Festivities in Shanghai

Rice cakes at the Hyatt on the Bund.

On Feb 2, the second day of the seven-day holiday, a large selection of traditional Chinese snacks at a dedicated station will join the other regular offerings at the usually Western-style buffet hall. Homemade snacks like dumplings, spring rolls and rice cakes are offered "steaming hot", just like how grandma used to serve them.

A beaming God of Fortune will be giving out auspicious red packets. Instead of the traditional yasuiqian, or pocket money to tide over the New Year, guests will be given vouchers for dinners or afternoon tea.

If you are brimming with confidence that this is your lucky year, a more generous lucky draw will be put on at Ritz Carlton Pudong. Every hotel guest who has spent a night at one of its 285 rooms or suites during the Spring Festival will get a chance to take part in the draw.

Everyone is promised a prize, and rewards range from spa coupons, or takeaway dessert package to a free night at its Presidential Suite, priced at 120,000 yuan a night. This sprawling suite on the 51st floor boasts a 270-degree panoramic view overlooking both the historical Bund area and the bustling Lujiazui hub.

The famous rooftop bar on top of the hotel, Flair, will also be serving high tea throughout the week, allowing guests to enjoy wining and dining "not only in those moonlit evenings but also when the sun is still high".

There are plenty of seats, but if you want to sit close enough for an "arm's reach" to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower, a reservation is suggested.

The best skyline view in Shanghai, however, is the VUE bar on top of Hyatt on the Bund.

This is the only hotel venue voted by the Times of London as one of the "10 things to do/visit in Shanghai". VUE is joining the other dining facilities in the hotel in going "all red" during the festival. Red will appear in fresh berry cocktails and red-hot snappy Vietnamese crabs and turkey sandwiches dripping with cranberry sauce.

To reward "supportive" diners and guests, the Hyatt is packaging some generous promotions during the festivities. At its Yuan Spa, you get to enjoy buy-one-get-one-for-free treatment. A minimum of two consecutive nights at the hotel will earn you credits to spend at any one of the hotel's restaurants and facilities.

Frugality is not such a bad thing, especially if you get to share the benefits wisely.