Fashion in the southwest

Chengdu, capital of China's southwest Sichuan province, is enjoying a series of high fashion shows. The city has just kicked off Chengdu International Fashion Week, as a part of Chengdu Shopping Festival from July 11 to Aug 30. The event started with a show from Callula Lillibelle, which was created by New York designer Melanie Fraser. It will also feature shows from international brands including Nicholas K, haute couture label Maggie Norris, and local talent. Established Chinese designers Li Xiaoyan, Zhao Huizhou and Pan Yiliang have said they will bring their collections to the southwest city.

Performance for the elderly

More than 500 elderly people gathered in Beijing's Chang'an Grand Hotel recently to enjoy the opening ceremony of the public welfare performance The China Dream in Action. Disabled performers from Beijing Soul Sound Art Troupe sung, danced and acted. As the first Chinese art troupe of disabled people, the troupe has performed at major events such as the closing ceremony of the Athens 2004 Paralympic Games and the 2005 CCTV Spring Festival Gala. Started by Jiangsu Dongfang Huile Technology Co Ltd, the show aims to improve the lives of the elderly and call for people to care for the elderly and the physically-challenged. There will be 100 similar performances in 100 cities in China.

Great outdoors on screen

The Banff Mountain Film Festival World Tour is bringing more than 20 foreign short films and documentaries to Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen in Guangdong province and Chengdu. The films are about mountain culture and sports such as rock climbing, mountain biking and skiing. In Beijing and Shanghai, audiences can also enjoy Chinese outdoor films. Few Chinese films are presented in Banff, but more Chinese are making their own documentaries about their explorations of nature.

Young tourists flock to capital

Beijing is celebrating the three-monthlong International Youth Tourism Festival. It features an assortment of tourism activities and academic forums on trends and development of tourism in Beijing. Competitions will also be held during the festival to encourage young people to come to Beijing and explore the ancient city. Competitions include photography and itinerary design. This is Beijing's first tourism festival aimed at youth and is expected to attract thousands of young tourists from home and abroad.

New work from filmmaker

After seven years of rigorous study, award-winning independent filmmaker and Buddhist scholar Cheng Yusu has released a new production, Zero Thousand Li Under the Clouds and Moon. Based on real stories, the film centers around three travelers' exploration and pilgrimage across the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. Cheng's directorial works include Shanghai Panic and Welcome to Destination Shanghai. The film premiered on Aug 3 at the Broadway Cinematheque MOMA in Beijing. The film has Chinese and English subtitles.

Travelers seek ancient kingdoms

Chinese backpackers are not only on the road for the experience, they're looking for ancient history. Gore-tex's search for the country's best travel plans concluded recently in Beijing. From more than 10,000 entries, the project that aims to explore the remains of Three Kingdoms, in perilous areas in Gansu province won the tick of approval. Other nominated plans include a walk around the country's first hole from meteorite impact and a charity walk to visit soldiers on the frontline.

Touching tale for children

China National Theater for Children will stage A Final Wish, its second original drama, in 2013. Based on a true story, the play tells the tale of a Mongolian girl named Tuoya, who has been ravaged by a fatal disease. Tuoya's dream is to be a flag raiser and observe the flag raising ceremony at Tian'anmen Square. Knowing she does not have long to live, Tuoya donates her corneas to a blind girl, allowing her to see again. The girl watches the ceremony, fulfilling Tuoya's final wish. Guo Xinyang wrote the script and it is directed by Wang Xiangming. The play will be on show from Sept 19-21.

(China Daily USA 08/08/2013 page10)