The decapitated head of a Cai Hua snake lies on a chopping board in the kitchens of The West Lake Restaurant as the chef prepares a dish called 'West Lake King Snake'. Able to seat up to 5,000 people at one sitting, The West Lake Restaurant is the biggest Chinese restaurant in the world. Each week its diners, who staff are taught are 'the bringers of good fortune', devour 700 chickens, 200 snakes, 1,200 kgs of pork and 1,000 kgs of chillis. Its 300 chefs cook in five kitchens and its staff total more than 1,000.It is fully booked most nights.