For tourism, winter may not be as popular as summer or spring but it is the time when a series of festivals and holidays are celebrated. The festive atmosphere creeps in as early as late November, when Santa Claus' signature red hat and gift bag start to appear in the store windows and tinsel-laden Christmas trees stand tall in shopping malls, heralding a new wave of sales campaigns.

Almost at the same time, hotels across the nation light Christmas trees one after another to beckon guests both Chinese and overseas.

And charity is becoming a new theme in many hotels, including China World Hotel, The Ritz-Carlton Beijing and Park Hyatt Beijing Hotel.