A colorful tour of Shanghai's Christmas trees
Shot by Yan Jingyang and Hu Jun. Edited by Yan Jingyang. Subtitles by Wang Xinzhou.
Shanghai's Christmas trees are always a fun part of the festive season, and this year's trees don't fail to dazzle. From the traditional to the cyberpunk, the city has taken a creative twist on Christmas with unique trees popping up all over Shanghai.
Follow Fiona to explore the Christmas trees in town.
'Ballet Dreams' at L'Avenue
L'Avenue Shanghai's Christmas installations are themed on "Ballet Dreams," inspired by Lapin, a rabbit in the Paris Opera Ballet. There's a golden Christmas tree standing in front of the mall and a huge Christmas music box in the atrium. L'Avenue's Lapin Rabbit is twirling on stage, making its debut.
The Christmas installation "Ballet Dreams" at L'Avenue Shanghai
The Christmas music box features a Golden Ballet Theater, with dreamy aerial art installations and transparent crystal pianos, surrounded by champagne gold ribbons. During the festival season, music performances will be on show in the theater on weekends and Christmas Eve.
The "Ballet Dreams" festival will run through February 6.
The Christmas tree in front of L'Avenue Shanghai features the Lapin Rabbit.
If you go:
Date: Through February 6, 10am-10pm
Address: 99 Xianxia Rd
仙霞路99号
Fluffy Christmas tree at Grand Gateway 66
A 10-meter-tall Christmas tree decorated with Pixar's popular fluffy characters has popped up at the Grand Gateway 66 shopping mall. The Pixar Fluffy Festival is also part of the local celebrations for the upcoming 100th anniversary of the Walt Disney Company in 2023. It will run till January 4.
The 10-meter-tall Christmas tree is decorated with Pixar's popular fluffy characters.
Pixar's fluffy characters like the red panda Meilin from "Turning Red," Lotso from "Toy Story 3," and Sullivan from "Monsters Inc," are popping up in front of the mall.
The highlight is an instillation of a pink bus with Lotso Bear as the driver and Sullivan waiting for people at a "bus stop." If you are a fan of the "Toy Story" aliens, do not miss the pop-up store on the second floor, where limited edition mini aliens are on offer.
If you go:
Date: Through January 4, 10am-10pm
Address: 1 Hongqiao Rd
虹桥路1号
Dior's Christmas trees
Dior's Christmas trees are popping up at several venues in town, featuring the Rêve d'Infini (dream of infinity) motif in a reimagining by artist Pietro Ruffo. The largest tree is located at Taikoo Li Qiantan, where you can also find a 37-meter-long and 5-meter-high "Let's Glow Well" art installation, as well as a Christmas parade on weekends.
Dior's Christmas tree at Taikoo Li Qiantan
If you don't want to go to Pudong, just step over to the newly reopened Zhang Yuan, near Nanjing Road W. A smaller one is there, with more decorations and a pop-up Dior store.
Dior's Christmas tree at Zhangyuan
If you go:
• Taikoo Li Qiantan
Date: Through February 5, 10am-10pm
Address: 500 Dongyu Rd, Pudong New Area
浦东东育路500号
• Zhangyuan
Date: Through December 31, 10am-10pm (reservations required on the WeChat mini-program of Shanghai Zhangyuan 上海张园).
Address: 588 Weihai Rd
威海路588号
LABUBU festive afternoon tea
Peninsula Shanghai's Christmas tree always looks great. This year, they're partnering with art toy company Pop Mart to launch a festive afternoon tea as well as two 1.7-meter LABUBU sculptures and a whimsical miniature Christmas village.
A LABUBU sculpture in front of the Christmas tree
The afternoon tea menu features a delectable range of exclusive delights such as Magic Hat Chocolate and Pistachio, Music Star Cinnamon Cookie, and Bûche de Noël. In addition, all afternoon tea sets will include LABUBU festive characters, available only for a limited time.
The Peninsula Shanghai x Pop Mart Limited LABUBU afternoon tea will be available until December 26 at The Lobby from 2pm to 6pm daily.
The beautiful Christmas tree and decorations at Peninsula Shanghai
If you go:
Date: Through December 26, 2pm-6pm
Address: 32 Zhongshan Rd E1
中山东一路32号
Firework-style Christmas tree
Cyberpunk is quit popular this year, and, a cyberpunk Christmas tree? Yes, it's here, at the grand square outside the Jing'an Kerry Center, the 20-meter-long tree is inspired by fireworks.
The 20-meter-long firework-style tree in front of the Jing'an Kerry Center
For this year's Christmas activities, a cute outdoor skating rink has been set up in front of the tree. An admission fee is charged, but all of the revenue will go to the Shanghai Rende Foundation to cover medical bills of children with cardiac diseases.
On workdays, it's open from 11am to 10pm until January 2. On weekends, it's open from 2pm to 10pm until January 2.
It's pretty fun to take an ice bike for a spin.
If you go:
Date: Through January 2, 11am-10pm (Mondays-Fridays); 2-10pm (Saturdays-Sundays)
Address: 1515 Nanjing Rd W.
南京西路1515号
