That's Shanghai takes a look at the best of the week:
Dec 21-23: The Fire of Anatolia In 1999 Mustafa Erdoğan began working on the Turkish answer to Riverdance. Since its 2001 debut, The Fire of Anatolia has enjoyed global success akin to the Irish classic. The show successfully incorporates hundreds of folk dances and music from the ancient region and has been staged in front of the Egyptian pyramids, opened the lavish CCTV New Year Gala, set world records and impressed über-stars like Britney and Celine. For more, check out our 2014 feature on the show.
> Dec 21-23, 7.15pm, RMB180-1,080. Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, see event listing.
Dec 23-25: Kiev Ballet One of Ukraine’s finest cultural exports returns to Shanghai to perform two Tchaikovsky classics. On December 23, they satiate Shanghai’s never-ending appetite for Swan Lake. That’s followed by two nights of the holiday classic, The Nutcracker.
> Dec 23-25, 7.30pm, RMB80-680. Shanghai Grand Theatre – Lyric Theatre, tickets.
Dec 24: Mr. SixIconic director Feng Xiaogang (Personal Tailor) stars as an aging Beijing neighborhood kingpin living an isolated life in a hutong. When his son (Forever Young’s Li Yifeng) runs into trouble with drag-racing street gang members, he must tap into his old ways to teach the young thugs some old fashioned lessons in manhood. The film closed this year’s Venice International Film Festival.
Dec 24: SkiptraceJackie Chan returns with his latest holiday blockbuster in this US-Chinese co-production. Based on a story of his own creation, Chan has enlisted Renny Harlin (Die Hard 2) to direct the action comedy. When his pursuit of a notorious crime boss causes his young niece (Fan Bingbing) to be targeted, Chan must enlist Jackass’s fast-talking Johnny Knoxville to help.
Until Dec 24: Shanghai German Christmas Market
Enjoy a German style Christmas Market on the Shanghai World Expo grounds. Expect a mix of vendors peddling unique gifts, pop-ups serving authentic German food and drink favorites, live performances and family friendly activities.
> Until Dec 24, 2-9pm, free entry. Shanghai World Expo - Baotun Lu, www.christmasmarket.com.cn.
Dec 24: Home Alone
8 Art Hotel’s weekly Movie + Wine night screens the modern Christmas classic. Watch a cherubic Macauley Culkin fend off two bungling home invaders in what is essentially a live action Looney Tunes bit. Who doesn’t love Home Alone - a movie that equally teaches the value of family over the holidays and how to turn your house into a death trap.
> Dec 24, 8pm, free entry. Eight Art Hotel, see event listing.
Dec 24: Jade Lee
The enchanting jazz singer recently serenaded JZ Club as part of last weekend’s Jazz Speaks Cantonese album release. On Christmas Eve, she perfects a special intimate show at Heyday. For more, check out our interview with Jade Lee.
> Dec 24, 9.30pm-late, free entry. Heyday, see event listing.
Dec 24-25: Xmas Amazing Pillow Fight
MAO Livehouse transforms into a pillow fuelled battleground for their annual holiday showdown. Sound tracking the carnage is Round Eye on Christmas Eve and Runaway Snail on Christmas.
> Dec 24-25, 7.30-9pm and 9.30-11.30pm, RMB158-180. MAO Livehouse.
Dec 25: Christmas
It's that happy time of the year where you get to indulge in turkey, presents and holiday cheer. For all the details on the dinners, deals and parties, check out our mega-Christmas guide or keep up to date at our Events section. (For restaurants, promoters and other event organizers, submit your event and include Christmas in the title.)
Dec 25: Barbara Tucker
Big Christmas day night booking from Unico. Who needs Santa when you can have the mother of house music? Party to a live performance from the multi-hyphenate in a glamorous Bund setting. Dress code: white.
> Dec 25, 10pm-late, RMBTBA. UNICO by Mauro Colagreco, see event listing.
Dec 25-27: The Five Fools This children’s musical has been praised by the New York Times as a “lesson in the power of civility.” The show follows a circus full of colorful characters from the love-struck strongman to the “bad” ringmaster. Despite their hang-ups, they manage to conquer their fears in a touching story that will have the whole family enraptured. The show features live music, acrobatics, illusion and ample amounts of comedy. The bilingual show mixes English and Chinese, creating an environment that encourages language learning for the kids.
> Dec 25-27, 2.30pm (with 10.30am weekend matinee shows), RMB160-360. Lancing Media Theater, 400 Zhangyang Lu, by Pudong Nan Lu 张杨路400号, 近 浦东南路.
Dec 26: Christmas Neverland Market Party
Cambio Coffee hosts over 40 vendors in this philanthrophy minded holiday market. Peruse a wide variety of pop-ups and enjoy live entertainment, while supporting the XinXing Foundation - a Chinese nonprofit dedicated to helping homeless children in China.
> Dec 26, 11am-6pm, free entry. 1107 Yuyuan Lu, by Jiangsu Lu 愚园路1107号, 近江苏路 , see event listing.
Dec 26: SNH48
The Shanghai off-shoot off the Japanese girl band monolith hosts a grand concert at Shanghai International Gymnastics Center.
> Dec 26, 5.48pm, RMB198-598. Shanghai International Gymnastics Center, tickets.
Dec 26: New York Harlem Singers
The New York favorites take over Shanghai Oriental Arts Center to serenade the city with seasonal favorites.
> Dec 26, 7.30-9.30pm, RMB180-680. Shanghai Oriental Arts Center, tickets.
Dec 26-27: Lantern Festival Christmas Getaway
Spend the holidays with the Dragon Adventures crew for a raodtrip to the surreal Lantern Festival in Suzhou Amusement Park. Depart from The Camel on Boxing Day and spend the night dancing away to a stunning light and sound show at the park. The next day includes a visit to Mudu Old Water Town for some exploration, lunch at a local farmer’s restaurant and then an afternoon of hot springs, before returning to Shanghai.
> Dec 26-27, depart at 6pm, RMB500. Depart from The Camel, tickets.
Dec 26-27: Lafayette Christmas Market
This holiday-themed market takes over the Lafayette Arts and Design Center in Xintiandi. Expect a cool mix of art installations, designer pop ups and live performances. On Christams Day, they’re also throwing a party that goes from 10pm to midnight.
> Dec 26-27, noon-midnight, RMB25-40. Lafayette Arts & Design Center.
Dec 27: Nova HeartThe enchanting electro-rock heavyweights headline the Shanghai edition of the MIDI Weekend series of nationwide concerts. Led by Helen Feng, Nova Heart has been spreading the gospel of their 2014 That’s Best Mainland Album of the Year across the globe. They played Glastonbury Festival and independently released their self-titled debut across Europe to great reviews from the likes of Fader and Rolling Stone. Electronic group The FMB opens. For more, check out our 2014 feature on Nova Heart.
> Dec 27, 7.30pm-late, RMB100. QSW Culture Center.
Until Dec 27: Shanghai Medieval Christmas Fair
There’s another reason to visit the West Bund this month. After holding a German Christmas Market last year, Xuhui Binjiang host a Medieval Christmas Market. Expect a range of stalls selling artisanal crafts and a number of food and drink vendors. Live entertainment like theatrical shows and a cosplay competition add to the festivities.
> Until Dec 27, RMB50 (Mon-Thurs) RMB70 (Fri-Sun), RMB120 (Dec 24-25). Xuhui Binjiang, see event listing.
All Week: Kerry Parkside Santa Park
Childhood dreams come true this year at Kerry Parkside's Santa Park, where kids get the chance to meet and pose for pictures with Santa, and parents can even pass him gifts they’ve bought for their children, for an extra-magical Christmas treat. Entertainment in the form of singing and dancing elves, activities such as gingerbread making and cupcake decorating, as well as traditional Nordic games add to the festive cheer.
> Until Dec 31, 11am-9pm, Kerry Parkside, see event listing.
All week: Christmas Fantasy at Jing’an Kerry CenterJing’an Kerry Center presents the second Christmas Fantasy on its piazza. Come devour some seasonal treats in a real holiday atmosphere featuring a four-story-tall Christmas tree and arrays of wooden huts. It is also not a bad idea to get drunk on Glühwein and revisit your childhood Santa horror afterwards at the Santa VIP house. There is a lighting ceremony on December 2nd, Christmas party on the 24th and 25th, and New Year's Eve countdown party on the 31st.
> Until Jan 3, 12pm-8pm (Mon-Thurs) 10am-10pm (Fri-Sun and Dec 24-25), free entry. The Piazza, Jing An Kerry Centre, see event listing.
All week: L‘Avenue Christmas Market
Take a stroll in L’Avenue’s ‘magic forest’ Christmas market and fill your shopping basket with artisanal gifts from Paris. In collaboration with Le Bon Marché, the market offers 25 Parisian indie designer brands such as Macon&Lesquoy and Lola James Harper, as well as Le Bon Marché exclusives for L‘Avenue. Part of the profits will be donated to 150 children with special needs at Chunhui Children, so you can do good while looking good.
> Until Jan 3, free entry. L'Avenue.
All week: Merry Kissmas at Xintiandi
Visit Xintiandi’s Kissmass tree for an alternative to mistletoe. Following stints in Milan and London, Paul Cocksedge's Kissmass tree is back in Xintiandi for the third time. Every kiss lights up the tree and raises education funds for young children. After a socially acceptable display of PDA, make sure to visit the market for festive essentials like Christmas decorations, handicrafts and treats, including cupcakes that look like succulent plants.
> Until Jan 3, free entry. 123 Xingye Lu South Plaza Xintiandi, by Madang Lu 新天地南里广场, 兴业路123弄, 近马当路
All week: Haru Kitchen BBQ
The Shaanxi Bei Lu yakitori favorite is hosting a unique barbecue buffet featuring everything from ox tonge to fried chicken. Groups of three will get a live octopus for free. Groups of six will get two; sashimi and octopus pot.
> Dec 21-27, RMB168. Haru Kitchen.
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