3rd of May 2011
The Lion Awakes
Daily News, Culture & Current Affairs about China
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People's Daily
US kills Bin Laden, ending 10-year manhunt
Osama bin Laden, a global face of extremism and terrorism and the architect of the September 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, was killed in a firefight with elite American forces, then quickly buried at sea in a stunning finale to a decade on the run.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said last night that the death of bin Laden was a milestone and a positive development for international anti-terrorism efforts.
Economy threatened by aging demographic
China's population is getting older, and that could have a major effect on the nation's economic prosperity.
The emergence of negative growth in the total working-age population, which some demographers predict will happen as early as 2013, is likely to contribute to slower economic growth and higher inflation, according to analysts.
However, they said the demographic shift from a rural surplus of labor to a deficit will help to accelerate the transformation of the growth model from one which is export- and investment-led to one driven by services and consumption.
53 officials punished for melamine milk scandals
A total of 53 officials who were partly responsible for several recent scandals involving the sale of melamine-tainted milk have been punished as China steps up its efforts to ensure food safety.
Xinhua News Agency reported on Monday that 17 of them were dismissed and others faced various penalties, ranging from demotions to demerits and warnings.
China concerned about casualties of Libyan civilians
China expressed concern on Monday for the fatalities and injuries of Libyan civilians amid reports that Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi's youngest son and three grandchildren were killed by NATO airstrikes.
"The Chinese side has noticed reports that Gaddafi's son, Saif al-Arab, and others were killed in the raids," said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu when responding to a question from the press.
"We are concerned about the deaths and injuries of civilians caused by the escalating conflict in Libya," Jiang said.
China, Egypt vow to strengthen cooperation
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with his Egyptian counterpart Nabil el-Arabi on Monday to discuss the strengthening of bilateral relations. Yang said Egypt was the first Arab country to recognize New China and establish strategic cooperation partnership, with bilateral ties on a substantial basis which can be regarded as an example of south-south cooperation.
Chinese FM meets Arab League chief
Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with Arab League Secretary General Amr Moussa on Monday to discuss cooperation between China and the Arab world.
China and the Arab countries decided last year to promote the strategic relationship of cooperation, which marked a new era of bilateral ties, Yang said.
China is willing to join hands with the Arab world to promote the China-Arab Cooperation Forum and deepen bilateral cooperation in all sectors, Yang said.
China calls for top-notched peace research institutes
By Li Hongmei
If war and peace is a duel eternal theme throughout the human history, the recent years has witnessed war-dominant international scenario. Hence, it is highly advisable for China to build up the globally notable "peace research institutes" or "peace and development research institutes," which will act as the most authoritative think tank assisting the government in its domestic and foreign policies decision by offering information, documents and wisdom.
As a matter of fact, U.S. and European countries have moved far ahead of China in this regard. The independent "peace institutes" have actually turned out to be the indispensable think tank for Heads of States when they hammer out foreign policies. Just to name a few.
America stalls in domestic politics
By Li Hong
The Pew Research Center's recent global opinion polls say Chinese are more satisfied with the direction of their country than people in the United States. The results seem baffling as average American families enjoy far higher livelihood and far more rights – as always boasted by American politicians and press.
The mystery is perhaps shrouded in our perceptions of what we are taught to believe ...
One succinct reason that Chinese are more satisfied with their lots than Americans is because China is rising fast, while the U.S. is stalling, if not stagnating ...
It is so hard for Americans to understand that there is an alternative to "rugged individualism", that it is possible for individuals collectively in an entire country to place People first.
Caution on changing family policy
By Li Hong
The mounting calls by some scholars and demographers to relax China's iconic family planning policy is good-willed, fearing a depletion of labor pool would shortcut the economic boom and intensify the country's aging. But, any revision of a highly successful basic state policy warrants caution.
It is particularly intriguing that more and more foreign demographers join some Chinese research fellows in insisting Beijing abandon the one-child policy in all Chinese cities, and allow every couple to have two children. These experts contend China's low birthrate, once an economic advantage, is now destined to clip the country's rise.
We cannot fathom how many newborns will arrive if the policy sluice is lifted. However, considering China now has an urban population of 630 million, twice the total population of the United States, we are really unsure of our cities' ability to accommodate an ever larger populace.
The one-child policy, planned and promulgated in late 1970s, is an integral part of Mr. Deng Xiaoping's reform package.
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China Tibet Online
China Daily
Sun Yat-sen portrait displayed in Beijing
A huge Sun Yat-sen portrait is displayed on Tian'anmen Square ahead of the three-day May Day holiday in Beijing.
See Kaixin's - Chinese Republic under Dr Sun Yat-Sen - Video Documentary
Kaixin OpEd – The Portrait of Dr Sun Yat-Sen is significant because it heralds a change in attitude within the Communist Party.
Dr Sun Yat-Sen is known as the founder of Modern China. It was his baton that Mao picked up and successfully forged the New China in 1949.
The Parade which celebrated the 60th Anniversary of the founding of Modern China (1959 – 2009) had a Portrait of Sun Yat-Sen at the head. Mao was relegated to marching one step behind.
Things like this do not happen for no reason in China.
However, Kaixin is still scratching its head at the removal of the statue of Confucius from Tiananmen Square last week. There has not been a peep out of the Chinese media since it was reported in the Global Times.
China says Bin Laden's death milestone for anti-terrorism
BEIJING - China said here Monday evening that the death of Osama bin Laden was a milestone and a positive development for the international anti-terrorism efforts.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu made the remarks when asked to comment on the killing of the al-Qaida leader.
Yuan rises past key level VS dollar
The gain may dampen US criticism of the nation's exchange-rate policy
HONG KONG / SHANGHAI - The yuan strengthened beyond 6.5 a dollar for the first time since 1993, supported by speculation the central bank will allow appreciation to help tame the fastest inflation in more than two years.
See Kaixin's - YUAN REVALUATION & INTERNATIONALISATION
China holds $1.611t in US securities
China remained the largest holder of US securities with a total of $1.611 trillion as of the end of June, the US Treasury department said on Friday.
Japan was the second largest foreign holder with $1.393 trillion and the United Kingdom held $798 billion as of June 2010, Treasury said.
See Kaixin's - ECONOMIC CHINA
Indonesia seeks more Chinese investment
JAKARTA, Indonesia - Indonesia is looking to attract more direct investment from China over the coming years. The country, a member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations trading bloc (ASEAN), hopes the move will help to narrow a gap in bilateral trade that has been widening in recent years.
Officials dismissed for covering up mine accident
HARBIN - Officials responsible for covering up a coal mine accident that killed at least nine people in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province were dismissed while the mine's boss and managers were dealt with by police, local authorities said Monday.
Food safety concerns drive Chinese back to the farm
Farming is not just for peasants. It's become a trend even among those with cushier backgrounds, as Xu Junqian reports from Shanghai
To say that Shen Huiqiang, a former real estate executive, is passionate about organic farming would be a gross understatement. Three years ago, the 32-year-old Zhejiang native quit a 200,000-yuan-a-year job in Beijing to return to his hometown, where he put his entire 400,000-yuan-in-savings into a new home for him and his wife and parents, and a 40,000-square-meter farm he leased from local farmers. Shen had decided to live off the land.
You are what you eat: Former-executive-turned-organic-farmer Shen Huiqiang proudly shows his naturally-grown corn from his own field.
CENSUS FEATURE - Census: Population hits 1.37b
BEIJING - As China's population hits 1.37 billion people, challenges, including an ageing society and labor crunches, may prompt the authorities to fine-tune the 30-year-old family planning policy.
The population increased slightly by 73.9 million people in the past decade, due largely to the policy limiting most urban couples to just one child, according to preliminary results from the sixth national census released on Thursday by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
Xi'an to welcome crowd for huge plant exposition
XI'AN - More than 12 million tourists are expected to go this year to the International Horticultural Exposition, which began in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, on Thursday.
Dancers perform during the opening ceremony of the International Horticultural Exposition in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi province, on Thursday, April 28, 2011
Dancers from Burundi perform at the opening ceremony of the International Horticultural Exposition in Xi'an
Witness of Tibet Photography Contest and Exhibit
2011 marks the 60th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet, and the magazine China's Tibet and Federation of Literary and Art Circles of Tibet Autonomous Region are jointly holding a "Witness of Tibet, 1950-2010" photography contest. In addition to prizes, all winning works will be exhibited in Beijing and Lhasa in May 2011.
See Kaixin's - CHINA & TIBET & Jambhala (Photographer)
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XinHua News
China says Bin Laden's death "milestone" for international anti-terrorism efforts
BEIJING, May 2 (Xinhua) -- China said here Monday evening that the death of Osama bin Laden was a milestone and a positive development for the international anti-terrorism efforts.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu made the remarks when asked to comment on the killing of the al-Qaida leader.
U.S. President Barack Obama announced late Sunday that bin Laden had been killed in a U.S. operation in Pakistan.
"China has taken note of the announcement," Jiang said, "We believe the death of Osama bin Laden is a milestone and a positive development for the international anti-terrorism efforts."
"Terrorism is the common enemy of the international community. China has also been a victim of terrorism, " said Jiang.
Labor union reform called for as migrant workers seek better protection on legal rights
HANGZHOU, May 2 (Xinhua) -- Li Chunhao, a migrant worker from southwest China's Guizhou Province, works at a security company in the eastern Zhejiang Province.
Li said that when it comes to claiming back unpaid wages, he would consider resorting to violence because he "has nothing to lose."
"I will gather some friends and fellow townsmen and go to argue with my boss. That is the most efficient way to get back wages," Li said.
Many migrant workers say they consider labor unions to be empty shells, rather than institutions that can effectively protect workers' rights.
"I dare not to go to the labor union when my rights are violated because I don't want to risk losing my job," said Zheng Junjian, a migrant worker from Henan Province.
In the eyes of many Chinese workers, the labor union is part of the company management, instead of an organization supporting the rights of workers, as the Trade Union Law stipulates.
Beijing supports nursing home expansion to care for rising elderly population
BEIJING, May 2 (Xinhua) -- In an effort to cater to the rising demands of its aging population, Beijing authorities are increasing subsidies to support nursing home expansion.
Subsidies for nursing homes in the capital city's suburban and rural areas will double to total 10,000 yuan (1,515 U.S. dollars) per added bed, and total subsidies for each nursing home undergoing expansion could be as high as two million yuan, according to a circular released by the Beijing Municipal Civil Affairs Bureau (BMCAB) last week.
Increased subsidies for nursing homes in rural areas will afford them the same financial support as nursing homes in urban communities.
Ancient Chinese capital opens modern gardening expo with a taste for history
BEIJING, April 28 (Xinhua) - Xi'an, the provincial capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, opened a major international horticultural expo on Thursday as it seeks to promote its history as one of China's ancient capitals.
This marks the third time for a Chinese mainland city to host a horticultural event of this scale. Over the past 12 years, two similar expos have been held in the cities of Kunming and Shenyang.
Xi'an International Horticultural Exposition
CCTV
China: Bin Laden's death positive to anti-terrorism efforts
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Jiang Yu said that the death of Osama bin Laden was a milestone, and a positive development for international anti-terrorism efforts.
She added that China has always opposed terrorism in every form and has been actively participating in global anti-terrorism efforts.
Millions begin May Day getaway
China's three day Mayday weekend has begun with millions of people heading to the country's scenic and historic spots and festivals.
Eighty thousand people have come to Xi'an in north-west China's Shaanxi province to admire the flowers.
It's the first peak of visitors since the opening of the International Horticultural Expo.
The nearby, Huashan Mountains have also seen a five percent increase in visitors compared with last year.
Tourist Guide said, "My customers reacted positively to the expo yesterday, and they insisted on visiting Huashan Mountain because it's so famous."
Along the ancient silk road, Mogao Grottoes in Dunhuang city have seen a doubling in the number of tourists from around the world over last year, with a range of activities to take part in. (pics of camel riding and sand-skiing)
From the sandy areas and to high up on the snowy mountains, people are grasping the last remnants of winter.
In the northeast of China, and due to its high altitude, Changbai Mountain is still white although most of China is blossoming with spring.
"In my hometown, it's more than 20 degrees Celsius, It's pretty warm. And it's surprising we can see snow up here." Tourist said.
More than three thousand visited Changbai Mountains on a single day, another 30 per cent increase.
Xi'an World Horticultural Expo opens
Things are blooming in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. It's playing host to the 2011 World Horticultural Expo.
A ceremony has been held to mark the start of the six-month event.
The theme is the co-existence between nature and mankind. The Expo boasts more than a hundred exhibition sectors.
"Meet in Beijing" arts festival kicks off
"Meet in Beijing", the largest and most reputable spring time art festival in China, was kicked off in Beijing on Wednesday. An exceptional show featuring both Peking and western opera opened the 11th year of the event at the Poly Theater.
What kind of chemistry do you get when a 200-year-old Chinese stage art meets western opera, which was born in the early 16th century? The opening ceremony of "Meet in Beijing" provides a very harmonious answer.
Studio discussion: Significance of Premier Wen's Asia visit 
For more analysis of Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Malaysia and Indonesia, we are joined by our current affairs commentator, Professor Tao Wenzhao. Thank you very much for being with us, professor.
Q1,What's the significance of Premier Wen's visit to the two countries?
Q2,How do you think the premier's visit will affect the situation in the entire region of East Asia?
Expert's analysis on the result of 6th national census
Background: China's State Information Office has release the results of the country's sixth national census. Ma Jiantang, Director of the Bureau of Statistics, who is also the deputy director of the census team, fielded questions from reporters. Full story >>
Topic 1: Will aging population affect China's economy?
Q: Mr. Wang, do you think that with the rapidly aging population, China may soon be unable to sustain the fast economic growth it has experienced over the past three decades?
Studio discussion: Will family planning policy end?
Now, we are joined by Mr. Wang Feng, an expert on China's demographic and social change, from the Brookings-Tsinghua Center in Beijing.
Q1: Do you think the significantly slower rate of population growth will lead policymakers to consider putting an end to the family planning policy?
Studio discussion: Reason behind urban population increase 
Background: China's urban population had risen to 665.57 million, accounting for 49.68 percent of the country's total population by Nov. 1 2010, official figures released Thursday indicated. Full story >>
Q：Mr. Wang, what's the reason behind the dramatic increase in the urban population over the past decade?
See Kaixin's - China & Tibet
Global Times
The UK taught the world how to produce in the 19th century, the US showed the world how to consume in the 20th century, and China needs to demonstrate how to develop in a sustainable way in the 21st century.
Foreign Ministry hails killing of Al Qaeda leader
The Chinese Foreign Ministry welcomed the death of Osama bin Laden as an "important event and active progress" at Monday night.
In response to the announcement by US President Barack Obama on Sunday night local time that US troops had gunned down the leader of Al Qaeda, spokeswoman Jiang Yu called for more cooperation against terrorism.
"Terrorism is the public enemy of the world and China has also fallen victim to it," she said.
"China opposes all forms of terrorism and actively participates in international counter-terrorism battles."
Labor strikes do not herald revolution
Some truck drivers in Shanghai went on strike last week to express their discontent over rising costs. The Shanghai municipal government responded by cutting the fees over the weekend and quickly defused the tension. Trucks laden with cargo containers are operating as usual once again at China's busiest port.
This is a typical event with clear labor interests at play. It can be assumed that similar incidents will continue to occur.
Due to the broadening of China's market economy, interests will be further differentiated, and it will become tougher to avoid clashes among various interest groups. Such conflicts will essentially become a normal part of China's social make-up.
Some Western media outlets have paid close attention to the Shanghai strike, and linked it to the "Jasmine Revolution." Over the past months, more than a few Westerners have politicized any mass event in China, and interpreted it as a fuse to spark a "revolution." Nevertheless, such comparisons have consistently proved to be invalid.
Kaixin OpEd – Kaixin heartily agrees.
Kaixin has observed the ‘western’ media try to push, shove and prod the so-labelled ‘Jasmine’ revolution onto China.
It clearly demonstrates both the agenda of the ‘western’ media and the limited understanding of the journalists and editors.
'Wealth drain' reveals sense of insecurity
Attracted by the exciting opportunities, increasing numbers of foreigners are flooding into China annually. Yet at the same time, more and more Chinese millionaires have managed or are considering to emigrate overseas.
The so-called wealth drain is receiving mixed reactions among the public. Some regard it as good for the Chinese economy in the long run. Others are indifferent. Many Web users have expressed strong resentment.
...
Chinese people, either rich or poor, should have confidence in their coutry's future development: No social turmoil, let alone revolutions, will take place. All kinds of social problems will be solved within the framework of the rule of law, which plays a paramount role in punishing lawbreakers as well as protecting the assets that people have legally created.
Judge scandal dampens image of justice
The latest scandal about bent judges indicates that the country urgently needs to clean up its law enforcement departments.
Nine judges in the city of Zhanjiang, Guangdong Province could not withstand the lure of bribes offered by a "lawsuit broker” and gave in, said a Xinhua News Agency report that grabbed print and Web headlines Monday.
In collusion with the broker, these judges sought profits in the disguise of legal procedures from investigations and trials to executions, all while expertly covering their tracks. Though the broker took the lion’s share of the loot, the deeds of the corrupt judges have influenced their profession’s reputation as a whole.
Crisis looms as population growth slows
China's family-planning policy has been effective in curbing its population growth, but problems such as an aging population and gender ratio imbalance are reaching an alarming stage, threatening the development of the world's No. 2 economy.
According to census data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) Thursday, the country's population reached 1.37 billion in 2010, including 1.3397 billion on the mainland.
Gaps remain in China-US human rights talks
Seemingly perennially opposed on human rights, China and the US met for a dialogue on the issue on Wednesday, in the first face-to-face exchange to occur since a round of finger-pointing earlier this month.
However, the long-standing chasm remained as Beijing opted to try and reduce misunderstandings while Washington stuck to its demands for immediate reform, analysts said, turning the debate into a mere posturing session, showing off different ideologies, values and national interests.
Authorities tight-lipped over Confucius statue removal
Speculation has been rife over the reasons for the overnight disappearance of a 9.5-meter-high bronze statue of Confucius located in front of the National Museum of China near Tiananmen Square Wednesday.
A Global Times reporter found only a deep pit surrounded by construction screens Thursday where the statue had stood.
"It was still there Thursday evening when I got off duty," a security guard at the museum told the Global Times Thursday on condition of anonymity. "But it was gone this morning." Another guard said the same thing, but neither was able to say why the 17-ton bronze sculpture had been removed or to where.
The statue was erected in front of the north gate of the National Museum of China on January 10.
"The statue was designed as a monument to display the characteristics of traditional Chinese culture," its designer Wu Weishan told the Beijing Daily in January.
Wu also claimed his work "blends in well with" the Russian style square, according to the newspaper.
The museum head Lü Zhangshen told the Yangcheng Evening News on March 9 that the statue had nothing to do with politics, but was intended to be a cultural icon.
"The great museums in Western countries usually have statues in front of their entrances," Lü said, adding that the Chinese museum should have one too.
Kaixin OpEd – Kaixin is vastly disappointed.
Kaixin believed that the statue represented a connection with all the philosophies that guided China, not just Confucianism.
Mao had tried to wipe Confucius from history.
So it seemed apt that the two would eye each other off over the square.
Kaixin also believed that China in general and the youth in particular needed a guiding philosophy, other than capitalism (greed is good), to guide them.
If the statue has been removed with the sanction of the government, then it tells clearly that in the governments opinion Confucius has nothing to contribute to modern China.
The reason Mao wanted to wipe Confucius from history was that it represented the old China.
Yet Kaixin believes that Confucius can be applied to modern China and used as the basis for a guiding philosophy that fosters respect for elders, respect for family (both small and large), respect for wisdom and respect for learning.
In Kaixin’s understanding, Confucianism had become rigid and constraining in old China and those elements had to be addressed, a little like the to and fro of great religions in the ‘west’.
Kaixin awaits with interest further developments.
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Dialogue
A 30 Minute Current Affairs Programme on CCTV - 9 (In English) where current issues are discussed by experts from China and Internationally:
Carter's ice-breaking trip to DPRK
Sino-Australian ties back on track
Government role in inflation control
Tsinghua's centennial anniversary
BRICS' challenges in having bigger say
Indonesia's regional role: Interview with Marty Natalegawa, Indonesian Foreign Minister
Nuclear debate continues with nuclear crisis
International News Sources
The Wall Street Journal
China vs. India, the Population Numbers
India released early numbers from its new census late last month, while China released its provisional numbers Thursday.
Here’s a comparison of some key numbers from the world’s two most populous nations:
SIZE
China: 1,339,724,852 India: 1,210,193,422
The difference: Almost 130 million. But because India is growing so much faster than China (see below), it is expected to become the world’s most populous nation in another two decades.
Asia's Manufacturing Growth Slows, But Dip Seen As Temporary
SINGAPORE—Economic data from around Asia confirmed Monday that the region's breakneck growth is slowing, but analysts said there won't be a hard landing and that growth should pick up again in the second half of the year as Japan's post-quake reconstruction spending boosts the whole region.
China Faces Headwinds On Uranium Mining Deal
The fate of China Guangdong Nuclear Power Holding Co.'s £756 million ($1.26 billion) deal for Kalahari Minerals PLC is significant also as China is in the middle of a major expansion of nuclear power to reduce its reliance on coal and doesn't have enough uranium reserves of its own.
The Age
Talks mark the end of China's disdainful arrogance
By John Garnaut
... Mostly, however, it was because Chinese executives were discovering that their biggest challenge was not getting money into Australia but managing it once it got there.
Kaixin OpEd – Interesting insight into the interface between China and Australia (the ‘west’) in terms of business.
Asia Times Online
Total joins gamblers at Russian roulette
By Robert M Cutler
France's Total is joining Western rivals in raising its investment in Russia's vast energy reserves, despite the country's still challenging political environment. China alone seems to recognize Russia's less-than-meticulous respect for agreements.
CHINA AND THE STATUS QUO
Biding time for an orderly rise
By Francesco Sisci
This is the conclusion of a three-part report.
Part 1: China banks on giving peace a chance
Part 2: The China 'threat' as a blessing
Keeping the present geopolitical status quo going is an imperative for China since American-led globalization allows it to concentrate on building economic might with the thought that political clout will follow. But Beijing is in no hurry to take over America's costly military or political responsibilities, and, besides, history tells the leadership to play the long game.
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See Over for the 2nd of May 2011
CULTURAL CHINA
Articles of interest from the week's news
Insights into China's Society & Cutlure
CCTV9 - Rediscovering the Yangtze River
Food safety concerns drive Chinese back to the farm
To say that Shen Huiqiang, a former real estate executive, is passionate about organic farming would be a gross understatement. Three years ago, the 32-year-old Zhejiang native quit a 200,000-yuan-a-year job in Beijing to return to his hometown, where he put his entire 400,000-yuan-in-savings into a new home for him and his wife and parents, and a 40,000-square-meter farm he leased from local farmers. Shen had decided to live off the land.
You are what you eat: Former-executive-turned-organic-farmer Shen Huiqiang proudly shows his naturally-grown corn from his own field.
Hangzhou cartoon festival kicks off
The seventh International Cartoon Festival has kicked off in Hangzhou, east China. The event will last for six days until Tuesday.
With the theme "cartoon my city and cartoon my life", the Hangzhou cartoon festival holds multiple events including exhibitions, competitions and forums.
More than 300 foreign cartoon companies are attending the event. Hangzhou-made cartoon movie "Dream back to Jinsha City" won the best Chinese Cartoon Award.
Thousands of Beijing residents got into the green spirit last Friday to celebrate the 42nd World Earth Day
During an event organized by Roots and Shoots, artists from China and the United States tried to convey the idea "no waste material is useless" by creating works made out of used paper and plastic.
A wedding gown made of paper, an old tablecloth and a plastic net used to protect packaged fruit was just one of the works on show outside the Capital Library.
"All waste can be turned into art if we make the best of their characteristics," said Cao Zuolan, who made the dress.
As the chief editor of a fashion magazine, Cao likes to design fashionable and environmentally friendly clothes in her spare time, but this was her first attempt at a wedding gown.
A wedding gown made of paper, an old tablecloth and plastic net on show at an Earth Day event on April 23 in front of the Capital Library.
See Kaixin's - GREEN CHINA
1st Beijing international film festival kicked off Saturday
The first Beijing International Film Festival kicked off on Saturday night, April 23, with a star-studded red carpet walk and a grand opening ceremony at the National Center for the Performing Arts.
Among the celebration were heavyweights from Chinese film industry like actor Jackie Chan, Zhang Ziyi, the festival's image ambassadors, and directors John Woo, Peter Chan as well as big names from key international film festivals like Marco Muller from Italy, Cameron Bailey from Toronto and Lee Yong Kwan from Busan.
Renowned director Darren Aronofsky from Oscar-winning film "Black Swan" and Rob Minkoff, helmer of "Lion King" and "The Forbidden Kingdom" also showed up for the spectacular gathering.
This event marks another world shaking event in Beijing after it successfully hosted the Olympic Games in 2008, and a big stride the modern metropolis has made to have the same influence in the world's cinema culture alongside sports.
As the culture center of China, the capital city produced the very first Chinese film "The Battle of Dingjunshan" in 1905 and takes up 50% in the country's film output, said Guo Jinlong, mayor of Beijing at the ceremony.
Jackie Chan and Zhang Ziyi, image ambassadors for the 1st Beijing International Film Festival walk the red carpet at the festival's opening ceremony in Beijing's the National Center for the Performing Arts Saturday night, April 23, 2011.
See Kaixin's - Chinese Movies
CCTV Beijing International Film Festival kicks off at NCPA - VIDEO
One of the most anticipated events in China's film industry this year and the first ever Film Festival in the capital, "Beijing International Film Festival" kicked off at the National Center for the Performing Arts on Saturday. Many renown directors, actors and actresses walked the red carpet.
Organized by the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television and the Beijing Municipal Government, the festival saw Top Chinese film stars and renowned directors such as Fan Bingbing and Feng Xiaogang strut their stuff in front of the Beijing and international media.
Meanwhile, the opening ceremony also saw many international representatives of the movie industry attend including John Woo, Lion King Director Rob Mintoff, actors Edmond Wong and Director Bak-Ming. International movie stars Jackie Chan and Zhang Ziyi were featured as the "Image Ambassadors" of the event, who have contributed much of their efforts on promoting not only the film festival, but also the city of Beijing.
Ethnic Minority Languages Film Festival kicks off
As part of the ongoing Beijing International Film Festival, "China's Ethnic Minority Languages Film Festival" is an event that screens films produced by China's ethnic minority groups. This is the first time that a film festival has dedicated an independent event to ethnic films in the country.
Opened in Jackie Chan Cinema on Monday, the panorama features 30 films from 12 ethnic minority groups, all shot in their native languages with Chinese and English subtitles. All the familiar elements representing the minorities such as the Kazakh yurts, yaks on Tibetan Plateau and Mongolian's Horsehead Zither will show up in the panorama.
Jade necklace worth 200 mln Yuan
A staff member shows a jade necklace worth 200 million Yuan (some 30 million U.S. dollars) in a jewelry shop in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province, April 24, 2011. It took eight years to finish the 199.8 gramme jade necklace.
Serve the goddess who drinks - VIDEO
You spin a prayer wheel. You bring a pot of butter. You prepare a white Hada. And you buy a bottle of wine.
Bringing all the necessary offerings, China Daily's multimedia reporter Feng Xin takes you to Drashilhakang Monastery, in Lhasa, the capital city of Tibet autonomous region, to serve one goddess who drinks.
See Kaixin's -CHINA & TIBET
Chinese tea culture - VIDEO
Q1: Good evening, Zhang Shuo. Can you tell us more about Chinese tea culture?
A1: Yes, tea is the national beverage of China. Chinese are believed to have enjoyed tea drinking for more than four thousand years, the longest in the world. In Traditional Chinese culture, tea drinkers were always considered to be elite and are highly respected by society. Drinking tea also demonstrate personal morality, education, principle and social status. This is why serving tea gradually became an essential part of Chinese social life. In modern China, even the simplest dwelling has a tea set and a water heater for making a hot cup of tea. These implements are symbols of welcome to visitors and neighbors. Traditionally, a visitor to a Chinese home is expected to sit down and drink hot tea while talking.
In Chinese culture, it is also a sign of respect to serve someone tea. A younger person can show respect and thanks to an older person by offering them a cup of tea. This is especially common during big events, like birthdays and during spring festival.
And I want to show you another special occasion where tea is served. It is this, traditional Chinese weddings. In a traditional Chinese marriage ceremony, both the bride and groom kneel in front of their parents and serve them tea. This is a way of expressing gratitude to their elders for raising them up.
Also, in modern China, tea is an important social tool. People go to tea houses, not for the drink, but for a place to meet with people. So the next time, if someone ask you out for a cup of tea, it is actually an implicit way to invite you to a gathering.
Over the course of 4 thousand years, tea has also had a major influence on the development of Chinese culture. Tea is a mainstay in Chinese literature, arts, philosophy and also religion. Tea is connected closely with Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism. Going back to the Tang Dynasty 15 hundred years ago, drinking tea is seen as an essential part of personal cultivation.
Also starting from the Tang Dynasty is the tea ceremony. From there, the art form spread to neighboring countries including Japan and Korea. Unlike the world-renowned Japanese tea ceremony, the Chinese one emphasizes the tea rather than the ceremony, like the taste of the tea and the difference between various cups.
Considering all those aspects, I believe China has done a very good job in the past 4 thousand years to preserve tea culture. However, during my investigation of the tea market, I found that China is not doing so well in translating this rich culture into a world leading business. Let's take a look.
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“Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival” - VIDEO
With drumbeats thundering and lions dancing, the Beijing Xicheng District Shichahai Maiden Voyage Ceremony was kicked off on the lakeside of Shichahai on April 20, 2011.
Sixteen sculling boats, built according to the renowned Chinese painting “Riverside Scene at Qingming Festival”, sailed on the lake. The captain of the ship sang traditional sailing songs, taking the guests to enjoy the beauty of Shichahai, an oasis in the heart of Beijing.
The event was designed to recreate the busy scene of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal from ancient times, as well as to attract more tourists by showcasing the charm of Shichahai at the beginning and the end of the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal.
The ceremony will become an annual event on the date of Grain Rain, the 6th solar term each year.
The joy of school for Tibetan pupils
Tibetan primary school students write sentences and words on a blackboard on April 18, 2011, in Kangding, Sichuan province. The school with a history of more than 60 years has evolved into a model school in local rural areas for its free and boarding education system.
CCTV Ancient Tibetan temples get makeover VIDEO
Let's head to southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, where ancient Buddhist temples dating back several centuries are receiving a facelift.
A professional team is hard at work to ensure an authentic restoration at Sera Monastery near the regional capital Lhasa.
The Sera Monastery plays a major role in Tibetan Buddhism and culture.
But 600 years of exposure to the plateau's harsh weather has taken its toll on the temple just north of Lhasa.
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Tsinghua in her students' eyes - VIDEO
If you love a place, you dread any moment of it slipping away. So you take pictures.
That's the way a group of Tsinghua students have chosen to record the most treasured years of their lives – the time they spent on the Tsinghua University campus.
After sharing these photos on the Internet for some years, they decided to make an album of their best works as a present for the university's centenary.
Chinese state councilor visits Harvard University
BOSTON, April 13 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor Liu Yandong says she expects Harvard University to continue playing an active role in promoting exchanges of education, science and technology, and culture between China and the United States.
Havard has shared a long-standing friendship with China and has established fruitful cooperation with several higher education institutions in China in recent years, Liu said at a welcome reception hosted by the world-renowned university on Wednesday.
China mulls legislation on domestic violence: women' s federation
CHANGCHUN, April 14 (Xinhua) - Drafting China's first independent law on domestic violence has already been put on the country's top legislature's agenda, an official with the All-China Women's Federation (ACWF) said.
This would be the country's first independent and comprehensive law on domestic violence, as currently only a few clauses in several other laws, such as the Marriage Law, have addressed some aspects of the offence.
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