Lights switch-on marks the season to be jolly

The festive season is officially underway at the St. Regis Beijing with the hotel holding its Christmas lights switch-on on Dec 4.

One of the finest hotels in Asia, the St. Regis Beijing has been holding the ceremony for more than 20 years. It has become a tradition of the hotel that people from different industries and countries gather there annually to welcome Christmas, according to its staff members.

This year's event attracted representatives of the China Women's Development Foundation, seven ambassadors and nearly 150 diplomats from about 50 countries.

After lighting up the Christmas tree in the hotel lobby, guests watched a Christmas-themed performance by children from Beijing Xin Fuxue International Academy.

The hotel also held a Christmas market at the event.

The market sold anti-poverty projects supported by the China Women's Development Foundation, the hotel's Christmas hampers, crafts from pop artist Luo Jingjing and specialties provided by embassies.

The market gave guests a chance to select gifts for their loved ones in the Christmas season, said the hotel. All admission fees of the market will be donated to the China Women's Development Foundation.

On the same day, the hotel, together with embroidery studio Luneville, revealed its new festive afternoon tea. Luneville integrates Chinese elements into French embroidery, creating a new style of contemporary embroidery, said Zhang Xiaoxing, one of the founders of the studio.

Luneville exhibited nearly 20 works at the hotel's presidential suite. Common materials of French embroidery, such as feathers and sequins, were used to make traditional Chinese handicrafts.

Inspired by the aesthetic of embroidery art, the culinary team at the St. Regis Beijing has updated the hotel's afternoon tea menu to bring guests joy during the Christmas season.

The afternoon tea will be served until the end of January 2021.

Early birds can get an embroidery package with a coaching video on how to make a decoration themselves, according to the hotel.