ChinaDaily[971109-8]

[Chinese News]

China Daily

97 / 11 / 09 /

***************************************************************************
1. Sacred mountain a lyrical dream
2. Tianshan veils 'empire of swans'
3. Briefs ( Page 5, Date: 11/08/97 )
4. Entertainment
5. [INLINE]
6. [INLINE] __
***************************************************************************

Sacred mountain a lyrical dream
UTUMN is not a season when snowfall is usually expected. But
visitors now travelling in Sichuan Province's Mount Emei region
are in for a pleasant surprise.
With the drop in temperature on Mount Emei, snowflakes turn the
mountain, 165 kilometres away from the provincial capital of
Chengdu, into a dreamlike white world.
Mount Emei is included in the World Heritage List of the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization
(Unesco). It covers 154 square kilometres, and has attracted a
multitude of visitors since ancient times with its phenomenal
sights and opulent religious buildings.
The mountain's highest peak, the Golden Summit, is 3,077 metres
above sea level. Its base is only 500 metres above sea level.
That explains why there is an old saying about Emei: "Four
different seasons coexist on the mountain," where the temperature
of one place is different from that of another only 5 kilometres
away.
In March, when flowers are in full bloom at the foot of the
mountain, its peak is covered with thick snow. In summer, it is
scorching hot at the foot of the mountain, but it is comfortably
cool on other parts of the mountain.
Mount Emei looks like a lyrical oil painting in all seasons.
In spring, its azaleas are brilliantly red. In summer, it appears
verdant because of its lush trees and grass. In autumn, the entire
mountain is decorated with red leaves.
In winter, the entire mountain often looks like a mysterious white
wonderland -- the ancient temples, trees and mountain slopes all
covered with snow.
It usually starts snowing on Mount Emei in late October or early
November, and it does not stop until April. Sometimes it even
snows in May on the top of the mountain.
This year, the snows came even earlier, on September 25.
When it snows, Mount Emei's appearance dazzles the onlooker.
Because of the cold, snow on the trees of Mount Emei often hardens
into ice, turning the trees into "ice flowers."
Together with Mount Wutai in Shanxi Province, Mount Jiuhua in
Anhui Province and Mount Putuo in Zhejiang Province, Mount Emei is
one of China's four sacred mountains of Buddhism.
Buddhism arrived on Mount Emei nearly 2,000 years ago and left
behind many cultural relics.
The mountain has more than 30 temples, more than 10 of which
represent a style unique to Mount Emei.
The Baoguo Temple, at the foot of the mountain, looks like a
courtyard adorned with a flower nursery, garden and pavilions. It
is where the Mount Emei Buddhism Association is located, and where
major religious activities were held.
The Fuhu Temple is Mount Emei's largest temple for nuns. It is
surrounded with ancient trees. But because falling leaves are
never found on its roof, Emperor Kangxi of the Qing Dynasty
(1644-1911), who reigned from 1662 to 1723, named it the "temple
without dirty objects."
There are 850 State-designated cultural relics on Mount Emei.
The beamless brick hall in the Wannian Temple is a wonder of
construction, and enjoys State-level protection.
In the temple, there is a bronze statue depicting a Buddha riding
an elephant. Weighing 62 tons and standing 7.85 metres tall, the
statue, made in the Song Dynasty (960-1279), is one of Mount
Emei's best-known Buddhist statues.
Also kept on Mount Emei are works of calligraphy and paintings by
more than 200 famous ancient and modern Chinese painters and
calligraphers.
Mount Emei has more than 3,200 plants, 1,600 of which have
medicinal value. Many of the plants are endangered species,
including the dove tree and the ginkgo.
The rich variety of trees creates Mount Emei beauty and a good
habitat for animals.
Mount Emei now has more than 2,300 species of animal, 29 of which
enjoy State-level protection, including the giant panda and the
lesser panda.
_____________________________________________________________

_Date: 11/08/97_
_Author: Lin Li _
_Copyright© by China Daily_

***************************************************************************

Tianshan veils 'empire of swans'
NCIRLED by the Tianshan mountain range in the Xinjiang Uygur
Autonomous Region is a vast region of basins, crystal clear lakes
and glistening glaciers. Hidden here is the Bayanbulak Swan Lake,
a place known as the secret "empire of swans."
A Mongolian-populated area, "Bayanbulak" means "rich spring
source" in the Mongolian language. More than 10 meandering rivers,
and 80 per cent of the high snow-covered mountains feed
Bayanbulak's waters. The weather is mild and delightful for
migrants, so Bayanbulak is not only the "empire of swans," but
also a sanctuary for other birds including snipes and cormorants.
In September, swans congregate on the lake before resuming their
flight to wintering grounds in the South, so tourists see a
blanket of white covering the lake. At dusk, the stately motion of
courting swan couples provides the most beautiful scene on the
lake. Swans normally form lifelong pair bonds. Many swans are
unswervingly loyal and live alone after the death of their mates.
In the family, male and female swans are quite equal, with both
sexes building the nest and caring for the young.
From early October, swans begin to move south.
In Mongolian people's eyes, the swan is the symbol of loyalty,
sacredness and purity. It is a custom for Mongolians to pray for
newborn babies to acquire the swan's characteristics.
It is because of Mongolian herdsmen's awareness of protecting
animals that swans live and breed in Bayanbulak. In April 1997, a
violent blizzard swept the area. Thousands of swans were
struggling at the edge of death. Local herdsmen therefore risked
starving their own livestock to feed the swans. Their actions to
help the swans won acclaim from the international community.
The Chinese Government has established a nature reserve in
Bayanbulak. At one time the swan was threatened with extinction,
but now its numbers have risen again.
_____________________________________________________________

_Date: 11/08/97_
_Author: Lu You _
_Copyright© by China Daily_

***************************************************************************

Briefs ( Page 5, Date: 11/08/97 )
World showcase
CHANGSHA -- A theme park featuring replicas of leading tourist
attractions worldwide has opened in Changsha, capital of Central
China's Hunan Province.
The Changsha World Showcase, which covers 400,000 square metres,
offers seven major scenic areas and 120 tourist attractions
including historical sites and different styles of house from
around the world. The scale of the replicas ranges between 1:1 and
1:15.
Visitors can also enjoy song and dance performances and get a
first-hand glimpse of lifestyles and folklore from all over the
world.
Top 50 attractions
SHENYANG -- Northeast China's Liaoning Province has named its 50
top attractions for tourists.
Leading the list is the Jinshitan (Gold Stone Beach) National
Holiday Resort, known for having the world's largest turtle-like
rock on its silvery beaches, as well as a first-class golf course.
The finalists, chosen from 2,000 scenic spots, also include the
Qianshan (Thousand Mountains) Scenic Area in Anshan, the Benxi
Shuidong (Water Cave) Scenic Area, which has Asia's longest
underground river, Dalian Shengya Ocean World, which has the
largest aquarium in China and Shenyang's Palace Museum.
Festival ends
GUILIN -- The Sixth Guilin Tourist Festival ended here last week.
A tourist haven located in northern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous
Region, Guilin has long been famed for its picturesque scenery and
attracts thousands of sightseers from home and abroad every year.
As a significant part of Visit China '97, the festival this year
entertained tourists with even more gala shows and activities than
in previous years.
Over the past few years, tourism has become the pillar industry
for Guilin.
Besides the original scenic spots, the local government has
explored several spots in Guilin's outlying area and set up folk
cultural villages of the local minorities.
The improvement of transportation in Guilin will also boost
tourism development. Liangjiang Airport of Guilin opened last
year, and a new railway station will be completed next year.
Highway renovated
XI'AN -- Renovation work has been completed on a grade-A highway
linking Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province, with major tourist
attractions in Shaanxi.
The renovation work included the construction of dividers
separating cars from pedestrians, footbridges and overpasses on
the 34-kilometre-long highway from Xi'an to Sanyuan.
The renovation has increased the speed of cars on the highway to
80-100 kilometres per hour from 40 kph.
The renovation was carried out with the help of a World Bank loan
of 120 million yuan ($14.4 million).
Cultural gala
FUZHOU -- The '97 Fishing Zone Cultural Festival will be held in
Huian County, in East China's Fujian Province, on November 17 and
18.
Fishing is one of the backbone industries in Huian, a coastal
county with a population of 900,000.
Last year, 200,000 tons of fish were caught.
Activities at the festival will include theatrical performances,
academic symposiums and exhibitions of books, paintings and photos
featuring the culture and customs of the fishing zone.
Some commodities fairs selling sea products, traditional
handicrafts and special local products will also be held.
Primeval forest
WUHAN -- The Shennongjia Forest Region in Central China's Hubei
Province recently launched a new scenic spot, the Taiping Primeval
Forest Sunbath Tour Site.
Located in the central area of the forest region, the site boasts
convenient road access.
Visitors can see a wide variety of plants in the area. It is also
an ideal destination for scientists and explorers, according to
official sources.
Resort planned
HEFEI -- Anhui Province has pledged to allocate more than 300
million yuan ($36.14 million) over the next few years to build a
major tourist resort on the Chaohu Lake, one of China's five major
freshwater lakes.
The decision was made to accommodate the increasing number of
tourists flocking to Chaohu Lake to visit the beautiful lake
islands, scenic mountains, forests and places of historical
interest.
Anhui is home to major East China attractions such as Mount
Huangshan and Mount Jiuhua.
Chaohu Lake, located near the provincial capital of Hefei, is an
ideal destination for sightseeing, holiday recreation,
mountaineering and water sports. More than 100,000 visitors
attended this year's annual peony festival held between April 18
and 25.
The ambitious development plan will transform the lake area into
the second largest tourist resort in Anhui. The area will feature
eight major scenic sites, including the Laoshan Island Tourist
Resort, the Chaocheng-Doutang Tourist and Convalescence area, and
the Taihushan Tourist Area featuring an ecology tour and a
religious tour.
(CD-Xinhua)
_____________________________________________________________

_Date: 11/08/97_
_Author: _
_Copyright© by China Daily_

***************************************************************************

Entertainment
EXHIBITIONS
Decorative arts from Norway -- An exhibition entitled "Gifts of
the Forest, Gifts of the Loom" is running at the exhibition hall
of the China Central Academy of Arts and Design in Beijing.
The exhibition demonstrates the great success Norwegian women
artists have achieved in contemporary wood and textile art since
1970s.
Time: 9 am-11:30 pm, except Sunday, through November 15.
Place: 34 Dongsanhuan Zhonglu, Chaoyang District, Beijing.
Tel: 6508-2233 ext 2374.
Oil painting show -- "Marching Towards the New Century," a joint
exhibition of young Chinese oil painters, will be held at the
China National Art Museum.
Sponsored by the China Oil Painting Society, China Arts Research
Institute and two other departments, the exhibition will display
203 oil paintings selected from 2,500 contributions throughout the
country.
Time: 9 am-4 pm, November 25-December 7.
Place: China National Art Museum, 1 Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng
District.
Tel: 6401-2252.
Chinese history -- A display showcasing a new version of the
general history of China is now open in the National Museum of
Chinese History.
More than 5,400 exhibits -- from pottery kitchen utensils, made
more than 10,000 years ago, to the Chinese classics, which have
survived foreign invasions in the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) --
are on display.
They reveal the country's past in a more accurate and multifaceted
way than the museum's perennial display, established in 1959.
Time: 8:30 am-5 pm, daily.
Place: National Museum of Chinese History, east of Tian'anmen
Square
Tel: 6526-6604, 6512-8901
CONCERTS
Danny from Finland -- Finnish musician Evergreen Danny begins his
China tour this week.
Danny's long and successful career began in March 1964 when the
hit single "East Virginia" became the best selling record in
Finland. He went on tour in 1966 and focused his career on dance
music. In 1996, Danny broke all the records in Finnish music
business. His summer tour gathered an audience of 150,000.
Time: 7:30 pm, November 9.
Place: Poly Plaza International Theatre.
Tel: 6500-1188 ext 5176.
Chamber music -- The China National Symphony Orchestra will give a
concert tonight.
Time: 7:30 pm, November 8.
Place: Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Beixinhuajie.
Tel: 6605-5812.
Ruan solo recital -- Xu Yang will play ruan, a traditional Chinese
string instrument at the Beijing Concert Hall.
Time: 7:30 pm, November 9.
Place: Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Beixinhuajie.
Tel: 6605-5812.
Classic concert -- Yu Hai will conduct the Central National
Orchestra in a concert featuring "Farewell to Yangguan," "Fine
Spring Days," "Drunkard," "Ambush Around," "Su Wu Shepherds,"
"Three Pieces for the Plum Flower," "Like a Flower, But not a
Flower," "Meditation in front of the Dress Table in the Autumn"
and "Looking Forward to Spring Wind."
Time: 7:30pm, November 10.
Place: Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Beixinhuajie.
Tel: 6605-5812.
Wang Luobin's works -- The chorus of the China National Symphony
Orchestra will give a concert featuring the late Wang Luobin's
works.
The programme includes "Wait till Daybreak," "At the Faraway
Place," "Under the Tall White Poplar Trees," "Seeing Brother off,"
"Don't let Mother down," "Raise your Scarf up," and "Ha Sen has
Something to Tell."
Time: 7:30 pm, November 12.
Place: Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Beixinhuajie.
Tel: 6605-5812.
Movie songs chorus -- The China National Song and Dance Theatre
will hold a concert featuring famous movie and TV play songs,
including "City Besieged," "Midnight," "North Wind Blows,"
"Shaolin Temple," "Wanquan River is Clear," "Dances with Wolves,"
"Schindler's List," "West Side Story," "Auld Lang Syne" and
"Exodus."
Time: 7:30 pm, November 13.
Place: Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Beixinhuajie.
Tel: 6605-5812.
Violin recital -- Violin masterpieces will be presented by
violinists from the Middle School attached to the Central
Conservatory of Music.
The programme includes Ma Sicong's "Dance beyond the Great Wall
and Mountain Air," Chen Gang's "The Sun Shines above the
Tashkulgan," Sarasate's "Habanera," Paganini's "La Campanella,"
Manuel de Falla's "Spanish Dance," Tartini's "Devil's Trill"
Sonata and Mendelssohn's Violin Sonata.
Time: 7:30 pm, November 8.
Place: the Art Salon of Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, 48 Wangfujing
Dajie
Tel: 6512-5063 or 6513-3388 ext 1209.
Traditional pieces -- Graceful classic Chinese music will be
played by Yu Qingxin, Wu Yuxia, Li Baolin, Zeng Shaobin and Fu
Huiqin.
The programme includes "Trio for pipe, qin and pipa," "Farewell to
Yangguan," "The Floating Flowers in the Greenness," "Ambush
Around" for pipa, "Duet for qin and xun," "Meditation in Front of
the Dress Table in Autumn," "Three Pieces for the Plum Flowers,"
"Like a Flower, but not a Flower," "Shepherd Song," and "Looking
Forward to the Spring Wind."
Time: 7:30 pm, November 13.
Place: the Art Salon of Holiday Inn Crowne Plaza, 48 Wangfujing
Dajie
Tel: 6512-5063 or 6513-3388 ext 1209.
EVENTS
Flower show -- For flower lovers, autumn is the best season for
appreciating chrysanthemum. Zhongshan Park will offer the chance
for them.
The Tanghuawu Hall of Zhongshan Park is to give a chrysanthemum
exhibition.
All the flowers, bred home and abroad are nurtured by the park.
There are about 200 kinds of chrysanthemums in more than 3,000
pots during the display.
Time: 9 pm-5 am, until November 31.
Place: West of Tian'anmen Rostrum, Zhongshan Park, Dongcheng
District.
Dance festival -- To give ordinary Chinese a chance to show their
dancing talent, the JVC International Ballroom and Latin American
Dance Festival '97 is to be held from November 28 in Beijing,
Shanghai, Wuhan and Guangzhou.
The festival will feature a series of international ballroom and
Latin American dance competitions. All competitions will be aired
on TV in the four cities.
Any adult can sign up for the competition before November 20 at
the cultural centres of Xicheng, Chongwen and Haidian districts.
Tel: 010-6254-3684.
DRAMA
Sartre tragedy -- The Central Experimental Modern Drama Theatre
will perform "Death without Burial" by Jean Paul Sartre in
Chinese.
Sartre (1905-80) was a French novelist, playwright, and exponent
of Existentialism. He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature
in 1964, but declined it.
"Death without Burial" raises questions about the value of human
life, human dignity and significance of death.
The play portrays a group of French Resistance fighters struggling
in jail with the French traitorous government during the World War
II.
Zha Mingzhe directs The cast includes Feng Xianzhen and Han
Tongsheng.
Time: 7:15 pm, until November 30 except Monday.
Place: The Central Experimental Drama Theatre, A45 Mao'er Hutong,
Dongocheng District.
Tel: 6403-1099.
Play on Beijingers -- The China Youth Art Theatre will put on "A
Family in Beijing."
The play is set in Beijing in the late 1990s. In the commercial
whirlwind, great changes have taken place in the family of Di
Jiuru, a former royal architect who yearns for the brilliant
culture of old Beijing. Di is sorry to see his son and daughter
busy with business every day. Different values create a gap within
the family.
The cast includes Du Peng, Han Jingru, Ma Yingchun and Wang Hui.
Time: 7:15 pm, through November 16.
Place: Grand Theatre of the Cultural Palace of Nationalities, 49
Fuwai Dajie, Xicheng District.
Tel: 6602-2770, 6602-2530.
Italian opera -- The Central Opera Theatre will provide a slick
interpretation of Puccini's "Turandot."
Giacomo Puccini (1858-1942) was modern Europe's most eminent and
prolific opera composer and his works are among the most popular.
They are characterized by easy-flowing melodies, clearly pointed
dramatic effects, rich harmonies and brightly coloured
orchestration.
"Turandot" was Puccini's last opera, debuting in 1926 in Milan.
It tells of a beautiful, but cold Princess of China, Turandot, who
finally falls in love with an intelligent and brave Tartar Prince,
Calaf. Calaf gives the answers to three riddles set by the
princess.
Warren Mo, acclaimed as the No.1 Chinese tenor, will play the role
of Calaf.
Time: 7:15 pm, November 14-16.
Place: Poly Plaza International Theatre, Dongzhimen Nandajie,
Dongcheng District.
Tel: 6405-5512, 6526-5087, 6407-3532.
_____________________________________________________________

_Date: 11/08/97_
_Author: _
_Copyright© by China Daily_

***************************************************************************

[INLINE]
[INLINE]

Updated on September 24, 1997

[INLINE]

[INLINE]

_[1]The 15th Party Congress_

_[2]Sep. 12 - Sep.18, 1997_

[INLINE]

[3][LINK] _[4]General Secretary Jiang Zemin's
Report to the 15th Party Congress_
[5][LINK] _[6]New Party Leadership elected,
Top Leaders' Profiles_
[7][LINK] _[8]Communique of 15th CPC Central
Committee's First Plenum_

[INLINE]

Feedback: [9]cd...@chinadaily.net

_Copyright by CBnet ®, China Daily Information_

References

1. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtg124.html
2. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtg124.html
3. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/report.html
4. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/report.html
5. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtgb46.html
6. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtgb46.html
7. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtgb09.html
8. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtgb09.html
9. mailto:cd...@chinadaily.net

***************************************************************************

[INLINE] __



[1][LINK]

[2][LINK]

[3][LINK]

[4][LINK]

[INLINE]

_Chinese, U.S. Presidents Hold Press Conference _

WASHINGTON, October 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Jiang
Zemin and U.S. President Bill Clinton have agreed that China
and the United States should strengthen cooperation in
building a strategic partnership oriented toward the 21st
century, with a view to promoting world peace and
development.
This was stated by Jiang during a joint press conference by
the two presidents Wednesday.
The two presidents also shared the view of holding regular
visits between the two countries' heads of state,
facilitating a Washington-Beijing presidential communications
link, triggering the mechanism of a regular exchange of
visits by foreign ministers and other cabinet officials, as
well as strengthening cooperation in economic, scientific and
technological, cultural, educational fields and in law
enforcement.
Jiang described his talks with Clinton as "constructive and
fruitful," and believed that his ongoing visit could attain
the goal of enhancing mutual understanding, broadening common
ground, developing cooperation and building the future.
The two presidents also agreed to handle bilateral relations
and differences in line with the principles of mutual
respect, non-interference in each other's internal affairs,
equality and mutual benefit, and seeking common ground while
putting aside differences.
Clinton said that Jiang's visit to the United States gave
them the opportunity and the responsibility to build a future
that is more secure, more peaceful, more prosperous for both
peoples.
The two countries share a profound interest in a stable,
prosperous and open Asia, and a strong interest in stopping
the spread of weapons of mass destruction and other
sophisticated weaponry, Clinton said.
He said he agreed to move ahead with the U.S.-China agreement
for cooperation concerning the peaceful use of nuclear
energy.
In both China and the United States, trade has been a
critical catalyst for growth, and China is the fastest
growing market in the world for America's goods and services,
Clinton said. He also said the United States would "do
everything possible to bring China into the World Trade
Organization."
Referring to the Taiwan issue, Jiang said that China wishes
to effect the peaceful reunification of the motherland by
means of implementing Deng Xiaoping's concept of "one
country, two systems."
But China is not committed to giving up the use of force in
this regard, he said, adding that this does not target the
Taiwan compatriots, but direct against the foreign force
interfering in Taiwan affairs and against the scheme that
would attempt to separate Taiwan from China.
On the human rights issue, Jiang said the current world is a
rich and diverse one, and concepts on democracy and human
rights and on freedoms are relative and specific ones.
Therefore, they should be determined by the specific national
situation of different countries.

References

1. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/visit/report.htm
2. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/visit/d1-jiang_j15.htm
3. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/visit/comment.htm
4. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/visit/backgrnd.htm

***************************************************************************