AN EMBASSY TO CHINA

From 1419 to 1422, a large diplomatic mission consisting of 510 persons and dispatched by Timurid King Shahruh Bahadur paid a visit to the Ming Empire. The delegation member and painter recorded in his diary traditions and customs he saw along his journey and politics, economy, traditions and people of the Ming Dynasty. These notes were later compiled as “An Embassy to China”, which is now referred to as an important historical record for the study of cultural exchange between Central Asia and China of the time. The author, based on this literary work, reviewed that part of history on friendly exchange between China and lran.     

Exhibition Showcases Tea and Wine Culture

During his state visit to France and Belgium this year, Chinese President Xi v Jinping stressed the importance of cultural origins and ties. In his speech delivered at the College of Europe, Xi took Chinese tea and Western wine as examples, noting that ＂Chinese tea＇s conservativness and restrainedness and European wine＇s vibrancy and warmth represents two different ways in enjoying life and interpreting the world.＂     

Top-class Exhibitions Kick off the Year of China

＂Year of China＇, the largest exchange event that China has ever held in Russia, was officially launched on March 26 by visiting Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin. Three opening exhibitions highlighted the event, including ＂China National Exhibition＂, ＂White Gold： Chinese Porcelain Masterpieces＂ and ＂Forbidden City Treasures of Chinese Emperors＂. These top-class exhibitions attracted both numerous viewers and extensive media coverage, showcasing to Russian people a true picture about the splendid ancient civilization and dynamic modem development of China.[第一段]     

Classical Guqin Maker Tian Shuangkun

The quiet and melodious music led me to Tian Shuangkun＇s courtyard house in the depth of a hutong （alley） in the downtown of Beijing. Tian is a master maker of the Guqin, a seven-stringed zither known as China＇s oldest stringed instrument.His studio is furnished with traditional Chinese stuffs - old- style furniture, calligraphic and ink painting works, old pictures and the guqin as well. While I appreciated all these, Tian explained to me the long history of the guqin and his lifelong pursuit of perfection in making the guqin.     

The Handshake Across the Vastest Ocean of the World—The Exhibition of Journeys to Peace and Cooperation

““““““““““““““““In July 1971, my father Richard Nixon, the then U.S. President, declared that he would visit China at the invitation of Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai of the People‘s Republic of China. The news astonished the world and changed the direction of history, because since 1949, the United States had had no diplomatic relations with the People‘s Republic of China. It was difficult for most people to believe that these two countries could overcome the ideological and political disparities to come together. On February 21, 1972, when my father set out on his journey for peace, he was very excited. As he stepped out of Air Force I, he decided to stretch out his hand first to Premier Zhou Enlai before he set on Chinese soil.““““““““““““““““- Julie Nixon Eisenhower, daughter of former U.S. President Richard Nixon     

Capital of Cultural Diversity Attracts Tourists Worldwide ——2006 Quanzhou Tourism Promotion Fair

2006 Quanzhou Tourism Promotion Fair, with the theme of ＂blue Quanzhou bay and fascinating Shaolin Gongfu of south China＂ took place from September 4 to 7 in Quanzhou, a historically and culturally famous city in the coastal province of Fujian. More than 1000 participants from Russia, Japan, South Korea, Germany, the Philippines and Singapore as well as representatives from Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan and other provinces and cities of the country attended this promotional fair, which aimed to showcase the city＇s tourism resources.     

Yu Chengsong and His Composite Oil Print

Yu Chengsong and his composite oil print works were I first known to the art circle in 1993 when he published a 35-volum painting album on Chinese landscape. The album, printed in six languages including Chinese, English, Japanese and French, was distributed worldwide. In order to create this album, Yu traveled across the country on his own expenses. He painted the most marvelous and beautiful landscapes in China, from     

Books Released to Celebrate Anniversary of China-France Relations

In celebration of the 50th anniver- sary of China-France diplomatic relations and on the occasion of Chinese President Xi Jinpin＇s state visit to France, Guangming Daily and China International Publishing Group co-organized the voting for ＂ten most influential French books in China＂ and ＂ten most influential Chinese books in France＂. On March 25, a ceremony was held to announce the voting result. Nominated books on the list include French books ＂The Spirit of Laws＂,     

CHINESE CULTURE SHINES IN RUSSIA

Editor＇s words： Co-initiated by Chinese President Hu Jintao and Russian President Putin, the Year of Russia and the Year of China were launched in 2006 and 2007 respectively. This is the largest cultural event ever held in each other＇s country in the history of China-Russia exchange. In September, the staff reporter had an exclusive interview with Mr. Li Dongwen, Director-General of the Bureau for External Cultural Relations, Ministry of Culture of China, who gave a comprehensive review of the Year of China in Russia.[第一段]     

CULTURAL HERITAGE CONSERVATION CALLS FOR GREATER PUBLIC AWARENESS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION

A 36-person delegation from the US President＇s Committee on the Arts and the Humanity paid an official visit to China from June 5 to 13 at the invitation of Chinese Cultural Ministry. On June 10, the delegation attended a seminar on the conservation of world heritage sites in Suitcase House in Commune by the Great Wall,a resort hotel in the suburb of Beijing.At the seminar Shan Jixiang,Director-General of the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China,delivered a presentation on the trends of cultural heritage conservation in China as wall as China-US exchange and cooperation in the field of cultural heritage conservation.     

THE CULTURAL INDENTITY OF CHINA CONTEMPORARY ART

A 36-person delegation from the US President＇s Committee on the Arts and the Humanity paid an official visit to China from June 5 to 13 at the invitation of Chinese Cultural Ministry. On June 10, the delegation attended a seminar on the cultural identity of Chinese contemporary art chaired by Director Fan Di＇an in the National Art Museum of China.     

THE CULTURAL IDENTITY OF CHINA CONTEMPORARY ART

A 36-person delegation from the US President’s Committee on the Arts and the Humanity paid an official visit to China from June 5 to 13 at the invitation of Chinese Cultural Ministry. On June 10, the delegation attended a seminar on the cultural identity of Chinese contemporary art chaired by Director Fan Di’an in the National Art Museum of China.     

Chinese Culture Year Celebrated in Australia

During Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang’s official visit to Australia in October 2009, Chinese and Australian leaderships reached a consensus of hosting cultural years in each other’s country. From June 2010 to June 2011, "Experience Australia"—the Year of Australian Culture was successfully held in China. From June 2011 to June 2012, "Experience China"—the Year of Chinese Culture (YCCiA) is celebrated in Australia, featuring nearly 100 cultural events ranging from performing arts projects to visual art exhibitions to film festivals.     

Festival of China Strengthens US-China Cultural Ties

On the evening of October 1, 2005, dazzling art shows in Eisenhower Stage in Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. kicked off the month-long Festival of China. Both Chinese President Hu Jintao and US President George. W. Bush and his wife sent congratulatory messages to the festival. In his message, Hu said, "The historic charms and growing vitality of Chinese culture, as demonstrated in the Festival of China, will help American people to better know about China and promote exchange and …     

DULE TEMPLE

Dule Temple is located inside the west gate of the town of Jixian, Tianjin City. It was first built in the Tang Dynasty but the Front Gate and Mother Buddha Tower were rebuilt under the guidance of Han Kuangsi in 984 AD during the Song Dynasty. Dule Temple is known as one of the oldest extant wooden-structure buildings in China. According to Luo Zhewen, a renowned expert on ancient architecture, Dule Temple is a national treasure with unparalleled historical, artistic and scientific values.     

Poet Zang Kejia Talks About Mao Zedong’s Poetry—Commemorating Mao Zedong’s Centenary

ZANG Kejla was already a well-known fi-gure in Chinese literary circles during the1930s.Mao Zedong used to invite him tothe Qingzheng Hall to talk about poetry and edita few pieces,and the two became good friends.AsMao’s 100th birthday approached,I visited thepoet to talk with him about the late chairman’spoetry.Mao Zedong is a name known across theworld.A great revolutionary,politician and mili-tary scientist,he was also a poet at heart.Someforeign observers once wondered that“a poet hadcreated a new China.”His pieces have a veryrevolutionary flavor that recount to his readers the     

Impression on Oil Painter Wei Kuizhong

On my way back to Beijing, I dropped into the art museum of Hebei Provincial Institute of Painting in the city of Shijiazhuang, where an exhibition on Wei Kuizhong＇s off paintings was on the display. I was so overwhelmed by those extraordinary works that I was eager to talk to the painter. Wei was a sincere and determined artist. He looked taciturn but when it came to his artistic pursuits and ideas, his eloquence surprised me. In the Chinese art market today when everybody complains about the lack of mainstream artworks, Wei＇s oil masterpieces with thrilling make him stand out as a leading figure.     

Swedish Archaeologist Johan Andersson： Discoverer of Yangshao Culture

Yangshao Culture was a Neo- lithic culture extensively distributed along the Yel-low River in China. It was discov- ered in 1921 by Swedish archeolo- gist Johan Gunnar Andersson （1874 - 1960）, which disproved the conclu- sion that the Stone Age has nevcr ex- isted in China. Andersson＇s contri- bution to Chinese archaeology and China-Sweden cultural exclaange is widely recognized. But his asser- tion that Chinese culture was intro- duced trom the West has drawn con- troversv and dispute in the academic community and he was even once considered an associate to Westcrn imperialists.     

Cai Guoqiang： I Want to Believe

For Cai Guoqiang, August 2008 means a time full of not only challenge but also grace. As the chief designer of fire display for the opening ceremony of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Cai demonstrated his aesthetics of gun powder in front of more than 4 billion viewers from across the world. Also in this month, his solo exhibition Cai Guoqiang： I Want To Believe＂ was opened in Beijing, which was co-presented by the National Art Museum of China, Guggenheim Museum in New York and the Center of International Cultural Exchange. Beijing was the second leg of this globa tour. Its exhibition tn Guggenheim in the first half of this year was acclaimed as one of the important cultural events in the world. From February to May,Gugcjenheim moved out all the exhibits, including Picasso＇s, and all its three storeys of exhibition space were used to display Cai＇s works created over the past two decades.     

National Library of China

The forerunner of the National Library of China was the Capital Library, built in 1909 in the Guanghua Temple. It was later moved to Wenjin Street and became what was then the largest and most modern library in the country. Over the years a number of prominent scholars served as its