Aaaargh! It’s my first Christmas in Shanghai and I have no idea where to go to find all of those things that make this holiday festive – I need trees and decorations and wrapping paper, oh my!

Best,

Clueless Christmas

Dear CC,

It’s that time of the year again where we start thinking about how to decorate the home and office for Christmas. Of course we don’t have room to name all the places you can get your Christmas treasures but you should be able to find everything you could possibly need from the list below. 

There are so many options it is hard to know where to start. For range and price you can’t go past the Yu Yuan Bazaar, where you’ll find all manner of decorations, trees, crackers, sprays, life size Santas and tinsel available at extremely reasonable prices. It can be a bit tacky and overwhelming at first glance, but it’s perfect for tinsel and other cheap decorations.

Our Shopping Tours Shanghai favourite is the Hongqiao Flower Market, where browsing through the shops is a feast for the senses, particularly at Christmas time. Think quality themed or plain trees and decorations, table settings and wonderful candles. While you’re in the neighbourhood you could also pop in to the Hongqiao Pearl Market where the homewares stores are displaying some fabulous floor-standing decorations.

Holiday House (1188 Panyu Lu, near Kaixuan Lu. Tel: 6447 7189) is the place to go for your Santa costumes and has a huge range of decorations for Christmas. You can also call in advance if you have any special requirements. Marks and Spencer and Ikea also have a small range of Christmas decorations.

The Radisson Hotel Pudong Century Park this year is holding an event they are calling the White Christmas Village. This is where vendors come to sell anything to do with Christmas: cards, stockings, paper, decorations and Christmas wine and food. It runs every weekend until 17 December and then every day until 27 December. When we went to print it hadn’t actually started, so we haven't personally shopped here – but it sounds interesting!

Also, the Paulaner Christmas Market is on from 3 to 5 December in the gardens at the Paulaner Brauhaus in Fenyang Lu. While there aren’t so many decorations available, it is a great little market to pick up some nice gifts for family and friends.

We at Shopping Tours Shanghai would like to take this opportunity to wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and if you are heading home over the holiday season, travel safely and have a very Happy New Year.

Web: www.shoppingtoursshanghai.com