Christmas is coming, the goose is getting fat, please put a penny in … the cash register. Yes, Christmas, that most austere of commercial traditions, is upon us once more, and whilst it's not a Chinese festival and therefore not celebrated widely here, people still get rather shirty if you don't throw a present or two their way.
 
For those traveling home for the holidays, friends and relatives have grown to expect gifts with a certain Chinese flavor, while those remaining here who have grown up with the tradition of Christmas seem equally loath to let it slide. So, rather than sighing "Bah Humbug!"and scrooging your way through the festive season, let us shop around for you. We've picked out some trinkets and gifts, small enough to be stocking fillers, but unique enough to show you've made a bit of an effort.

Trinket Boxes

Handcrafted from fragments of porcelain recovered from pieces of pottery, these little trinket boxes make ideal stocking fillers. Each piece is unique, and prices vary accordingly. However, starting from an affordable RMB 25, you can stock up on a few.

Shard Box
Location: 2 Jiangtai Lu, Chaoyang District
Opening hours:  Daily 9AM-7PM
Tel: 010-5135-7638

Calendars and Hoodies

Expat-fave Plastered has been flexing its creative muscles and created a new line of stuff to satisfy the Christmas demand. As well as more T-shirt designs (including the rather charming "Women Can Be Heroes") they've brought out a selection of hoodies (RMB 150) to fend off the winter chill, as well as extras such as a 2008 calendar (RMB 100) featuring their best-selling designs, and pin-badges (RMB 5).

Plastered T-shirts
Location: 42 Nanluogu Xiang, Dongcheng District
Opening hous: Mon-Fri 1-10PM, Sat-Sun 10AM-10PM
Tel:134 8884 8855

Arty Gifts

To acquire a piece of the Chinese art scene that won't set you back millions of RMB (or USD!), try this gallery-cum-shop in 798. In addition to full-blown works of art, they also stock more affordable notebooks (from RMB 100), notecards (RMB 80) and pin badges and magnets (RMB 5-10).

Artshop Artopal
Location: Dashanzi art district (opposite At Cafe), 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District
Opening housr: Daily 10AM-7PM
Tel: 010-8459-9335/6

Gobi Gear T-Shirts and Long-sleeve Shirts

Another Beijing-based brand selling their quirky take on the local lifestyle. Their curious selection of T-shirts and vest tops (from RMB 90) are sure to raise a smile.

Gobi Gear
Location: Unit 15, Bldg 11, Central Park Apartment Complex, Guandongdian Nanjie, Chaoyang District
Opening hours: Tue-Sun 11AM-7PM
Tel: 010-6533-6559

Shanghai Tang Dolls

Too good for the kids, this adorable doll would be better appreciated by grown-ups (namely us!). At RMB 150 it's an affordable way to get your hands on work from a luxury Chinese brand. Shanghai Tang also sells a range of Chinese-inspired notebooks and jewelry boxes, but if you really want to impress your intended, check out their range of clothing and accessories.

Shanghai Tang
Location: B1/F, Grand Hyatt Beijing, Beijing Oriental Plaza, 1 Dong Chang'an Dajie, Dongcheng District
Opening hours: Daily 10AM-10PM
Tel: 010-8518-0898

(That's Beijing December 13, 2007)