Santa is coming and China takes a lot more notice (3)

Christmas in China

Back home, the Chinese are shopping on a scale during Christmas not seen in Western countries.

The country's first Christmas market was introduced in Xintiandi in downtown Shanghai in the shape of a theme park. Stretching from Dec 19 to New Year's Day, the European-style Christmas market combines China's New Year festival with a traditional festive European bazaar.

Distinctive German cabins studded with dark green pine populate the market, offering huge discounts before 4 pm on Dec 24, Christmas Eve. Traditional Christmas drinks such as mulled wine are also available. A 12-meter-tall fir tree decorated with colorful lights stands at the entrance to make it even more festive. Tailor-made postcards are also available so customers can send off greetings.

Finland is known as the home of Santa Claus so the Christmas market in Shanghai has a special house selling souvenirs from the Nordic country.

Children from Shanghai Children's Welfare Institute were invited to visit the Christmas market. On New Year's Eve, Dec 31, the market will hold a charity party titled "We are with you" for the old folk from The Elders' Apartment.

Enjoying a sumptuous Christmas dinner is now one of the must-dos for a large number of urban Chinese. A very popular high-end Italian restaurant called 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo BOMBANA, on the Rockbund, a new commercial area downtown and home to luxury retail outlets and fine dinning restaurants, had tables for the first dining session, from 6 pm, fully booked as soon as its Christmas menu came out even though its five-course Christmas menu in the restaurant was priced at an eye-watering 988 yuan ($159) plus 10 percent service charge. If you wanted selected wines with that, you'd had to be prepared to cough up a hefty 1,688 yuan per head.

Puli Hotel and Spa, a luxury hotel located in the Jing'an district of central Shanghai, has prepared a special five-course dinner only available on Christmas Eve priced at 688 yuan a head, excluding service charge. A wine-pairing option is available for an additional 388 yuan.