The Geological Museum of China

The Geological Museum of China, first built in 1916, is the largest of its kind in Asia and currently collects 200,000 samples, some of which are the mostvaluable in the world, such as the Shandong Dinosaur fossil, the world＇s tallest, most well-preserved fossil of duck-billed dinosaur; the Oriental Shenzhou Dinosaur fossil, the world＇s only extant coelurosaur fossil; teeth fossils of Yuanmou Ape Man, China＇s oldest human fossils ever found： the world＇s largest single crystal; the world＇s largest yellow arsenic crystal; huge cands and more,     

STATUE CELEBRATING CHINA＇S LUNAR ORBITER UNVEILED

The successful launch of China＇s first unmanned lunar orbiter, Chang＇e Ⅰ witnessed the country＇s leading status in the space industry and fulfilled Chinese people＇s dream to explore the moon. In order to show respect for Chinese scientists who have made great contribution to the countrv＇s space exploration and express Chinese people＇s commitment to the peaceful utilization of space for the benefit of human kind,     

Bird＇s Nest：The National Stadiumor the 2008 Olympics

The National Stadium, a major sports venue for the Beijing Olympic Games in 2008, stands on the southern tip of the central section of the Olympic Green. As a landmark of the Olympic Green, this multi-function stadium is the city＇s largest and most advanced sports facility. The National Stadium was co-designed by Herzog ＆ Menron, Arup and China Architecture Design ＆. Research Group. The whole structure covers an area of 258,000 sq. km. Its exterior resembles a bird＇s nest. The steel nest, looking like gray mineral, is covered by transparent coating. Inside the nest is a bowl-like bleacher in earthen red. The stadium＇s design reminds viewers of the red palaces within the gray walls of the Forbidden City. The National Stadium is a perfect blend of traditional Chinese aesthetics and culture, contemporary art and the Olympic spirit. The whole building is fnll of dynamics. Even human activities on the stadium＇s staircases constitute integral elements of the building＇s exterior. While it is amazingly innovative creation, the stadium is characterized by a simplistic and elegant style.     

Shanghai Arts Festival Brings Together Chinese and International Stars

Shanxi folk dance ＂A Handdful of Wild Juiubes＂ opened the 8th China Shanghai International Arts Festiwd on October 17, Zhang Jigang＇s new Shanxi ballet romance is permeated with local flavor, and was honored as ＂poetic perfection of love in the land of Shanxi＂. This is the first time that the festival has broken with tradition and hrought in repertoire from another province as the opening performance.     

Forbidden City on the Film

The film-production in the VISION BEIJING project has concluded after more than 600 days of planning, filming and post production work.The VISION BEIJING Organizing Committee invited five of the world＇s most famous film directors, Giuseppe Tornatore （Italy）, Majid Majidi （Iran）, Patrice keconte （France）, Daryl Goodrich （Great Britain） and Andrew kau Wai-Keung （Hong Kong） to make a five-minute film each about Beijing and its people＇s enthusiastic preparations for the 2008 Olympic Games. The final products of the project will serve as an audio-video record of the rich connotations of Beijing＇s ＂People＇s Olympics＂.     

Cultural Exchange Promotes Tourism Development--First China Ningxia International Expo on Culture,Arts and Tourism was Concluded

The First China Ningxia International Expo on Culture, Arts and Tourism was held in September, 2009 in Yinchuan, capital city of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. Seniorofficials from the Chinese People＇s Political Consultative Conference, the Ministry of Culture, the State Ethnic Affairs Commission, the State Administration of Radio, Film and TV, the State Administration of Tourism, the Chinese People＇s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, as well as diplomatic envoys from embassies in Beijing and delegations from various provinces and municipalities attended the expo＇s opening ceremony.     

Wuyutai： a Brand Name with Cultural Richness

For Wuyutai, the year 2009 bears on special importance. In this year, the century-old tea brand name won many honors such as China＇s top 100 franchised businesses andChina＇s 60 most famous brands in the 60 years of new China. The company＇s great success should be owed to its brand with cultural richness.     

The Glorious Era Showcased on Canvas

The huge portrait of Deng Xiaoping, respected as the ＂chief architect of China＇s reform and opening up＂, is a landmark standina in the downtown of Shenzhen, the first city embarking on the road to reform and opening up in the late 1970s. In the end of last year, a miniature replica of this famous portrait was installed, accompanied by the slogan ＂adhering to the Party＇s fundamental guideline for at least 100 years＂, in the courtyard of the National Art Museum of China.     

60 YEARS OF PURSUIT OF PERFECITION Exhibition of Jin Shangyi＇s Donations held in National Gallery

The Exhibition of Jin Shangyi＇s Donations, jointly-organized by the Aft Department of the Cultural Ministry, the Central Academy of Fine Arts and Phoenix Press Group, was recently held in the National Art Museum of China, displaying the master artist＇s 39 latest oil works, sketches as well as his past donations to art museums.     

Chinese Culture Today： Aspirations and Dreams

Editor＇s note： During the Festival of China taking place in Washington D.C. in October, 2005, Chinese Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng made a keynote speech in National Press Club, addressing political, cultural and media celebrities on China＇s policies and strategies for cultural development. The following Is the whole text of his speech.     

A Mysterious Blue Box：＂Water Cube＂ for Beijing Olympics

The National Aquatics Center, or more popularly known as ＂Water Cube＂, stands on the opposite of ＂Bird＇s Nest＂ in the Olympic Green. This miraculous building features a mysterious transparent blue appearance and an innovative structure, perfectly mixing architectural concepts and cutting-edge technologies. Based on the traditions of Chinese culture and architectural design, Water Cube stands out in a simplistic and streamlined form, creating a harmonious co-existence with Bird＇s Nest while distinguishing itself from the grandeur of the latter. The building＇s design is inspired by the traditional concept of Chinese philosophy, ＂integral unity and harmony between the round heaven and the square earth＂, which are respectively represented by Bird＇s Nest and Water Cube. While meeting functional needs for international competitions, this square blue box is considered an outstanding example integrating traditional culture with modern functional facilities.     

Inner Mongolia Grassland Son and Dance Ensemble Tours the U.S.

At the invitation of the U.S. International Traditional Culture Development Foundation, Inner Mongolia Grassland Song and Dance Ensemble toured this summer Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Sacramento and Stockton. The ensemble consisted of performers from Inner Mongolia Song and Dance Theatre and other art troupes and colleges in Inner Mongolia. The ensernble＇s performances were widely acclaimed in those cities. Acting Chinese Consul General in Chicago Tang Ying praised that the ensemble＇s tour was a great success.     

Husband and Wife Painters Displayed Their Art in Japan

The exhibition entitled “The Water and Ink World： Contemporary Chinese Painters Yang Lizhou and Wang Yingchun”, planned and organized by China-Japan Friendship Association, was displayed in the early summer in the association＇s art museum.     

Regong Art： Blending Aesthetics and Religion

Originating in the iSth century, Regong art is named after its birthplace—Tongren County in northwest China＇s qinghai Province. The area is known as Regong in Tibetan. As an influential school in Tibetan Buddhist arts, Regong art has evolved over the centuries from a simple reflection of the times, to the present, more elaborate, influences from the artists＇ surroundings.     

China＇s National Beauty -The Treasure of Hua Fu： The 2009 NE·TIGER Hua Fu Collection Fashion Show

On the evening of Nov. 5th, 2008, in the Golden Hall of Beijing Hotel, NE.TIGER raised the curtain on CHINA FASHION WEEK for the seventh successive year. As the architect of Chinese-inspired Fashion, NE.TIGER continued on last year＇s theme of ＂The national beauty in China＇s national dress＂. The 2009 collection took as its theme ＂the national beauty captured in Hua Fu＂, presenting an embodiment of the quest for renaissance and innovation of Chinese luxury expressed by the words of NE-TIGER founder Mr. Zhang Zhifeng： ＂infused by a single source, integrating a world of styles……     

Exhibition ＂Inside the Court of China＇s Emperors＂ in Toronto,Canada

On Marcia 5, the exhibition The Forbidden City： Inside the Court of China＇s Emperors opened at Royal Ontario Mr, scum in Toronto, Canada Prcscnted by The Robert H.N.     

60 YEARS OF FINE ARTS OF CHINA

The exhibition ＂60 Years of Fine Arts of China＂ was recently held in the National Art Museum of China in celebration of the 60th anniversary of the People＇s Republic of China,The 687 masterpiece exhibits represent important accomplishments made by the fine arts circle of China since 1949.     

A Glimpse of Intangible Cultural Heritage in Hong Kong and Macau

The Yu Lan Ghost Festival of Hang Kong Chiu Chow Community Around 1.2 million people originating from Chiu Chow （Chaozhou） in Chi- na ＇s Guangdong province live in Hong Kong. During the Ghost Festival, they organize their own Yu Lan Ghost Fes- tival, which runs tor the entire seventh lunar month. The testival has been held tot over 100 years and is officially list- ed as part of China＇s intangible cultural heritage.     

Recent and Forthcoming Events

The exhibition “Buryat＇s Spirit： Rus- sian Artist Dashi Namdakov＇s Works” was recently on view at the World Art Museum in Beijing. The exhibition displays the artist＇s 68 masterpieces that he created in various periods, in- cluding 56 sculptures and 12 paint- ings. As a descendant of Buryat peo- ple, Dashi creates works that depict subjects of Lamaism, Shamanism, Buryat epics and Siberian myths. His sculptures unveil a mysterious world, mix decorative and symbolic elements of folk art with academic approaches of realism, and show interaction be- tween Eastern and Western cultures. The exhibition will last until January 4, 2015.     

Beijing Olympics-Themed Gala Stages in Hollywood

On March 3, just before the Chinese Lantern Festival, some 500 performers from Beijing staged a large paradein the Hollywood Boulevard in an ettort to snowcase traditional Chinese culture to the American public and promote the 2008 summer Olympics,which will be held in Beijing next year. The parade, as part of the cultural event entitled “Experience Beijing Culture in Los Angeles”, attracted much local media coverage. The World Journal reported that “The art and culture from China look so integrated and well coordinated with the Hollywood Boulevard, a svmbol of America＇s film and TV industry.” Recently, the staff reporter had an interview with the event＇s chief director Mr. Li Jicheng.[第一段]