Christmas festivity banned in some mainland cities

A shopping mall in Beijing has put up elaborate Christmas decorations. Photo: RTHK

Authorities in some mainland cities and provinces have urged people not to celebrate "Western festivals" like Christmas, saying they should instead adhere to the "fine Chinese culture".



Officials in Kunming, Hunan and Yunan, for example, have issued orders to party members and residents advising them not to follow the footsteps of others and ape Western traditions, saying festivals like Christmas should not be celebrated in China.



Instead, people have been asked to focus on marking Chinese festivals like the Lunar New Year or mid-autumn festival, which reflects the Chinese culture and history.



Some people RTHK spoke to said they agree with the authorities’ decision.



“We should absolutely not celebrate Christmas, it’s not a Chinese festival”, one woman said. “Lunar New Year is so much more important because it is a long holiday and we can spend time with our families.”



But another man told RTHK that the community should embrace diversity and different cultures, saying there is no reason to deliberately boycott Christmas.



Meanwhile, some government-approved churches in Beijing said they haven't been barred from holding Christmas masses, adding that they believe the restrictions imposed in certain areas are "isolated cases".



Some shopping malls in the capital have also put up elaborate Christmas decorations to mark the festivities.