Cool dining set to become hot trend

Do you want to try something different for the upcoming Spring Festival? How would it feel, for instance, to eat hotpot in an ice house?

Cold, maybe. Amazing, absolutely.

Before entering the special hotpot restaurant situated in an igloo outside Shenyang Shangri-La in the capital of Liaoning province in Northeast China, diners must ready themselves by donning a down jacket, earflaps and gloves.

"This is the perfect place to spend the winter holiday because we provide a cozy 'coldness experience'," said Raymond Teo, general manager of the hotel.

Despite being attracted by the beauty and various attractions of Northeast China, many tourists are put off by its long and chilly winters.

"As a Singaporean, I fully understand this worry (about the cold)," Teo said. "It is my aim to ensure that guests are comfortable."

As a lover of traditional Chinese culture, Teo believes in and practices the philosophical tradition of Taoism, which emphasizes the mutual convertibility of yin and yang.

"We knew that if we could solve the problem of coldness we could transform it into a genuine attraction for tourists," he said.

Teo borrowed his simple but effective solution from Harbin, while adding a number of updates to cater to the demand for Wi-Fi service.

Visitors' feet, knees and hands are gently warmed thanks to the electric heater situated under the huge round table, enabling them to enjoy the gleaming ice wall and, if they wish, share it via WeChat, a popular social media platform in China.

Adjacent to the special hotpot restaurant, the hotel has also built an establishment that offers karaoke, kebabs and drinks served in glasses made of ice.

"Customers don't just come here to eat, they come to have a unique experience they can display on their WeChat, Facebook and Weibo accounts."

Teo told China Daily that he expects his hotel to be the first choice for all visitors to the city. "Ice culture is our trump card," he said.

(China Daily 01/21/2017 page10)