CCTV documentary to hit screens

Serial documentary Silk Road: the Journey Goes on will air on CCTV-1 from Sept 2. The eight-episode documentary is produced by CCTV director Chen Xiaoqing who made the food documentary A Bite Of China. It records the contemporary stories of the people who live along the ancient Silk Road, from Asia to Europe. It took a team of more than 20 people three years to film in eight countries including Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Italy. Chen says that instead of focusing on the past, they are more interested in the lives of ordinary people in cities on the Silk Road.

Seminar on Xu Beihong

The 60th anniversary of the death of Xu Beihong, a modern painting master of the 20th century, was marked at the third Xu Beihong International Conference in Beijing. The three-day event from Aug 24-26 explored themes including how Xu modernized Chinese traditional ink painting, promoted art education and how his art can continue to inspire artists today. Xu, the initiator of modern Chinese art education, served a number of posts including president of the Central Academy of Fine Arts. He created the blueprint of modern Chinese art by combining Chinese ink techniques with Western perspective and composition.

Footballers graduation event

A ceremony held on Aug 23 in Beijing celebrated graduates of a special football training school jointly run by Chinese beverage giant Wahaha and Manchester United Football Club. The 52 students were winners of a national amateur football tournament earlier this year. During the five-day training, the amateur sports people received direction from coaches from the club, and eight of them received special awards at the graduation ceremony, including opportunities to visit the club and watch the team's games.

Cultural event a hit with foreigners

The Beijing cultural event series for foreigners, Beijing Salon - Experiencing Beijing Culture, held its seventh event, and drew hundreds of foreigners to Beijing Chaoyang Peking Opera Culture Center on Aug 24. Hundreds of foreigners learned the history of Peking Opera from Master Wang Yuzhen during the event and enjoyed classic Peking Opera performed by staff from the institute. They also experienced the special make-up used in the opera. The cultural event series is organized regularly by Beijing This Month, a publication which focuses on providing lifestyle and cultural information to expats living in Beijing.

Circus festival to be held in Zhuhai

The first China International Circus Festival will be held from Nov 20 to Dec 1 in Chimelong International Ocean Resort, Zhuhai. Artists from 18 countries including China, Canada and France will perform various programs such as stage and aerial acrobatics, stunts and animal taming. The organizer will invite migrant workers, disadvantaged families and the physically challenged to watch performances for free. Artists will also go to communities and schools to perform. "We've learned from Russia and France's circus festival experience. It's going to be a carnival, which serves as the platform for global circus performers to communicate with each other," says Zhuhai's mayor He Ningka.

China Daily

(China Daily USA 08/29/2013 page10)