China, that is changing.
In July, the five-star Zhongwu Hotel in Changzhou, Jiangsu province – ranked second among 10 luxury hotels in the city on Trip.com – surprised observers when it launched a street vendor service offering budget meal boxes prepared by its catering team.
'You must first solve the problem of survival. If you can't even solve your own problems, what else can you talk about?' said Chen Yonghua, Zhongwu Hotel's manager.
The decision reflects a sluggish business environment for China's high-end hospitality sector, as cautious consumers tighten their belts amid
concerns about a slowing economy.
Priced between 20 yuan and 100 yuan (US$3 and US$14), the boxed meals are a far cry from the several thousand typically charged for a banquet table. Offerings include popular night market favourites like braised dishes, spicy crayfish, a selection of dim sum and other delicacies.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
South China Morning Post
an hour ago
- South China Morning Post
Why the global balance of power is shifting in China's favour
In recent years, the world has entered an acute phase of geopolitical confrontation, driven by structural problems such as trade imbalances. Historically, such crises have often been addressed through military conflicts aimed at weakening rivals and redirecting financial and trade flows. This logic is examined in The Price of War, a study of conflicts spanning over 150 years. Advertisement Since most major powers today possess weapons of mass destruction for deterrence, confrontation has largely taken on a hybrid form. Yet the United States' drive to solve domestic problems at others' expense remains, especially in its relations with China, Russia and the European Union. The toolbox of weapons has expanded to include economic tools such as tariffs or tech restrictions designed to limit the development of highly value-added industries. The White House might be confident about this arsenal, but US President Donald Trump's policies of tariffs, tax cuts and pressure on the US Federal Reserve have coincided with a weakening US dollar . Meanwhile, efforts to reduce the trade deficit have diminished both Washington's global role and overall investor confidence. The US dollar remains Washington's key economic weapon. But its declining status weakens US geopolitical influence. Since 2000, the US dollar's share in global reserves has fallen from 71 per cent to below 60 per cent. A recent study by the International Monetary Fund suggests that in times of rising global tension, countries diversify their currency holdings. The S&P 500's record performance , when measured in other major currencies, reveals a shift in the global financial system. Recent events are dispelling the illusion of US economic invincibility. Advertisement These trends are especially clear when viewed through a multidimensional national power index based on dozens of indicators such as demographics, technology, economy and military strength. My team at the Central Economics and Mathematics Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences has developed a method to rank countries based on power.
South China Morning Post
8 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
China's Li Qiang announces launch of Tibet mega dam project that has worried India
Chinese Premier Li Qiang on Saturday announced the launch of a mega dam project on the Tibetan Plateau, in what is expected to be the world's largest hydroelectric facility. The massive project, located in the lower reaches of the Yarlung Tsangpo River, has raised concerns about water supply and environmental impact downstream in India and Bangladesh. Li attended the dam's groundbreaking ceremony in Nyingchi, a southeastern city in the Tibet autonomous region, state news agency Xinhua reported on Saturday. The Yarlung Tsangpo becomes the Brahmaputra River as it leaves Tibet and flows south into India's Arunachal Pradesh and Assam states, and finally into Bangladesh. Beijing first announced plans for the dam in 2020 under its five-year plan, as part of a broader strategy to exploit the hydropower potential of the Tibetan Plateau. The plan was approved last December. Premier Li Qiang (second from right) at the groundbreaking ceremony in Nyingchi city on Saturday. Photo: CCTV
South China Morning Post
9 hours ago
- South China Morning Post
Hong Kong customs ‘powerless to stop fake Labubu, Chiikawa toys without records'
Hong Kong customs has approached the trademark owners of popular brands Labubu and Chiikawa to establish records that will help combat counterfeits, with the Post learning the city currently has no way of cracking down on fakes featuring the characters. Advertisement The distributor of hugely popular doll Labubu, Pop Mart, and Nagano Co, the firm that registered the trademark for Japanese manga character Chiikawa, have not completed recordation procedures needed by the Customs and Excise Department to root out fakes, according to a source. A customs spokesman said the department had contacted the trademark owners. 'The department is greatly concerned about the matter and has proactively reached out to the relevant trademark owners for liaison and follow-up [action],' he said. The source said that trademark holders had a procedure to conduct with customs' Recordation Office so the department could investigate suspected piracy or counterfeiting activities and seize goods. Advertisement 'Customs cannot act upon any suspected fake dolls if there is no recordation with the department,' the source said.
