Although Beijing's traffic flow slowed down to a crawl last night, it was not for the recent record-breaking spell of snow...but apparently Christmas Eve parties.
"It seems to me that thousands of people are trying to hire taxies,'' complained Xiao Guo, a reporter in the national capital.
Chen Ming, a junior student at Renmin University of China, said: "Christmas is a romantic occasion and I cannot miss it this year, a White Christmas.''
Many others have also been moved by the atmosphere of the holiday.
"Christmas, a western religious holiday, does not make much sense to me. But I have been infected with the aura of cheer in the office and have decided to go out somewhere for fun tonight,'' Jin Cheng said Tuesday before finishing for the day at his accounting firm.
Resident Qin Xiao said: "The Spring Festival, a traditional Chinese holiday, is one for family reunion and Christmas is one for friends.''
More people, especially the young, share Qin's view as pubs and other entertainment venues have been fully booked days in advance..
"I knew from last year's experience and booked seats in a bar two weeks ago,'' 36-year-old Li Min said.
A person working at the Beijing Information Directory Desk said: "We are very busy tonight with so many people calling to sort out numbers for restaurants, cinemas, clubs and pubs and other recreational facilities.''
Traffic was not only moving slowly on the roads, but also on short message services for mobile phones as well as on the Internet, as people found them the most convenient way to send their Christmas wishes.
"It is approaching the end of the year and Christmas is a good chance to send my blessings to friends and pray for dreams to come true in the coming new year,'' said Sheng Ji from a Beijing law firm.
(China Daily December 25, 2002)
