( CNN ) -- So this is Christmas . A coquettish Santa Claus , rocking a sexy version of his traditional red suit while doing his best Marilyn Monroe `` Seven Year Itch '' pose . The wide-mouthed blowup doll was erected outside a mall in Taiyuan , the capital of China 's northern Shanxi province , to appeal to shoppers and tourists . Santa Monroe 's face , like some other displays around the world , is n't entirely what the holiday season is all about and certainly rather extreme . China is n't Germany , for example -- a country in which you 'd expect to find yourself caught up in the Christmas spirit . But not unlike other parts of the world , every November many shopping malls , hotels , restaurants and other commercial venues across China coat themselves in a sugary sweet layer of beautiful and occasionally unusual trees , festive light displays and other holiday kitsch . And they can come by the decorations cheap thanks to the Chinese city of Yiwu , often called `` The Christmas Capital of the World '' for the high number of factories producing holiday decorations that are exported globally . Though there are reports Christianity is on the rise in China , it would n't be accurate to say most ordinary Chinese equate Christmas with religion or the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ . It 's not a public holiday in China so all businesses and schools remain open on December 25 . That has n't stopped many locals from buying into the gift giving and party traditions of the season . It 's a trend retail outlets are more than happy to cater to , piping Christmas music through speakers and laying on the tinsel to get shoppers in the mood to spend . If you really want to enjoy the season , there 's no Christmas theme but China 's most wintery attraction is the annual Harbin Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival . Though it does n't officially kick off until January 5 , many of the displays go up in mid-December and are open for visitors .
China doll outside China shopping mall imitates Marilyn Monroe famous `` Christmas Old Man '' pose . In Santa Claus , Santa Claus is referred to as `` Seven Year Itch '' Christmas is not a public holiday in China , so all businesses and schools remain open .