ChinaDaily[970712-8]

[Chinese News]

China Daily

97 / 07 / 12 /

***************************************************************************
1. Mausoleum tells Khan's glory
2. Travel Note ( Page 5, Date: 07/12/97 )
3. What's on (Page 6, Date: 07/12/97)
***************************************************************************

Mausoleum tells Khan's glory

MY first sight of Genghis Khan's Mausoleum aroused a feeling of
profound respect.

The mausoleum was so solemn and awe-inspiring that it seemed the glory
of the Mongols' great hero still shines.

Genghis Khan, born in 1162 and died in 1227, united the various
Mongolian tribes in 1206 and later his son set up a powerful empire,
known in Chinese history as the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368).

The mausoleum is located in Ejin Horo Banner, the central part of the
Erdos Grassland, of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. In Mongolian,
Ejin Horo means the palace of the king, and Erdos means many palaces.

According to Mongolian legend, Genghis Khan chose Erdos as his burial
site.

When Khan led his army through Erdos Grassland, he was enraptured by
the fertile land, causing him to accidentally drop his horsewhip. He
told his attendants not to pick it up and recited a poem: "(It is) a
place for deer to rest, a home for birds to raise their young, a site
for weakened dynasties to revive their fortunes, a paradise for
white-haired old men to enjoy themselves."

Genghis Khan told his attendants: "This place is where I should be
buried after my death." His servants did his bidding.

Khan's mausoleum covers an area of more than 50,000 square metres and
consists of three domed palaces, linked together and facing south.
They are set off by green pines.

After climbing 99 steps from the front plaza, we reached the gate of
the mausoleum. Nine is an auspicious number for the Mongols.

The mausoleum is a large mound of green grassland. The three palaces
are located on its west side.

To the southeast, there is a big stone pile, a memorial to Khan.
Thirteen small stone piles are behind the big one. Unlike Western
superstition, 13 is an auspicious number for the Mongols, according to
our tour guide.

A tall stone memorial is housed in a beautiful pavilion, standing on
the southwest of the mausoleum. It records Khan's life story.

The sacrificial altar for Khan's sacred black spear lies on the
northwest of the mausoleum.

A legend is attached to the spear: After Khan had been defeated in a
battle, his situation looked hopeless. He lifted his saddle, kneeled,
kowtowed to heaven and cried out in a loud voice: "God of the Heavens,
please hurry to save your child quickly!"

Suddenly, with a deafening thunderbolt, a sacred black spear dropped
into a big tree from on high.

Khan then emerged victorious in every battle.

We left the altar and went into the middle palace.

A giant statue of Khan stands in the centre of the main hall. There is
a large map of Eurasia on the wall behind it, recording Khan's many
conquests.

The chamber hall behind the main hall contains three large yurts and
two small yurts, stained in yellow. Biers of Khan, his three wives and
two brothers are consecrated in separate yurts.

Butter lamps are lit permanently in front of the yurts.

The yurt in the east palace is consecrated to Khan's youngest son and
his wife.

But the yurts are only tombs containing personal effects of Khan and
his relatives. The whereabouts of their remains are still unknown.

The guide explained this is partly because the Mongols believe one's
spirit exists with his bodily remains.

Another reason, he said, is the tombs of Mongolian leaders were chosen
so secretly almost no one is able to find them.

In order to look for Khan's real tomb, Japanese and Mongolian experts
used advanced instruments to search for several years around
Mongolia's Kent Mountain. So far, however, nothing has been found.

In the west palace, Khan's spear, banner, sword, saddle and other
articles are enshrined and worshipped.

In the corridor connecting the three palaces, there are two series of
large frescoes depicting important events in Khan's life and the
flourishing of all areas of industry, agriculture, business and travel
in the Yuan Dynasty.

The guide said Khan's mausoleum is guarded by a special Mongolian
tribe, the Dalhut.

The Dalhut are descendants of eight outstanding commanders who served
Khan during his expedition to conquer Central Asia and part of what is
today's Middle East. After the death of Khan, 500 households were
specifically chosen from the tribe to defend the mausoleum and hold
memorial ceremonies.

The males in each of the 500 households devoted their lives to
guarding the tomb and holding memorial services for Khan without
holding any official position or paying any corvee, said the guide,
who is also a Dalhut.

He said the honoured position can be passed from generation to
generation. In Mongolian, the name Dalhut means "free from corvee".

The large memorial ceremonies are held four times a year in Khan's
mausoleum. Each time, the middle palace's vermilion gate opens slowly,
then the crowd gathers before the statue of this legendary figure.
They dedicate sacrificial offerings to the statue while the Dalhut
people solemnly recite the words of sacrifice.

The guide said details of the classic ceremonies and elegies are
strictly confined to insiders.

Khan's mausoleum has been listed by the State Council among the key
cultural relics of nationwide historical significance, worthy of State
protection. Its special, historical value attracts more than 120,000
visitors every year.

The Chinese Government has invested more than 3 million yuan
($361,000) to renovate the mausoleum, the guide said, adding the
repair project was completed last month.
_________________________________________________________________

_Date: 07/12/97_
_Author: Zhao Shaoqin_

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

Travel Note ( Page 5, Date: 07/12/97 )

Tourists flood canal

THE Hongqiqu (Red Flag Canal) in Henan Province attracts domestic and
overseas tourists with its wonderful scenery. The canal is a large
water project finished in the 1960s, and, at the time, was referred to
as the world's eighth wonder. In recent years, local government has
injected more than 100 million yuan ($12 million) in technique
renovation, automatic management and high-tech projects. Now the area
has become a tourism area, comprising nearly 100 destinations. To
date, leaders and tourists from more than 120 countries visited the
canal. It receives 10,000 tourists every day.

Rare-rock attraction

THE Rare Rocks Hall in Chengde Summer Resort has attracted, and
surprised, numerous domestic and overseas tourists since it opened
recently. It is located at the mountains of Anyuan and Pule temples,
where the famous Qingchui Peak and Fog Rock stand. Many rare rocks are
exhibited in the hall. Tourists may watch the world's four famous
rocks there -- taihu rock, highly prized by builders of rock gardens
due to its convolutions caused by weathering; yuhua pebbles, colourful
pebbles found in Yuhuatai, Nanjing; lingbi rock and yingde stone.
Visitors can see more than 150 kinds of rare rocks.

Seeing sacred places

PROVINCES of Zhejiang and Shanxi will present a tourist line --
international tour to sacred place, according to sources from a recent
seminar on the two provinces' international cultural tourism. The
seminar was jointly sponsored by the provinces' tourism, religion and
civil aviation bureaux. More than 40 Chinese and foreign experts
inspected and studied in three fields: the cultural origin and
character of Putuo and Wutai mountains; Buddhism cultural exchanges
between China, Japan and Korean peninsula; and potential tourism
markets. Then they outlined the line -- Beijing-Datong Yungang
Grotto-Taiyuan Xuanzhong Temple-Wutai Mountain-Hangzhou-Putuo
Mountain-Shanghai.

(CD-Xinhua)
_________________________________________________________________

_Date: 07/12/97_
_Author: _

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

What's on (Page 6, Date: 07/12/97)

CONCERTS

Movie Songs -- A concert of popular Chinese movie songs will be
performed by the Central Orchestra in co-operation with the Beijing
Red Earth Art Centre on July 12.

The programme will include over 30 songs from famous Chinese movies,
such as "Why the Flowers Are So Red," "Sing with My Favourite Harp,"
"Fishing Song" and "Song of the Guerrillas."

Time: 7:30 pm, July 12. Location: Beijing Concert Hall. Tel:
6605-5812.

Selected Pieces -- The Women's Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra will
perform pieces by Handel, Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Bullock at Beijing
Concert Hall.

Time: 7:30 pm, July 13. Location: Beijing Concert Hall. Tel:
6605-5812.

Piano Recital -- Promising young pianist Huang Yameng is to perform
classical piano pieces by Messiaen, Brahms and other noted composers.

Time: 7:30 pm, July 16. Location: Beijing Concert Hall. Tel:
6605-5812.

Chinese Music -- The Huaxia Chamber Orchestra will perform classical
Chinese music.

Time: 7:30 pm, July 17. Location: Beijing Concert Hall. Tel:
6605-5812.

Location: Sanwei Bookstore, 60 Fuxingmennei Dajie, Xicheng District,
across the street from Cultural Palace of Nationalities. Tel:
6601-3204.

DRAMA

Successful Drama -- The Beijing People's Art Theatre's new production
"Antiques" is a recent hit in the capital. With Beijing flavour and a
strong cast, the play describes Beijing early this century.

Revolving around anecdotes of an antique shop in Liulichang, a
200-year-old business street in the capital, the drama brings on stage
a group of characters with different occupations, reproducing scenes
of Beijing 70 years ago.

Time: 7:15 pm, July 11-15, 17-22. Location: Capital Theatre, 22
Wangfujing Dajie, Dongcheng District. Tel: 6525-0996.

OPERA

Peek-in Opera -- Located in an ornate former temple and painted and
draped in a manner fit for royalty, Zhengyici Theatre is worth a visit
just for a look inside.

Better yet, stick around until the show gets rolling -- live Peking
opera packaged into short programmes fit for foreign audiences. Each
act has an explanation written in English and announcements are done
likewise.

You're promised at least one lively acrobatic or fighting scene plus
snacks, tea and ice cream at intermission which all make the two-hour
show fly by.

Time: 7:15 pm, daily. Location: 220 Xiheyan Dajie, Xuanwu District
(behind Hepingmen Roast Duck Restaurant). Tel: 6303-6233 or 6303-6234.

DANCE

Modern Dance -- Grand modern dance evenings will be presented during
weekends in July by the Beijing Modern Dance Ensemble, the first such
professional modern dance troupe in Beijing.

The troupe members all average in age around 23 and graduated from the
Department of Modern Dance of the Beijing Dance Academy. They used to
study folk dance or ballet, but now they are devoted to fresh,
enterprising and trendy modern dances.

Jin Xing, choreographer, principal dancer and artistic director of the
dance troupe, studied modern dance in the United States for four
years.

"A lot of Chinese flavour has been added to the music, costumes and
topics and they are conveyed in an exotic way," she said.

Last year, the troupe presented two grand modern dance performances,
"Red and Black" and "The Sunflower." Both were well received in the
capital.

Time: 9:15 pm, July 12 and 18-19. Location: Chang'an Grand Theatre, 7
Jianguomennei Dajie, Dongcheng District. Tel: 6510-1309, 6510-1310.

BALLET

Russian Ballet -- A group of internationally known ballet dancers from
Russia will be in Beijing to give one-night performance at the Beijing
Exhibition Centre Theatre on August 5.

They are all solo dancers from big Russian ballet companies including
the Bolshoi Ballet and the St. Petersburg Theatre.

Among them is Nina Ananiashvili, one of the world most eminent
ballerinas. Rave reviews over the world say the superb techniques,
exquisite and refined style, flowing movements and rear dramatic
talent have turned her into the most sought-after ballerina today.

The dancers will dance arias from classical repertories including
"Giselle," "Nutcracker," "The Sleeping Beauty" as well as some modern
pieces.

Time: 7:30 pm, August 5. Location: Beijing Exhibition Centre Theatre.
Tel: 6405-5512, 6526-5087

EXHIBITIONS

Painting Show -- To celebrate Hong Kong's return to the motherland,
National Museum of Chinese Revolution is hosting a painting exhibition
through July 13.

Time: through July 13. Location: National Museum of Chinese
Revolution, east of Tian'anmen Square. Tel: 6526-3355.

Unorthodox Oils -- "The Nature of Portraiture," a two-person oil
painting exhibition, is being held at the gallery of the Central
Academy of Fine Arts. The paintings, by Mao Yan and Zhou Chunya, are
considered a challenge to conventional oil paintings.

A 1982 graduate of the Sichuan Academy of Fine Arts, Zhou Chunya
impressed art critics during the early 1980s with the vitality and
individuality embodied in his oil paintings. Having studied "free art"
in Germany, he started his new art pursuits in the early 1990s. His
recent works reflect his unique feelings amid the environment of
contemporary art. The images are new. The style is romantic but
typically Chinese.

Mao Yan graduated from the Oil Painting Department under the Central
Academy of Fine Arts in 1991 and is now teaching at the Nanjing Art
Institute. Critics say he has captured the essence of realism. In a
simple yet exaggerated style, his oil portraits not only show the
facial expression of a person but their inner spirit as well.

Starting in 1996, the gallery of the Central Academy of Fine Arts has
sponsored many art shows for promising young and middle-age artists.
Their purpose is to help such pioneering artists compete in the art
market and support their art experiments.

Time: 9 am-4 pm, through July 17. Location: 5 Xiaowei Lane, Wangfujing
Street, Dongcheng District. Tel: 6528-4838.

Grand Art Show -- The National Museum of Chinese Revolution is hosting
a grand exhibition showcasing modern works by Chinese at home and
abroad.

The exposition is part of national celebratory activities marking
China's resumption of the exercise of sovereignty over Hong Kong.

With the theme of celebrating Hong Kong's return to the motherland,
more than 2,000 paintings and sculptures selected by the Ministry of
Culture retell the history of Hong Kong and present an array of art
works of the highest level among Chinese art circles. On display are
works of well-known Chinese art masters including Qi Baishi, Xu
Beihong, Liu Haisu, Zhang Daqian, Huang Binhong and Pan Tianshou.

Time: 9 am-4 pm through July 16. Location: National Museum of Chinese
Revolution, east of Tian'anmen Square. Tel: 6526-3355.

Root-art Exhibit -- The Sixth China Root-Art Exhibition will be held
from July 17-23 at the China National Art Museum under the sponsorship
of the China Federation of Literary and Art Circles, the Ministry of
Forestry, the China Root-Art Society and four other departments.

Though root art can be traced back to primitive society, it has become
popular throughout the country only in the last few years.

The exhibition will highlight more than 1,000 pieces including
carvings, designs, calligraphy and furniture. Art lovers will be
amazed to see the "beauty of nature" hidden in the grotesque tree
roots and found by sharp-eyed artists.

The exhibits come from different parts of the country and the best
ones will be given the "Liu Kaiqu Root-Art Award." The jury includes
well-known artists, critics and academics.

Time: 9 am-4 pm, July 17-23. Location: China National Art Museum, 1
Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District. Tel: 6401-2252.

Still-oil Show -- Organized by the China Association of Artists and
the China Bridge Communication, the Second Still-Oil Painting
Exhibition will be held from July 22-27 at the China National Art
Museum.

From over 6,000 oil-work candidates from across the country, 398 have
been selected to be in the show. They represent the current level of
still-oil painting development in the country.

A collection of the works will be published. The exhibits will be on
sale after the show.

Time: 9 am-5 pm, July 22-27. Location: China National Art Museum, 1
Wusi Dajie, Dongcheng District (6401-2252). Tel: 6463-6730.
_________________________________________________________________

_Date: 07/12/97_
_Author: _

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