_Daily, 10am-10pm.
Adults RMB 125; Seniors/children 75
10F, New World Department Store,
Nanjing Lu, opposite People's Square.
Tel: 6358-7878_

If you've ever dreamed of shaking hands with former US President Bill Clinton, or having your photo taken with your arms draped around Brad Pitt, congratulations. You're in luck. Since the May 1 opening of Madame Tussauds Wax Museum in Shanghai, everyone can experience how it feels to be a superstar or a global politician--well, eh, almost.

In fact, the wax representations of more than 70 of the world's greatest known actors, singers, sports figures, politicians and scientists are startlingly real. Wandering around the dark, movie-theater like museum on the 10th floor of New World Department Store, you find yourself having to stop at times and ask "Is that a real person, or a wax figure?" It's especially disconcerting when you wander up to a snack counter and take a seat between Bill Gates and Hong Kong tycoon Li Jia Chen--the latter I didn't know and thus mistook him for a well-dressed tourist looking for a photo op with a wax billionaire. "Excuse me, can I sit here?" After a moment of non-response and frozen expression I finally realized I was talking to a statue. And this happened more than once.  

The opening of Shanghai's Wax Museum marks the sixth such museum around the world for Madame Tussauds, which began in London some 200 years ago, and now has museums in Amsterdam, Hong Kong and Las Vegas. The figures in the Shanghai museum were all made in London, and shipped over--presumably in an air-conditioned container. What makes Shanghai's Wax Museum unique is its emphasis on Chinese celebrities, some of whom I had never heard of before. Thus it's not only entertaining, but educational, as well. Just opposite Albert Einstein, for example, stands Nobel Prize-winning Chinese scientist, Yang Zheng Ning. There's also a replica of the space suit worn by Yang Li Wei in China's first expedition into space, which you can stand behind and get a great photo of what you might look like as an astronaut.   

The decision on which celebrities should find their way into the Shanghai museum was based on an extensive public poll. It's quite interesting to note who made the cut and who didn't. For example, Na Ying and CoCo Li are among the pop stars you'll find, while Wang Faye is mysteriously missing, as are silent-film era Chinese film stars like Ruan Ling Yu. And while Russian President Vladimir Putin has his likeness in Madame Tussauds, there's no George Bush or Hu Jin Tao. Actually, there are no Chinese politicians at all. "We considered it," a Madame Tussauds employee told me, "but felt that our politicians are too humble for such attention."  

Maybe. Then again, I stood in line for an hour to visit Mao Ze Dong's mausoleum in Beijing, and, well, let's just say it didn't hold a candle to this. I think a wax Mao would make a wonderful addition.

Wax philosophically over these CW suggestions

Star: Bruce Lee
Action: Being a bad ass
Snapshot: Striking a kung fu pose opposite him.

Star: Yao Ming
Action: Mid-jumpshot
Snapshot: Standing in his massive footprints.

Star: Audrey Hepburn
Action: Sitting, looking demure
Snapshot: Posing at her breakfast table for two at Tiffany's.

Star: Prince Edward
Action: Looking like stuffy royalty
Snapshot: Melting his waxen countenance with a soft kiss.

Star: Andy Lau
Action: His heart visibly beats
Snapshot: Putting your ear to his beating heart.