Dear Friends.

Halloween entered China mainly through two influences: foreign teachers and Western expats.

Foreign teachers in China might have a Halloween party for their students and a lesson about Halloween in their country. So some Chinese children hear about Halloween and might make decorations and get Halloween candy. In general though, few Chinese do much about Halloween unless they have foreign friends.

Halloween in China is a party day in expat-oriented bars and restaurants where a lot of expats live such as Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou. The bars and restaurants frequented by foreigners will often decorate for the occasion with pictures of black cats, ghosts, and monsters, and Halloween lanterns, and there might be masquerade parties.

In Hong Kong the two big theme parks, Ocean Park and Disneyland, have activities themed with Halloween. Masquerades, haunted houses, movies, and costumed people could give you a fright.

In Shanghai there is an old building built in 1933 by the British called 1933 Shanghai that was a former slaughterhouse, and is now an chic office building, that holds a Halloween event every year with adult-rated masquerade parties.