Hi-tech Christmas tree lights up Shanghai Xintiandi

A Christmas tree is seen shrouded by a gigantic crystal ball at Xintiandi area in Shanghai, Nov 22, 2017. [Photo by Gao Erqiang/chinadaily.com.cn]

A Christmas tree that is shrouded in a gigantic crystal ball and could be lit up by touching the panels from inside made its debut in Shanghai's Xintiandi area on Wednesday night, unveiling a festive activity for the Christmas season.

Brought by China Xintiandi, the manager of the properties in the area, and Dogma Lab, a cross-disciplinary design consultancy and research lab, the transparent ball stands 15 meters high, has a 360 degree sightseeing platform inside and a 3-meter-high tubular slide.

By taking the slide, visitors will descend into an "ocean" composed of tens of thousands of semi-transparent white bounce balls.

The Christmas tree, built with transparent boards, could change colors and become even brighter as more people touch the panels.

By hosting these festive projects and activities, the organizers plan to offer an all-round offline shopping experience for consumers, develop the physical stores in the area into social places, and add the festive atmosphere to the city, said Zhang Liangjun, general manager of China Xintiandi's Taipingqiao project.