Now, make way for Chinese Christmas trees

After Chinese toys, cellphones and firecrackers, the latest goods from the land of the Great Wall, to hit Indian markets, are the Chinese Christmas trees. What's more, these have also become an instant hit with Amdavadis!

These trees have gained popularity on account of their being made of washable material, and due to their attractive appearance. Though this 'tree' is artificial and made of plastic, it looks as good as the real one, and will appear original to the unassuming eye.

Ambrose Henry, a Ghatlodia resident, says, "I have bought a Chinese tree this year. The good thing about it is that it has in-built lights that work on electricity. Our task of decorating the tree has been simplified by these lights, because the tree already has all the required adornments attached to it."

The price of these trees ranges from Rs500 for a medium-sized one (2.5 feet) to Rs1,300-Rs1,500 for the large ones (5 feet). As compared to these, real Christmas trees cost around Rs 250-300 per piece for medium-sized ones, while the large ones cost around Rs900-Rs1,000 each.

In spite of the higher prices, a large number of people are opting for Chinese Christmas trees. Leena Vardhan, a resident of Thaltej, says, "Though the Chinese trees are expensive, they last longer as they are made of washable material. Also, they come ready with the decoration. Hence, no additional expense needs to be incurred on the decoration. Hence, considering its long life and these other benefits, the Chinese tree makes for a decent deal."

It looks like the Chinese counterpart of the much-loved Christmas tree is here to stay.