For almost a month, west Shanghai's Changfeng Park has been a place where the young can kick back and enjoy an illuminated wonderland. 

As night falls, brightly lit-up cartoon characters wait on the lawn, by the pavements and on the branches of the trees.

To lively music, children sporting Snow White's crown and Mickey Mouse's ears scamper and giggle.

Dozens of traditional fairytales like Sleeping Beauty and stories like A Bug's Life and Finding Nemo, are showcased by the lantern characters and told in posters in Chinese.

Mothers read the stories to their children, following the fables of the animations.

The festival, which lasts until Children's Day on June 1, is the first time Disney has brought its household cartoon stars to Shanghai.

They have even slightly corrupted their show with a few Chinese characteristics, using Chinese lanterns for a local flavor.

Shen Yixuan, general manager of the Mission Asia Exhibition (Shanghai) Co Ltd, which is in charge of the displays, said while catering to Chinese tastes, the company has kept every character in their original shape and colour, "even if this compromises the visual effect."

Shen did plan to dress Nemo in red to make it stand out more in the darkness, but he scrapped the idea because it is not the fish's original orange color.

The display did receive some criticism, though.

Wang Tao, a father of twin baby boys, said: "The displays look nice, but they would be much more interesting if there were interactive activities."

He also complained about the cost - tickets are not cheap, at 70 yuan (US$8.5) a throw.

With an ongoing four-month-long "The Mummy Returns" theme park in nearby Zhongshan Park and hopefully more rivals to come, Disney will be turning its mind to how to remain competitive.

(China Daily May 24, 2005)