As the Year of the Snake Lunar New Year draws near, a booking frenzy for the traditional Chinese New Year's Eve dinner has appeared across the country.

In Ningbo City of Zhejiang Province, phone calls have been rising since October for reservations for the annual family reunion dinner.
"About 70 percent of our private rooms have been booked, mainly for company gatherings and family reunions," said Qi Ya, manager of a restaurant in Ningbo City.

The prices for the New Year's Eve dinner are lower than in previous years, and more bookings are for lunch on that day.
"We have introduced several set menus this year at budget-friendly prices, approximately 10 percent lower than last year," said Shi Xiong, general manager of a restaurant in Ningbo City.

In Taiyuan City of Shanxi Province, the market for Chinese New Year's Eve dinner is equally hot. Many famous restaurants have seen 80 percent of their private rooms booked.

"We usually start accepting reservations for the Chinese New Year's Eve dinner in October. But this year, some customers have already secured the same dining rooms for next year if they are satisfied with the meal. Currently, no rooms are available for lunch and dinner on that day," said Zhao Xiaojun, manager of a restaurant in Taiyuan.

Restaurants are also providing New Year's Eve dinner gift boxes and home delivery services to cater to diverse consumer demands.
In Kunming City of Yunnan Province, reservations for the New Year's Eve set menus at popular restaurants are also soaring, with private room booking rates exceeding 80 percent.

This year, restaurants that offer Kunming's authentic local delicacies are receiving more bookings from people in other provinces.
"We offer classic Kunming dishes. Many out-of-town guests who come here for the Spring Festival holiday will book a table at our restaurant," said Xie

Zhenchun, a restaurant manager in Kunming City.
Based on the current reservations, a table of 10 people costs from 1,288 yuan to 2,888 yuan on average.