No such thing as a 'non-refundable' lunch

The Shanghai Centre, a high-end retail plaza in Jing'an District, has been fined for breach of contract by the district market watchdog.

The plaza on Nanjing Road W. sold a lunch coupon on its WeChat account last year, described as "non-refundable and unchangeable after purchase."

Businesses may not exclude the rights of consumers to change or terminate contracts, according to Chinese regulations.

The plaza was find 2,000 yuan (US$290) and ordered to rectify irregularities.

In a separate case, Tui China Travel Co Ltd, the general agent of Viking Cruises in China, has been fined 200,000 yuan for breaking the Advertisement Law.

A banner designed by the company was placed at a travel agency in Jing'an District containing the wording "the best way to explore Europe." Many more appeared at other travel agencies across the country.

Using words such as "state level," "top-level" and "best" is a breach of the Advertisement Law.

The company told travel agencies to remove the banners in December last year.