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December 8, 2011 2011 Christmas in Shanghai

As the old cliché goes, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas here in Shanghai. Every hotel and shopping plaza worth its salt has erected a spectacular Christmas tree, with vigorous competition to be the most ornate. Employees at a variety of shops and restaurants now don obligatory Santa hats. Lavishly-priced holiday concerts and eating extravaganzas have become a matter of course, offering all the entertainment money can buy. Although the Middle Kingdom is void of both the religious and historical reasons for celebrating Christmas, this has not stopped Chinese from celebrating the Xmas holiday with gusto.  For the nostalgic expat, Shanghai’s multicultural assemblage of concerts, Christmas markets, holiday goodies, and spectacular well-lit scenery offers the perfect panacea for any lingering homesickness this December.

The first thing on anyone’s list of things to do will be finding the appropriate Yuletide decorations. HOLA (located in SuperBrand Mall), Metro , and IKEA all offer aesthetically-pleasing artificial trees at quite reasonable prices. IKEA also has fantastic gingerbread cookies and scented candles, allowing you to spice up the holidays a bit. Wal-Mart has a plethora of affordably-priced decorations, including a nice variety of lights, snowmen, and reindeer. For something a bit less plastically commercialistic, check out Au Nom de la Rose , where you’ll find lovely fake trees for 300 RMB, in addition to some other great greenery.

Yet, as we at Expatree have long advocated, your best bet for something truly authentic is to check out one of many local bazaars. The time-honored favorite is the Christkindlmarkt , hosted by Paulaner at 150 Fengyang Lu from December 9-11. Admission will be 25 RMB per person, and attractive Christmassy items with a personal touch will be ubiquitous. Kommune’s Pre-Christmas Yard Sale on Taikang Lu should also prove quite fruitful. A number of schools have also organized bazaars, many in order to raise money for worthy causes, including Dulwich College , Shanghai American School , andMariposa Elementary School . These bazaars proffer an exciting mix of home-made goodies,requisite Christmas items, and handicrafts, giving you a one-stop shop for all of your holiday needs. As we mentioned last week , these bazaars also offer a win-win opportunity, allowing you to fulfill all of your Christmas needs and support charitable causes in the process.

On the entertainment front, Shanghai boasts a w ealth of options. Tchaikovsky’s timeless classic, The Nutcracker , will be performed at the Shanghai Grand Theatre on December 22nd , 23rd , and 24th . The renowned New York Harlem Singers will delight with theirChristmas Eve Special , to be held at the Shanghai Concert Hall. For a dose of comedy and down-home Christmas conviviality, you won’t want to miss, Josephina’s Holiday- A Motown Christmas Carol Musical , featuring such classics as “I Saw Mama Kissing Santa Clause.” And, if you’re up for something slightly more local, don’t miss Mando-pop sensation Jam Hsiao’s Shanghai Christmas Concert on Christmas Eve. If musical recitals are not your cup of tea, the opulently-lit Bund and East Nanjing Road are sure to dazzle this holiday season.

If you’re up for a bit more of a slightly less commercialized holiday season, Shanghai also has plenty to offer. St. Francis Xavier Catholic Church ,Hengshan Community Church , andSacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Churchwill all be holding traditional Christmas services. Caritas Shanghai has a number of volunteer opportunities to help Shanghai’s neediest. The Giving Tree , sponsored by the Shanghai Community Center, offers a phenomenal opportunity to sponsor a needy local child with clothing, toys, and school supplies. You may also consider buying a Christmas wreath , with the proceeds going to a charitable cause. There are many other worthy philanthropic organizations operating in the city that would welcome your time and financial support.

With such a wealth of opportunities, don’t let your 2011 Christmas in Shanghai go to waste. Be it good entertainment, nice gifts for loved ones, or charitable donation of time or money, Shanghai is replete with options. For a city on the cusp of so much ( it is estimated that Shanghai will have 50 million people by 2050 ), Christmas offers but one more opportunity to astound. With a dynamic economy, a commercially-minded populace, and a vibrant expat scene, the Oriental Pearl City offers a cosmopolitan holiday experience unrivaled in most parts of the world. You’ll want to m ake the most of a special time in a special city.