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)