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Celebrating the Party

The Ministry of Culture will present more than 230 shows in August to celebrate the coming 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China.

These shows will be performed by more than 85 art troupes from around the country and include Peking Opera, children's shows, musicals and dancing, at venues such as the National Center for Performing Arts, Chang'an Grand Theater and Capital Theater.

More than 200,000 people are expected to watch the shows. Established and young artists will share the stages.

More than half the tickets will be priced lower than 100 yuan ($16).

A Green Odyssey

Pad Yatra: A Green Odyssey, an eco-friendly documentary with actress Michelle Yeoh as executive producer premiered in Beijing on July 25.

The documentary charts a 40 km trek undertaken by 700 people, led by Indian-born Buddhist spiritual guru Gyalwang Drukpa, across one of the most challenging global terrains - the Himalayas. The documentary highlights the damage on one of the most important water sources on the planet, to an international audience.

Yatra is a Sanskrit term, meaning "journey" or "procession". And Pad Yatra generally refers to a pilgrimage to sacred sites.

Gyalwang Drukpa is the head of the 1,000-year-old Drukpa Order of Buddhism, based in the Himalayas. He initiated the not-for-profit humanitarian organization Live to Love in 2007 and is lauded for promoting gender equality and awareness with environmental issues. He is also the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDG) Award recipient.

Movies for children

China Central TV's (CCTV) Channel 6, which specializes in screening movies, will release more than 20 movies for children, who are on their summer holidays now.

At 9:30 am, from Aug 2 to 30, a children's movie is being broadcast on the channel, including both domestic and overseas productions such as My Life as McDull, Garfield: The Movie and the Japanese animation Detective Conan.

CCTV-6 broadcasts about 1,000 children's movies annually, nearly one fourth of the films shown on the channel every year.

Encouraging kids

A national innovation competition held in Beijing on Aug 4 will give wings to the imagination of school kids. More than 1,000 youngsters from around the country will craft creative items like paintings and models of bridges and towers from recycled materials.

With the theme of "green and innovation", the competition aims to promote an eco-friendly lifestyle and to harness the creative and innovative spirit of youngsters. The one-day event also features miniature boats races - powered either by solar energy or the wind - all built by the young participants.

The event is organized by Asia Industrial Technological Innovation Association, Beijing Digital Culture Promotion Association and the Organizing Committee of National Innovation Competition of Primary and Secondary School Students.

Zhang Wenyou debuts

Zhang Wenyou, who won Tianjin Satellite TV's singing competition program, King's Return, in May, has released his debut album, Wish, in Beijing.

During the past six years, the singer has performed at Temple of Heaven in southern Beijing every morning and his singing is widely popular among the old folk who do morning exercises in the park. In 2007, he also held three concerts in communities near the park.

The album was sponsored by his fans, who collected nearly 200,000 yuan ($31,378). The album puts together 11 songs, among which Zhang wrote the song, I Love Temple of Heaven Park, which is dedicated to his fans.

Designs on innovation

Beijing Institute of Architectural Design (BIAD), China's largest State-owned design consulting institution, cooperates with Ullens Center for Contemporary Art to hold the "China New Design Series: UCCA&BIAD China New Design Special Recruitment" project.

Containing three stages: selection, creation and exhibition, candidates will join in five workshops and four designers will be chosen to form a team and be sent on an overseas design trip. BIAD and UCCA will also supply a stage for people in the fields of architectural design, graphic design, performance art and graphic art to show off their talents.

China Daily

(China Daily 08/04/2012 page11)