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Splash out on a special treat for your mom

By Todd Balazovic (China Daily)
Updated: 2011-05-05 07:56

Buy her a five-star feast or send her a box of goodies, Todd Balazovic reports on options for Mother's Day.

While mothers should be appreciated every day of the year, it is easy to become wrapped up in daily life and forget how special they are. Fortunately, countries across the globe dedicate one day a year to coddling our favorite materfamilias. Here's a quick roundup for those who wish to spoil their mother on her special day of the year.

At-home floral flattery

With the aptly titled Beijing-Flowers.com offering home delivery, mothers can be smothered with eye-catching floral arrangements from the minute they wake up to the moment the day is done. The website says the flowers, costing 200 to 400 yuan, will be delivered at a time you specify, with rush delivery for those last-minute gift-givers.

Web: Beijing-Flowers.com

To put in some extra effort, travel down to the Liangmaqiao flower market near the Kempinkski Hotel to search through their plethora of plants ripe for the picking.

Liangmaqiao Flower Market

Address: South bank of Liangma River, 758 Dongsanhuan Beilu

Tel: 6504-2446

Send it overseas

Fortunately, in the age of the Internet mothers of expats living back home can still be shown appreciation, despite the vast distance separating them.

Barrage your mother with a variety of gifts shipped straight to her door, by checking out the Overseas Gift Baskets website. One of the better overseas gift services, their website offers a diverse range of items and is one of the few places in Beijing where you can ship gift baskets to the United States or other Western locations without having to go to the post office.

Web: Overseasgiftbaskets.com

Sometimes you only need a few nice words to reaffirm your affection for your mother. Those looking for a cheap but fun way to deliver a Mother's Day message can go to Hallmark card company's website and peruse a wide selection of animated e-cards to find the tone that suits you best.

If their free selection does not turn up anything suitable, the site offers an extended collection for a $1 subscription fee.

Web: Hallmark.com

A meal to spoil the senses

If you are looking to bestow five-star rock star treatment on your parental figure, the wall-to-wall delicacies served up in the Wangfujing Hilton's Fizztastic Brunch restaurant range from lobster to prime rib.

At 388 yuan for adults, and half price for children, it is a fancy affair guaranteed to leave mothers feeling like royalty.

Wangfujing Hilton

Address: 8 Wangfujing Donglu

Tel: 5812-8888

Relax in a spa

Mothers with a do-it-yourself determination can take advantage of The Hutong community center and Kocoon's combination cooking lesson and spa day. Offered throughout May, the package includes a deluxe facial treatment and a culinary workshop for 500 yuan.

The Hutong

Address: 1 Jiudaowan Hutong, Beixinqiao

Tel: 159-0104-6127

Satiate her sweet tooth

If plain old chocolate is a woman's best friend, then the Chocolate Sensation for Mother's Day at Raffles Beijing Hotel will become her god. With a staggering array of dishes, from a chocolate fountain to dark chocolate mousse, the confections are bound to melt the heart of mothers across the capital.

Raffles Beijing Hotel

Address: 33 East Chang'an Dongjie

Tel: 6526-3388

For a taste of decadence, the China World Hotel's Gourmet Corner has had its chef prepare what is being called strawberry chiboust. The strawberry custard concoction, 1.4 kg of pure pleasure, was designed by Jonathan Wu, the hotel's executive pastry chef, specifically to satisfy the sweet tooth of every Beijing mom. Even at 350 yuan, it is worth every penny.

China World Hotel

Address: No 1 Jianguomenwai Dajie

Tel: 6505-2266

(China Daily 05/05/2011 page)