Carnival band Glunggephoniker from Switzerlan.[Photo by Gao Erqiang/China Daily]

Newell adds that the most challenging aspect of the float was figuring out how to disguise the truck that carries the float.

"We looked at how to use negative space to create illusion and divert the eye. There are also height restrictions and the team does several site walks to be sure the float will make it safely down the route," he says.

"With 12 assigned floats attending the parade in 1993, more departments and enterprises have applied to become a part of the event in recent years, and we selected the floats according to the districts and brands," said Chen Jian, a representative of the organizing committee office of the Shanghai Tourism Festival.