YEAR-END traditions and events are filled with Christmas spirit in Shanghai. A variety of venues in the city have decked their halls to celebrate the feast with bazaars, concerts, parades and much more.

To help our readers get full of cheer this year, we have highlighted some of the special Christmas venues around town.

No matter how picky you are when it comes to the best place for joy, remember not to miss out on spreading best wishes among family and friends and sharing quality time with them.

Xujiahui

Pop stars from Hong Kong and Taiwan will join locals at a New Year countdown party in the center of Xujiahui area on December 31 to celebrate the arrival of the New Year.

This year's countdown party will be the largest compared with previous years. But who will be appearing and whether fireworks will be displayed like last year are still being kept secret.

People can visit the Longhua Temple in Xuhui District on New Year's Eve to ring the bell, symbolizing good riddance to old troubles and blessing the coming year. And those who ring the bell will be presented with small gifts.

Outside the temple, visitors can write New Year wishes for good luck on red paper and hang them on a big tree.

Besides the celebration activities, most stores in the Xujiahui area will begin to offer discounts later this month.

Nanjing Road & Bund

The Bund Promenade will be a nice place to celebrate the New Year.

Take a picture with the iconic Bund Bull to get some luck for the next year, then relax in the revitalized Shiliupu Dock commercial area and board the cruise ship to tour on the Huangpu River.

Locals can also enjoy the fun of shopping on Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall and most shops will offer their New Year discounts.

One of the shopping centers on Nanjing Road E. celebrates the festival season with love, music and a charity bazaar for children with autism.

A 10-meter-high "Christmas Love Music Tree" stands at 353 Plaza's lobby. Guitars are hung on the tree, representing a key to open young souls with autism.

The campaign to help children with autism was launched as a joint effort between One Foundation and Plaza 353.

Thirty guitars donated by celebrities including Van Fan, Chang Csun Yuk and Landy Wen were exhibited on the tree and auctioned on the plaza's official website.

In addition, an art exhibition featuring paintings by children with autism was held to raise awareness and care for these children.

A lucky draw will be held on December 31 and the winner will get to drive away a Chevrolet Spark.

Pudong

With lovely Christmas elk, Christmas trees and a wish wall made of corrugated paper, a wonderful low-carbon Christmas party can be found at Jinqiao.

City dwellers will be surprised at the marvellous celebration atmosphere created by corrugated paper handicraft.

From December 15, Japanese corrugated paper artists will decorate the Jinqiao's Life Hub with a strong Christmas feel. Anyone who is interested can join them and enjoy the fun of do-it-yourself.

Corrugated paper is known as a sturdy decorating material ideal for backdrops, floors and freestanding decorations, and it becomes an art form in its own right when used to make items such as vases and furniture. It seems that the paper can be turned into almost anything.

Until December 25, corrugated Christmas trees will also be decorated by Gages, a local independent art collective.

More fun will be provided by the Christmas parade when Santa Claus, with his distinctive red hat and white beard, arrives on his sleigh. A teenage choir will also give a singing performance, spreading best wishes with their beautiful voices as they march with the Christmas parade.

In addition, a band called Pet Conspiracy will lift spirits with their electronic music.

Daning Area

People of all ages can experience a romantic fairy tale Christmas setting at Daning from December 9.

Famous Hong Kong illustrator Lio Beardsley will join Life Hub @ Daning in transforming the venue into a fairyland. Beardsley is known for her unique style - magnificent colors, warmth and surrealism.

She will launch the Christmas setting on December 9.

The "DIY Polymer Clay Journey" with polymer clay artists offers the chance to make personal Christmas gifts for friends and family. Key rings, earrings and rings are popular items you can craft from polymer clay but there is no limit to your imagination in creating a beautiful and unique work by yourself.

The New Year countdown celebration will mark the climax of the Christmas season. Centered on the theme of "new city, new trend," the celebration will showcase a mix of shopping, music and style.

The winter feast will feature electronic music, mix-and-match fashion styles and a variety of trendy performances.



(Jia Feishang and Liang Yiwen also contributed to the story.) Fantastic feasts and festivities

Sam Riley

The bars and clubs around Shanghai are gearing up to celebrate the good tidings of the festive season and ring in the New Year with a range of great deals and pumping parties.

Old favorite Big Bamboo will be serving a cheer-filled Christmas dinner of roast turkey and ham with all the trimmings. The dinner can be ordered from noon on Christmas day and costs 188 yuan (US$28) per person (90 yuan for kids) and is available for home delivery.

At their Pistolera Mexican restaurant, they will be giving the Christmas holidays a south of Texas feel with a combo including turkey-filled mole enchiladas. Mexican spiced meatloaf balls and a turkey breast Caesar salad are among the other seasonal selections. One can wash it all down with a complimentary glass of house wine for 180 yuan.

Another family favorite is O'Malley's and they have a special Christmas weekend running from December 24 until December 26. There will be special menus for 288 yuan per person, which includes mulled wine. They will also be holding a special Christmas Eve party.

On New Year's Eve they will have oysters and champagne on the menu and a countdown party from 9pm. Entry is free and there will be bar specials and live performances.

At Malone's they are also getting into the festive spirit with a turkey promotion running throughout December. There will be plated turkey dinners with all the trimmings plus warm turkey sandwiches that come with gravy and thick-cut potato wedges.

For New Year's Eve, Malone's will charge 80 yuan entry and the ticket price includes a drink and entry into the lucky draw with computers, iPhones, iPads and widescreen TVs among the treasure trove of prizes. There will also be live entertainment and DJs all night and champagne at midnight.

Along with a sumptuous five-course Christmas dinner menu at its restaurant, M1NT is holding one of the more stylish New Year's Eve parties in town. It's a black-tie affair, with guests arriving in dedicated limousines. M1NT is jetting in DJ Hands Solo and they are promising a number of surprises throughout the night.

Down the road on the Bund, luxury retail space Three on the Bund has been at the heart of New Year's celebrations for years. With one of the best balconies to see the fireworks from, New Heights is always popular.

This year they will hold a five-course dinner, with a glass of Perrier-Jouet champagne for 888 yuan per person.

Party-goers can help themselves to free-flowing Tsingtao beer, vodka and soft drinks for 380 yuan per person.