Celebrating a frugal New Year

There's been a marked change in tone to some of the Spring Festival celebrations this year. While many families still enjoyed family reunion dinners at restaurants, with all the usual New Year's feasting, more attention was given to avoiding excessive orders, and leaving unfinished food on the table.

Family reunions as cheerful and fun-filled as ever. But there's a new element of self-restraint, amid the celebration. At this restaurant in Shanghai, it's all about cutting back on excess.

"It's a shame to waste food when life is so good."

This year saw less orders for luxury gourmet delicacies, such as shark fin. Some waiters even offered advice on avoiding too many leftovers.

"We suggest people take their leftovers home, as it's easier for us to clean up the table."

It's a scene that's been played out across the country.

Taking leftovers home has become the most popular way for people to echo a nation-wide campaign for frugality.

But it also means less profit for high-end restaurants, during peak season for official banquets.

Cutting back on orders are one thing, but cancelling the dinner altogether is another. The China Cuisine Association says as many as 60 percent of restaurants, especially high-end ones, have suffered cancelled reservations.

Wang Peng, restaurant worker, Lanzhou, Gansu Province, said:"Most of the dinners that have been cancelled were booked by government bodies. It's had a huge impact on our profits."

But it also means less work for refuse workers.

Ju Zhiming, employee of Waste Transport Co., Chongqing City, said:"The number of leftovers from new year's eve seems to be half the amount of last year. I think it's because more people have taken food away. "

For those high-end restaurants which have long been reliant on official banquets, the new trend calls for a change in marketing strategy.

They've begun to do more to cater for ordinary people such as rolling out cheaper menus, and cancelling the requirement for minimum consumption.