O Christmas Tree: Where To Find a Real Tree in Beijing

Robynne Tindall theBeijinger

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You’ve written your Christmas list and you know which bazaars you’ll be attending to pick up all your presents. But wait! What about a Christmas tree? Yes, you could zip over to Ikea and snag an artificial one, but for us, there’s nothing more festive than the scent of a real pine tree around the house in the run-up to Christmas. They can be a little tricky to find, however, so we’ve rounded up a few places to pick one up.

Shopsmith

Online healthy food purveyor Shopsmith is selling potted spruce trees in a range of heights (1-3.5 meters) starting from RMB 128. As they note on their page, you may want to consider buying a bigger pot depending on the size of your tree (RMB 40-45), as well as some nutritionally-enhanced soil (RMB 20/5kg) to help your tree survive and thrive. Search for the Shopsmith mini-program to order. Delivery is typically three days.

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Florists

Some florists and flower markets around the city do stock Christmas trees, although you may need to call or order in advance to guarantee. A couple of options include 666 Flower at the west end of Guanghua Lu (44 Guanghua Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区光华路44号朝阳花店), which is known for catering to the international needs of the embassy area, or Liangma Flower Galleria, located on the west side of Liangma International Jewel and Antique Market just northeast of Solana (27 Liangmaqiao Lu, Chaoyang District 朝阳区亮马桥路27号).

Taobao (obviously)

Of course, for whatever you need, there’s always Taobao. Simply search 真圣诞树 Zhēnshèngdànshù and you’ll be greeted with a bevy of options (look for the items with pictures of trees actually growing!). Expect to pay RMB 200 and up for a 1-2 meter tree. A lot of the sellers are based in Shanghai, so expect your tree to take a few days to reach you.