Christmas has been steadily gaining popularity in mainland China in the last two decades. In the biggest cities, it has been a big commercial success and a newly adopted festive tradition. However, most people in China do not celebrate as people do in the West...
Most Chinese people do not celebrate Christmas at all. This is especially true in rural and minority areas, where Western and Christian influence are negligible. Christmas is not a public holiday in Mainland China.
The commercial Christmas has become a major annual event in the major cities in China. On the streets and in department stores, there are Christmas trees, lights, and decorations. You'll hear Christmas music playing from the end of November, over the noise of the crowds shopping for Christmas season promotions. A Chinese "Father Christmas" (圣诞老人 Shèngdàn Lǎorén /shnng-dan laoww-rnn/) helps to make the scene complete.
Decorations are put up anywhere that wants to participate in the "international" celebration: hotels, businesses, schools, universities (particularly foreign language departments), even some tourist attractions.
Most Chinese people who celebrate Christmas do so as a happy occasion for get-togethers of friends, relatives, and couples. Christmas parties might be held at a friend's house, McDonald's, a karaoke cafe, restaurant, or bar. There is a festive atmosphere, and people enjoy the decorations and unusual music. Many younger Chinese see it as a romantic holiday for couples to exchange gifts and date.
China's Christians (only 1% of the population officially) generally celebrate Christmas religiously, sometimes more so than in the West.
While most Chinese people don't realize that Christmas celebrates the birth of Jesus Christ or attach any religious significance to the (foreign) festivities, many of China's Christians celebrate Christmas as the top event of the year, outranking even Chinese New Year, preparing songs and activities weeks before.
Christians in China celebrate by going to special church services, which are typically packed to capacity. On Christmas Eve, there are choral performances, and the congregation puts on dance and drama performances. Christmas Eve is called ‘Peaceful Evening' (Ping'an Ye 平安夜 from the translation of the carol "Silent Night").
Carol singing in the streets is rarely seen, though it's popular in Christian's houses, where the karaoke machine, ever popular in China, may be employed.
Tourists will find celebrations going on in most major cities, and domestic transportation and hotel rooms costs are some of the lowest of the year due to it being low season in China.
Expats (from countries and cultures who celebrate Christmas) decorate their homes and try to generate an atmosphere as much like at home as possible. Many feel particularly homesick at this time of year.
Purchasing the trappings of Christmas is becoming increasingly possible in China, especially in the big cities where big malls and Christmas markets sell wrapping paper, cards, etc., and there are import stores for Christmas ingredients. Online shopping is increasingly the cheapest was to get e.g. a Christmas tree and decorations or even a turkey delivered to your door.
Expats hold Christmas parties in their homes and often in their schools if they are teachers. A Christmas dinner with family, or at least friends if family are far away, is seen as very important by most.
Generally, gifts are not given at Christmas in China, except among expats. Often malls will have a Santa who hands out gifts to children, but these are usually opened the same day. There is no tradition of waiting for Christmas Day to open presents.
An unusual apple giving tradition has evolved in the country. Ping in the word 'apple' (苹果 píngguǒ /ping-gwor/) sounds like the word 'peace' in Mandarin, which is used for Christmas Eve ('Peaceful Evening'), so people give and eat apples, particularly on Christmas Eve. Apples are sold with messages printed on the skin (in Chinese): 'love', love hearts, and 'peace' are popular messages.
Christmas cards (especially a variety of good ones without English mistakes etc.) can be difficult to find in China, but the situation is far better in big cities and online. E-cards are WeChat messages are popular ways of greeting each other.
See our selection of Chinese Christmas e-cards.
Many of the larger hotels and some Western restaurants offer traditional Christmas dinners.
Many Christmas foods are difficult to find in China: Brussels sprouts, Christmas puddings, even turkeys. However, Internet shopping (Chinese sites like Taobao, rather than Amazon) and import store in the big cities may come to the rescue. Many large supermarkets, and chains like Walmart, may be able to help with the makings of a Christmas meal. Finally, there are such things as Christmas markets in some Chinese cities like Beijing.
In Hong Kong, Christmas Day (December 25) and Boxing Day (December 26) are both official public holiday. Banks are closed on these days. Boxing Day is a British tradition. It is a day for shopping for after-holiday sales and for employers to give gifts to employees.
Hong Kong is one of the best places in the world to go for a festive Christmas atmosphere, with its two-day public holiday. The American CNN television network named the Hong Kong WinterFest as one of the Top 10 places to spend Christmas in the whole world. Hong Kong is known for fantastic Christmas displays, fine food, and Christmas shopping. More on Christmas in Hong Kong
Christmas in Beijing is celebrated with keen interest by some of Beijing's younger generation. Usually it is celebrated as a happy occasion for social get-togethers and giving presents. However, most people work on Christmas day unless it happens to fall on a weekend. Christmas in Beijing is mainly commercial; it is a busy shopping season. Some of the major hotels have special Christmas dinners, and people can also be reminded of the original meaning of Christmas at churches in Beijing. More on Christmas in Beijing
Shanghai is a center for world trade and a place where East meets West. In a modern, highly-developed city, smart shopkeepers don't lose any opportunity to sell their products. Most shops in the downtown area decorate their shops to attract visitors in the holiday period. Christmas carols are heard everywhere. More on Christmas in Shanghai
It sometimes seems that Christmas is more popular than Spring Festival (Chinese New Year) in Guangzhou, especially to the young people. There are three things they love to do: have Christmas parties, go shopping, and enjoy Christmas dinner. Why not go Christmas shopping in Guangzhou? More on Christmas in Guangzhou
There are fewer Christians and Christmas is less celebrated. Famous for its karst landscape, Guilin draws many foreign and domestic tourists, but very few in the winter and at Christmas time.
In Taiwan, Christmas is generally celebrated more than in Mainland China, but less than in HK and Macau.
Christmas is an unofficial holiday in Taiwan, but only because it coincides with Constitution Day, the anniversary of the signing of Taiwan's constitution in 1947. While its 5% Christian population celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in churches and homes across the island, the majority enjoy the decorations and displays in shops, and general commercialism.
In Macau, Christmas Eve (December 24) and Christmas Day are official public holidays. Both days and December 26 as well are bank holidays.
Apart from (classic) English carols and pop songs the Chinese songs you are most likely to hear playing are the Chinese versions (to the same tunes) of "We Wish You a Merry Christmas", "Silent Night", and "Jingle Bells". Lyrics in characters and pinyin, and literal translations, are shown below.
我们祝你圣诞快乐
我们祝你圣诞快乐
我们祝你圣诞快乐
祝你新年快乐
把新讯带到
每一个角落
把新年的新讯
带给你们和我
Wǒmen zhù nǐ shèngdàn kuàilè
wǒmen zhù nǐ shèngdàn kuàilè
wǒmen zhù nǐ shèngdàn kuàilè
Zhù nǐ xīnnián kuàilè
Bǎ xīn xùn dài dào
Měi yīgè jiǎoluò
Bǎ xīnnián de xīn xùn
Dài gěi nǐmen hé wǒ
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
We wish you a merry Christmas
Wishing you a happy New Year
Take the news
To every corner
Take the New Year news
To you and me
Or...
把星星带到
每一个角落
把新年的心绪
带给你们和我
Bǎ
xīngxīng dài dào
Měi
yīgè jiǎoluò
Bǎ xīnnián de xīn xù
Dài
gěi nǐmen hé wǒ
Take stars
To every corner
Take the New Year new mood
To you and me
平安夜 圣善夜
万暗中 光华射
照着圣母也
照着圣婴
多少慈祥也
多少天真
静享天赐安眠
静享天赐安眠
平安夜 圣善夜
牧羊人 在旷野
忽然看见了
天上光华
听见天军唱
哈利路亚
救主今夜降生
救主今夜降生
平安夜 圣善夜
神子爱 光皎洁
救赎宏恩的
黎明来到
圣容发出来
荣光普照
耶稣我主降生
耶稣我主降生
Píng'ān yè shèngshàn yè
Wàn àn zhōng guānghuá shè
Zhàozhe shèngmǔ yě
zhàozhe shèng yīng
Duōshǎo cíxiáng yě
duōshǎo tiānzhēn
Jìng xiǎng tiāncì ānmián
Jìng xiǎng tiāncì ānmián
Píng'ān yè shèngshàn yè
Mùyáng rén zài kuàngyě
Hūrán kànjiànle
tiānshàng guānghuá
Tīngjiàn tiān jūn chàng
hālìlùyà
jiù zhǔ jīnyè jiàngshēng
jiù zhǔ jīnyè jiàngshēng
Píng'ān yè shèngshàn yè
Shénzi ài guāng jiǎojié
Jiùshú hóng ēn di
límíng lái dào
Shèng róng fà chūlái
róngguāng pǔzhào
Yēsū wǒ Zhǔ jiàngshēng
Yēsū wǒ Zhǔ jiàngshēng
Peaceful night holy night
In the darkness glory shone
On the holy mother and
on the holy child
So much mercy and
so much heavenly truth
Quietly enjoys heavenly rest
Quietly enjoys heavenly rest
Peaceful night holy night
Shepherds in the wilderness
Suddenly saw
heavenly glory
Heard the heavenly host sing
"Hallelujah"
The Savior tonight is born
The Savior tonight is born
Peaceful night holy night
God's Son love's light shines
Redeeming grace's
dawn has come
The holy face emanates
glory shining
Jesus my Lord is born
Jesus my Lord is born
穿过大风雪
我们坐在雪橇上
飞奔过田野
我们欢笑又歌唱
马儿铃声响
令人心欢畅
我们今夜滑雪
真快乐
把滑雪歌儿唱
叮叮当叮叮当
铃儿响叮当
我们今夜多快乐
坐在雪橇上
叮叮当叮叮
当铃儿响叮当
我们今夜多快乐
坐在雪橇上
Chuānguo dà fēng xuě
Wǒmen zuò zài xuěqiāo shàng
Fēi bēnguò tiányě
Wǒmen huānxiào yòu gēchàng
Mǎ'er língshēng xiǎng
Lìng rénxīn huānchàng
Wǒmen jīnyè huáxuě
Zhēn kuàilè
Bǎ huáxuě gē'er chàng
Dīngdīng dāng dīngdīng dāng
Líng'er xiǎng dīngdāng
Wǒmen jīnyè duō kuàilè
Zuò zài xuěqiāo shàng
Dīngdīng dāng dīngdīng dāng
Líng'er xiǎng dīngdāng
Wǒmen jīnyè duō kuàilè
Zuò zài xuěqiāo shàng
Through the wind and snow
We ride on a sleigh
Flying over the fields
We all laugh and sing
Horse's bells ringing
Makes our hearts joyful
Tonight we're sleighing
so happily
singing a sleighing song
Ding-a-ling ding-a-ling
Bells ring ding-a-ling
Tonight we are so happy
Riding on a sleigh
Ding-a-ling ding-a-ling
Bells ring ding-ling
We tonight are so happy
Riding on a sleigh
If you come to China at Christmas, you should go to one of the biggest cities to appreciate the unique atmosphere. Hong Kong is our top recommendation. If you venture north as well, you could enjoy skiing around Beijing and the start of the Ice and Snow Festival in Harbin.
China tourism low season: The end of December is either busy or a winding down period of work for most mainland Chinese before their big winter holidays at Chinese New Year. So domestic transportation and room rates are lower since it is tourist low season.
International flights are more expensive due to students, overseas workers and foreigners travelling during the Christmas season overseas.
Contact us for consultancy or a quote on a unique Christmas in China trip.