All You Need for Christmas Decor Can Be Found at Liangma Flower Market

If you still haven't dolled up your hutong flat with Xmas gear, there's one spot that has all you need to thaw that winter misery, and it's a stone's throw from Sanlitun.

Scoff if you must, Scrooges, but poring over the holiday decorations at the Liangma Flower Market will rekindle childhood nostalgia among even the most icy-hearted cynic.

Perhaps best of all for Christmas die-hards: you can get real live trees out front for anywhere between RMB 400 and RMB 1000, conveniently pre-potted for you -- and they deliver.

Below we've listed some of the items we found inside the market that'll leave you dashing through the smog snow, laughing all the way. Keep in mind that the prices listed are opening bids from each vendor, and you hagglers might have better luck bargaining them down.

Artificial Christmas trees
At RMB 1600, this phony festive foilage is overpriced to say the least -- though convenient if Christmas is all about plastic for you.

Mini Christmas TreesSkip the costly full sized version, and get one of these cute little alternatives for a far more reasonable RMB 60 from one of the vendors on the market's first floor in the back left corner.

Wintery rustic ornaments 
At RMB 250-300 a pop, these faux old-timey rustic indoor ornaments are highway robbery. One vendor told me that a bundle of lavender in a makeshift birch bark vase was imported all the way from France. I asked if Paris was a the name of a city in Hebei. On the flip side, if you're planning a Blair Witch Project-themed Christmas, these items might be perfect.

Gawdy, lit up winter creatures Though you may not have a lawn to decorate, these light bulb-stuffed plastic animals and snowmen make for a great holiday accoutrement to place in front of your high-rise apartment window or on the yangtai. RMB 260 a piece.

Plush chicken ornaments

Chickens aren't exactly the first animals that come to mind when we think of Christmas, but these cuddly stuffed fellows could make for good decorations because, of course, 2017 is the Year of the Chicken. These palm-sized ornaments will give your tree just the right amount of cock for the holiday.

Authentic Tree Ornaments

Speaking of decorative hangings, these Christmas tree ornaments have a lot less poultry and a lot more authentic Western holiday feel, and only cost RMB 5 each.

Ribbons GaloreThis handy gift wrapping material is priced between RMB 3-5 per meter and comes in practically every color, style and thickness imaginable.

Wreaths
Artificial wreaths go for RMB 50-150, depending on the size and number of candles included. Wreaths made from real trees can be found on the first floor.

Christmas StockingsPerfect for hanging on your Ikea bookshelf and stuffing with small treats and gifts, these stockings come in Santas, snowmen, and deer varieties, for RMB 35 each. Located on the second floor.

Wrapping paper

Several vendors retail a variety of pre-cut sqare-meter sheets of wrapping paper for RMB 2-5 each.

Christmas lights
Lastly, but best of all, are the lights of all colors available for RMB 20-35 for 10m clumps. Think of them as gleaming festive becons that will guide you through a smoggy Beijing Holiday season.

Photos: Kyle Mullin