Beijing

Light of Beijing

A light installation will be projected to the sky in Beijing on the occasion of the New Year countdown. A beam of light, which is titled Light of Beijing and designed by visual artist Wang Jianwei, is estimated to light up at midnight of Dec 31, at China Millennium Monument. It will be celebrated as an annual New Year countdown event together with live music shows. The light at 5,000-meter high will be seen by people at different locations of the capital.

A9, Fuxing Road, Haidian district. 010-5980-2222

Rock band

Taiwan rock singer-songwriter Wu Bai will celebrate the 20th anniversary of his band, China Blue, with a world tour in 2013. With the theme Big Thanks, the band, with Dino Zavolta on drum, Yu Ta-hao on keyboards, Chu Chien-hui on bass and Wu as lead singer and guitarist, will perform the 44-year-old musician's classic works since they formed the band 20 years ago. Highlights include Cold Rain and White Dove. Ever since they released the album Loving Others is a Happy Thing, Wu and China Blue have become a hit in Taiwan's live music scene.

7:30 pm. Jan 5. Mastercard Center, 69, Fuxing Road, Haidian district. 400-610-3721

French relics

A photo exhibition, titled 100 Relics, 10 Authors leads visitors into a glimpse of the French history. It narrates the links between French literature and architecture, the country's literature development and shifts in history.

9:30 am-6 pm, until Dec 31. Multi-media Hall of Allinance Francaise Beijing, Beijing Language and Culture University, 15 Xueyuan Road, Haidian district

Shanghai

New Year Waltz

Wiener Johann Strauss Walger Orchestra was founded by Johann Strauss in Vienna, Austria in 1824. The orchestra will present a New Year's concert featuring Strauss' waltz, and songs from operas.

7:30 pm, Jan 2-3. Shanghai Oriental Art Center, 425 Dingxiang Road, Pudong New Area. 021-6854-1234

Film music

The Mantovani Orchestra, founded by Annunzio Paolo Mantovani, has been popular for more than half a century and established a distinctive style of its own. The upcoming China tour will be led by his son Kenneth and most anticipated in the program will be film music from Breakfast at Tiffany's and Westside Story.

7:15 pm, Jan 2-3. Shanghai Grand Theater, 300 Renmin Avenue. 400-1068-686

Hong Kong

Modern anxieties

The first exhibition to be curated by Qinyi Lim at Para/Site, Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? takes its title from sci-fi legend Philip K. Dick's novel that spawned the cult classic film Bladerunner. Artists Adam Curtis, Michael Lee, Sun Xun and Tang Kwok-hin explore the insecurities arising from living in society today, particularly the anxiety that contemporary capitalism fosters.

Until Feb 17. Para/Site Art Space, G/F, 4 Po Yan Street, Sheung Wan. 852-2517-4620

Fire in the sky

Say goodbye to 2012 with a bang. This year's Hong Kong New Year Countdown will include fireworks launched from the sea and land for the first time. The eight-minute spectacle begins in Victoria Harbor, with the pyrotechnics moving in three stages inland to light up some of the city's most iconic buildings. Grab a spot by the Cultural Center Piazza, Avenue of the Stars or near the Central piers to catch the best views.

Dec 31, midnight. Victoria Harbor. Hong Kong Tourism Board hotline: 852-2508-1234

Macao

Rockin' to 2013

Usher in the New Year with a street party while dancing to the best of indie and Cantopop music by established and up-and-coming celebrities. Hosted by Penny Chan, Eileen Ho and Stephanie Ho of Hong Kong TVB's The Voice, performers include Macao hero Jun Kung, EO2, Rainky Wai and local rock bands - Scamper, Black Sheep and Rush & Crush.

9 pm-midnight, Dec 31. Outdoor Plaza, Ponte 16, Rua das Lorchas e Rua do Visconde Paco de Arco. 853-8861-8888

China Daily

(China Daily 12/30/2012 page15)