Beijing

Backpackers' adventure

As part of the Travel Series of Ullens Center For Contemporary Art, Huajia Beibaoke (a senior-citizen blogging and traveling duo) and Reacho (a young blogger and backpacker) will present their experiences traveling in sunny Australia in video and photographs. The ordinary old couple, Huajia Beibaoke, who are living in Beijing, has toured around the world since 2008. So far, they have visited 70 cities and towns in 16 nations in Europe, the US, Canada, Mexico, Cuba, Nepal and many other countries in the Americas and Asia.

2 pm-4 pm, Jan 15. UCCA Auditorium, 798 Art District, 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang district. 010-5780-0200

Treasures of Xinjiang

The National Museum of China is holding an exhibition of ancient costumes from archaeological finds in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region.

The exhibition presents more than 90 pieces/sets of ancient costumes and ornaments, excavated from archaeological sites over the past century. These exhibits, dated from Qin Dynasty (221-206 BC) to Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), may "give viewers a glimpse of the splendor of the diverse and vigorous cultures in the northwestern part of our nation along the Silk Road," said Hou Shixin, director of Xinjiang Museum, a co-organizer of the exhibition.

9 am-5 pm, Until Jan 17. National Museum of China, 16 East Chang'an Avenue, Dongcheng district. 010-6511-6400

Strawberry delights

A strawberry festival is ongoing in Changping district, as one of the events leading up to the 7th international strawberry symposium which will be held in middle of February. About 200 acres (80 hectares) of strawberry greenhouses will open to tourists from now to the end of the Spring Festival. Some strawberry planting gardens in Changping districts, including Tianyi Strawberry Ecology, serve as tourism and leisure parks.

To get there, drive along Litang Lu to Daliushu Huandao, then drive west about 5 km. 010-6172-1718

Shanghai

Hitler meets Meng

Entitled Hitler's Belly, the drama displays a pregnant Adolf Hitler and his later life. As an original drama directed by Meng Jinghui, the representative of Chinese experimental drama, this show means to demonstrate a newly viewed Hitler who is complicated in mind, crazy in art and comic. Combined with Commedia Dell'Arte and Opera Comique, Hitler and Meng seem ready to provide surprises.

7:30 pm, Feb 7-19 except Mondays. Drama salon of Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center, 288 Anfu Lu. 021-6217-2426

Multimedia New Year

Ruby, Roxy Enter the Dragon is the third in a series of exhibitions. The works feature a diversity of creativity and neon, canvas, photography, paper, glass, LED and even fireworks.

10 am-5 pm, Jan 14-Feb 28. Studio Rouge M50, Bk 7-109, 50 Moganshan Lu. 021-5252-7856

Hong Kong

Slow cooker

South Korean native Cho Hyun-jae - otherwise known as the Frog Queen - may teach art at Hong Kong's Kwok Art Center by day, but she is an outspoken fan of the slow food movement. In part 12 of the Fringe's Passion Speak series of talks, Cho discusses her experiments with wild plants and seeds to create unusual versions of traditional Korean sauces. For her, cooking is an art form that celebrates life, and she will share tips on how to stay healthy by eating the right things at a more leisurely pace.

7:30 pm, Jan 16. Fringe Studio, Hong Kong Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central. 852-2521-7251

Just kidding

As part of the city's first festival aimed at little ones, three popular picture books will be brought to life in ABA Productions' theatrical renditions of The Tiger Who Came to Tea, Stick Man and We're Going on a Bear Hunt. KidsFest 2012 promises the talents of UK theater professionals as they perform traditional English plays with a local Chinese twist. Sing along with a cuddly tiger, a lonely stick man or intrepid adventurers as they seek a bear.

Two shows daily until Jan 29. Drama Theater, Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, 1 Gloucester Road, Wanchai. 852-3128-8288, showtimes www.kidsfest.com.hk

Making it for cognac

Cognac lovers will appreciate the luxurious Martell Trunk, on display for a limited time in Hong Kong. Some 10 skilled craftsmen clocked 1,000 man-hours at the Parisian workshop of Pinel & Pinel to produce the full grain leather trunk in Martell's signature blue, with copper, silver plate, oak, crystal and linen accents. Not only does it show the full range of Martell's cognac, it comes equipped with crystal glasses, special lighting and even a cigar humidor. Up to 10 trunks can also be made for customers who want their very own.

Until Jan 18. Level 1, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty. 852-2378-7946

China Daily

(China Daily 01/15/2012 page15)