Cultural news March 2

Divers, swimmers to share celebrity stage

More than 10 athletes from the national diving and the synchronized swimming teams will share the stage with singers from Hong Kong, Taiwan and the mainland, including Wang Lee-hom and Li Yuchun, on April 1 and 2 at the Beijing National Aquatics Center.

The revenue from the gala will be donated to the Chinese Athletes Educational Foundation to assist the improvement of public sports facilities.

Award-winning Hong Kong musician Peter Kam says the gala show will feature a water theme, and will use eco-friendly water and lighting systems to tell a love story. The performers traverse mountains, seas, forests and fires in search of the water source.

More than 300 films to be shown at HK film festival

The 35th Hong Kong International Film Festival (HKIFF) is to be held from March 20 to April 5.

It was announced at a press conference the movie Don't Go Breaking My Heart, directed by Johnnie To and Wai Ka-fai will open the HKIFF. Another opening film, Quattro Hong Kong 2, is directed by Stanley Kwan and three award-winning directors from Southeast Asia.

Over 300 films from over 56 countries will be screened, and will include 19 world premieres and 35 Asian premieres.

"The theme for this year's festival is 'Let's Meet Here' - an invitation to everyone to take part in Hong Kong's biggest celebration of film," said HKIFFS Chairman Wilfred Wong. "This year, the HKIFF continues to serve the Hong Kong public by bringing the best and the brightest in contemporary and classical cinema."

HKIFF was launched in 1977 and is one of Asia's most reputable platforms for filmmakers, film professionals and filmgoers from all over the world.

China Story reveals country's beauty

A two-week China-themed photo exhibition opened on Feb 24 at the European Commission headquarters, with European Commission chief Jose Manuel Barroso and visiting Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin being the first viewers.

The exhibition, dubbed the China Story, features a collection of 64 photos by Chinese photographer Zhao Hui, who is also known as Steve Zhao.

The exhibit is co-hosted by the Chinese Mission to the European Union (EU) and the EU's diplomatic body, European External Action Service (EEAS).

Before Brussels, the China Story exhibition had appeared in the United States, Britain, France, Australia, Russia, and Japan, among other countries, since 2002.

Zhao said the photo exhibition would later journey to Germany and Austria, "to show Europe a real and beautiful China."

Residence of 'First Emperor' to be restored

Cultural authorities in Qinhuangdao, a small coastal city in Hebei province, have begun to restore the temporary residence of China's "First Emperor" Qin Shihuang.

The 3 hectare imperial residence in Beidaihe district served as the emperor's hotel when he worshipped the "god of sea" during a visit to the city in 215 BC.

Qinhuangdao, meaning "the Qin emperor's island," was named after the emperor.

During five years of excavation from 1986 to 1991, archeologists found the foundation and building materials that supported the former imperial palace, as well as kitchen utensils.

The city government plans to restore the palace and build a 2,000-square-meter exhibition hall to showcase the city's history and the emperor's visit.

China Daily - Xinhua

(China Daily 03/02/2011 page20)