A Christmas tree outside the Bird's Nest Stadium in Beijing
Christmas has caught on here in the capital, as evidenced by the profusion of jolly Santa decorations and sleigh bells a ringin’ in malls and restaurants all over Beijing. Despite the holiday cheer, Chinese celebrations of Christmas may not be exactly what you’re looking for. Fear not, in Beijing you can find everything you need to ensure a perfect Christmas: where to get gifts or purchase a Christmas tree; the best places for Christmas services or Christmas meals; even Christmas parties for both the kids and the adults. Read on for all this and more. No need to worry about Santa finding your house in this big confusing city, he’s got GPS now.
Getting a Christmas vibe going at home is crucial. IKEA has everything you need, from faux-fir Christmas trees to the all important Christmas lights, and a wide variety of holiday accessories. Trees start at 150 RMB and decorations can be hard for as little as 10 RMB. Recharge with their very reasonably priced, and Christmas-y, Swedish meatballs before grabbing some Christmas cookies from the grocery store. The Laitai Flower Market sells live trees as well as decorations. Tree delivery can be arranged, just make sure you order a few days before you need the tree in your home. The prices for fake and real trees are pretty comparable. If you’re looking for a whole lot of decorations, Tianyi Market is a good place. It’s a wholesale market so be prepared to buy lots and bargain hard.
Tianyi Market 天意市场
Add: 259 Fuchengmen Waidajie, Xicheng District, Beijing (From the Fuchengmenwai subway stop head four blocks to the west)
北京西城区,阜成门外大街259号
Tel: 010 6831 7199
Opening hours: 07:00-18:00
Christmas Gifts
For some, getting presents is itself a celebration, for others it’s a chore. Luckily, Beijing offers several areas with many gift options which make it easy to either hit it and quit it or spend hours browsing. For fun and sometimes edgy gifts with Chinese characteristics, the many shops in 798 are ideal. For a wider and more interesting selection of items, including nice clothing, great T-shirts, jewelry and an assortment of unique paper goods, Nanluoguxiang is the place to go – don’t miss this sale when you go. Both 798 and Nanluoguxiang also have plenty of cafes for weary shoppers to rest their feet and enjoy a warm beverage. If you’re looking to get gifts for a whole bunch of people at once Yashow can be worth the trip. Panjiayuan has everything you can think of, from ethnic clothing and jewelry to folding hatchets and vintage windup toys; they also have a lot more fun things you’d never think of. Be sure to bargain at both places. The ever-fashionable and reliable Uniqlo is holding a Christmas sale and Beijing has several good stores for vintage clothing. If you want to give your gift recipient more choices, Lane Crawford has snazzy electronic gift cards. NLGX Winter Sale
Venue: NLGX Design & Cafe
Address: 33 Nanluoguxiang, Gulou, Dongcheng District, Beijing
Chinese Address: 北京市东城区南锣鼓巷33号
Valid Period: Dec 04, 2009~Dec 31, 2009
Phone: 010 6404 8088
Holiday Shows and Kids Parties
The American Manhattan Symphony will be performing on Christmas Eve at the Century Theatre. For a different kind of holiday experience, try the New Year Dancing Gala by the prestigious China Oriental Song and Dance Ensemble on Dec. 26th.On December 19th, there’s the Gymboree Christmas Party, at the Lido Hotel Ballroom, for children aged 1-3. There will be a buffet, live band, clown and magic show and Christmas activities for the whole clan.
If you like to keep Christ in Christmas you can celebrate that way as well. There is a Protestant Christmas Eve church service at the Congregation of the Good Shepard where communion is also available. Enjoy a special candlelit Christmas Eve service at the River of Grace Church.
Christmas Eve Mass at the Eastern Cathedral in Wangfujing
When:Dec 24, 2009 23:00-01:00
Where: The Eastern Cathedral (Dongtang)
Address: 74 Wangfujing Dajie, Beijing
Chinese Address: 北京市王府井大街74号
Phone: 010-6524 0634
Price:free
Christmas Eve Church Service in Beijing
When:Dec 24, 2009 19:00-20:30
Where:Congregation of the Good Shepard
Address: 3/F Meeting Room, Capital Mansion Athletic Club, 6 Xinyuan NanLu, Sanlitun, Beijing
Chinese Address:北京市新源南路京城大厦首都京城俱乐部3层
When:Dec 24, 2009 19:00
Where:The River of Grace Church
Address: 2 F, Great Hotel, 1 Zuojiazhuang Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Chinese Address: 北京市朝阳区左家庄路1号，北京贵国酒店二层
Phone: 010 6466 1680
Fancy Feasts
The best part of Christmas for many, besides the presents, are the meals. There are several great options for Christmas Eve feasts. The European Christmas Gala at Legendale Hotel will feature a lavish European buffet boasting foie gras, great cheese, seafood, a whole roasted pig and more, as well as unlimited wine and beer. It’s all accompanied by live entertainment and costs 1988-2188 RMB per person. Grand Christmas at Grand Millenium Beijing will be include a grand buffet, free dinks including sparkling wine, non-sparkling wine and beer as well as a prize draw and live entertainment for 966 RMB per person. Want to go all out? Tickets for the luxurious Christmas Eve Gala at Park Hyatt Beijing start at 2688 RMB per person and tickets for the spectacular Christmas Eve Ball at the China World Hotel starts at 3588 RMB
European Christmas Gala at Legendale Hotel Beijing
When:Dec 24, 2009 18:30-22:30
Where:Legendale Hotel, 90-92 Jinbao Street, Wangfujing, Beijing
Chinese Address: 北京市金宝街90-92号
Phone: 010-85113388
Price:1988/2188 RMB per person
Grand Christmas at Grand Millenium Beijing
When:Dec 24, 2009
Where: Grand Millennium Beijing,Fortune Plaza, 7 DongSanHuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Chinese Address: 北京朝阳区东三环中路7号财富广场
Price:966 RMB
Christmas Eve Gala at Park Hyatt Beijing
When:Dec 24, 2009 18:00
Where:Park Hyatt Beijing
Address: 2 Jianguomen Wai, Yintai Center, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Chinese Address: 北京市朝阳区建国门外大街2号
Price:2688-3288 RMB
Free Food at Lotus Blue and Lantung
Venue: Lotus Blue Bar & Restaurant
Address: Inside Lotus Market, Pingan Jie, Beijing
Chinese Address:平安大街荷花市场内
Phone: 010 6617 2599
Valid Period: Dec 24, 2009~Dec 31, 2009 valid before 21:00
Open a bottle of wine or spirit and your food is free!
Nightlife
If you’re not too stuffed after all the Christmas wining and dining there’s a lot of Noel nightlife in Beijing. 2 Kolegas is hosting a rock and roll Christmas Party and the ‘godfather of Chinese rock’ Cui Jian is playing a Christmas concert. On the clubbier side, Israelis Infected Mushroom will be playing GT Banana on Xmas Eve. Judging from past Beijing performances and the number of Jews without plans that night, it’s going to be a packed and completely insane show. Zeta Bar has a Sexy Santa Christmas Eve Party, ladies in sexy Santa costumes get in free and are eligible for prizes. 200 RMB will get you free flowing booze from 21:00 to 0:00 (excluding champagne) and tapas.
Rock Superstar Cui Jian Christmas Concert
When:Dec 24, 2009
Where:Beijing Exhibition Theater
Address:135 Xizhimen Waidajie, Xicheng District, Beijing
Chinese Address: 西城区西直门外大街135号
Price:380-1280 RMB
Infected Mushroom @ GT.Banana on Dec.24
When:Dec 24, 2009 9:30 pm – 8am
Where:GT Banana 巴那那俱乐部
Address: 1F, Scitech Hotel, 22 Jianguomen Waidajie, Jianguomen, Beijing
Chinese Address:北京建外大街22号赛特饭店1层
Phone: 010-6526 3939, 6528 3636
Price:150 RMB
Mongolian Throat Singing Band Hanggai @ Yugong Yishan
When:Dec 24, 2009 21:00
Where:Yugong Yishan
Address:2-3 Zhangzizhong Lu (former Duan Qirui government building, east of Ping’an Dadao), Dongcheng District, Beijing
Chinese Address:东城区张自忠路3-2号段祺瑞执政府旧址西院
Price:50 RMB
Christmas Party with Big Ali @ Vics
When:Dec 24, 2009~Dec 26, 2009 22:00
Where: Vics
Address:Gongti North Gate, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Chinese Address:北京市朝阳区工体北门内东侧
Phone: 010-5293 0333 Zeta Bar Sexy Santa Christmas Eve Party
When:Dec 24, 2009 9pm – 11:30 pm
Where:Zeta Bar
Address:1 Dong Fang Road, Dongsanhuan Bei Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Chinese Address:北京市朝阳区东三环北路东方路一号
Beijing 2 Kolegas Christmas Party
When:Dec 24, 2009 22:00
Where:2 Kolegas
Address:21 Liangmaqiao Lu, Inside the Drive in Cinema, Chaoyang District, Beijing
Chinese Address:北京市朝阳区亮马桥路21号汽车电影院内
Phone: 010-6436 8998
Price: 50 RMB/ 40 RMB students Of course this isn’t everything going on – check our very special Christmas and New Years section. It’s got more info and events for Beijing and sixteen other cities in China. Regardless of whether you spend Christmas with your family or with hundreds of drunken strangers, have a safe, great and very merry time!
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