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JLC’s Xingyi Qijing winter season spread festive scenery across atriums, an outdoor plaza, a rooftop and a sunken square. Its gift-box tree, market chalets, cable-car setting and urban-camping atmosphere offered different reasons to stop. Tree-focused visitors could concentrate on L1, while a broader visit required understanding the levels.
The winter season was announced on 9 December 2025 and continued through 11 January 2026. JLC MARKET had already opened on 27 November 2025. This is a look back at that edition and its general access, not a new programme for Christmas later in 2026.
The market and seasonal launch had different dates
| Element | Past dates | Distinction |
|---|---|---|
| First JLC MARKET opening | 27 November 2025 | The market did not begin on 9 December |
| Xingyi Qijing winter season | Announced 9 December 2025, continuing to 11 January 2026 | Not proof that every activity happened daily |
| Themed market parties | Four were promoted | Party sessions and daily stall hours were separate arrangements, not daily parties |
| Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve music | Seasonal programming included 24 and 31 December 2025 | The dates alone did not establish showtimes or admission |
The market opening and seasonal launch were separate milestones. A January 2026 ending belongs to the Christmas season that began in 2025, not to December 2026.
Five settings, with the main tree on L1
| Historical setting | Location | Design focus |
|---|---|---|
| Wishing-tree installation | L1 atrium | Golden gift boxes and tassel lights stacked into a tower |
| Snow Mountain Town | L1 outdoor plaza | Wooden chalets, lights and the market setting |
| Star-track cable-car scene | L2 atrium | A cable-car-themed festive tableau |
| Starry-sky setting | L7 rooftop area | An open-air evening atmosphere |
| Starlight Island | B1 sunken plaza | A camping-style scene with heaters, woven textiles and mulled wine |
For the principal tree, begin at the L1 atrium. Its appeal was the gift-box structure and layered lighting rather than a height record. The L2 cable car was a themed scene, not a passenger ride to book.
The rooftop and sunken plaza also served different purposes. One emphasised the night setting, while the other used a warm gathering-place concept. Companions splitting up should agree on a floor as well as a landmark rather than assuming everything stood next to the tree.
The market combined design, fragrance and seasonal food
The historical JLC MARKET programme included independent design pieces, niche fragrance experiences and creative food. Mulled wine and griddle-cooked dishes were specifically mentioned. Chalets and string lights gave the outdoor plaza a different character from the ordinary indoor shopping levels.
Four themed parties did not mean identical stalls trading every day of the entire season. A market-focused visitor needed to establish the relevant session; someone mainly interested in scenery could treat stalls as additional content rather than assume their absence meant all displays had closed.
The first market event featured artificial snow, not a fixed daily snow schedule for the whole season. It was a festive effect, not a promise of natural snowfall or evidence that a single date on another listing applied throughout the season.
Wreath-making and music offered different ways to stay
The programme included wreath crafts using materials such as pine branches and cinnamon, alongside independent musicians, accordion music and special Christmas Eve and New Year’s Eve arrangements. These elements offered participation beyond simply looking at scenery.
For a workshop, the practical questions were its session, price, capacity and collection arrangements. Visitors interested only in the tree and chalets did not need to assume workshop registration controlled every other part of the visit. Workshops, mulled wine and gift boxes were not an automatic free entitlement; each activity had its own booking and payment arrangements.
Music likewise belonged to scheduled programming rather than an uninterrupted all-day performance. A meal and a walk could anchor the visit, with a confirmed performance as an addition, instead of waiting for an event whose start time had not been established.
Xinjiekou Metro and the East–West connection
JLC connects with Xinjiekou Station on Metro Lines 1 and 2 and an underground passage between JLC’s East and West zones. Follow JLC’s signs from the station-connected areas, identify the building zone, then head for the intended level.
Rather than guessing an exit number in Xinjiekou’s extensive commercial passages, use the full destination name and internal wayfinding. L1 provided a logical starting point, with L2 next. Add L7 for the rooftop setting, then choose the outdoor plaza, B1 or station-connected level according to dining and departure plans.
Permanent art passages and a rooftop garden are part of the building. These building features should not all be counted as newly added Christmas installations. Use the Nanjing transport guide for city travel and the Shanghai-to-Nanjing guide for an intercity visit.
Choosing a realistic route
With limited time, concentrate on the L1 tree and outdoor plaza instead of repeatedly changing floors to complete a checklist. Design-focused visitors could add the cable-car setting and B1 camping scene. For an evening gathering, check rooftop access on the day and dress for its outdoor sections.
This route centred on Xinjiekou’s commercial district. It was not the same walk as a Confucius Temple or Qinhuai River evening. If combining it with year-end activities elsewhere, the Nanjing New Year’s Eve guide helps keep transport and separate programmes distinct.
Frequently asked questions
Did the market first open on 9 December 2025?
No. The market opened on 27 November, before the seasonal launch announcement.
Where was the main tree?
In the L1 atrium, using golden gift boxes and tassel lighting, not on the rooftop.
Was the cable car a ride?
It was a themed setting, not a passenger service to book.
Were stalls, snow and free gifts available every day?
That is not established. Market sessions, snow effects and promotional benefits had different arrangements.
Is a late-2026 return confirmed?
No. This guide records the November 2025–January 2026 season.