CITIES
  • Bangkok
  • Hong Kong
  • Mumbai
  • Shanghai
  • Singapore
  • Tokyo
CNN International
Register
Sign In
Home   Shanghai   Play   What a picture: Christmas scenes from Sh
in
SHANGHAI
Events
Map
Weather
  • eat
  • drink
  • play
  • shop
  • sleep
  • SHANGHAI VISITOR'S GUIDE
  • ALL SHANGHAI STORIES
by Tobias Kegler (photos)
24 December, 2009



   
share
add to favorites
print
email
Log in or sign up to add this to your favorites!

What a picture: Christmas scenes from Shanghai

China might not be the most religious nation, but at Christmas Shanghai pulls out all the stops
 
100%
Users liked this
 
 
Tell others what you think!
Shanghai Christmas
Reindeer guard the decorations at Jing'an Temple.
Christmas is in the air and buildings are decked out in all their green and red glory to celebrate. Although this particular holiday season is a Western import, major venues from malls to restaurants to temples are getting into the holiday spirit. And in true Shanghai style, if you're going to celebrate, celebrate right with all the Christmas trimmings (and lights) you can think of.

Where are some of the best decorations? We sent an intrepid camera man to hunt them down for you.

Shanghai Christmas

Christkindlemarkt at Paulaner (Fenyang Lu)

Get just about everything you could want at this traditional Christmas market that took place early in December. The third annual Christkindlemarkt offered delicious treats for immediate consumption as well as all things Christmas: tableware, ornaments, cards and freshly cut Christmas trees. Now where were those Santa earmuffs? 

 

 

Shanghai Christmas

Nanjing Lu

Where the West has Christmas fairies, Shanghai has colorful Tinkerbells adoring the trees of the city's most famous thoroughfare. Although not quite traditional, these lovey ladies get the Christmas spirit across pretty well. Maybe this is just another way to celebrate Disney's recently approved theme park? If that's so, we'd like to see a Peter Pan around as well.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shanghai Christmas

Plaza 66

Further down on Nanjing (Xi) Lu is the famous Plaza 66. Known to house just about every luxury brand under the sun, if Christmas is going to get the royal treatment anywhere, it's going to be here. Plaza 66's decorator clearly has the Midas touch arranging for "gold" trees, a gold coin (hidden behind the large flower growing out of it) and one large gold Christmas tree. Don't ask us why there's a flower growing out of the coin, but we do love the contrasting background in this photo.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jing'an Temple

Jing'an Temple might be home to the city's most famous Buddhist temple, but it's also home to a mall and a walking street that just wouldn't miss an opportunity to deck the halls, stairs and walls. With seven well lit Christmas trees they're off to a good start.

Shanghai Christmas
Shanghai Christmas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shanghai Times Square

Channeling a more "European Christmas" feel, Shanghai Times Square is decked out from top to bottom offering shoppers and general Christmas decoration gawkers trees from 10 European countries (Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland and Portugal) to admire. Throw in an upside down Christmas tree and Chinese youth choir from the YK Pao School in Santa hats and we're sold.

Shanghai Christmas
Shanghai Christmas

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Shanghai Christmas

Yu Yuan/Old Town

The classic old Shanghai locale is Yu Yuan. From venues that serve the best xiaolongbao around to the classic grounds of Yu Gardens and vendors selling just about everything, no trip to Shanghai is complete without exploring the chaos there. Turning over stock with the season, local vendors sell everything you could imagine to go with Christmas -- often with a Shanghai take -- and with much less to-do than the more formal Christmas markets. If you can stand the madness, it's worth a trip.

 




   
share
add to favorites
print
email
Log in or sign up to add this to your favorites!

Tobias Kegler is a freelance photographer based in Shanghai.

Read more about Tobias Kegler
Tags: Shanghai Christmas, christmas trees, Christmas celebrations
user comments and reviews (1)
view all hide all
shfoody
30 December, 2009
Lots of nice decorations in Shanghai, but somehow, the atmosphere isn't there. But it is going to improve over the years as the Chinese become more Westernised. Love the Yu Gardens markets, plenty of vendors selling Christmas stuff..
add your own
shfoody
30 December, 2009
Lots of nice decorations in Shanghai, but somehow, the atmosphere isn't there. But it is going to improve over the years as the Chinese become more Westernised. Love the Yu Gardens markets, plenty of vendors selling Christmas stuff..
add your own
Thank you - your submission is being reviewed by our staff.
you may also like
  1. What China's new gay Facebook clone is like on the inside
    FULL ARTICLE
  2. 12 Christmas wishes from some notable locals
    FULL ARTICLE
  3. The people who create Christmas
    FULL ARTICLE
  4. The Great Big List: December
    FULL ARTICLE
most
read
most
commented
Three year-old Chinese hip-hop star
Hanggai: Sounds from the Mongolian grasslands -- right to your local rock stage
The Shanghai Pizza Hut salad bar challenge
The Shanghai Hot List: 20 people to watch
Why don't Shanghainese people care about the environment?
Why don't Shanghainese people care about the environment?
World's Greatest City: 50 reasons why Shanghai is No. 1
Confessions of a pickup artist
Chinese men head to Vietnam for the 'perfect wife'
Shanghai’s most decadent burger
Get CNNGo in your inbox
Be first to know with our daily and weekly newsletters subscribe
© 2010 Cable News Network
Turner Broadcasting System, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
Terms of Service | Privacy Guidelines | Advertise with us | Write for CNNGo | About us | Contact us | Share | Site Map