What's new

New TV shows

Ultimate Fighting Championships (UFC), an internationally renowned mixed martial arts contest, debuted in the country with the program Fight Weekend on Inner Mongolia Satellite TV earlier this month.

UFC is unique as it allows competitors from various disciplines, such as Chinese kungfu, karate, jiu-jitsu, sumo, boxing, kickboxing, Judo and wrestling to fight on the same stage. The program has won many fans in China and is ranked No 1 among other nationwide programs in the same time slot.

Besides Fight Weekend, Inner Mongolia Satellite TV has lined up other new shows to celebrate the autonomous region's 40th anniversary. These will showcase Inner Mongolia's unique features and also feature scholars and celebrities to talk on the changes that have occurred in this part of China over the past 60 years.

Film primes travel

With Chinese director Feng Xiaogang's 2008 blockbuster If You Are The One set against the scenic backdrop of Hokkaido in Japan, Tokyo is looking to woo more Chinese tourists.

The Japan National Tourism Organization has detailed a new travel route, inspired by the movie.

It begins at Kokutai Temple (pictured) and takes visitors to Izakaya, a wine house that also offers delicious seafood and invigorating hot springs.

The tourism organization recently felicitated Feng with a travel business honor. It also conferred the title of "Ambassador of Japan Traveling" on Wu Yicong, one of the actors.

Wu also helped design the travel route, drawing upon the many years he has lived in Japan.

All set for book fair

Preparations for the 16th Beijing International Book Fair, scheduled for Sept 3-7, are proceeding smoothly, says Wu Jiangjiang, head of the China Book Import and Export Group, the key organizer.

More than 800 publishing companies and individual publishers from abroad and at least 520 domestic companies have registered for the event to be held at Beijing International Exhibition Center, says Wu.

The Country of Honor this year is Spain. Spanish cultural programs, including dancing, concerts and films, will add color to the usual book-promotion activities, forums and workshops.

Cartier classics on display

More than 300 rare jewelry pieces, collectables, and timepieces from the Cartier Collection will be on show at the Meridian Gate Gallery of the Palace Museum from Sept 5 to Nov 22 in Beijing.

Also on display will be the French company's design sketches, archives, and plaster casts of their exquisite jewelry.

China Daily

(China Daily 07/13/2009 page8)