The Ultimate Guide To Christmas Markets in Shanghai 2023

Get ready to jingle all the way through the most epic Christmas markets in Shanghai!

Festive markets have snowballed into month-long bazaars decked with a million baubles, twinkling lights, and 18-meter-tall Christmas trees. The holiday season is in overload! When has there ever been more than a dozen Christmas markets in a season?

Dose up on merry atmosphere with mulled wine and festive foods, and troll for endless stocking stuffers at these fantastic Christmas markets in Shanghai.

The Ultimate Guide to Shanghai Christmas Markets 2023

The best Christmas markets in Shanghai. @ Nomfluence

Note: Market schedules and information provided below is accurate at the time of publishing. Should changes arise, please refer to the organizer’s respective official platforms for more information. Images provided by organizers and venues.

BFC Christmas Market

Address: BFC, 600 Zhongshan Dong Er Lu 中山东二路600号BFC外滩金融中心
When: Nov 18-Jan 1; Sat & Sun, and public holidays, 10am-10pm

The BFC Christmas Market will run every Saturday and Sunday and on public holidays from now until January 1.

Expect more than 80 vendors serving festive food and drinks, as well as local delicacies. Other vendors will be representing local craft and artisan brands featuring toys, woven baskets, ceramics, art, soaps, jewelry, bags, fashion, and more. All kinds of things that will make for great stocking stuffers!

There’s also a photo booth, as well as a stage for festive performances of jazz music. Santa Claus will grace attendees with his presence, and light shows will come on during the evening. And of course, plenty of Christmas trees including one that stands at 15 meters tall. Venue is dog-friendly. Free entry.

Christkindlmarkt – The German Christmas Market

Address: Yuanmingyuan Lu near Beijing Dong Lu 圆明园路, 近北京东路
When: Nov 22-Dec 24; Wed-Fri, 3pm-10pm; Sat-Sun, 12pm-10pm; closed Monday & Tuesday

The German Christmas Market is arguably the most famous festive market in Shanghai, and quite possibly, the biggest! It’ll be held at The Bund on Yuanmingyuan Lu. Suggested drop off point is by The Peninsula Shanghai.

There will be more than 40 stalls at the market, including a ton of food and drink vendors. Expect food and drink of German sausages by Zeitgeist, Chilean-style churrascos by La Pica Chilean, BBQ and tacos by Tacolicious, raclette and fries by Royal Patat, pancakes by Papito Pancakes, festive pies by Dutch Pies, and more. There will be mulled wine, warm apple cider, eggnog, hot chocolate, gingerbread, and other festive foods, too. Arts and crafts vendors aplenty including scented candles, eco-friendly products, ornaments, jewelry, and more.

There will be a massive 8-meter Christmas tree, Santa Claus photo-ops (weekends from 1-5pm), and festive decor. Tickets are ¥30 pre-sale or ¥40 at the door.

Update: The German Christmas Market may discontinue selling tickets at the door on the day due to capacity limitation. Purchase tickets in advance to avoid disappointment.

Holiday Commune Market

Address: 277 Wuxing Lu, near Jianguo Xi Lu 吴兴路277号, 近建国西路
When: Nov 25, 12pm-9pm; Nov 26, 12pm-8pm; Dec 2, 12pm-9pm; Dec 3, 12pm-8pm

Commune Market is bringing local food and drink vendors as well as craft brands to The Weave on Wuxing Lu. It’s a small neighborhood market — easy-going and no-frills. Yes for mulled wine and festive drinks, jewelry, toys, gift-worthy items, and live artists. Free entry and pet-friendly.

Naughty Kid’s Christmas by Common Rare

Address: West Bund Dome, 2350 Longteng Dadao, near Longyao Lu 龙腾大道2350号西岸穹顶艺术中心, 近龙耀路
When: Dec 1-3, 12pm-9pm

Common Rare is celebrates their 7-year anniversary with one final market to wrap up the year with Naughty Kid’s Christmas on December 1 to 3 at West Bund Dome. The market will gather more than 220 brands covering lifestyle, indie prints and illustrations, food and beverage, coffee, common trends, toys, pets, special collaborations, and exhibitions. The market will also host live performances and workshops for kids throughout the three-day affair.

Early-bird tickets are ¥60 per person, ¥110 for two people, purchased before December 1. Tickets at the door are ¥75. The market is held in an indoor space and will be dog-friendly.

Let it Snow Festival

Address: 3338 Hongmei Lu, near Hongxu Lu 虹梅路3338弄, 近虹许路
When: Dec 1, 6pm-10pm; Dec 2 & 3, 1pm-10pm

Paramount Events and Nova Events are partnering up for a Let It Snow Festival at Laowaijie from Dec 1-3. Expect Christmas decor, plenty of food and drink vendors, craft stalls, live performances and a line-up of DJs, a snow machine, a massive Christmas tree, and Santa Claus. Dog-friendly. Free entry.

Zeitgeist Christkindlmarkt

Address: 16 Yuyao Lu, near Xikang Lu 余姚路16号, 近西康路
When: Dec 1-24; Wed-Fri, 5pm-10pm; Sat & Sun, 12pm-10pm

Zeitgeist is hosting Christkindlmarkt at Tonglefang from Dec 1-24, bringing the magic of Christmas to their humble courtyard in Jing’an. Wooden stalls for handicrafts and gifts, freshly baked treats, glühwein, and other festive food and drink. Expect German holiday specialties, too. Santa will be making his rounds from 1-6pm on Saturdays and Sundays.

Entry is ¥20 pre-sale, ¥30 at the door. Kids below 1.3 meters in height enter for free. Dog-friendly.

Leonyn Medieval Christmas Fair

Address: 699 Jiangning Lu, near Changping Lu 江宁路699号, 近昌平路
When: Dec 1-24; Fri, 5pm-10pm; Sat & Sun, 1pm-10pm

Update: The Medieval Christmas Market has ended; last day Dec 10.

Lolypop Events is collaborating with MOHO Mall to bring a medieval-themed Christmas fair to life from December 1 to 24, Friday to Sunday only. The Leonyn Medieval Christmas Fair promises to be an all-immersive experience with fairgrounds featuring medieval tents barring coats of arms and even staff parading in era-appropriate attire.

Booths for entertainment and intrigue include one hosting a crest banner workshop and one stocked with outfits for playing dress-up (and for photo-ops). There will be a kid’s area with bilingual storytelling, too. Food and drink vendors as usual will be present, as well as craft stalls.

Now this is what I’m particularly piqued by—Medieval Games! They will “curate an array of authentic medieval games” for you to “challenge friends and fellow festival-goers.” I’m thinking jousting, mêlée, and a battle to the death. But actually, it’s probably more like larping. Only one way to find out! Entry is ¥35. Dog-friendly.

JS Markets

Address: Xinhua Lane: 345 Xinhua Lu, near Dingxi Lu 新华路345号, 近定西路
When: Dec 2-3, 11am-6pm
Address: Ambassy Club: 1500 Huaihai Zhong Lu, near Wulumuqi Nan Lu 淮海中路1500号, 近乌鲁木齐南路
When: Dec 9, 11am-6pm
Address: Jiashan Lane: No. 37, 259 Jianshan Lu, near Jianguo Xi Lu 嘉善路259弄37号, 近建国西路
When: Dec 16, 11am-6pm

JS Markets is hosting three markets through the festive season. The first one will be the Xinhua Lane Holiday Market on Dec 2-3, followed by one at Ambassy Club on Dec 9, and finally, back at their stomping grounds Jiashan Lane on Dec 16. Live music, local food and drink brands, wares from local craft and designer brands. All markets are pet-friendly and free entry.

Gingerbread Dreamland at Jing An Kerry Centre

Address: 1515 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Changde Lu 南京西路1515号, 近常德路
When: Dec 2-Jan 1, 11am-10pm

The Jing An Kerry Center will host a Christmas fair from December 2 to January 1. Details are still being confirmed, but it will likely be similar to the previous years’ set up, featuring dozens of vendors for food and drink, arts, crafts, and festive wares. Free entry.

Nordic Yuletide Village at The Waldorf Astoria Shanghai

Address: 2 Zhongshan Dong Yi Lu, near Guangdong Lu 中山东一路2号, 近广东路
Tel: 63229988
When: Dec 8-24, Fri, 4pm-10pm; Sat & Sun, 12pm-10pm

The Waldorf Astoria Shanghai on the Bund is transforming their outdoor mezzanine into a Nordic Yuletide Village from Dec 8 to 24.

Expect a gleaming Nordic-style village with chalets selling food, drink, and festive Christmas wares. Expect traditional delicacies from five Scandinavian countries, including roasted turkey leg, Norwegian cured salmon, Swedish apple pie, etc. Entertainment includes dance performances, live bands, plays, and even a puppet theatre. Santa will greet the kids, while stilt walkers and gingerbread men parade around for an utterly festive atmosphere. Oh, and they promise a snow machine, too!

Early bird tickets are ¥198. Regular tickets are ¥298, entry at the door is ¥398. Half price for kids under 12 years old, free for kids ages 3 and under. All tickets include one alcoholic drink, non-alcoholic for the kids.

17th Paulaner Christkindlmarkt

Address: 3/F, 500 Dongdaming Lu 东大名路500号3楼
When: Dec 14-17, Dec 21-25; Thu & Fri, 3pm-10pm; Sat, Sun & Mon, 11am-10pm

Hands down the longest running Christmas market! The Paulaner Christkindlmarkt will be held at Paulaner North Bund this year. It’ll be held across two weekends in December, 14 to 17 and 21 to 25. More than 30 vendors will gather at the third floor roof terrace serving a wide array of festive food and drink, as well as festive gifts, local crafts and brands.

Tickets are ¥50, which can be redeemed for food or drink of equal value, free entry for kids up to 10 years old.

Savvy Snow Park

Address: C·PARK Haisu, 618 Zhaohua Lu 昭化路618号
When: Dec 22-24, 11am-10pm

Savvy Exchanger is hosting a Christmas-themed market at C Park in Changning from December 22 to 24. It’s one of the smaller scale markets, specializing in fashion, clothing, and design.

Expect vintage clothing and accessories, second hand apparel and bags, designer products, lifestyle brands, art, and print-related products. There will also be a handful of food and drink vendors. For entertainment, they’ll have music performances, as well as a dance battle! If you got moves, step in to win some cash prizes.