WHILE Beijing's austerity policy has hit many Guangzhou restaurants, the management of the spectacular Sun Kwong Garden Restaurant say it is proving that it can flourish in bad times as well as good.
The restaurant, a joint venture between Hong Kong businessman Lee Shing and Guangzhou park management authorities, has a prime site at Liuhua Lake, near five-star hotels and the Guangzhou export commodities fair exhibition hall.
Mr Lee, who invested more than $60 million in the project, took only five months to build the palace-style complex, with a restaurant, night club and 28 expensively decorated dining rooms.
''Although the catering business in Guangzhou has always flourished, there was no unique up-market restaurant in the city when the concept was floated in 1992,'' said Albert Ho, manager of the Sun Kwong Garden Restaurant.
''Many people had become wealthy following a decade of economic boom, and they deserve somewhere to match their new status - somewhere high class but not necessarily expensive.'' The complex's extravagant design swiftly distinguished it from its competitors. The building itself became a tourist attraction.
However, said Mr Ho, less wealthy customers should not be put off by the restaurant's appearance, as the menu was designed to cater to all.
