Restaurants 'fully booked' for Chinese New Year's Eve

Popular restaurants in Beijing are almost fully booked for Chinese New Year's Eve, with three weeks to go before the most important annual dinner.

"As much as 95 percent of tables were reserved for the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner since we started taking orders in Jan 1," said a press officer at the famous hotpot restaurant Donglaishun. The chain has more than 40 branches in Beijing alone.

"The number of families enjoying their New Year's Eve dinner at restaurants is growing annually. We opened many branches in Beijing during the last three years and they are all now booked out," she added.