Christmas is a normal working day in Shanghai, yet the city still glitters: German-style markets, hotel turkey dinners, films in English and a tree in every mall.
Christmas is a normal working day in Shanghai, so you will likely spend the 25th at your desk. But the city still glitters: German-style markets pop up at hotels through December, five-star kitchens roast turkey for ¥600 to 1,500 (USD 83 to 208) a head, malls raise trees three storeys tall, and a few cinemas screen the season's film in English. Here is where expats actually spend Christmas, what it costs, and how to book before the good tables vanish.
Is Christmas even a thing in Shanghai?
Christmas in Shanghai is a commercial and social occasion, not a day off. It is not a public holiday in China, so Dec 25 is a working Thursday in 2026 and only the national holidays give you time off. That said, the city leans in hard from late November: every mall on Nanjing Xi Lu and in Xuhui dresses its atrium with a giant tree, shopping streets string up lights, and cafes push cinnamon everything. For expats the day itself is what you make of it, usually an evening thing after work, with the real planning going into dinner and where to feel a bit of home.
The Christmas markets
Shanghai's Christmas markets are mostly hosted by international hotels and a few venues through December, running German-market style with wooden stalls, mulled wine, sausages and crafts. Entry is usually free or a small cover, and a cup of mulled wine with a snack runs about ¥50 to 100 (USD 7 to 14). The catch is that dates and hosts change every year and the good ones are word-of-mouth, so do not trust an old blog: search each hotel's WeChat account in late November for this season's dates, and go on a weekday evening if you can, because the weekend crowds are heavy. Wrap up warmly; Shanghai in December is cold and damp, and few markets have much shelter.
Where to book Christmas dinner
The Christmas dinner is what expats plan first in Shanghai, and the good tables sell out weeks ahead. Two shapes dominate: the five-star hotel buffet, a lavish spread with turkey, roast beef, seafood and free-flow wine at ¥600 to 1,500 (USD 83 to 208) a head; and the Western restaurant set menu, a sit-down three or four courses for ¥400 to 900 (USD 56 to 125). Both peak on Christmas Eve, which is the bigger night out here than the 25th. If you want a table on the 24th or 25th, book by early December. Our guides to where expats actually eat and the design hotels worth booking are good places to start hunting.
| The night out | Typical price (RMB / USD) |
|---|---|
| Five-star hotel Christmas dinner buffet | ¥600 to 1,500 pp USD 83 to 208 |
| Western restaurant Christmas set menu | ¥400 to 900 pp USD 56 to 125 |
| Christmas market: mulled wine and a bite | ¥50 to 100 USD 7 to 14 |
| Cinema ticket for a festive film in English | ¥60 to 120 USD 8 to 17 |
| A tree and decorations (Taobao or flower market) | ¥150 to 600 USD 21 to 83 |
Converted at about 7.2 RMB to the US dollar, September 2026, so treat the dollars as a ballpark. Hotel dinners on Christmas Eve run higher than the same night on the 23rd.
Trees, gifts and the Western treats
Everything you need for a home Christmas in Shanghai is a few taps away. Real and artificial trees, lights and ornaments all ship fast on Taobao, and the city's flower markets sell potted trees through December for about ¥150 to 600 (USD 21 to 83). For the taste of home, the import supermarkets and warehouse clubs in our Western groceries guide carry stollen, mince pies, cheese and a frozen turkey if you want to cook your own. Order the turkey early; they run out, and few Shanghai ovens are big enough, so measure yours before you commit to hosting.
Good to know
- Good for: a festive night out with friends, or a quiet home Christmas without flying anywhere.
- What you will pay: ¥400 to 1,500 (USD 56 to 208) a head for dinner out, far less for a market cup or a night in.
- Make the most of it: book dinner by early December, treat Christmas Eve as the main event, and keep the 25th free for a slow morning before work.
Christmas Eve, however you want it
You do not have to do Christmas loudly in Shanghai. Plenty of expats keep it small: a home-cooked dinner, a film in English at the cinema (our English-language cinema guide has the screens that carry the season's release), ice skating at a mall rink, or just a long call home in pyjamas. The first Christmas away is the one that stings; it is normal to feel the distance more sharply on the 25th than any other day, and it eases as Shanghai starts to feel like home. Build the version that fits you, not the one Instagram says you should have, and it turns into something you look forward to.
Common questions
Is Christmas a public holiday in China?
No. Dec 25 is a normal working day across China, including Shanghai, and 2026 puts it on a Thursday. Only Chinese New Year, National Day and the other official holidays give paid time off. If you want the day itself, you book annual leave; otherwise plan Christmas around the evening after work, which is how most expats here do it.
Where can I buy a Christmas tree in Shanghai?
Taobao delivers real and artificial trees, lights and ornaments within a day or two, and the city's flower markets sell potted and cut trees through December for about ¥150 to 600 (USD 21 to 83). Import supermarkets and warehouse clubs stock decorations too. Order early in the month, because the nicer trees and lights sell out in the last week.
How far ahead do I need to book Christmas dinner?
Book two to four weeks ahead for a table on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day. The five-star hotel buffets and the popular Western restaurants fill first, and Christmas Eve is the busier of the two nights in Shanghai. Reserve by early December, confirm whether the price includes free-flow drinks, and check the cancellation terms before you pay a deposit.
Can I watch a Christmas film in English in Shanghai?
Yes. Some cinemas screen the season's Hollywood release in its original English with Chinese subtitles, and you filter for the original-language showtime when you buy. Our guide to films in English lists the screens that carry them and how to spot the right session on the ticketing apps.
As Confucius wrote in the Analects, 有朋自远方来，不亦乐乎, is it not a joy when friends come from afar. Christmas far from home is easier with a table full of them.
Words, maps and research by the Choice Shanghai team. Please credit us and tag our 公众号 if you share.
