Expressing either joy or sorrow, and present in many of China’s legends, alcohol plays a very important role in Chinese culture. Be it the Spring Festival, the Double Ninth Festival, weddings, birthdays or the 100th day following the birth of a baby, wines and spirits are always used to honour the ceremony.

To celebrate the friendship that the Maltese enjoy with the Chinese people, the Grand Hotel Excelsior invited the Ambassador of China to Malta, Mr Zhang Keyuan, and the staff at the Chinese Embassy, to a discussion on European alcoholic drinks and cocktails, as well as customs and etiquette acknowledged while drinking in our continent.

The ambassador thanked Excelsior Bars Manager Paul Cassar and his assistant David McKeon, who conducted the discussion together, and promised to return to the hotel to exchange more interesting facts about the two cultures.