Sydney celebrates Chinese film

Director Liu Jie's Deep in the Clouds won two awards at the 3rd Sydney Chinese Film Festival, held in the Australian city from Feb 5-14.

Liu won best director while Na Zhenye, an amateur, won best actress.

The film focuses on a mountain village and the dilemma of protecting its eco-system and hankering after a better life.

Liu used locals, including Na, who speaks an ethnic language that even Liu didn't understand, to highlight the film's authenticity.

The annual festival, attended by more than 10 Chinese movie stars, presented more than 30 of the latest films from the mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

National Ear-Care Day approaches

The 12th National Ear-Care Day in China will be held on March 3. The Ministry of Health and the China Disabled Person's Federation says the theme for this year is "recovery starts from discovery, promotion of ear health among new-born children".

Between 2006-2010 rehabilitation services have been provided for nearly 100,000 children with hearing impairments.

The organization aims to increase financial support and help for children with ear problems, especially those from impoverished families.

Charity concerts will be held at Beijing's National Center for the Performing Arts, and in Shanghai and Dalian on March 2, and in Shenzhen and Xinjiang on March 3, to raise public awareness of ear care.

Bid to protect fading rock paintings

A group of 42 rock paintings in the mountains of Ningxia Hui autonomous region are in dire need of protection as the colors are fading.

The paintings, on an 8-meter-high, 10-meter-wide rock wall in a cavern in Shizuishan city, depict hunting, horse riding and herding scenes, said Han Xuebin, of the city's cultural heritage administration.

Although no man-made damage has been reported, Han said, better protection from pollution and natural erosion is required to keep the colors from fading.

Rock paintings in northwest China are believed to be a treasure trove of information on the social, religious, artistic and folk customs of prehistoric humans.

Paleographers say the paintings could provide historical evidence of Chinese characters dating back further than the current 4,500 years, to 30,000 years.

Concert to mark nation's milestones

To celebrate the 90th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the 100th anniversary of the 1911 Revolution, the China Central Opera House will kick off a nationwide tour of the concert, Road to Rejuvenation.

Premiering on Sept 25, 2009, at the Great Hall of the People, Road to Rejuvenation was the third epic gala chosen to mark National Day, after East Is Red (1965) that celebrated the 15th anniversary of the founding of New China, and Road of Chinese Revolution (1985) that celebrated its 35th anniversary.

The 150-minute show tells China's contemporary history since 1840. Some 3,200 performers participated in the original production, put together by different companies. The Central Opera's production features all the top songs of the show but without the dance segments.

Luoyang mural museum to open

Luoyang in Henan province plans to open a mural museum in October to display its rich collection of artworks collected from ancient tombs.

The murals, which date from the Western Han (206 BC-AD 24) to the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), portray emperors and empresses, imperial concubines, court officials and ordinary people and are believed to be an important part of China's documented history.

China Daily - Xinhua