How to Spend Christmas Eve in Beijing

Christmas Eve for the West is similar to the New Year’s Eve of Chinese lunar new year for the Chinese, a time for family reunion. This western religious festival is getting its popularity in China, especially in the big cities like Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, etc.

There are various reasons behind the increasing popularity of Christmas in China. The Christians and Catholics are increasing in numbers; young people seek Christmas as the time to boost their romance; smart merchants grab Christmas to promote theirs sales or images; foreign business related companies follow suit.

If you happen to spend your Christmas eve in Beijing during your Beijing winter tour, you may take some adventure going on to the streets to explore and spend a local Christmas eve.

So how will local Beijingers celebrate Christmas eve? What are things to do during Christmas eve in Beijing?  Unlike the west countries where Christmas is a time for family get-together, here in Beijing it is a time for making fun and making money.

I once drove around the busy areas in Beijing for feeling the atmosphere of Christmas eve. Here’s my run down of the interesting spots for Christmas eve.

Christmas Eve gala party

Many hotels, mainly 4 or 5 star hotels would hold Christmas eve gala parties in recent years.  A routine Christmas eve gala party would include three elements – a big dinner,  high-level performances and several rounds of exciting lucky draws.

Christmas eve party is also a channel for networking or “Guanxi” in Chinese, enhancing working relationship and friendship. Below are the two pictures taken from internet.

Performance at a Christmas eve party

Go to Church

The East Church was originally called Saint Joseph’s Church, and was built in the 12th year (1655) of Emperor Shunzhi during the Qing Dynast y (1644-1911). It was the second Catholic church built in Beijing after Italian preacher Matteo Ricci built the “South Church” in southern Beijing at the end of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The present building was rebuilt in 1904 on the ruins of the burned church. In the 1980s, large-scale repairs and maintenance were carried out by the government for East Church.

A huge crowd of fun-seekers would gather the church, taking pictures and sensing the ambience of Christmas eve. A great number of police were on high alert for a safe Christmas eve.

Police will be on high alert for a safe Christmas eve.

Late Night Shopping

On Christmas eve,  almost all the stores and shopping malls in Beijing will not miss this golden opportunity for sales promotion. Business hours last till small hours, even to early next morning with big discounts.

Beijing Department Store says it is open till 6am. There is something festive inside the department store.

Pubs and Bars

Listening to the music from inside. Having a glimpse of the music band inside a bar.

Add-on

Tip:  Hassle-free Beijing Guided Tours

If you don’t want to go the do-it-yourself route and prefer the hassle-free escorted tours,  here are some options for guided tours to Beijing:

Further Readings