December is in full swing in Shanghai, with coffee shops blasting out Christmas tunes, glittering neon Santas decorating the shopping malls, and a definite chill in the air. We’ve rounded up the best of what’s happening over the next couple of weeks, along with some city news.

1) New Openings

One of the most buzzing parts of the French Concession these days is Yongkang Lu. It started out as a quaint residential street, but then a handful of art galleries moved in, and it’s now taking shape as something of a hub. The management team behind La Saleya have opened Le Café Stagiaires and a further branch of the butcher Les Garcons Bouchers. Rumours are afoot that they’ll be opening a pizzeria called Pizza Peppone in the New Year. Also on Yongkang Lu is a new fish and chip shop called The Sailors, which will appeal to Aussies and Brits who crave a proper fish supper.

Yanping Lu is another ever-growing hub, with several new venues set to open soon. The long-awaited Cali Burger (which looks suspiciously like In ‘n’ Out) is almost finished, and a chocolate café called Le Village du Chocolat will open on December 12th in place of the much-missed Overseas Dragon.

2) Closings

After just eight months in Sinan Mansions, the Apothecary cocktail bar is no more. Beijing transplants Leon Lee and Max Levy have sold it off to Richard Chang, who will reopen it as The Public on December 15th. Apothecary’s barman Adam Deverman will still be part of the team, with the addition of Kyo, who runs Papaya Bar on Nanjing Xi Lu. The focus is to stay on cocktails and American comfort food, and chef Frank Shen will man the kitchen.

3) What’s On…

Running from December 10th until Christmas Eve, MESH2 is an interactive music platform that facilitates discussion between the leading lights in China’s music industry. Big names like Goldie and Drop the Line will be speaking, along with Shanghai DJs and producers such as Laura Ingalls, Choyce Kutz and Drunk Monk. If you’re a fan of Shanghai’s independent music scene, you should definitely check out a session or two. More details here: http://ilove2mesh.com

If you prefer something a little more tranquil, book a ticket for the King's Singers 2011 Shanghai Concert on December 14th (100-500 RMB). This English all-male choral group is one of the most famous in the world, and will bring a touch of festive cheer to the city in the run up to Christmas.

More Christmas spirit abounds at the Shanghai Repertory Theater’s production of a new work called “The Enchanted Circus of Grimm” at the Ke Center. The plot carries on where most fairytales finish, reaching beyond “happily ever after” to see what became of Grimm characters like Rumplestiltskin, the Frog Prince, and Gretel. Tickets are 180 RMB presale, and 200 RMB on the door. The show runs until Sunday, December 18th at 8:00 p.m. with matinees Saturdays and Sundays at 3:00 p.m.. No show Monday, Tuesday, or Sunday evenings.

Yet another sure-fire way to feel festive is a trip to Paulaner’s annual Christkindlmarkt at their Fenyang Lu branch. This will be the fifth year the market has taken place, and it will run from 16:00 to 22:00 on Friday 9th December, 11:00 to 22:00 on Saturday 10th, and 11:00 to 19:00 on Sunday 11th. It’s a great opportunity to stock up on Christmas gifts from the many vendors, and sample some Gluhwein and gingerbread biscuits.

Already making plans for the New Year? Book your ticket early for Black Eyed Peas’ Taboo, who will play at G Plus on the 30th December. Tickets are 200 RMB pre-sale, and are running out quickly.

4) In the news…

Do you see fat people? We certainly do. According to a survey run by the Shanghai Student Physique and Health Monitor, covering 16,000 students from 47 high schools and four universities, health is becoming a serious issue in China. Of the students aged 7-22, 12.26 percent of them suffer from obesity. Boys are particularly affected, with over 30 percent of boys over the age of 11 falling in that category. The reason may in part be due to the lack of exercise, as 72 percent of students indicate they do less than one hour of exercise a day. That, in turn, is likely caused by the sheer amount of workload placed on them, with 76 percent of students aged 16-18 declaring they spend over two hours a day doing homework. Less sleep, less exercise, more work and more junk food? Yup, the numbers sound about right.

Those travelling between Beijing and Shanghai have quite the luxury of choice when selecting their travel options. You’ve got the high-speed rail on the one hand, and relatively cheap flights on the other. Well, in light of there being 92 daily extra trains put into activity for the Spring Festival season at discounted rates, one-way flights between Shanghai and Beijing have matched that bit, and will be sold with 50% discounts over the new few weeks. If you’re short on cash and have things to see, now’s your chance!

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Keywords: new events in Shanghai 2011 new restaurants and coffee shops Shanghai December 2011 news Shanghai Christmas 2011 Shanghai