Hotpot chain Haidilao to open London branch

Social media users in China have expressed excitement after learning one of China's popular hotpot chains will open a branch in the center of London.

Although no official opening date has been set for the first United Kingdom branch of Haidilao Hot Pot, the restaurant said on Chinese micro-blogging platform Weibo the store is undergoing preparations.

The restaurant group, which was founded in Sichuan province in 1994, has 137 eateries on the Chinese mainland and others in Singapore, the United States, South Korea and Japan, according to its website.