Leisure spending still unaffected

The financial crisis that is threatening to plunge the world into a deep recession seems nothing but distant rumblings to Zhao Yunan, a sales executive at an exhibition organizer in Beijing.

Although she has read and heard much about the crisis that is wrecking the livelihoods of many people in some of the most powerful nations on earth, "I just can't see or sense much change around me," the 27-year-old Zhao said. "It's life as normal."

Zhao and many thousands of young Chinese executives and professionals are keeping retailers and caterers in many major cities happy and content, at least for now. Although winter is not the best season for bars, Zhang Quanwei, a manager at Red Moon club in Beijing's Sanlitun entertainment district, can't complain. "We are doing well, especially on weekends," he said.