Latest news with #hotpot
Zawya
2 hours ago
- Business
- Zawya
China's wine market uncorks consumption vitality
YINCHUAN, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 13 June 2025 - In an exhibition hall at an expo in Yinchuan, the capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the rich aroma emanating from a copper hot pot is gaining the attention of visitors. The dish of tender mutton cooked in red wine-added broth is a perfect blend of two of Ningxia's most famed products. "Using spring water, red wine and nourishing ingredients removes unpleasant smells, making the mutton delicious and flavorful," said Tian Feng, who manages the hot pot restaurant operating the booth. The popularity of its red wine hot pot ensures the restaurant is often fully booked on weekends, Tian added. Across China's evolving consumer landscape, wine is undergoing a subtle transformation. No longer restricted to formal banquets and professional tasting events, wine is becoming accessible as various consumption scenarios and wine products are created. This shift in accessibility is evident at the ongoing Fifth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo in Ningxia, which is a renowned wine production region that is promoting a "tipsy economy." Ningxia boasts a unique terroir for the production of top-class wine, with prolonged sunshine hours and a cool, dry climate aiding the cultivation of grapes. After four decades of development, it has become China's largest wine-producing region. The eastern foot of Helan Mountain is widely regarded as a "golden zone" for grape cultivation and high-end wine production. By the end of 2024, the region had more than 600,000 mu (about 40,000 hectares) of wine grape plantations and an annual wine output of 140 million bottles. Its wines were exported to over 40 countries and regions. At the expo, brightly colored canned wines from the Ningxia State Farm Winery have won the favor of many. Compared to bottled wines, canned wines are more convenient to drink and can more easily meet the demands of diverse scenarios such as camping and picnics, said Li Shuang, the winery's sales manager. In addition to its canned wines, which have been popular since their launch last year, the company offers innovative products such as creamy jasmine wine, lemon oolong tea wine, black coffee wine and alcohol-free options. These products drove 20 percent of the company's sales growth in 2024, Li said. Cheeks rosy after tasting a dozen wines at the expo, local visitor Lu Ting is a tourism professional and sommelier who enjoys buying wines to share with family and friends. "Chardonnay with meat skewers, reds with hot pot -- it's about sharing joy," said Lu, 42. The four-day event will run until Thursday and is slated to include a world wine tasting event, a wine and winery exhibition, an innovation competition and an art biennial. Last month, Yinchuan also hosted a marathon that saw 43 local wineries offer 28,000 runners free vineyard tours, tastings and exclusive discounts for wine purchases. This event-driven approach has created a powerful synergy between tourism and viticulture, resulting in a surge in hotel bookings in the city. "We're transforming the entire city into a living wine museum," said Li Bingjie, director of Yinchuan's wine industry development service center. "Visitors can fully immerse themselves in the journey from grape to glass." Speaking at the expo's opening ceremony on Monday, Yvette van der Merwe, president of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine, said that the organization has for many years observed and supported the rise of China's grape and wine industry, with the country being an important wine consumer and table grape producer. "I see the energy that the growth of Ningxia Helan Mountain's east foothill region has contributed to the Chinese wine industry, and I am confident that it will bring new inspiration and opportunities to the global wine community," she said. Hashtag: #AdministrativeCommitteeofWineIndustryZoneofNingxiaHelanMountainsEastFoothill The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement. Administrative Committee of Wine Industry Zone of Ningxia Helan Mountain's East Foothill
Malay Mail
3 hours ago
- Business
- Malay Mail
China's wine market uncorks consumption vitality
A staff member prepares a serving of tender mutton cooked in red wine-added broth during the Fifth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on June 11, 2025. (Xinhua/Yang Zhisen) People visit the Global Wineries Exhibition during the Fifth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo in Yinchuan, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, on June 9, 2025. (Xinhua/Wang Peng) YINCHUAN, CHINA - Media OutReach Newswire - 13 June 2025 -In an exhibition hall at an expo in Yinchuan, the capital of northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, the rich aroma emanating from a copper hot pot is gaining the attention of visitors. The dish of tender mutton cooked in red wine-added broth is a perfect blend of two of Ningxia's most famed products."Using spring water, red wine and nourishing ingredients removes unpleasant smells, making the mutton delicious and flavorful," said Tian Feng, who manages the hot pot restaurant operating the booth. The popularity of its red wine hot pot ensures the restaurant is often fully booked on weekends, Tian China's evolving consumer landscape, wine is undergoing a subtle transformation. No longer restricted to formal banquets and professional tasting events, wine is becoming accessible as various consumption scenarios and wine products are shift in accessibility is evident at the ongoing Fifth China (Ningxia) International Wine Culture and Tourism Expo in Ningxia, which is a renowned wine production region that is promoting a "tipsy economy."Ningxia boasts a unique terroir for the production of top-class wine, with prolonged sunshine hours and a cool, dry climate aiding the cultivation of grapes. After four decades of development, it has become China's largest wine-producing region. The eastern foot of Helan Mountain is widely regarded as a "golden zone" for grape cultivation and high-end wine the end of 2024, the region had more than 600,000 mu (about 40,000 hectares) of wine grape plantations and an annual wine output of 140 million bottles. Its wines were exported to over 40 countries and the expo, brightly colored canned wines from the Ningxia State Farm Winery have won the favor of many. Compared to bottled wines, canned wines are more convenient to drink and can more easily meet the demands of diverse scenarios such as camping and picnics, said Li Shuang, the winery's sales addition to its canned wines, which have been popular since their launch last year, the company offers innovative products such as creamy jasmine wine, lemon oolong tea wine, black coffee wine and alcohol-free options. These products drove 20 percent of the company's sales growth in 2024, Li rosy after tasting a dozen wines at the expo, local visitor Lu Ting is a tourism professional and sommelier who enjoys buying wines to share with family and friends."Chardonnay with meat skewers, reds with hot pot -- it's about sharing joy," said Lu, four-day event will run until Thursday and is slated to include a world wine tasting event, a wine and winery exhibition, an innovation competition and an art month, Yinchuan also hosted a marathon that saw 43 local wineries offer 28,000 runners free vineyard tours, tastings and exclusive discounts for wine purchases. This event-driven approach has created a powerful synergy between tourism and viticulture, resulting in a surge in hotel bookings in the city."We're transforming the entire city into a living wine museum," said Li Bingjie, director of Yinchuan's wine industry development service center. "Visitors can fully immerse themselves in the journey from grape to glass."Speaking at the expo's opening ceremony on Monday, Yvette van der Merwe, president of the International Organisation of Vine and Wine, said that the organization has for many years observed and supported the rise of China's grape and wine industry, with the country being an important wine consumer and table grape producer."I see the energy that the growth of Ningxia Helan Mountain's east foothill region has contributed to the Chinese wine industry, and I am confident that it will bring new inspiration and opportunities to the global wine community," she #AdministrativeCommitteeofWineIndustryZoneofNingxiaHelanMountainsEastFoothill The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.
Independent Singapore
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Independent Singapore
Tavia Yeung joins Raymond Lam's concert crowd, ends night with bus ride to hotpot
HONG KONG: Hong Kong singer-actor Raymond Lam is one fortunate dude. His Hong Kong Coliseum concert wasn't just about awesome guest artists like his former co-star Linda Chung; he also had a huge crew of his famous pals there, totally rallying behind him, according to The Star. Talk about a great support system. Photo: Instagram/Tavia Yeung Out of all the people there on one of his concert nights, Tavia Yeung, a former TVB actress, was definitely among them. Long-time friends Yeung and Lam's friendship goes way back – almost 25 years, actually! They've been pals ever since they graduated from TVB's 13th acting class together. Their class really showed up in full force at the concert! We spotted so many familiar faces—Mat Yeung, Tsui Wing, Meini Cheung, Raymond Chiu, Jones Lee, Bond Chan, and Olivia Fu were all there too. It felt like a proper reunion. Apparently, Yeung was spotted at Lam's concert with some of her former classmates. And it's not surprising they're so close, considering they've actually acted together in a bunch of TVB dramas, including Golden Faith , Twin Of Brothers , Face To Fate , and The Mysteries Of Love. According to , Lam recognised Yeung in the crowd when she exclaimed, 'See you at hotpot later!' See also Moses Chan makes SGD5.2 million a year at TVB Hotpot after the concert And just like she said, fans later saw the actress going for hotpot after the and her friends took a public bus to their destination. She was actually wearing a purple face mask, but that didn't stop passengers on the bus from recognising her. Then, to make things even better, she posted a photo on Instagram showing her and her friends on their bus journey. 'What a night to remember! Lam's concert was incredible—he really gave it his all. And as if that wasn't enough, we headed straight to Tsui Wing's afterward for some mouthwatering hotpot. Seriously, it felt like Lam actually put together a full-on Hong Kong Coliseum reunion specifically for our 13th intake So special.' It was not certain if Lam joined Yeung for hotpot post-concert. It's actually not that surprising, given that Yeung has celebrated her birthday with her old TVB acting classmates before, instead of with her husband, actor Him Law. Tavia Yeung Sin-yiu (born August 30, 1979), also previously known as Tavia Yeung Yi, is a Hong Kong actress. She began her career after graduating from TVB's acting classes in 1999, initially appearing in music videos and as an extra in TV dramas. She gained recognition for her supporting role in Vigilante Force (2003), earning the TVB Anniversary Award for Most Improved Female Artiste. Notable works Her notable works include Moonlight Resonance (2008), Beyond the Realm of Conscience (2009), The Mysteries of Love (2010), The Hippocratic Crush (2012), and S ilver Spoon, Sterling Shackles (2012). Raymond Lam (born Dec 8, 1979) is a prominent Hong Kong actor and singer. He started his career in the entertainment industry after graduating from TVB's 13th acting class in 1998, initially taking on minor roles and hosting duties.
Forbes
28-05-2025
- Business
- Forbes
China's Spicy Hotpot Leader Cooks Up A New Brand In The U.S.
MalaTown specializes in spicy hot pot cuisine. MalaTown Expansion by China's largest restaurant chains in recent years has been fueled by the country's tasty cuisine, economic growth and improved management. Among the biggest winners: Yang Guofu, the founder of Yang Guo Fu. The Shanghai-headquartered business serves up spicy mala hotpot at more than 6,000 franchised locations across China and another 500-plus overseas; combined, the brand's restaurants employ more than 70,000 individuals globally. The founder tested the water for an IPO in Hong Kong in 2022 but that hope collided with the Covid pandemic. A bigger push for international growth at the business is now coming from Gao Yang, a hometown classmate of the founder's son. Gao, born in mainland China but who has lived in the U.S. for the past decade and a half, believes the time is right in the American market for mala hotpot because of its healthy attributes. 'Food is universal,' Gao recently told Forbes China. 'Everyone wants something that's delicious and good for you.' A Harvard grad who took over leadership of Yang Guo Fu's U.S. business in 2023, Gao is looking to expand beyond the franchising model that has brought success date; in October that year, he debuted a new brand in Union City, California: MalaTown. Gao believes the name and quality lifestyle positioning will help extend its appeal to non-Chinese diners. 'Great food knows no borders,' he said. 'Scalable business models don't either.' So far, Gao has opened nine directly operated MalaTown U.S. locations. Founded in 2003, Yang Guo Fu illustrates how Chinese restaurant chains are moving up the rankings of franchise restaurants long dominated by Western giants such as McDonald's and KFC. Management at the Chinese eateries has improved to such an extent that larger ones are now able to attract graduates from top global business schools, Gao said approvingly. MalaTown's mala-style hotpot, also known in Chinese as 'mala-tang,' differs from other Chinese hotpot flavors because of its unusually strong taste: the word 'mala' loosely translates into 'numb and hot.' Diners draw servings from a big, soupy pot holding spices such as chili and peppercorn, and can select from ingredients that include beef, tofu, bamboo shoots, ham, Chinese cabbage and shitake mushroom. Ambitious Gao came to the U.S. from China to attend high school at age 16. In 2015 at age 20, he founded Regulus, which provided high-end lifestyle services to more than 1,000 overseas Chinese customers across the U.S. Gao later earned a master's degree in finance from Harvard University. Returning to China after graduation, Gao joined e-commerce giant Alibaba as a senior specialist in customer operations, getting exposure to world-class strategic planning, entrepreneurship, business development and operational management. By 2023, he was ready to step up as Yang Guo Fu's CEO in North America. Yang Guo Fu had earlier debuted in that market with a franchise-led model, primarily targeting the Chinese diaspora and catering to its tastes. Gao has already lifted the number of restaurants operating under the parent brand's name to 30 from only three when he first joined. He attributes that growth in part to the 'Matthew effect' – in which 'success compounds and attracts more success.' Gao, however, has bigger goals and sees an even larger opportunity to bring the Chinese spicy hotpot concept to a wider group of North American consumers -- not just the Chinese community. Unlike the parent company's franchise approach, MalaTown has at least for now been directly operated by Gao. 'It's easy to open a store — it's much harder to keep it running well,' Gao said. 'Getting to the top of the mountain is one thing, but staying there takes much more.' The U.S. stores in markets like Cupertino, California have both Chinese and English details on the wall with a focus in messaging on health, helping mala-tang resonate with non-Chinese speakers, he said. It seems to be working: As of 2024, more than 70% of MalaTown's customers aren't ethnic Chinese, a share that's still on the rise, Gao said. Tight management standards will be critical to future growth, he said. 'That means improving operational efficiency, strengthening management systems, and keeping tighter control of costs,' Gao explained. 'It's about building a solid foundation — refining the structure and processes to support the next stage of scaling.' To that end, the company operates a proprietary mobile app and point of sales system to enhance customer experience and streamline operations online. MalaTown is deepening its own supply chain through the purchase of a central kitchen and plans to begin selling frozen and dry goods. The results have been good financially, Gao said. Each MalaTown store has been profitable so far, and even with centralized operational costs factored in, the parent company remains in the black; the new brand's revenue was $20 million in 2024, he said. MalaTown CEO Gao Yang. MalaTown Looking ahead, Gao believes the company's internal systems — from IT to logistics — may one day be made available to other restaurant chains. 'This could not only become a new source of revenue,' he noted, 'but also lay the tech foundation for a future franchising model.' Asked about his outlook for the future, Gao said: 'Painful, but joyful — and full of promise.' Above all, he believes, MalaTown has to be about more than just selling a bowl of mala-tang.
South China Morning Post
07-05-2025
- South China Morning Post
Cat falls into China restaurant hotpot, eatery owner pays for treatment, feline dies
The owner of a hotpot restaurant in China who rushed a cat to the vet after it fell into a pot of boiling oil, then promised to 'hire' the feline as a 'security guard', is in mourning after the animal succumbed to its injuries. Advertisement On May 2, a white-and-yellow cat slipped from a ledge and fell into a pot at an outdoor restaurant in Chongqing, southwest China, splashing hot oil and injuring several diners. A video circulating online shows hot oil splashing onto nine people as dishes toppled over in the chaos. The restaurant owner, surnamed Zhong, told the mainland media outlet Jimu News that he rushed the injured diners to hospital and paid their medical bills, totalling about 10,000 yuan (US$1,400). He also waived or discounted the bills of other diners who were in the restaurant that evening. Shocked diners at the hotpot restaurant were splashed with boiling oil and suffered damage to their belongings as a result of the feline's fatal fall. Photo: Zhong also paid a total of 13,000 yuan in compensation for emotional and other damage.
