Gallery: Colors of a Shanghai Christmas

Christmas in Shanghai is a predominantly commercial affair. 

The most common places to see decorations are in shops, restaurants and hotels. These range from the simple Santa hat-clad models in the window of 旺华内衣 on Handan Lu (above) to the meticulous decorations of the Bund-based Peninsula Hotel (see "Gallery" images above and image below). 

The Peninsula features a tree adorned with decorations sold to raise money for various charities (see "Gallery), a tradition of the worldwide chain since 2003, and a gigantic gingerbread village (above).

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A team of 22 Peninsula Shanghai chefs and five designers worked for four months designing and building the gingerbread village, within includes two trains, a cable car, a chocolate fountain, a windmill and, of course, Santa and his nine reindeer.

At Paulaner Brauhaus’ German Christmas market, Santa made the rounds handing out sweets to visiting children (and adults) between stalls selling Christmas crafts and glǔhwein. 

Former Berliner Jonas Schorr says the market makes him feel like he is home. “You need something like that to feel that it’s actually Christmas abroad,” Schorr says. “Something that reminds you so strongly of your own culture.”

But the market also had a distinctly Chinese feel. At a craft tent, 吕晓红 sold rabbits clad in Christmas capes.

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The toys served two purposes, since after Christmas the cape could be removed in honor of the year of the rabbit, which arrives in early February. 

In the shopping area near Yuyuan the scene was not nearly so serene. Customers packed into the tiny shops surrounding the market to search out the best deals on the myriad Christmas decorations on sale there.

Little festive touches could be found all around Shanghai, like the strings of snowflakes adorning a wall at The Bridge office and shopping complex on Jianguo Zhong Lu (建国中路). 

Shanghai’s workers are not the only ones who are normally scheduled to work on December 25, but this Santa found time to read a book while waiting for customers in Wanda Plaza mall at 五角场.

Santa will be on location to take photos with children until the end of the month.

At the Christmas display outside Nanjing Xi Lu’s Westgate Mall, seven-year-old Liu Fang (刘淓) stopped to admire the festive decorations.

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While the shopping street is the first stop on many people’s holiday list, its elaborate displays are simply a reminder of the festival cheer present across the city.