Enter the dragon motif

The blue-and-white dish featuring Chinese dragons is on display in London. [Provided to China Daily]

Enter the dragon motif

The ancient Chinese created a calendar that combines solar and lunar aspects, giving rise to cultural practices that survive into modern times. A zodiac of 12 animal signs, derived in part from Chinese folklore, is still used for naming years, and this year falls under the Chinese dragon, or long.

The Victoria and Albert Museum contains an array of objects that offer examples of the mythical beast from different parts of its collections.

The blue-and-white dish above features a Chinese dragon soaring among the clouds and a fish-dragon among the waves. In China, dragons are an extremely popular decorative motif, found on many different kinds of objects and materials. The long is generally regarded as a supernatural creature and is the subject of numerous Chinese legends. The fish-dragon motif relates to a folk tale in which a golden carp, after leaping up the "dragon falls", is transformed into a dragon and flies away. This is regarded as a metaphor for success.

Date: On display

Venue: Victoria and Albert Museum, London

Website: http://www.vam.ac.uk

CONFERENCES & MEETINGS \>\> IN CHINA

International Conference on Computer and Communication Devices, Zhengzhou

Aims to lay the foundations of a new principled approach to computer and communication devices. It will foster cross-pollination between different research fields, expose and discuss innovative theories, frameworks, methodologies, tools, and applications.

Date: June 2-3

Venue: Selected places

Website: http://www.icccd.org

International Conference on Advanced Materials Design and Mechanics, Xiamen

Aims to provide an international platform for researchers, engineers and industrial professionals worldwide to present their research results and development activities in the fields of advanced materials design, materials engineering research, manufacturing technology and processing.

Date: June 5-7

Venue: Selected places

Website: http://www.icamdm.org/index.html

Offshore Technology Asia, Shanghai

Topics include technological advances in upstream exploration and production; the role of the floating production storage and offloading subsea system; offshore supply vessels; pipeline and seismic technology; the management of the offshore industry and its social, economic and environmental impact.

Date: June 5-8

Venue: Selected places

Website: http://www.otanet.org

Global Real Estate Institute, Shanghai

This brings together decision makers of global real estate investors, financiers and Chinese developers to discuss the challenges and opportunities created by the market correction in China.

Date: June 6-7

Venue: The Portman Ritz-Carlton

Website: http://www.globalrealestate.org/mygri/Chinagri/2012

Building Solar China Exhibition and Conference, Guangzhou

The conference showcases integrated solar and smart technology solutions for buildings. It is designed to be a platform to focus on smart solar building solutions, including building integrated photovoltaics.

Date: Exhibition June 9-12; Conference June 9-10

Venue: China Import and Export Fair Complex

Website: http://www.buildingsolarchina.com

CONFERENCES & MEETINGS \>\> IN EUROPE

Law, Governance and Development: The Transformation of Property Rights in Land and Property Law in China, London

To discuss the significance of the re-emergence of private property in land and the legal framework concerning landed property in the context of rapid socio-economic change in China in the past 30 years from a variety of perspectives while retaining a focus on law.

Date: May 11-12

Venue: Room G3, College Buildings, University of London Russell Square

Website: http://www.soas.ac.uk

Cosmopolitan China, Manchester

The conference is an international gathering convened by the Center for Chinese Studies and Confucius Institute, Pathways to Cosmopolitanism PhD Programme, Research Institute for Cosmopolitan Cultures, and Manchester Architecture Research Center.

Date: May 17-18

Venue: The University of Manchester

Website: http://www.ccs.humanities.manchester.ac.uk

The rising role of the RMB - A Corporate Perspective, London

The seminar will discuss the issues companies have faced using renminbi, and success stories of doing business with China. The session will focus on four key topics: foreign exchange, trade, payments and cash management and funding, with discussions from clients who have first hand experience.

Date: May 24

Venue: HSBC Bank, 8 Canada Square

Website: http://www.cbbc.org