Oh come, all ye shoppers, and adore the 38-meter-high Christmas
tree at Shanghai Times Square. Enjoy a kid's circus performance,
see some art, then get down to serious business - spend, writes Xu
Wei.
A 38-meter-high Christmas tree, "top of the town," will be
lighted next Thursday night in the plaza of Shanghai Times Square
to open the festive season - and welcome shoppers.
The tree, the tallest-ever in the plaza, will be covered with
fascinating decorations. The plaza will be turned into a
fantasyland, featuring the colors purple and fuscia.
On Thursday evening, the children's arts organization Kids'
Gallery will present circus performances. All children, including
expat kids, are invited to sing "Swinging Christmas" together to
add to the festive ambience.
A magical fairytale titled "Il Circo" ("The Circus") - comprised
of 30 life-size and lifelike plastic manikins - will be on display.
It is the latest work of Italian artist Gigi Rigamonti who held the
"Plastic Desire" exhibition of transparent plastic manikins in July
at Shanghai Times Square.
These circus-performer manikins, shipped from Italy, come in
assorted poses, colors, patterns and costumes. The display is
inspired by renowned Canadian circus troupe Cirque du Soleil. The
faces are brightly and intricately colored, and the scenes are
fanciful and intriguing. Each has a tailor-made costume that
emphasizes its form and posture.
"This year's 'top of the town' will be a great breakthrough,
aiming to attract the entire city to a must-visit place in the
coming fiesta," says Cathy Hau, deputy general manager of Shanghai
Times Square.
"Il Circo" exhibition
Date: December 6-January 13, 10am-10pm
Venue: 1-2/F, Shanghai Times Square, 99 Huaihai Rd M.
"Top of the Town" (Christmas Tree)
Date: December 6-January 20
Venue: Open Plaza of Shanghai Times Square, 99 Huaihai Rd M.
Admission: Free
Tel: 6391-0691
(Shanghai Daily November 30, 2007)