Theme: Winter Wonderland

Highlights: A nightly snow show entertains families while the light-up of a 61m-tall white and blue Christmas tree makes for a romantic setting. The choreographed lighting of the tree provides an enchanting spectacle for those seeking a night out with a view.

A spokesman for Mount Faber Leisure Group says: 'The visual landscape of lush conifer trees against a white snowy mountain scene provides a very 'white and wintery' feel.'

Christian scenes
CHRISTMAS VILLAGE
In front of Plaza Singapura

Theme: Christmas Is All About Love

Highlights: The village was created by the charity Celebrate Christmas In Singapore, which was set up in 2004 to organise community events and to 'encourage Singaporeans and foreign guests to spend Christmas here'. The larger-than-life structure features traditional Christian scenes like the three wise men travelling to Bethlehem.

It is part of a $800,000 Christmas extravaganza which culminates in a float parade and concert on Christmas Day. More than 1,000 volunteers from churches here will also put on music and drama performances here until Christmas Day.

Moon river
CENTRAL
6 Eu Tong Sen Street

Theme: A Moonlit Christmas, By The River

Highlights: More than $300,000 was sunk into transforming the mall by the Singapore River into a golden wonderland of baubles and lights which shimmer in the water at night.

Among the highlights are a giant golden Christmas tree comprising baubles of various sizes which 'draw inspiration from bubbles in the water', and ice skating musicals performed by Australian ice- skating champions whom the mall invited here. The creative whizzes behind the project are Mr Andy Goh from outdoor advertising contractor Rich-Art Enterprises and the mall's consultant, Mr John Tong.

Musical fantasy
BUGIS JUNCTION
230 Victoria Street

Theme: Larger Than Life Christmas

Highlights: A giant musical box measuring 3.4m by 3m. Billed as the largest musical box in Singapore, it features a ballerina mannequin on a rotating platform wearing a pearl and diamond tiara worth nearly $14,000 and a diamond-studded corset worth more than $125,000.

The musical box will play Christmas songs throughout the mall's operating hours. A Bugis Junction spokesman says of the more than $120,000 spent on the festive decor: 'The decoration was inspired by the epic fantasy adventure movie The Golden Compass. The idea was to create a fantasy mood for shoppers.'

Whim and fancy
PARAGON
290 Orchard Road

Theme: A Whimsical Christmas

Highlights: The mall is decked out with 18,000 pieces of decorative ornaments and strings of pearls which incorporate elements of Victorian and Renaissance styles.

The elegant decorations cost $400,000 to produce and set up.

Sparkling Christmas
VIVOCITY
1 Harbourfront Walk

Theme: A Sparkling Christmas At VivoCity

Highlights: Beautifully sculpted topiaries of snowmen and reindeer are scattered throughout the mega-mall, and crowning it all is a 101ft-tall artificial Christmas tree at its rooftop Sky Park. Ms Wendy Low, general manager of VivoCity, says: 'This year's theme depicts VivoCity as a 'sparkling' destination in conjunction with its first anniversary.'

Taking 11/2 months to assemble and five days to decorate, the tree is strung with more than 600 baubles and lights and was done by Mr Edward Tang from graphic design firm ModernAge Design & Communications.

Eco friendly decorations
RENDEZVOUS HOTEL
9 Bras Basah Road

Theme: Red And Gold

Highlights: The understated charm of the hotel is underscored by the light Christmas touches of mistletoe and fairylights. The hotel's housekeeping and engineering teams took two weeks and just $5,000 to adorn the lobby. Environmental and cost concerns mean the decorations will be recycled for use in staff areas next year, says a spokesman.

Carrying on with tradition
RAFFLES HOTEL
1 Beach Road

Theme: A Traditional Christmas

Highlights: The 120-year-old hotel prides itself on being elegant, and this applies to its Christmas decorations. The housekeeping department has decked the grand old lady with traditional ornaments like garlands, boughs and bows in red, green and gold. The centrepiece is a 20ft fresh noble fir tree from Oregon in the United States at the lobby. The hotel did not want to reveal how much it spent.

The glitter-ati
THE CENTREPOINT
176 Orchard Road

Theme: A Season Of Glitter And Sparkle

Highlights: Gold leaves and fairy lights wrap the pillars and windows outside the mall while giant pots of Christmas trees speckled with shiny bows and baubles float above shoppers inside.

Mr Raymond Chan, senior manager of advertising and promotions at The Centrepoint, says: 'We added a touch of glitter and sparkle to create and set the mood for shoppers and children alike. We wanted to create a warm ambience and spread the spirit and good cheer of this magical season.'

It took decoration contractors Q's Advertising and Rich-Art Enterprises one week to put up the festive ivy and sparkling lights, which will be recycled and converted for use in future campaigns.

Storytelling by lantern
TANGS ORCHARD
310 & 320 Orchard Road

Theme: The Christmas Story

Highlights: The brainchild of Tangs' marketing and visual merchandising team, the store's Christmas decorations were made locally and took three weeks to set up.

The highlight is a whimsical, graphic depiction of the Nativity story told via an automated rotating lantern. As the various scenes scroll in front of the lantern and screen, the story of the birth of Jesus unfolds. The store's glass panels are also decorated with a stunning stained glass effect.

Ms Lin Pei Hua, senior manager of marketing and communications at Tangs, says: 'Such decor is normally seen only in churches and this represents Tangs' very own story of what Christmas means to a Christian store like Tangs.'