This past weekend, my daughter and I walked over 20,000 steps at Universal Beijing having the time of our lives. From discovering that my 5-year-old is actually a roller coaster-loving adrenaline junkie to meeting her favorite baby dinosaurs and eating snacks that are literally bigger than her head, we loved every single moment in the park.

However, after a few visits, you start to feel like you’ve seen it all, done it all and eaten it all. But just as you start to feel like you know Universal like the back of your hand, they do something beautiful and new that surprises you in the best way possible.

Starting Nov 14, Universal Beijing turns its beloved Wizarding World of Harry Potter into a full Christmas celebration, and at the center of it all will be The Enchanted Christmas Tree in Hogsmeade – a towering, ornate display that no other Universal park has introduced. Guests can look forward to a nightly tree-lighting ceremony, a brand-new production crafted specifically for Beijing’s audience.

So, as the last of the autumn leaves give way to the winter chill, our plans are already set. We may know every twist of the Forbidden Journey and every corner of Hogsmeade, but we don’t yet know the magic of seeing its snowy peaks glisten under a Christmas light show.

And don’t forget – if you’re dining at any of the CityWalk restaurants, be sure to keep your receipt, as it can be used for discounts at the retail stores. As an added bonus, guests at the Toothsome Chocolate Emporium can get a discount on their food bill by presenting a receipt from the on-site chocolate confectionery. The best part? The chocolate shop receipt can be for any amount.

Images: Mina Yan

The month of hotel Christmas tree lighting is upon us. While most hotels opt for a more traditional tree lighting ceremony, another has gone in a slightly different direction.

It all started a few years back with the Tree of Knowledge at East Beijing Hotel where instead of purchasing a tree, the hotel built a tree-shaped book shelf and asked the local community to donate their second-hand books to help the hotel “build” the tree. All the donated books were then given to Roundabout to help raise money for Educating Girls of Rural China. Since then, East Beijing Hotel caught the gift-giving bug and every year since they have turned their tree lighting ceremony into an opportunity to give back to the community.

This year for the holiday season the hotel not only put in Mr. Dino, a giant T-rex sporting a Santa hat and scarf that looks like it came out of A Night At The Museum, but Mr. Dino’s guarding a massive red donation box collecting clothes, books, and toys all month long. In collaboration with Roundabout, this year’s donations will be given to families in Qinghai and Xingjiang provinces.

The hotel has collected 30 holiday wishes from children in rural Qinghai and Xinjiang provinces and placed them in 30 dinosaur eggs in the lobby. Anyone is welcome to go find out what the kids wished for and help make their wish come true.

To celebrate the joys of Christmas, East Beijing Hotel will be ringing in the holiday season on December 7 at 3pm with Christmas cookies and mulled wine, along with Christmas carols from the kids of Beanstalk International Bilingual School (BIBS) UES Campus right in the lobby.

All ages
December 7 at 3pm
East Beijing Hotel, No. 22 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang 朝阳区酒仙桥路22号

Photos: Provided by East Beijing Hotel, Mina Yan

On December 1, the Fairmont Beijing’s General Manager, Michael Ganster and Santa Claus kicked off the hotel’s holiday season with the opening of the gingerbread house in the lobby under the crystal dragon. The gingerbread masterpiece was created by the pastry team who spent days working on making the gigantic feature a spotlight of the Tree lighting ceremony.

beijingkids had a make coloring station where young ones colored Christmas cards to give to their loved ones. Children had the chance to try out cupcake decorating, face painting, balloon twisting and decorating stations. Apart from the gingerbread house treaties, there were other pastries available, hot chocolate and mulled wine for guests to enjoy. Families had the opportunity to have their portraits taken by sitting on Santa as did some kids and adults.

The resident musician led the hotel staff in caroling for the guests but that was not the only form of entertainment as some members of staff performed various dance. Before the main event, Michael Ganster read ‘Twas a Night Before Christmas’ to the children seated around santa’s chair then led all guests in counting down to the lighting of tree. For the rest of the holiday season, the Christmas tree and gingerbread house will be open daily for all to check out.

Take a look at the highlights on our gallery.

Photos courtesy of Fairmont Beijing