Lower prices on offer as public spending curbs continue to bite

China's middle- and high-end restaurants are facing what industry insiders call a "chilly spring", with many taking measures to combat a drop in business.

Xiang E Qing, a national restaurant chain serving a combination of Cantonese, Hunan and Hubei cuisine, has been promoting a "happy family set menu". Dishes cost from 150 yuan to 300 yuan ($24-48) per head in the private rooms, a considerable drop from the original price.