Looks Like December: Where to Get Your Yuletide Trimmings in Beijing
Many families will gather on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day to feast, exchange presents, and reflect on the year’s blessings. But before that, there is much to be done. To help take the guesswork out of your holiday preparations, we round up places to buy Christmas trees, decorations both downtown and in Shunyi.
Deck (Out) the Halls
In Shunyi, most fruit and vegetable vendors and larger grocery stores will have a hodgepodge of Christmas decor for sale. Tai Tai Shop carries greeting cards, tree ornaments, and Christmas crackers. Radiance has some unique gift items and tree ornaments. Stella’s Woodcarving has quaint hand-carved nativity scenes. However, the biggest selection of Christmas products can be found at Beidong Floriculture Garden with everything from Christmas lights to spray-on snow, fake holly, dancing Santas, and festive tableware.
In the city, look no further than Tianyi Market (see one-stop shopping to rule them all for more) in Fuchengmen, Liangma Flower Market, Laitai Flower Market, or Ladies’ Street (all in Liangmaqiao), or Ikea, which carries the adorable bird ornaments pictured above (RMB 49 for a pack of three).
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree
The Christmas craze has firmly caught on in China, though plastic trees tend to be of the distinctly tacky variety. Home retailers HOLA and Ikea carry more tasteful plastic trees during the holidays, as well as Christmas decorations, festive tableware, and wrapping paper.
Besides big-box stores like Carrefour and Wal-Mart, fake trees can also be bought in Shunyi at the Jenny Lou’s in Pinnacle Plaza and Beidong Floriculture Garden. Live pines are available from the flower vendors by the pedestrian entrance of Capital Paradise on Yuyang Lu.
In the city, Liangma Flower Market carries real, potted Christmas trees from northeastern China that range in height from 1.5m to 4m. The smallest ones go for around RMB 185, while the largest can cost over RMB 3,000. Delivery can be arranged to anywhere in Beijing for a modest fee. Simply stroll down to the market or call friendly Mr. Si at 135 5239 9404 (Chinese only) to place your order.
One-Stop Shopping to Rule Them All
Online retailer Kookus has everything from Christmas trees to hanging decorations, Christmas villages, Santa hats, greeting cards, wrapping paper, and fake snow. A live tree costs RMB 230 (1.3-1.5m), RMB 500 (1.8-2m), or RMB 700 (2.3-2.5m) not including shipping while fake ones range from RMB 130-999 for a 1.5m-tall tree.
As can be expected from the largest wholesale market in Beijing, Tianyi Market is packed with plastic Christmas trees, ornaments, decorations, reindeer antlers, and Santa hats during the holiday season. However, it is not for the faint of heart; you will want to haggle hard and buy in bulk to get the best prices. The Christmas shopping peak hits around December 15, so try going after the middle of the month for additional discounts.
Get the most up-to-date list of Christmas and New Year’s events. For unique gift ideas and more seasonal resources, check out our Pinterest boards at www.pinterest.com/beijingkids.
A version of this article originally appeared on beijing-kids.com
Photos: Mitchell Pe Masilun, Ikea, and Wikimedia commons.
