Zhuhai City in southern China's Guangdong Province has beaten the Grinch at his own game, banning Christmas trees from shopping malls, restaurants and other public places because they pose a fire hazard.

Chen Ying, deputy mayor of Zhuhai, said restaurants, malls, and other entertainment venues had to remove trees and other "flammable decorations" immediately, the Southern Metropolis Daily reported.

(Shanghai Daily December 21, 2007)