Santa Claus hands out candy to children. [Photo provided to China Daily]

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas, especially at the Grand Millennium Beijing, as the all new 8.5m Christmas tree and decorations were unveiled on December 5. Hundreds of people including VIPs, media, hotel associates, children from social groups, Christmas choirs from the International School of Beijing and even Santa Claus himself with several of his helpers gathered in the hotel lobby for a cozy and peaceful ceremony to get the Yuletide Season underway.

General Manager Jan Büttgen hosted a very warm Christmas light show, as everyone followed lighting candles, with warm light filling every corner of the lobby. Children from the International School of Beijing sang Christmas carols to everyone's delight, and the children from the social groups enjoyed the carols very much.