Metro Special

Make this Christmas one to remember

By Todd Balazovic (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-12-16 08:21

Spending Christmas in China may not be the same as heading home for the holidays, but you can still get into the Christmas spirit by grabbing some eggnog and enjoying some of the seasonal happenings going on in the capital.

Tell Santa to take a hike

For many, Christmas is a time to revel in the warmth of the fireplace, surrounded by glittery decorations while sharing stories of the year with family and loved ones. Boring.

Those not content to sit slouched at home on Christmas Day can join the Beijing Hikers in their sixth annual Great Wall hike and BBQ.

The group has put the extreme in Xmas with their yearly yuletide hike, which is a 9-km hike from the Jiankou section of the Great Wall to Mutianyu before having a big Christmas feast at a local restaurant.

When: Dec 25

Where: Room 601, Bldg 2, Xinhualian Ligang, 26 Jiuxianqiao Zhonglu, Chaoyang district

Cost: 350 yuan which provides hikers with a professional tour guide, park entrance, and a massive Christmas feast after the hike.

Tel: 6432-2786

Red and green? Black and gold!

Ditch the traditional Christmas colors this year and go bold and beautiful with the YAN club Black and Gold holiday soire.

Free champagne at the door for those willing to forego the red and dress up in gold and black. The party will be hosted by DJ Bobby and A-Lexx .

When: Dec 24, 8:30 pm

Where: Hotel Kunlun, Level 1, 2 Xinyuan Nanlu, Chaoyang district

Cost: 150 yuan, including a free glass of champagne.

Tel: 134-2633-9087

Rap some Christmas gifts

For what seems like an eternity, holiday revelers have been singing the same Christmas songs year after year.

This year, make the change with some hip-hop Christmas carols as Beijing's biggest rapping crew, Section 6, breaks it down at Yugong Yishan.

Featuring a handful of Beijing's hottest hip-hop rappers, MCs and "beatmasters", expect more imaginative rhymes than Prancer and Dancer.

When: Dec 25, 9 pm

Where: 3-2 Zhangzizhong Lu (100 meters west of Zhangzizhong Lu subway station), Dongcheng district

Tel: 6404-2711

Spread Holiday cheer to strangers

Christmas is the season of giving and what better way to spread Christmas cheer than to spend the day offering free hugs to passers-by.

An annual event organized by local Beijingers with a lot of love in their hearts, the free hugs Christmas Event spreads the love one hug at a time.

The event is free, but participants must bring their own Free Hug sign to indicate they are part of the group.

The organizers will be filming the event and distributing the video to all participants.

When: Dec 25, 11 am - 4:30 pm

Where: Begins 11 am at Tian'anmen Square

Masked merry-making

For those ashamed to be partying on Christmas night when they know they should really be home with the family, there is a solution.

Dance discreetly at the Vanguard "Nightmare of Christmas" Masquerade, where masks are a must.

There'll be a medley of live Beijing bands to rock out to until the wee hours, just don't show your face.

When: Dec 25, 9:45 pm

Where: No 13 Wudaoying Hutong, Dongcheng district

Cost: 50 yuan.

Tel: 5844-3638

China Daily

(China Daily 12/16/2010)