As a Christmas-lover, planning for the festive season well before December is in my DNA, but I know it's not the norm. This festive season, however, with many of us in a funk about missing family, friends and travel back home (again!), I urge you to start planning your Christmas early. Looking forward to something is a must for our sanity, so read on for important tips on how to celebrate Christmas in Shanghai.
WeChat to the rescue!
If you're not sure where to start, join one of the Christmas WeChat groups for inspiration on everything Christmas!
The Christmas WeChat groups (there are two!) have been going strong since first created in 2017. The chats are a safe space to ask, and share, anything and everything Christmas related.
Less than a week into November, with Halloween decorations lurking on the mantle, the Christmas chats ploughed headlong into the festive season. Talk of Christmas markets and turkey dinners, where to buy Christmas trees and which Taobao links are the best for personalised Christmas stockings are just some of the discussions we've seen so far.
If you'd like to join the Christmas WeChat group, please leave a note in the comments section below, or email sarah@adventuringwego.com and I'll add you. (To keep the chats free of spammers I won't share my WeChat ID here.)
What to expect in the lead up to Christmas?
I'll admit, this November feels very different to previous years. Like many of you, I was starting to worry if there would be any Christmas markets this season at all. I am happy to report that many schools and venues have been working tirelessly behind the scenes trying their hardest to get this years Christmas markets and events up and running. And in the last day or so, I'm excited to see more and more Christmas markets being announced.
Christmas Markets
If you're in desperate need of some Christmas spirit, visiting a Christmas market is hands down the best way to soak up the festive atmosphere and find your Christmas groove. Sip a cup of mulled wine, or hot chocolate, and peruse baked goods, handcrafted gifts and home decor, all the while listening to Christmas carols. Give it a go, you won't be disappointed!
Turkey dinners-to-go
It seems more and more restaurants are offering turkey dinners-to-go each year. So why not hang up your apron this Thanksgiving, relax and let one of the hotels or restaurants take the stress out of your festive meal planning. There are plenty of Turkey-to-go options to choose from to suit a range of budgets.
Christmas dinners
In the coming weeks, expect your WeChat to overflow with Christmas Dinner options. The hardest part will be trying to decide where to go! Or if spending Christmas day at home is more your style, you'll find many of the turkey-to-go deals start in November and carry through until after Christmas so enjoy a relaxing, and cozy, Christmas dinner at home.
Workshops & Kids Camps
If you and the kids are feeling crafty, or if you think you may need a few child-free days over the holiday period, keep an eye out for a range of Workshops & Camps on offer.
Christmas in Shanghai e-Catalogue
As flyers for turkey dinners, crafts, winter camps and gifts start stacking up in your WeChat, you're not alone in feeling overwhelmed in trying to keep up with it all.
To make it easier to navigate, I'm collecting all the Thanksgiving and Christmas flyers and have collated them into the 'Christmas in Shanghai - 2022' e-catalogue. The catalogue includes everything you'll need to plan and enjoy a wonderfully festive Christmas in Shanghai.
You'll find everything from markets, events, workshops and gift vendors. As well as food & beverage options including Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners, festive season meal delivery/takeaways and baked goods.
Gift Guide
Is that last Taobao fail still haunting you? Shop in the warmth and comfort of your own home with the Gift Guide, a collection of flyers from small business vendors in Shanghai and beyond. Connect with the vendors and ask them about their products. Find unique and hand-crafted pieces perfect for filling Christmas stockings or giving as keepsake gifts to friends who may be leaving.
Events Calendar
If you're a Christmas fanatic planning to visit all the Christmas markets this season, the Event Calendar will be your new best friend. The calendar of events makes it easy for you to see what's on when, so you can plan all your Christmas shopping and family outings. All the scheduling has been done for you so you won't miss a thing.
The 'Christmas in Shanghai' e-catalogue is updated with new flyers every day. Bookmark this link, or save it to your favourites, so you can refer back to it whenever you need to.
Have a joyous Christmas
There is no substitute for spending quality time at home with your family at Christmas time but for many of us travelling home this year is just not viable. So as the temperature starts to dip, don't let your mood dip with it. Consider putting the Christmas tree up a few weeks early. Dig out an ugly Christmas sweater. Throw yourself into planning Thanksgiving and Christmas and most importantly, get yourself along to a Christmas market. Get amongst the Christmas crazy in Shanghai and I guarantee you'll feel much better.
I hope this e-catalogue helps to make your Christmas in Shanghai a little brighter.
Sarah xxx
Click on the image below to navigate to the e-catalogue!
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Turkey dinners to go seems like a foreign concept to me. However, I’ll have to try it if I ever get to Shanghai.
Hi Karen, yes it was a very foreign concept for me too but many apartments in China do not have ovens in the kitchen, only hot plates so impossible to cook a turkey! So the western hotels and restaurants here offer a ‘Turkey Hamper’ aka ‘Turkey-to-go’! A fully cooked turkey with all the festive trimmings that can be delivered hot to your door on Thanksgiving or Christmas! It’s so convenient 🙂
I’m a new expat and this post made me feel so hopeful for my first Christmas abroad! Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Hi Virginia, I’m glad you liked the post! It’s all about finding that Christmas loving community and if you can’t find one ready-made, create one yourself!
I would love to spend a Christmas in China! Your catalogue is really helpful also for preparing this event! Thank you for sharing this post!
Hi Anita, I hope one day you will get the chance to visit Shanghai at Christmas-time. Thank you for your message 🙂
Great list of Christmasy things to do in Shanghai. I love Christmas markets and would love to see one in Shanghai one day!
Thanks Tina – I hope you get the chance to visit one day too!
Such a great guide! I do love a Christmas market, always reminds me of home when I’m feeling a bit homesick during the Christmas period. I bet Shanghai has some amazing vendors there.
Hi Leah, thank you for your message. Yes, there are so many amazing local and expat vendors it really is hard not to spend all my money when I visit all the markets!
Very interesting post. I always love learning about new cultures and how Christmas is celebrated. Thank you for sharing!
Hi Debbie, thanks for your message. I’m glad you enjoyed the post! 🙂
This is on my bucket list. Thanks for sharing!
You’re welcome – thank you for commenting 🙂
I had no idea Shanghai has Christmas markets! This was such a fun post to read, and got me excited for the holiday season. Thank you for sharing!
Yes! Shanghai has so many Christmas markets that are organised by both the local and expat communities. Our weekends are always fully booked all the way up to Christmas 🙂
What a great way to stay connected to your traditions in a new place! I remember as a child in a foreign country, I dearly missed our yearly Christmas and Thanksgiving celebrations, so it’s really precious that you have these chats to help find ways to celebrate.
Thanks Jenn. It really does bring the community together! Everyone is sharing ideas and things they’ve found to help each other to make sure their Christmas away from home is still special 🙂