Melody of ＂Jasmine Flower＂ Echoes in Olympic Venues

When hostesses dressed in outfits with image of white-and-blue porcelain and holding red flower bouquets served medals at Olympic medal ceremonies during the 2008 Games, the readapted, lingering melody of the Chinese folk song ＂Jasmine Flower＂ sounded in the sports venues. According to Wang Ning, an official in charge of medal ceremonies from the Beijing Olympic Games Organizing Committee, the music used at the medal ceremony was recreated based on the original melody of ＂Jasmine Flower＂ which is perhaps the most popular Chinese folk song.     

＂My Dream Comes True ＂

＂I have two more dreams fulfilled than others,＂ said Madam Sun Danwei, president of Wuyutai Tea Co., Ltd., ＂One is Wuyutai managed to offer tea service in the Olympic Village and the other is t myself, as a representative of Wuyutai, was selected as an Olympic torch bearer!＂     

Beijing Unveils Mascots for Its Olympics - ＂Five Friendlies＂

After years of fierce lobbying and months of secrecy, Beijing unveiled five mascots for the 2008 Olympics on November 11, 2005. In an elaborate, nationally televised gala at Beijing Workers＇ Stadium to mark the 1,000-day countdown until the Games, senior Chinese leaders introduced the mascots - cartoon renditions of a panda, fish, Tibetan antelope, swallow and the Olympic flame, each one representing the color of one of the Olympic rings. The animals were introduced as Bei Bei, Jing Jing, Huan Huan, Ying Ying and Ni Ni-which, who put together, translates to ＂Beijing welcomes you!＂     

13th World Olympic Collectors＇ Fair opens in Beijing OLYMPIC COLLECTORS＇ RENDEZVOUS

Fans and collectors of Olympics-related souvenirs such as coins and stamps flocked to the 13th World Olympic Collectors＇ Fair which took place from June 22 to 28. Visitors from numerous countries attended the six-day fair which showcases more than a century of treasures representing the various stages of the Olympic movement.Collectors from across the world brought their collections to Beijing to exchange with Chinese collectors and to show to Chinese people the greatness of the Olympic collectors＇ family. Items shown at the fair include Olympic torches, trophies and athlete suits,as well as pins, coins, stamps and other items bearing the Olympic rings. It is the first time the fair has been held in China and it has opened free to public visitors.     

Dragon-horse Show Staged to Celebrate China- France Friendship

On October 17, a unique show of mechanical dragon-horse was unveiled at the Olympic Park in Beijing in celebration of the 50th anniversary of China-France dip-lomatic relations. The three-day event teatures an eight-act performance, with each act lasting one and half hours. On the first day, the dragon-horse and the spider came to life to appear in the Olympic venue. the two mythical each other when On the second day, beasts fought against the spider set a trap in an attempt to capture the drag- on-horse.     

＂New Beijing, New Olympics＂ Displayed in Sydney

The annual Sydney Royal Agriculture Exposition took place in the Olympic Park last April, one of the large-scale public events organized by Sydney Municipal Government which attracts hundreds of thousands of visitors every year. At the exposition this year, the exhibition ＂New Beijing, New Olympics＂, co-organized by the State Information Office of China and the Information Office of Beijing Municipality, was displayed, which added much glamour to the event.     

Olympic Village Permeated with Fragrance of Chinese Tea

When elegant images of Chinese porcelain and the huge character of ＂Cha＂, meaning ＂tea＂, were shown in the hi-tech scroll of Chinese ink painting at the opening gala of the Beijing Olympic Games, the global audience seemed overwhelmed by the brilliant history of Chinese ancient civilization as represented by the miraculous Silk Road through which tea and porcelain accounted for major exports of the Central Kingdom. Recognized as a symbol of Chinese culture, the art of tea has been demonstrated at the Olympic opening ceremony and in the Olympic Village for the first time in history.     

Showcasing the Spirit of the Olympics through Art

The exhibition of ＂Olympic Fine Arts 2008＂ opened in Beijing International Exhibition Center on August 11 in celebration of the 29th Olympic Games. The event was initiated by the International Olympic Committee and co-organized by the Chinese Ministry of Culture and the Organizing Committee of Beijing Olympic Games. With the theme of ＂China and the world＂ and the slogan of ＂Art makes Olympics better＂, this international gala for art precisely expressed and continued the spirit and concept of ＂Olympic Contest for Sports and Art＂, an event that was held in Sydney and Athens respectively,     

Beijing Stages Olympic Cultural Festival

Ten Olympic songs were premiered on July 16 at a grand ceremony at Beijing Olympic Sports Centre, marking the end of the third Beijing 2008 Olympic Cultural Festival. According to the organizers, the collecting campaign for Olympic songs will be held annually until 2007, from which the final theme songs for 2008 Games may be chosen. The third Beijing 2008 Olympic Cultural Festival, which was launched on June 23 with the theme of "Civilization of Beijing, Passion for the Olympic Games",…     

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.     

Gansu Releases 12-episode Animation Series ＂Legend of Dunhuang＂

＂Lcgcnd of Dunhuang＂, the first ever original animation series produced by Gansu province, was recently released.     

Zhong Youqin： Designer of China＇s First Set of Olympic Gold Coins

On October 25, 1979, the International Olympic Committee proclaimed the restoration of China＇s official status as IOC member. In order to celebrate this significant event, IOC authorized the Chinese Olympic Committee to produce and issue a set of precious-metal Olympic coins.     

＂Thunderstorm＂ Touches Japanese Hearts

During 2006 China Culture Festival in Japan, the dassic drama production ＂Thunderstorm （third edition）＂ was presented by Beijing People＇s Art Theatre （BPAT） at Autumn Theatre of the renowned Shiki Theatre Company in Tokyo. This classic program, directed by Gu Wei and starred by such respected drama actors and actresses as Yang Lixin, Gong Lijun, Wang Ban and Bai Hui, attracted the audience with realistic stage design and original story plots. Despite the language barrier, it deeply touched the Japanese audience which almost filled the nearly- 1000-seat theatre.[第一段]     

The Forbidden City on Canvas

Jiang Guofang is not the first to depict the Forbidden City on canvas. But he is truly a pioneer to create oil paintings on this ancient royal palace in such a large scale and from a fresh historical perspective. -- Yang Xin, former Vice President of Palace Museum     

Beijing Shooting Range Hall

Beijing Shooting Range Hall is located at the foot of the West Mountain in the suburb of k P Beijing. This Olympic venue was designed by the Institute of Architecturat Design of Tsinghua University. Based on the theme of ＂beautiful environment and Olympic Games＂, architects highlighted natural elements such as sunrays,     

Olympic Philatelic Exhibition Closed in Beijing

From August 8 to 18, the Beijing 2008 international Olympic Fair was held in Beijing Exhibition Center. As part of the fair, the Olympic Philatelic Exhibition was on display, attracting many visitors and adding more cultural richness to the Olympic Games.     

COLLECTION ＆ AUCTION

Auction Celebrating the 1 st Anniversary of the 2008 Beijing Olympics Held
In order to celebrate the 1 st anniversary of the 2008 Beijing Olympics, an auction was recently held, with such valuable objects as the barbell kissed by Olympic gold medalist Zhang Xiangxlang, the world＇s large canvas used for the preparation of the Olympic opening ceremony, the Olympic torch with the autography of Samaranch as well as furniture and other gifts related to the Beijing Olympics. Over the past year after the conclusion of the 2008 summer Olympics, 25 auctions have been held, with more than 700,000 Olympic-related objects sold.     

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.     

Qutan Temple： ＂A Miniature Forbidden City＂in a Mountain Valley

Qutan Temple, located in a mountain valley near the capital city of Qinghai Province, was first constructed in the early Ming Dynasty. This grand Chinese-style Tibetan Lama temple was built against the background that the Ming Dynasty supported Tibetan Lamaism to better rule the Tibetan area. As Qutan is the     

Leisure Sports Industry： Once Neglected, Now Booming

For China, a nation that has never held a global sports meet on the scale of the Olympic Games, the full-fledged Olympic economy still seems like a beautiful dream waiting to happen. Every walk of life is hoping to develop itself through the 2008 Olympic Games, which will be held in Beijing. Yet in spite of all the commercial frenzy surrounding the Games, the Chinese people haven‘t forgotten that sports are also leisure activities, which are a way to boost overall health. Thus, a new economic push point is emerging in China in the form of leisure sports.