LOVE may be something that money can't buy, but it sure is making some businesses a lot of cash.

High-end hotels that offer Valentine's dinners have seen a jump in business, even though the prices have been doubled. For example, a Valentine's buffet dinner at Novotel Bauhinia, priced at 299 yuan (US$37) for an adult, has attracted a warm response. "More than 90 percent of seats have been booked," said Simon Poon, deputy general manager of Novotel Bauhinia.

The Patio Cafe in Nanhai Hotel has also recorded an increase of more than 20 percent in reservations. Patrick Leung, food and beverage director of the hotel, told the Shenzhen Daily that customers were booking earlier than last year.

Over the past week, jewelry has been selling well at department stores in Shenzhen. A shop assistant at a Chow Sang Sang jewelry store in Jusco, said sales had doubled recently but refused to disclose the specific amount of revenue. A jewelry store in Dongmen revealed that the store netted about 100,000 yuan daily on average over the past three days.

Other popular presents are mobile phones, digital cameras, mini acoustic systems and mp3 players. Major electric appliance retailers in the city, such as Gome, Suning, Shundan and Mingkeda, reported that these products accounted for more than 70 percent of their revenue before Valentine's Day.

However, young men who don't earn much early on in their careers, are groaning under the expenditure. Eric Chen, who graduated last June and earns little more than 3,000 yuan a month, spent almost one-third of his income to buy a necklace for his girlfriend. And he felt Valentine's Day was too expensive. "If it's a woman's nature to compare what they received, something expensive will cheer her up. I have friends even buying laptops. I certainly knows the idea's ridiculous, but I was compelled to jump on the wagon," Chen said.

Editor: Yan