Merry and bright wintertime attractions and bustling pop-up markets are creating a lively, festival atmosphere in downtown Jing’an District.

A 25-meter Christmas tree in the square at the HKRI Taikoo Hui retailmall has become a popular place for young people to take holiday photographs.

The tree creates a romantic ambience with twinkling fairy lights.

The mall’s second and third floors have been decorated like a fairy-tale place where little animals, including a cute blue mouse as next year is the Year of the Rat in the traditional Chinese calendar, help Santa Claus prepare and distribute gifts. Visitorscan make a wish and throw a “wishing ball” from the third floor to drop down to a “wishing box” on the second floor.

Wang Yan, deputy director of Jing’an Commerce Commission, said the event creates a fairy-tale world full of love on Nanjing Road W.

A German-style Christmas fair is being held in The New Factories in the Jiangning Road Subdistrict, radiating warmth despite the chilly weather.

The Christkindlmarkt, which will run through December 15, features stalls decorated as log cabins. A variety of traditional German delicacies, including baked apples, ginger cookies and grilled sausages, are on offer. The fair also has exquisite handicrafts for sale.