You think it might suck, but it won’t. Sticking around this Christmas means you’re in for a holiday treat.
12: Save mad money by not buying an air ticket back home.
11: Endless opportunities to spend said money on celebratory meals ending with RMB8 and plenty of free-flow booze. (Get our full list here.)
10: The elves who make all the world’s toys and clothing are right here in China! So it’s easy to get cheap stockings, socks, sweaters, fake trees, ornaments and holiday gifts. (Check out our list of Chinese Christmas Gifts in Shanghai.)
9: No need to share presents with brothers and sisters. Though that's going to change pretty soon.
8: A big Chinese-style, lazy Susan meal with friends is a great way to spend Christmas Day, even if you’re not Jewish. Lotus Eatery and Hunan Village both serve cheap family-style Chinese meals until 10PM.
7: No snow. It’s a bummer if you planned to build a snowman, or go skiing, or snowboarding. But, it’s also nice to wake up Christmas morning without shoveling yourself out of the driveway.
6: Holiday markets abound. Take a trip back to Medieval Europe (minus the bubonic bodies in wheelbarrows and all that jazz) with the Xuhui Riverside's Medieval Christmas Town Market, which runs until December 27. This Yuletide Renaissance fair features host of medieval activities including archery, ancient music and old-school crafts. If you want a more 'Hallmark' Christmas, the Jing An Christmas Market has packed their outdoor courtyard with holiday treats, Christmas goodies, an impressive 16-meter Christmas tree and, of course, Santa.
5. No nagging about poor life choices. We love our folks, but harping about lack of marriage, savings and 「settling down」 gets old. Christmas in China means your turkey won’t come without a side of unmet expectations.
4. Expand your repertoire of edible fowl. Christmas in China means you can try eight treasure duck instead of turkey (it has stuffing) and wash it all down with a glass of reindeer (well, deer) wine. (Here's a list of 7 birds that taste better than turkey.)
3. Christmas comes earlier (at least if you’re from a North America or European time zone).
2. No need to have any basic historical knowledge of this 『Christ』 fellow. Moreover, it’s perfectly acceptable to skip church entirely and spend the day at the mall.
1. Everything is open.