Cai Yingbo

CHINESE people as well as expatriates yesterday gathered in their communities, at pubs and the Window of the World and the Minsk World theme parks to welcome Christmas Day.

The Sea World Square in Shekou in Nanshan District was in a festive mood yesterday, with a sparkling super-sized Christmas tree in the center, and brightly decorated bars and restaurants to welcome Christmas.

Among a series of celebrations, including violin, piano and Latin dance performances at the square, Santa Claus visited the Minghua vessel to hand out gifts during the evening.

At Xingheyaju real estate in Futian District, the residents celebrated Christmas with a big party yesterday.

“The residents had prepared many activities and performances including dancing and singing,” said Wang Yan, director of the property management office.

But most were children and the elderly, because most young people had gone to pubs or clubs to celebrate, said Wang.

Feng Long, an employee of a joint venture, said he spends every Christmas Eve at church since becoming a Christian three years ago.

“As a member of a choir, I welcome this big day with other Christians singing Christmas songs in church,” said Feng.

However, many Chinese people said they didn’t really know about the religious background to Christmas nor how Western people traditionally spent their Christmas Day.

Li Wen, a student at Shenzhen University, said Christmas for him meant a hotpot “Christmas dinner” with friends. It was an occasion for friends to go out and have fun.

It was the sixth year for Eddie Neshiwat, a DJ at Club Chocolate, to celebrate Christmas in China.

“Christmas is mainly about dinner with family, presents, Santa and choirs,” he said. “It is quite a nice, but different, Christmas experience in China.”

The holiday is also a prime time for the catering business. The price of Christmas dinner at a five-star hotel was as much as 2,888 yuan (US$390) and a package service for Christmas at a presidential suite cost a record high of 380,000 yuan, accommodating a maximum of 15 people, according to a Shenzhen Evening News report yesterday.