China Sees New Surge in Christmas Tradition

BEIJING -- It's been a hectic few weeks for Wang San Ping.
Ping owns a small Christmas shop near the U.S. embassy in Beijing. She, like so many other merchants on this street, is trying to entice shoppers to spend this Christmas season.

The last couple of years, Christmas in China has been a huge money-making business, but this year, many are not feeling too merry about the season.

This is traditionally one of the busiest times in China's economic calendar, as factories rush to export billions of dollars worth of goods made in China, most of which will end up under Christmas trees around the world.

But the global economic crisis has hit us in China and foreigners are not spending like they used to.

Still, it hasn't stopped the Chinese from getting into the holiday spirit.

"Many people around the world are celebrating this holiday and we are more than happy to join in the festivities," one resident said.

CBN News