Shanghai Daily news

Ring out the old, ring in the new ...' Shanghai has organized a wide range of festivities -- modern and traditional -- to say farewell to the old year.

Xu Wei reviews some of the events around town For this week's New Year celebrations, there are many parties and fun in town for revellers to choose from.
At the Xintiandi New Year's Eve Countdown Party, live performances will kick off late in the night and run until 1am by the artificial lake. Famous Taiwanese singers Elva Siu and David Tao will present a dazzling performance of song and dance. Acrobatic shows and a carnival parade will add to the festive atmosphere. The countdown party will start against a brilliant background of colorful laser beams and music. When the countdown ends, a spectacular explosion of fireworks will light up both the skyline and the New Year. This is the third year that Xintiandi -- a commercial, fashion and entertainment hub in downtown -- has held a grand New Year's Eve countdown party. During the night, documentaries of memorable events in the past year will be screened. The annual Apple Countdown staged at Shanghai Times Square will also be a big hit for partygoers. This countdown is based on the annual Mega Countdown celebration in New York's Times Square and the big apple is a symbol of New York and a wish for happiness and prosperity in the coming year. Over the past few years the event in Shanghai has evolved into a party with a fashion show and a participation of many pop stars. In 1993, New York's countdown party extended to Hong Kong, where tens of thousands of people gathered annually in the plaza of Times Square. In 2001, Shanghai Times Square adopted the event to give locals a taste of the excitement of a countdown party. This year's theme is ``Dream Comes True,'' a congratulatory celebration of China's outstanding performances in the Olympic Games in Athens as well as in other fields. ``Formerly, people usually count down the time together to welcome the arrival of the New Year with 10 `apple lights' glittering one by one at the last 10 seconds of the year,'' says Hou Wei, vice general manager of Shanghai Times Square. ``But this year we will offer people much more fun and imagination.'' In addition to art shows and singing, artificial snowflakes will float down over the crowd and create a winter ambience. Apart from the modern adoption of countdown parties, traditional ceremonies to celebrate the passing of the old year and the coming of the new are also available in the city -- and they promise a more holy atmosphere. Striking bell for luck at the Longhua Temple would seem to be an ideal choice for those who want to be part of a more traditional ceremony. With a history of more than 1,700 years, Longhua Temple will once again welcome those with the necessary funds to strike the bell at midnight to bring luck in the New Year. Longhua Temple, first built in 242 AD, is the biggest and oldest temple in Shanghai. It has been destroyed and rebuilt many times. Splendidly constructed, the temple keeps valuable Buddhist scriptures, gold seals and ancient Buddhist statues. This year, the bell-tolling celebration will begin at 10pm with a gate-opening ceremony directed by the abbot of the temple. A group of ``bell toll image ambassadors'' will guide those who want to ring in the New Year at the temple. To the tolling sound of the sacred bell, visitors may tie red silk ribbons containing their New Year wishes to a 10-meter-high ``Lucky Tree'' -- a specially made Chinese counterpart to the Christian Christmas tree. While enjoying a splendid fireworks display, visitors may also join in age-old folk traditions such as dragon and lion dances. For those who want to escape the noise and fun outside, taking in a movie or two with friends or loved ones is also an option as many local cinemas offer overnight films. Tonight, Rosamund Kwan, a well-knopwn Hong Kong movie star, will show up at the Studio City Cinema for her movie, ``Hands in the Hair.'' The program includes 20-plus Chinese and foreign classic hits, a charity auction of movie posters and products as well as a delicious buffet. At the Paradise Warner Cinema City, a film carnival to celebrate the New Year is being held. Movies screening overnight are ``I, Robert,'' ``A World Without Thieves,'' ``Garfield,'' ``Kung Fu Hustle'' and ``Three of a Kind.'' The audience will also meet some of the cast and crew of the movie ``Chang Hen Ge'' (``Song of Everlasting Sorrow''), which is now being shot in Shanghai -- including director Stanley Kwan and Hong Kong star Sammi Cheng. Cheng who plays the leading role of Wang Qiyao in the movie, an elegant lady of old Shanghai, will award a prize to the most ``in'' lady among the audience. Xintiandi New Year's Eve Countdown Party Date: December 31, 9:30pm Address: 181 Taicang Rd Tel: 6386-1818 Apple Countdown Date: December 31, 10:30pm Address: 99 Huaihai Rd M. Tel: 6391-0691 Longhua Temple bell tolling Date: December 31, 10pm Address: 2853 Longhua Rd Tickets: 3,588 yuan for to strike the bell, 200 yuan for entrance admission Tel: 6456-9090 Studio City Cinema celebration Date: December 31, 9pm Address: 10/F, 1038 Nanjing Rd W. Tickets: 298 yuan Tel: 6218-7109 Paradise Warner Cinema City carnival Date: December 31, 10pm Address: 6/F, 1 Hongqiao Rd Tickets: 258 yuan Tel: 6447-5660