China's cuisines tickle global taste buds
China DailyDiners seen at an outlet of hotpot chain Xiapuxiapu in Beijing. Earlier this year, Song Xuan, a communication executive of Xibei Catering Group, a renowned restaurant chain in China, was in Los Angeles on a business trip and craved an authentic Chinese meal after a tiring day. "We are starting in the most challenging and the largest catering market in the world where there is high per capita expenditure on dining out," Song said. According to international consulting firm Frost & Sullivan, by 2026, the size of the overseas Chinese catering market is expected to reach $409.8 billion, with a compound annual growth rate of 9.4 percent. On-premise beverage and ice-cream giant Mixue Bingcheng, the world's fifth-largest fast food restaurant chain, has over 36,000 stores worldwide, including more than 6,000 stores outside China.