China Report

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Tuesday, March 28, 2006

Facelfiting for the Forbidden City

Shrouded in scaffolding as scores of workers overhaul the tallest hall in China's Forbidden City, renovation of the most significant hall in the country is well under way.

The renovation is expected to restore the hall's former glory from the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), said Jin Hongkui, the palace's deputy curator.

The renovation includes repairing the roof sides which have already started sinking, repairing corrupted wood columns, changing the broken glass tiles and repainting the ceramic glaze of the tiles.

The Hall of Supreme Harmony, China's tallest timber ancient palace building, was closed to the public in January. Workers are overhauling the outer and inner frame of the hall and the renovation plan will be discussed by experts in June, Jin said. The whole renovation will last for two years.

Located at a significant place at the axis of the Forbidden City, the Hall of Harmony used to be the place where grand ceremonies were held such as the emperor's enthronement, wedding, birthday and important occasions like the Chinese Lunar New Year.

The hall, originally completed in 1420, was rebuilt after several fires and is over 300 years old.
Examination and planning work for the hall's renovation began in 2004, according to Jin, which included literature research and collecting. Professionals combined manual mapping, three-dimensional laser scanning and wood survey technologies to overhaul and analyze the status of the hall.

Experts from the Italian cultural heritage department also contributed to the work of pollutant analysis and tested repairing materials, bringing their experience of renovating ancient architecture in Europe, Jin said.

He said the main structure of the hall is basically stable. But parts of the wood frame, ornaments, walls, roof tiles and the unique brackets inserted on the top of columns have suffered damage.

The paintings on the outer eaves did not comply with the original design during the past renovations, he added.

The Forbidden City, now known as the Palace Museum, situated in central Beijing, was the power center of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties from 1420 to 1912.
The labyrinthine complex, home to 24 emperors, their families and courtesans, and reputed to have 9,999 rooms, is one of China's best known icons and most popular tourist attractions. It is visited by 7 million to 8 million tourists every year.

UNESCO listed the Forbidden City as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1987.

The renovation of the Palace Museum, which started in 2002, will take more than 10 years to complete at a cost of over 2 billion yuan (250 million U.S. dollars).

By the end of 2005, about 38,000 square meters of ancient architecture were repaired, costing more than 200 million yuan (25 million U.S. dollars).

Leshan Buddha






The Leshan Giant Buddha, Sichuan Province, China was begun in 713, during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) and completed in the 19th year of Emperor Dezong (803 AD). At 71 meters (220 feet), it is the largest stone sculpture of Buddha in the world. It sits at the confluence of the Minjiang, Dadu and Qingyi rivers. The statue is in the UNESCO inventory, listed in 1996 as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site. It is currently being refurbished and the Chinese government has taken steps to minimize the environmental impact on the statue. The World Bank has offered US$8 million in interest-free loans for the maintenance and protection of the Buddha. The Buddha was originally covered by a wooden structure, but has been exposed to the weather since the building was destroyed in a 14th Century war. The statue is of Maitreyanot, a disciple of Sakyamuni, the founder of Buddhism.

Monday, March 27, 2006

Buddhism in China- Buddhistic Statues(一)


This is the most famous of all Chinese oolongs. Guanyin, sometimes called the Goddess of Mercy, is actually more like the Buddhist equivalent of the Madonna. She is a bodhisattva, one who is qualified to enter nirvana, but chose to remain on earth to bring all to enlightenment. Statues of her stand in many Buddhist temples, and a woman who wants a child may pray to her. A legend gives one version of why a tea bears her name. An iron statue of Guanyin stood in a rundown temple in central Fujian's Shaxian (Sand) province. The temple's condition aroused the concern of a tea grower who passed it daily. Financially uanble to repair it, he thought that the least he could do was to burn incense and clean the place twice a month. One night Guanyin appeared to him in a dream and told him to look in the cave behind the temple for a treasure. He was to take it for himself but also to share it with others. There he found a single tea shoot which he planted and cultivated into a bush with leaves that produced a singularly fine drink. He began selling it under the Guanyin name, and gave many cuttings to his neighbors. All prospered, and eventually the temple was repaired. A book from contemporary China gives another version: this tea is so named for the appearance of its processed leaves -- dark as iron and heavier than other teas, but with a quality as pure and beautiful as Guanyin.

Blog Ads and Law


http://en.chinabroadcast.cn/974/2006/03/27/271@67318.htm


China's first weblog advertisement agent platform started operation last week, attracting a huge number of advertisers.


But the Beijing Youth Daily reports that provision for running advertisements on blogs is something that can't be found in the existing regulations on advertising.The paper says according to the current law, individuals have no right to publish commercials. And the websites that provide blogging are not qualified to run ads if they are not registered.But the paper notes the inflow of ad revenue will not be stopped because of the absence of regulations.

The paper says there is no need to set up a law especially for blog ads, as many more internet-related problems arise everyday. But there should be some judicial explanation, which could incorporate blog ads into their current ads regulation system.The paper adds, as blog advertisement are featured in great numbers and lack content restrictions, there should be stricter punishments to guarantee regulations are complied with.

Wednesday, March 22, 2006

terra-cotta warriors and horses





















The three pits were built in similar basic construction. They are five to seven meters beneath the present ground level with the terra-cotta figures placed in corridors. The corridors, divided by earth-rammed partition walls, are paved with pottery bricks on which the figures were placed. The earth walls sustained wood roof that was composed of huge and strong rafters, the roof was covered by layers of fiber mats, earth fill and tilled earth. All these were constructed to totally conceal the army.
The three pits vary in size and shape. Pit 1 is the largest one in rectangular shape, housing the main force of the army; Pits 2 is located some 20 meters north of Pit 1, which is a complex battle formation formed by charioteers, archers, cavalrymen and infantrymen. It is specially used for supporting the main force; Pit 3, located 25 meters to the north of Pit 1 and to the west of pit 2, was evidently the headquarters. The total three pits are located to the east of Emperor’s Mausoleum, determining that the army was facing east, with its back to the tomb, serving as guardians to protect the entrance of the Emperor’s burial.
 

Tuesday, March 21, 2006

Who's better than Shaq? Yao


Chinadaily
2006-03-17 15:50

Now is as good a time as any.

It's time to call the Rockets' Yao Ming what he is: the best center in the NBA. Yes, there's that small matter of the big fella in Miami, but the reality is that the gradual upward arc of Yao has intersected the inevitable downward arc of Shaquille O'Neal.

That's nothing against Shaq. It's just that Father Time doesn't lose matchups.

O'Neal still is the most dominant player in the NBA. . . . at times. But Yao has O'Neal beat when it comes to production game in and game out.

Forget for a moment that the scoring and rebounding stats have swung in Yao's favor. The most pertinent numbers are 34 and 25. O'Neal is 34, and the cold, hard fact is he's getting worse, not better. Yao is 25 and by almost any objective measure has yet to reach his prime. In four of the past five seasons, including this one, O'Neal has missed at least 15 games. Yao had been an iron man for three-plus seasons before a toe injury sidelined him for six weeks in December and January.

But since his return, Yao has been relentlessly good, with the lone exception a 6-point blip on the radar against the Suns. O'Neal, to his credit, has been doing his thing since returning from an ankle injury in mid-December. But his big games aren't quite as big as they used to be, and they're coming a little more infrequently.

Then, of course, there's foul shooting. Popular opinion suggests O'Neal hits his foul shots when they matter. Perhaps, but O'Neal has shot less than 50 percent from the line in each of the past two playoff series his teams have lost.

Yao, who is hitting 83.2 percent from the line this season, is Houston's best free throw shooter and is shooting more free throws now that he has become a bigger part of the offense. Yao no longer is willing to go long stretches without being a factor. His selflessness, frequently cited by critics as a significant shortcoming, is diminishing. He asserts himself these days, and his teammates are giving him the basketball whenever he demands it.

In his first nine games after the All-Star break, Yao's numbers were jaw-dropping: 27.8 points, 13.7 rebounds and 2.3 blocks per game. What's more, the Rockets were 7-2 in those games and Tracy McGrady wasn't around for a couple of them.

It's no wonder that even reluctant praiser Jeff Van Gundy calls Yao the "best regular-season center in the NBA." That obvious qualifier no doubt is in deference to O'Neal, who, unlike Yao, has done big things in the playoffs. Yao's playoff resume is skimpy when compared with O'Neal's.

That the Rockets are even talking playoffs, though, is largely because of Yao. Houston will head toward the homestretch without McGrady, who might miss the remainder of the regular season because of a back injury. So it's on Yao to guide what has become a severely undermanned squad to eighth place in the Western Conference standings.

That's a big-time challenge -- the kind O'Neal, in his prime, likely would have been up for. And the kind Yao, in just his fourth season, seems ready to handle.

Monday, March 20, 2006

the series of china travel (2)-Shanhai

Modern Shanghai has three key areas of interest to the visitor. These comprise Sightseeing, Business and Shopping centered upon People's Square and along the Huangpu River. The city's Cultural Center with its public activities and community facilities and finally the main Entertainment and Holiday Tourism area located at Mt. Sheshan, Chongming Island, Dingshan Lake and Shenshuigang Area.
Known as "the Oriental Paris", Shanghai is a shopper's paradise. One of the musts for tourists is Nanjing Road. Huaihai Road intrigues those with modern and fashionable tastes, while Sichuan North Road meets the demands of ordinary folk. In addition, Xujiahui Shopping Center, Yuyuan Shopping City, Jiali Sleepless City are thriving and popular destinations for those who are seeking to buy something special as a memento of their visit.A wide variety of cuisines can be found in the City and today Shanghai offers a plethora of culinary delights focusing on the traditions of Beijing, Yangzhou, Sichuan, Guangzhou as well as its own local dishes. Shanghai's restaurants are among the finest to be found in China and they welcome diners from anywhere at any time.
Shanghai continues to grow and prosper meeting the aspirations of the 21st century while retaining its proud traditions of service and hospitality. The Oriental Pearl TV Tower, Jinmao Mansion and Pudong International Airport are the modern symbols of an international metropolis while the Shanghai Museum, Shanghai Grand Theatre and Shanghai City Planning Exhibition Center are evidence of the extensive and deep passion of a great city that extends a warm welcome to friends from all over the world.

Sunday, March 19, 2006

Chinese Marriage Custom

Chinese marriage became custom during the Warring States period (402-221 B.C.). Due to the vast expanse and long history of Chinese marriage customs and ceremonies, there are different practices that are followed in different places, although they all generally adhere to similar guidelines. Visitors still have opportunities to witness traditional marriages in the countryside.
In ancient times, it was very important to follow a basic principle of the "Three Letters and Six Etiquettes" since they were essential to a marriage.

The "Three Letters" included the Betrothal Letter, Gift Letter and Wedding Letter. The Betrothal Letter was the formal document of the engagement, a must in a marriage. Next was the Gift Letter, which would be given to the identified girl's family. Within the letter would be a list of the types and quantity of gifts designated for the wedding, once both parties accepted the marriage. The Wedding Letter was prepared and presented to the bride's family on the day of the wedding and was a document that confirmed and commemorated the formal acceptance of the bride into the bridegroom's family.

Six Etiquettes

Proposing: If an unmarried boy's parents identified a girl as their future daughter-in-law, they would then locate a matchmaker. Proposals were the specialties of the matchmakers. The matchmaker would formally present his or her client's request to the identified girl's parents.

Birthday matching: If the potential bride's parents did not object to the marriage, the matchmaker would then ask for the girl's birthday and birth-hour to assure the compatibility of the potential bride and bridegroom. If the couple's birthdays and birth-hours did not conflict according to astrology, the marriage would continue onto the next stage. If there was any sign of astrological conflict, which meant the marriage would bring disasters upon both families, the proposed marriage was immediately quashed.

Presenting betrothal gifts: Once both birthdays matched, the bridegroom's family would then arrange for the matchmaker to present betrothal gifts, including the betrothal letter, to the bride's family.

Presenting wedding gifts: After the betrothal letter and betrothal gifts were accepted, the bridegroom's family would later formally send wedding gifts to the bride's family. Usually, gifts may include tea, lotus seeds, longan, red beans, green beans, red dates, nutmeg, oranges, pomegranate, lily, bridal cakes, coconuts, wine, red hair braid, money box and other delicacies, depending on local customs and family wealth.

Picking a wedding date: An astrologist or astrology book would be consulted to select an auspicious date to hold the wedding ceremony.

Wedding ceremony: On the selected day, the bridegroom departs with a troop of escorts and musicians, playing cheerful music all the way to the bride's home. After the bride is escorted to the bridegroom's home, the wedding ceremony begins.

Unlike Western tradition, the color red dominates traditional Chinese weddings. Chinese people tend to use or wear red to add a joyful atmosphere of such a festive occasion.

At dawn on the wedding day and after a bath in water permeated with grapefruit, the bride puts on new clothes, wears a pair of red shoes and waits for the so-called "good luck woman" to dress her hair in the style of a married woman. Her head would be covered with a red silk veil with tassels or bead strings that hang from the phoenix crown. She waits for her future husband to escort her home, with married women talking around her about how to be a good wife.

On the other hand, the bridegroom prepares himself to receive his wife. He gets capped and dressed in a long gown, red shoes and a red silk sash with a silk ball on his chest. The groom kneels at the ancestral altar as his father puts a cap decorated with cypress leaves on his head to declare his adulthood and his family responsibility.

Then the bridegroom sets out to receive his bride. Usually a crowd of friends escorts the bridegroom and musicians play joyful tunes during the entire trip. Dancing lions, if any, precede the troop. In ancient times, a bridal sedan chair (or a decorated donkey due to poverty or bad traffic) would be used to transport the bride. A child carries a bridal box among the people, reflecting the bridegroom's expectation to have a child in the near future.

The most interesting part of the reception really takes place at the doorstep of the bride's residence, which is heavily guarded by the bridesmaid or the bride's sisters. It is customary for the bridesmaid to give the bridegroom a difficult time before he is allowed to enter. Usually wisdom, courage and his friends will help the bridegroom to succeed in his "trial". However, there is one more situation he has to negotiate with the bridesmaid and sisters of the bride - to distribute among them red packets containing money - in order to take his bride home.

Before the bride departs to the bridegroom's home, the "good luck woman" will lead her to the sedan chair. On her way to the chair, one of her sisters will shield her with a red parasol, while another sister will throw rice at the sedan chair. At the back of the sedan hang a sieve and metallic mirror that are believed to protect the bride from evil. The bride has to cry to show that she does not want to leave her parents.

Then firecrackers will be set off to drive away evil spirits as the bride sits into the sedan chair. All along the way people make great efforts to avoid any inauspicious influence. For instance, the sedan chair is heavily curtained to prevent the bride from seeing an unlucky sight (e.g. a widow, a well or even a cat). When the parading troop arrives at the bridegroom's, firecrackers will be set off to hail the bride's arrival. Before the sedan chair a red mat is placed so that the bride will not touch the bare earth. By the threshold, a flaming stove and saddle will be set up and the bride is required to sidestep or step over them to avoid evils.

The wedding ceremony is the focus of interest. The bride and bridegroom are led to the family altar, where the couple kowtows to Heaven and Earth, the family ancestors and parents successively. They then bow to each other and are led to the bridal chamber. The ceremony proceeds under a director's prompts and applauses of the audience.

Afterwards, a grand feast is held for relatives and those who helped with the wedding. The newly wed couple will resume drinking wedding wine. Generally they are required to cross their arms to sip wine. They also will toast their guests. Guests voice their good wishes for the couple even though the bridegroom is trying to be humble while acting embarrassed.

Teasing games in the bridal chamber: After night falls, the teasing games start. Usually all young men can participate except for the bride's married brothers-in-laws. These funny and silly games help ease the tension, since in ancient times the newlyweds never met each other before the wedding! Most of the games require the shy couple to act like wife and husband. The festive atmosphere also promotes closeness among all the family members and the community beyond. There also will be other activities conducted by the bridegroom's mother after the roaring laughter fades into the darkness.

Preparing the bridal bed: A "good luck man", usually having a nice family, will help to install the bridal bed in the correct place in the bridal chamber on a selected day before the wedding day. Before the wedding, a "good luck woman" will arrange the bridal bed and scatter symbolic and lucky fruits on the bed. Nobody is allowed to touch the bed until the couple enters the bridal chamber after the wedding ceremony. Children will then be invited onto the bed to bless the couple with fertility.

Dowry: Usually the bride's dowry shall be sent to the bridegroom's family by the day before the wedding day. Sometimes the dowry will be brought by the bride's escorts. A traditional dowry normally consists of valuable items such as jewelry, embroidered beddings, kitchen utensils and furniture. The type of the dowry is constantly changing except for the basic, symbolic items. For example, dozens of years ago, a sewing machine, a bicycle, and a recorder were musts in a marriage. Now, they are totally out of fashion.

Bride's Return: Traditionally, the newlyweds are to return to visit the bride's parents one or three days after the wedding. They will be hailed with a banquet and it is the bridegroom's turn to suffer the well-intentioned teasing of the bride's relatives and friends.

Traditional marriage customs lost their popularity due to the collapse of feudal marriage customs and their complexity. However, traditional marriage can still be seen in the countryside, despite innovations. Now, traditional marriage customs are being revived in some places and they are attracting many prospective couples.

Thursday, March 16, 2006

the spring scrolls





Everytime a new year approaches, each country and each nationality will celebrate the occasion with great enthusiasm and rejoicings according to its own customs, to bid adieu to the old year and to ring in the new. In accordance with the Chinese Tradition, the New Year starts on the first day of the first month of a lunar year, which is called "yuan day", "yuan" meaning "to begin". The day, in popular parlance, is called "the First Day of the Year" or "the Spring Festival".
There are many stories about how the Chinese celebrate the Spring Festival.
As legend goes, in remote antiquity there was a kind of evil spirit called "Nian", who would come out looting and hurting the people at the turn of each winter. To scare away the evil spirit, people burnt stalks of bamboo. When "Nian" heard the crackle and saw the flames of burning bamboo, it would be so frightened as to make itself scarce. So people actually scared away "Nian" with this kind of primitive "firecrackers". When the cold winter is over, spring arrives in all its beauty. There goes the saying that "a whole year's work depends on a good start in spring." Hoping for a propitious and happy new year, each family will clean up the house and put up an antithetical couplet, written on two scrolls of paper to be pasted one on each side of the door. Dressed up in their best, people will get together, treat each other to the most delicious foods and exchange auspicious greetings. This is called "to pay a ceremonial call on New Year's Day". During the Spring Festival, the first words uttered when meeting others are often "Congratulations for the New Year!" Many interesting activities such as letting off firecrackers, dragon lantern dance and lion dance are also held to celebrate the occasion. New Year cake and dumplings of various kinds, usually made of glutinous rice flour, are signs of good luck and so indispensable for every household. As early as over 4,000 years ago, in the Western Zhou Dynasty, the custom of holding Spring Festival celebrations was already with the Chinese. in the Han Dynasty, Sima Qian invented the " Tai Cu Calendar" (Tai Cu being the name of a period during the reign of Emperor Wu Di) which set New Year's Day on the first day of the first month of the lunar year and this traditional festival has continued all the way to the present.
The antithetical couplets stuck on doors at the Spring Festival were originally called "peach wood charms against evil spirits." According to legend, there once lived in a beautiful mountain two brothers, Shennai and Yulei by name. The two brothers, industrious and brave, grew a large grove of peach trees and often helped the poor to fight against monsters and demons. After their death, the two brothers became gods in heaven and were ordered by the Supreme Deity of Heaven to see to the infliction of punishments on evil spirits. The two brothers were held in awe by the evil spirits so that even the mere sight of the peach trees they had planted would be enough to scare them away. Hence the peach wood charms. At the New Year, people would make peach wood charms by writing the names of Shennai and Yulei on two pieces of peach wood. Another way was to draw their pictures on them. On New Year's Eve, they would hang them on both sides of the door, hoping to be blessed with peace and happiness in the new year.
In ancient China, new year celebrations started from New Year's Eve and reached a second climax on Yuanxiao Festival which falls on the fifteenth day of the first month of the lunar year. there is a story about the origin of this festival. During the reign of Emperor Wu Di of the Han Dynasty, there was a palace maid named Yuanxiao, a pretty, clever and kind-hearted girl. Shut up in the palace all the year round, she became terribly homesick and very sad. She had somehow won the sympathy of a minister named Dongfang Shuo. And it was due to the clever story made up by the latter that Yuanxiao was given an opportunity to see her parents and other family members again. Dongfang Shuo said to Emperor Wu Di, "The Supreme Deity of Heaven has ordered the God of Fire to set the city of Changan on fire on the 16th day of the first month of the lunar year. The only way to forestall the Supreme Deity of Heaven, who enjoys watching a burning scene, is to let off firecrackers and hang up red lanterns all over the city while Your Majesty, the consorts, the palace maids and your subjects all come out for the lantern show. In addition, the God of Fire loves to eat stuffed dumplings made by Yuanxiao, a maid in the palace. lf we have Yuanxiao present her dumplings to the God of Fire, he will surely be appeased and the city of Changan saved." Emperor Wu Di felt greatly relieved, yet still rather anxious. He ordered that the proposals put forward by Dongfang Shuo be carried out. Therefore, on the evening of the fifteenth day of the first month of that particular year, the city of Changan spent the whole night letting off firecrackers and playing with lanterns. And nothing amiss happened that night. Meanwhile, Yuanxiao took advantage of the opportunity to have a family reunion. The ensuing year, Emperor Wu Di ordered again on the same day that red lanterns be hung all over the city and sweet dumplings made by Yuanxiao be offered at the altar for the Supreme Deity of Heaven. The rites were thereafter repeated every year, and the fifteenth day of the first lunar month each year has since become a festival. Since the Yuanxiao Festival is marked by lantern show and lantern viewing, it is also called the Lahtern Festival. In ancient times the day was called Shang Yuan Festival as well. On that particular night, people have their celebrations under the first full moon of the year which is symbolic of family reunion and a full happy life.
After jubilant celebrations during the Spring Festival, people start a new year with many new hopes and aspirations.

Wednesday, March 15, 2006

Premier rules out RMB one-off surprise rise

China will allow the yuan to move more flexibly but sees no need for another one-off surprise adjustment such as last July's 2.1 percent revaluation against the dollar, Premier Wen Jiabao said Tuesday in Beijing.
"According to the current market-oriented currency formation regime, there is room for the yuan to fluctuate either up or down on its own in line with changes in the market. It's no longer necessary for China to take one-off administrative measures," Wen told a news conference after the end of the annual session of parliament.
The yuan has risen by about 1 percent since it was revalued by 2.1 percent on July 21, 2005, depegged from the dollar and set free to float in a managed bands.
"There will be no more surprises," Wen said.
Last July's shift in the exchange rate regime had been foreshadowed at Wen's annual news conference last March at the Great Hall of the People, when he said yuan value adjustment in the pipeline would be a surprise, to shun speculators.
Before the July 2005 move, the yuan traded at about 8.28 to the dollar. The revaluation took it to 8.11 and it now trades at about 8.04. The United States has alleged the rate undervalues the Chinese currency and gives the country a competitive advantage in trade.
Wen noted that the yuan, also known as the renminbi (RMB), had risen against the dollar even though the US currency itself has been strong. And its gains against the euro and the yen had been even greater.
"Through this reform we have established a new RMB exchange rate regime. We will further strengthen the exchange rate system and we will expand the foreign exchange market, and allow more flexibility in the fluctuation of the Chinese currency," he said.
The administration of US President George W. Bush is under pressure to rein in a bilateral deficit that on US figures reached $201.6 billion in 2005. China, which counts Hong Kong trade separately, put its calculated surplus with the United States last year at $114.2 billion.
The US-China trade gap and yuan are expected to feature high on the agenda during Chinese President Hu Jintao's next visit to the United States, expected in late April. Some US lawmakers are threatening to impose tariffs on Chinese imports unless Beijing permits a faster rate of climb in the yuan

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2006-03/14/content_536005.htm

Tuesday, March 14, 2006

the series of Beijing travel_beijing


Beijing will not only ensure that you have a full and interesting day but will also present you with colorful choices when darkness falls.
Traditional performances such as the Beijing Opera, acrobatic shows and dramatic performances in the teahouses are popular with the more mature visitors to the city, while the younger generation seems to favor the snack markets, pubs, clubs and cafes. For the stranger who wishes to become acquainted with the city, a stroll along Chang'an Street to Tian'anmen Square is highly recommended.
One place that cannot be omitted when considering the nightlife options for the old Beijinger is the Tianqiao (Overbridge) Area. In actual fact it is not a bridge but a location popular for gathering to eat, drink and to enjoy the entertainments and amusements on offer there. Tianqiao has been a favorite venue for ordinary folk since the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368). This area was also the cradle of Chinese folk culture and art where many original folk performances such as acrobatics and music were devised. The area has changed somewhat over the centuries but the quality of the entertainment here continues to be of a high standard. Two of the most famous venues are the Tianqiao Theater and Tianqiaole Tea House (the name means Happy Overbridge) and it can be found at No.113 in Beiwei Lu, Xuanwu District). The theatre specializes in modern song and dance performances while by contrast the teahouse offers the more traditional arts of Beijing Opera, Acrobatics, Martial Arts as well as folk songs. Visitors to China may be a little apprehensive about going to the opera but it is an experience not to be missed as the performances are really quite spectacular, including as they do music, dance, acrobatics and spectacular costumes.
Other places to explore Chinese folk culture include the Laoshe Tea House (3F, building 3, Xi Da Jie, Qianmen, Beijing), where you can experience the famous Chinese tea culture and find a quiet place to relax and maybe do some reading. There is also the Liyuan Theater (inside Jianguo Hotel, Qianmen, at No. 175 in Yongan Lu) here there are nightly performances at 19:30 pm of genuine Beijing Opera and other folk performances. One need not be concerned about language difficulties with Chinese opera and drama as both make considerable use of mime. The opera often has subtitle boards displaying a translation. As a result they are quite easy to understand.
Chinese acrobatics have a long history and is one of the most popular art forms among Chinese people. Performers have achieved worldwide fame for their wonderful skills and marvelous acts. Acrobatic Shows can be seen at the Wansheng Theatre, 95, Tianqiao Market, Xuanwu District beginning at 19:15pm every evening.
Other traditional Chinese performances such as puppet shows, exotic ballet, opera, concert and modern drama are put on every day in Beijing.

Monday, March 13, 2006

so lovely chinesegirl twins





do you want to have such daunghters like them. i wangt to kiss them. how beautiful then are.

Sunday, March 12, 2006

Stars questioned Forbes's China Celebrity List



Chinanews, Mar.10 - Forbes Magazine's China Celebrity List was unveiled in Beijing on Thursday. This is the third time that this US magazine analyzes the income, media exposure and status of Chinese celebrities on the basis of detailed statistics. NBA giant Yao Ming remained on top of the list, while Super Girl winners were quite eye-catching on the list.
The 2006 China Celebrity List crowns Yao the No. 1 in comprehensive ranking and annual income for the second time, and his income rose 20 million yuan (US$2.5 million) over a year earlier to 170 million yuan. Zhang Ziyi, who ranked No. 2 last year, had to hand over her place to Zhou Xun whose excellent performance in the musical opera "Perhaps Love" brings her a high exposure rate and 19 million yuan of income.
Compared with last year's list, 35 new faces show up in Forbes's 2006 China Celebrity 100 List. Super Girl champion Li Yuchun and second runner-up Zhang Liangying ranked sixth and 55th respectively on the list and won the "annual new star" and "most potential star" awards which were set up this year. Super Girl winners He Jie and Zhou Bichang as well as Super Girl hosts Li Xiang and Wang Han and even last year's Super Girl second runner-up Zhang Hanyun also made the list.
Most celebrities, however, said that this Forbes list made an untrue estimate of their incomes. Judging from the attitude of Li Yuchuan's manager Man Chun, her income was far higher than the figure revealed on the list last year. According to Zhou Xun's manager Ms. Tao, she just talked with Zhou Xun about this, and Zhou asked with wide-opened eyes, "Really? How could I make that much money?"

Quality actress Gong Li busy in Hollywood






Quality actress Gong Li busy in Hollywood(Shenzhen Daily)Updated: 2005-03-30 08:47
After starring in "Zhou Yu's Express" in 2002, Chinese superstar Gong Li seemed to disappear from the film screen.
However, recently Gong played a part in a Hollywood film called "Memoirs of a Geisha" and right afterward she said she had signed up to play a major role in Miami Vice, another Hollywood film based on the classic 1980s television series of the same name.
"At present, the scripts I have received are all from Hollywood and I probably don't have time for any others," Gong said. "But if time permits, then I will be happy to cooperate with domestic directors."
Produced by Steven Spielberg, with a galaxy of Asian stars including Gong Li, Zhang Ziyi and Michelle Yeoh, the shooting of Memoirs was finished in January and is expected to be released in North America in October.
"The season selected for Memoir's first run will be favorable for next year's Oscars," said Gong.
She said she was confident of her performance in Memoirs and might even be a contender for an Oscar award for the role.
While Gong was making Memoirs in Hollywood, she came to the attention of crime film director Michael Mann, creator of Miami Vice.
In this film, Gong will co-star with Collin Farrell and Jamie Foxx, who won the best actor Oscar this year.
Following Miami Vice, Gong will play a role in the fourth sequel of the Hollywood thriller Silence of the Lambs. Gong’s agent said many Western audiences were familiar with Gong and that she was ideal for the role.
A short time ago, Gong said she had signed on with motion picture agents under ICM, the U.S. talent and literary agency working with a lot of big names such as Mel Gibson and Judie Foster. Gong also said she hoped she would show up at the Oscars next year.

Thursday, March 09, 2006

China Returns Sharp Retort to U.S. Report on Human Rights



March 9, 2006
By JOSEPH KAHN

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/03/09/international/asia/09cnd-china.html?_r=2&oref=login&pagewanted=print

BEIJING, March 9 — China today criticized the human rights record of the United States, arguing that racial discrimination remained pervasive and that the American military abused prisoners held at detention centers abroad.

In a sharply worded response to the annual State Department report on human rights conditions globally, which was released in Washington on Wednesday, China's State Council, or Cabinet, said the American government should concentrate on improving its own rights record.
"As in previous years, the State Department pointed the finger at human rights situations in more than 190 countries and regions, including China, but kept silent on the serious violations of human rights in the United States," the Chinese report said.

The State Department's survey, which assesses conditions in all foreign countries, "fully exposes its hypocrisy and double standard on human rights issues," the Chinese study said.

The section of the State Department's report dealing with China said rights conditions had worsened there in 2005, reversing a modest trend toward improved respect for rights that the department had observed earlier. It cited "increased harassment, detention, and imprisonment" of people viewed as threats to the government.

The report also criticized tighter controls on the Chinese press and more assertive censorship of all kinds of media, including the Internet.

Chinese diplomats play close attention to the tone of the State Department report because it often indicates how aggressively the United States will work on censuring China at the United Nation's annual human rights convention in Geneva, which takes place in April.

Though Beijing publicly dismisses the value of the State Department's report, Chinese diplomats often lobby Washington privately to soften criticism and avoid pushing motions to sanction Beijing, Chinese and American diplomats say.

Human rights discussions between American and Chinese officials have been especially tense this year because China has detained and arrested a number of well-known journalists, lawyers, religious leaders and human rights activists, people involved in the talks said. Police and thugs hired by the authorities also have used force to suppress social unrest in the countryside.
To ease condemnation of its record, China recently released several people from prison before the formal expiry of their terms. On Wednesday, the same day the State Department report was issued, the Dui Hua Foundation, a San Francisco-based human rights group, said it had been notified by Chinese authorities that Tong Shidong, 72, a physics professor convicted of helping found an opposition political party in 1999, would likely be released three years before his sentence is up.

President Hu Jintao is scheduled to make his maiden visit to the United States as China's top leader in April. Early releases and other concessions on sensitive human rights cases often precede such trips as a good-will gesture. But human rights groups argue that treating political prisoners as bargaining chips has not often heralded lasting improvement in China's rights record.

China defends its progress on human rights. Qin Gang, a foreign ministry spokesman, said Thursday that the government's respect for rights "not only satisfied the Chinese people but also has been affirmed by the international community."

The Chinese rebuttal to the State Department report, much of which appears to be compiled from American newspaper clippings, devoted special attention to what it described as the "chronic malady" of racism.

It said blacks and other minorities had lower living standards, less reliable access to health care and faced discrimination in the workplace. Blacks also got the death penalty more often than whites convicted of the same crimes, it says.

The Chinese report also noted a deterioration in conditions for Muslims in America since the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks and bemoaned the use of "various kinds of torture" at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and other overseas detention centers where suspected terrorists are held.

The unchecked spread of guns in private hands and secret wire taps authorized by the White House were among the other rights problems China cited.

Tuesday, March 07, 2006

Oscar honor brings joy to Chinese

Ang Lee is the pride of Chinese people all over the world, and he is the glory of Chinese cinematic talent.

That is the refrain reverberating among many cinephiles and professional filmmakers in China after news that the director of "Brokeback Mountain" won the Best Director Award at the 78th Academy Awards.

Best director winner Ang Lee poses with his Oscar at the 78th annual Academy Awards in Hollywood, March 5, 2006. Lee won for his work in "Brokeback Mountain." [Reuters]
Lee is the first Chinese to receive the honour, considered the highest in American cinema and the most influential worldwide.

"I'm deeply proud of him," gushed Kate Wang, granddaughter of Wang Dulu, whose martial arts novel inspired Lee's "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" in 2000.

Kate Wang, a public relations executive at the American Chamber of Commerce in Beijing, said she considered Lee a family friend and that his win is one more testament to his colossal talent at exploring the subtleties of human feelings.

"Ang Lee's movie is very touching. It's simple but perfect," commented Zhang Yuan, a Chinese film director of the "Sixth Generation." "I sincerely congratulate him. He is the pride of all Chinese directors everywhere."

Despite the Best Director nod, the film "Brokeback Mountain" lost to "Crash" in the Best Picture category. It was widely seen as an upset because "Brokeback" had been winning all kinds of trophies, from the Golden Bear in Venice, to the Golden Globe and the Independent Spirit Awards, and was seen by most observers as a shoo-in for the highest Oscar.

"It's not surprising that 'Crash' won the biggest prize. America is a multiracial society and a film that reflects that facet will naturally assume special importance," said Zhang, director of "Beijing Bastard" and "East Palace, West Palace."

Xu Jinglei, an actress-turned-director, said China needs more "masters with his depth and breath."

Online reaction showed that a few were dismayed that "Crash" nabbed best picture; and the gay community was especially upset, said Cheng Qingsong, a gay film critic and scriptwriter.
An anonymous posting on Sina.com summed up what many moviegoers expressed in one way or another: "Now that Ang Lee has got all the big international accolades, Zhang Yimou and Chen Kaige need not compete for the title of No 1 Chinese Director any more."

Other voices were less congratulatory. Dayyan Eng, a Chinese American who started his filmmaking career in Beijing, did not think "Brokeback" is as good as "The Ice Storm," an Ang Lee film from 1997.

Liu Miaomiao, a director of independent films, rationalized that Hollywood would not give the top award to "Brokeback" because of political reasons.

Sai Ren, a film critic with CCTV6, a film channel, noted that Lee's achievement had little to do with Chinese cinema. He suggested that people watch the show just to enjoy it.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/english/doc/2006-03/07/content_527423.htm