Shopping and Christmas in "Communist" China
One of my friends scoffed when I said I was visiting "Communist China", and this photo is a good illustration of why the reaction is appropriate.
I'm not sure what's more impressive, really - the number of malls you'll find, or the scale of these shopping centres! Hong Kong is far more sophisticated in terms of how its shopping centres look and feel, but the mainland Chinese are definitely learning "how it's done."
The only thing missing here, really, are the crowds. No doubt because I arrived in the middle of working hours for most people - and this mall is relatively pricier than the street-front markets and the discount mall next door.
You'll notice, however, that Christmas-bunting tinsel is draped along the handrails. The commercialization of Christmas is bemoaned back in the West, but it's simply The Thing to do in China. In many stores and restaurants the staff (must?) wear Santa hats or other costumes. I wasn't surprised by this in Hong Kong, where the British influence left Christianity's mark in place - but the acceptance of the "Santa" aspect of Christmas in China is rather mind-blowing.
You'll be hard pressed to find proper Nativity scenes or other actual references to Jesus or any other religious aspects of Christmas in China, unless you're actually recording video: because the photos won't capture all the Christmas Carols being played over the PA systems.
Some of the Carols are the standard bland JIngle Bells tunes without any spiritual meaning, but you could also hear Silent Night and O Come O Come Emmanuel - which made me smile at the "subtle yet blatant" missionary work being inadvertently, likely being done a randomly selected CD.
Since it's Christmas season - and I'd like you to sort of hear what I heard - here's a randomly selected rendition O Come O Come Emmanuel.