"Spring festival signifies the gathering of family members, while Christmas is celebrated with friends", said Song, stressing that both are very important holidays to her.

Just over one month ago, the Chinese media carried ads promoting various Christmas celebrations, and shop windows and hotels were beautifully decorated for the season. Groups of young Chinese, some wearing Santa hats, spent Christmas Eve in bars and other places of entertainment.

However, to 24-year old Xu Haifeng, a manager of a baby carriage manufacturing company in east China's Jiangsu Province, Spring Festival stands for family gatherings, friendship and love, important things which cannot be replaced by western holidays.

Shi Yan, who returned to China recently after four years in the United States, said that Christmas is a very important holiday for Americans, while for most Chinese; Spring Festival is still at the top of their festival agenda. "When I was in the US, we Chinese gathered to discuss how much we missed our hometowns," noted Shi.

Sociologists note that growing numbers of Chinese youth are celebrating Christmas as well as Spring Festival, which indicates that China is becoming increasingly open and young people increasingly tolerant.

(Xinhua News Agency February 6, 2003)