It's Christmas Time in Beijing

Along with the who's who of retail names featured along the main thoroughfares of Beijing are many very large, bright Christmas trees. You'll find big, beautiful trees in all the new malls and hotels as well.

I asked a colleague of mine if this meant that Christmas is celebrated in China these days, but no, the trees are just there because they look nice in the cold climate of Beijing this time of year and their presence encourages Westerners to buy stuff.