While not a widely recognised religious holiday, plenty of locals still like to take part in the celebrations – Christmas is a great excuse to have fun - with lovely illuminations and window displays brightening up the major cities. More recently, handing out gifts within social circles on Christmas Eve has started to become the norm, with elaborately boxed apples a popular choice because the Mandarin phrase for Christmas Eve ‘pingan ye’ and apple ‘pingguo’ sound phonetically similar.
The cold weather at this time of year also means there is a good chance of snow – imagine standing on the Great Wall surrounded by snow-covered peaks and valleys!