xmas events scheduled across city-m6米乐app

numerous events celebrating the christmas holiday will be held this week across shenzhen, which is home to nearly 500,000 expats from at least 115 countries and regions.

a gala event featuring modern music and dance by foreign and local artists will be staged tonight at 7 p.m. at sea world in shekou, nanshan district.

swedish performer anders nelsson, a renowned musician and actor who has been active in hong kong's entertainment scene for more than 50 years, will host the event's opening.

a children's choir will sing carols during the show and santa claus will be on hand to give out christmas gifts.

several local churches are organizing christmas services and parties.

three services featuring ecclesiastical music will be held at shenzhen christian church, on 126 meilin road in futian district, starting at 6:30 p.m. tonight.

the church will hold daytime services tomorrow, which is christmas day, followed by a party at 7 p.m.

st. anthony's catholic church, on 65 nonglin road in futian, will have mass tonight. nantou catholic church, on 210 chaoyang road north in nanshan district, will have mass at 7:30 p.m., followed by a christmas party.

for those seeking secular celebrations, the coco beach at oct bay is hosting a lively show and event for 100 yuan (us$16) per ticket.

eight areas at the beach will offer various stress-relieving games, interactive performances, robot dances and demonstrations of small wireless aircraft, among other amusements.

people who do well in the games can win gifts such as an apple computer, iphone 5s or lenovo tablet.

canadian gershwin gabriel, who lives with his family in nanshan, said his christmas calendar is full.

he'll follow christmas traditions by decorating a christmas tree and wrapping gifts for his young son, then attend a party at a friend's home in futian tomorrow afternoon before a family dinner tomorrow night.

this year's christmas dinner won't include poultry because of recent h7n9 infections in shenzhen and hong kong, gabriel said. gabriel said he also plans to get in some shopping at coco park and go to oct bay for the light show before going to oct east in yantian district for a two-night stay.

"the most meaningful part of christmas is being close to family and friends, because i'm usually quite busy with work," he said. "meanwhile, this is a good chance to teach my son about western cultural traditions through the christmas holiday, since he's being raised in china but will receive college education in canada."

an webb, a golf academy ceo, said he had no special plans for christmas this year since his family is in canada.

"most of my friends with the same cultural background have left shenzhen for family reunions,"webb said, adding that he might attend the sea world event.

(source:shenzhen daily)