Trending in China: Haidilao restaurant offers "Tufting" service

Haidilao, the popular hot pot restaurant chain that recently offered hair washing and nail beauty services in-restaurant has launched a new and unexpected service. In a recent social media post a Haidilao in Hangzhou said customers can tuft wool on site to make pillows or floor mats. The knitting booth costs ¥39-99 ($5.50-$13.95), although customers with receipts from the restaurant within the past seven days can enjoy a half-price discount. Four tufting machines are available for use in the restaurant.

Many customers have expressed a sense of inexplicable satisfaction when they pick up the tufting gun and go "tut tut tut" on the canvas. They report the enjoyment of watching different coloured yarn gradually filling the blank spaces on the canvas, eventually creating their own unique "painting." Tufters noted the great sense of accomplishment. Following a week of trials, the "Knitting Booth" is open to the public between 11am - 10pm and can accommodate four customers at a time. It has become extremely popular, with many customers queuing for 2-3 hours just to do some tufting.

Tufting at Haidilao in Hangzhou