Lovers around the world celebrate Valentine's Day with roses and perfume, but most importantly, chocolate. And if the delicate and expensive boxsets can't satisfy your partner, why not bring him or her some hand-made, personalized chocolates? It's the latest must-have Valentine's Day gift here in Beijing.

25-year-old Xue Xiaoting is one of the many who are busy making a special gift for her boyfriend. Spending most of the day at a Do-It-Yourself Chocolate shop in central Beijing, she's getting the shape and inscriptions of her personal gift just right, as well as the word "love" and her boyfriend's name.

Xue Xiaoting, customer, said "I think this is quite a new way to express my feelings, and I don't think my boyfriend will want to eat it. He will keep it forever so that he can remember my love forever."

Each to the customers' own tastes, not all of the chocolate shapes are traditional romantic symbols. One lady has created a chocolate iPhone for her love.

The DIY chocolate shop is located in the city's business district and has been open for 18 months. The owner says giving DIY chocolate as a gift has become a way for many young Chinese people in Beijing to express their individuality.

Wu Yue, shop owner, said "We have many customers coming to our store, as DIY chocolate is becoming fashionable with young people in China. We just need some more ideas and innovations to show our special personalities nowadays. What I am doing is trying to meet the demand of the customers to show their personal styles and characteristics through chocolate."

Valentine's Day is not a traditional celebration in China, but has become increasingly popular since the 1980's, when the country started to open up a little more to the West. Today it has become one of the most appealing holidays among the younger generation, as well as a welcome time of the year for retailers.

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