Ms. Kuo grew up in Yili, near the border with Kazakhstan, and worked for the Marriott hotel group in Shanghai for many years before leaving to start her business.

In the meantime, players and coaches are living at a Marriott hotel in Shanghai, where meals and accommodations are paid for by the club.

"People who earn more in Shanghai require something different for their special days," said Joan Pan, a manager at the JW Marriott Hotel, situated on the city's fashionable Nanjing Road.