Chinese cherish culture over business at Christmas

BEIJING - Christmas shopping fever that has swept China for the past decade has died down this year.

In southern city of Guangzhou, while all shopping malls have decorated their windows with Christmas ornaments, few bothered with sales promotions.

E-commerce is making tens of billions of profits with two rounds of "Cyber Monday" which fell on Nov 11 and Dec 12 this year.

Within one month, the Chinese celebrate Spring Festival, the most important festival of all. Shoppers may be choosing to save money for special purchases later, said an industry insider.

Most restaurants in downtown Guangzhou, especially those in areas where foreign companies congregate, offer set menus on Christmas eve, but the average price has dropped considerably.

"In the past, a set meal on Christmas eve cost 300 to 400 yuan ($50 to 65) in an ordinary restaurant. This year I can enjoy a splendid meal in the five-star Four Seasons Hotel for the same amount of money," said a resident surnamed Liang.

Although retail and catering markets are cooling down, post offices are gaining great popularity.

While many families still know little about the religious aspects of the festival, they considered it a nice occasion to share happiness and get together with family and friends.

Santa Claus' Post Office opened in Guangzhou at the beginning of December. Three branches of the post office at three city landmarks receive up to 2,000 customers each day.

On Tuesday afternoon, Xue Weiwen, 45, went to the branch at Huacheng Square and stamped special Christmas postmarks on postcards. It is a special service offered by Santa Claus' Post Office since 2009.

"I've collected all the postmarks from the three branches and I'll send postcards to my friends while keeping some for myself," said Xue.

He has been a big fan of the post office for four years and took one of his friends Li Fuding with him this year.

Li wrote "Merry Christmas" in Chinese calligraphy and affixed a red cartoon seal to his work. He said it was a refreshing new experience.