China Travel Forum

[cfhasdk]

Is Christmas and New Year a time for special meals and general festivities? Are the shops open normal trading hours at both times, likewise is transport affected? Apart from shop and eat is there much to do if it's wet and chilly?

[Aynor]

New Year (Jan 1) is public holiday in China but not Christmas, but you will find department stores, bank, post office still open for business. Shanghai is the most westernise city in China, so you would see lots of restaurents/hotels lauch out so call special dinner for Christmas & new year dinner at sky prices, just like UK or HK.2.Not a raining season. Dry then. A fairly good time to visit. Some young local people can speak good English. However, old folks and mid-age people don't speak English. In markets and commercial areas shopkeepers can speak a little English and do bargain over the calculator.