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Thai restaurant co-owner, Amarin Martin, invited her Chinese and Thai workers to eat at a Chinese restaurant for the Spring Festival.

On the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year, Martin closed her business at the Sea World in Shekou and took her workers to Maixiangyuan, a nearby Chinese restaurant, for lunch.

"We were so excited to stay there and eat and drink from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m.," said a staff member who identified herself as Kiki.

To Martin, it was also one of the most impressive Spring Festivals she had experienced in Shenzhen.

"We usually go to Hong Kong or stay home, but this year I really feel different," said Martin, who has been in Shenzhen for four years and opened the Thai restaurant with several friends last year.

"I was scared to see all my staff lined up to 'ganbei' (empty their glasses) with me one by one," Martin said, recalling the day.

In Thailand, the Chinese also celebrated the Spring Festival, Martin said. They had a feast for family reunions, giving out red envelopes and greeting each other with good wishes, but the festival atmosphere was not so strong and prevalent as in Shenzhen, she said.

Editor: Catherine