Beijing sources reported that a city in northern China has banned Christmas sales and decorations for an upcoming award function and the authorities in Langfang clarified that the move is not targeted at Christmas. Meanwhile an officially atheist country, China dissuades its people from celebrating Christmas, calling it a Western religious culture which has a wrong influence on its youth.
Accordingly Christianity is one of the five recognized religions in China. Meanwhile the Urban Management Bureau of Langfang in north China's Hebei province issued a notice on Sunday that bans Christmas trees on streets, the Chinese state media reported. Furthermore stores are not allowed to put up posters, banners or light boxes about Christmas sales and outdoor performances to celebrate the holiday or promote sales are also prohibited.
Reports added city peddlers are forbidden from selling Christmas related items like Christmas apples, Santa costumes and stockings or Christmas trees. The notice said "All bureau employees are required to be on duty from December 23 to Christmas Day to inspect Christmas theme promotions". Previously during 2017 Chinese university Shenyang had banned Christmas celebration on the campus.
