Meals to keep romance alive during Qixi Festival

Many couples are opting to stay put to celebrate Qixi Festival, the Chinese equivalent of Valentine's Day on Aug 14, due to the latest COVID-19 outbreak that began in late July.

As of Tuesday, this round of the epidemic has affected more than 10 provinces in China including Jiangsu, Henan, Hunan and Sichuan. Some provincial authorities have urged residents to avoid traveling and unnecessary gatherings.

In response to these calls, Zhou Chen, a computer programmer in Beijing, canceled a short trip with his girlfriend for Qixi Festival.

"The festival falls on Saturday this year, so I originally planned a three-day tour to the coastal city of Qinhuangdao in Hebei province. But now we decided to have a candlelight dinner together to celebrate it," Zhou said.

Since July 28, domestic online travel agencies have received soaring enquiries about cancellations covering flights, hotels and tourist attraction bookings, CCTV News reported. The online travel platform Qunar said the number of cancellations per hour on Aug 4 was 10 times that of normal.

In response, hoteliers have launched dining packages to attract couples seeking a romantic dinner to mark the traditional date night.

Fairmont Peace Hotel, located in the Bund area of Shanghai, is a perfect place to enjoy the charm and vitality of the metropolis. Its restaurant, The Cathay Room, has prepared a dinner set for two for the festival. It includes culinary delights such as lobster, Atlantic cod, raspberries and ganache.

Couples can savor exquisite European cuisine while admiring views of the Huangpu River and historical buildings in the Bund area. They are also offered a pre-dinner drink at the hotel's Jazz Bar where they can watch live music being played.

At Renaissance Xi'an Hotel in Shaanxi province, the all-day dining destination Food Studio is serving up a romantic buffet supper with champagne, chocolate and roses.

For couples who prefer Chinese cuisine, chefs in the hotel's Wan Li restaurant have crafted a festive dinner menu featuring authentic Cantonese dishes.

InterContinental Chengdu Global Center is an ocean-themed hotel in Sichuan province. To celebrate Chinese Valentine's Day, a special evening buffet is offered at its poolside restaurant Paradise Island Cafe. Select ingredients include Icelandic oysters, New Zealand clams, Argentine prawns and Angus beef steaks.

The restaurant has arranged the extensive array of delicacies both indoors and outdoors along its poolside terrace, enabling customers to have a feast by the "beach".

The hotel has also prepared a four-course romantic dinner for two, with specialties such as creamy lobster soup, ham rolls with foie gras, and a mango shake.