Migrants stay home to stay safe during holiday

The restaurant reopened in March. In June, the landlord said he could not maintain his business during the outbreak and was selling the property.

Zhao had to shut the restaurant, but customers kept calling and sending messages asking her to continue the business from home.

"I never thought people would love to eat Tang Yuan during summer. We kept receiving orders, so we sold the dish throughout the summer," she said.

After being repeatedly asked when her restaurant would reopen, Zhao decided to find a new property.

The new restaurant opened in November and during the Winter Solstice Festival, on Dec 21, the establishment was packed from morning to night.

Because a lot of people stayed in the capital this year, Zhao said all seven members of her team also remained to serve the customers.

She had originally planned an event at which the customers could make Tang Yuan themselves, but she ditched the idea after realizing how many people would want to attend.

Instead, she offered a special service that allowed customers to tailor the dishes to their own designs.

Since Zhao started her business in 2019, she has given up going home during the Spring Festival.

"It is a winter business. We need to be here for the New Year and for many other important occasions," she said.