Twinkle, Twinkle Christmas Lights: Where to find them this year

When I was a kid, my whole family would pile up in the family mini-van to drive around to the different neighborhoods that were holding Christmas decoration competitions. The largest light show I’ve seen was in Fort Worth, Texas, where row after row of suburban house had retina-splotching lights on display, from the ginormous blow-up Santa to fabricated Christmas trees.

In Beijing, where flashy lights are fashionable all year round, making a drive-by might not feel as special, but for those who are pining for a North American Christmas, lights can still be found at these locations:

Jiangguomen DRC
Though you might not be able to enter the complex, you can admire the lights from the gates. 秀水街1号
Parkview Green 芳草地
This mall also has a fabulous Christmas tree on display that has been recommended by those on our staff. 东大桥路9号
Kerry Hotel Beijing 北京嘉里大饭店
After you check out the lights inside the lobby, you could grab a bite to eat at the kid-friendly Horizon. 1 Guanghua Lu 光华路1号
China World Shopping Mall 国贸商城
Plenty of things can be found to do in the warmth of this mall. 建国门外大街1号
Conrad Hotel Beijing
Stop by for a dessert and lights before heading on to Sanlitun area. 东三环北路29号
InterContinental
Check out the rotating Christmas displays on this iconic honeycomb hotel. Food is just around the corner at TaiKooLi and Sanlitun Soho. 三里屯南路1号
Solana 蓝色港湾
The LED light displays were under construction when we went by, so these should be ready very soon (a reader commented it starts on December 16). Check out the ice rink for a fun family outing. 6 Chaoyang Gongyuan Lu 朝阳公园路6号蓝色港湾国际商区

We suggest the whole trek for the most limber of families and with data on your phone in hand to check the addresses as you go. Thanks to China’s one time zone policy, Beijing gets dark enough to enjoy the lights early in the evening.

Photos: Screenshots, Margaux S., Mike W., and Scott