Taichi O is China's choice at Venice film festival

Taichi 0: From Zero to Hero will be the only Chinese film lined up for the 69th Venice International Film Festival, which was launched on Aug 28 and will run till Sept 8.

The steam-punk action movie will have its global premiere during the festival's Out of Competition section.

Director Stephen Fung spent 220 million yuan ($32.4 million) creating what he calls an "innovative, young and unusual" kung fu film, featuring elements such as punk, romance and electronic games.

The film boasts a stellar cast including Tony Leung and Shu Qi. It will hit Chinese theaters on Sept 27.

Sopranos and tenors in perfect harmony

The 10 sopranos and 10 tenors concerts were staged at the Chinese Theater in Beijing on Aug 23 and 24.

The two concerts were organized by China Central Television's music channel as part of its Glory Blossoms concert series, which previously included the 10 performers and 10 singers.

The concerts lineup includes several Chinese singers who are active on the world stage, like Zhang Liping and Dai Yuqiang.

Meanwhile, singers widely recognized for performing Chinese songs, such as Xue Haoyin, and some promising young singers were also invited to the concerts.

New school promises best of both worlds

Beijing Collegiate Academy, the first international school approved by the Canadian government in Beijing, opened this summer and will welcome its first batch of Chinese students in September.

The new school has a kindergarten, primary school, junior and senior high school - all the education components required before going to college.

The school teaches in both Chinese and English. Canadian teachers are assigned by the education ministry of the government of British Columbia, and Chinese teachers are from some of the most prestigious primary schools in Beijing.

Students who receive education from the school do not need to take language tests such as the IELTS and TOFEL to apply for higher education overseas.

Quake-affected Bailu hosts first beer festival

Bailu, a mountainous town in Pengzhou, Sichuan province, is hosting its first beer festival, after the earthquake of May 12, 2008.

The town was devastated in the magnitude-8.0 quake and the government of Pengzhou has put great efforts into reconstruction, especially restoration of the French-style architecture at the site.

The organizers of the festival have prepared colorful programs for the month-long event, including food shows and showing of classic movies, and broadcasting of sporting events.

China Daily