Vocalist Jiang Dawei to sing the Party's praises

Singer Jiang Dawei will hold his first concert in 30 years on the 90th anniversary of the Communist Party of China's founding.

Jiang became a household name for singing The Song of the Peony on the soundtrack of the film Red Peony in the early 1980s.

He combines Western operatic vocals with Chinese folk music. His classic songs, such as The Place of Peach Blooming and The Spring of the North Country, have remained popular throughout the decades.

Li Yuchun signs on with own charity

Singer-actress Li Yuchun has been invited to become the ambassador of the charity named after her - the Li Yuchun Fans Charity of the Chinese Red Cross Foundation's Aid to Hearing Impaired Children Program.

Founded by Li's fans in 2006, the Li Yuchun Fans Charity has so far contributed 420,000 yuan ($64,615) toward the rehabilitation of 30 hearing impaired children.

Li, the former Supergirl champion, also wrote the program's theme song. The Li Yuchun Fans Charity is China's first fund named after a celebrity but started by fans rather than by the star. As of March 2011, it had received nearly 8 million yuan and had helped 33 impoverished children with serious diseases, such as leukemia, receive treatment.

Wildlife protectors are given Guardian award

The Third China Border Wildlife Guardian Award was presented on May 8 in Beijing. Twenty-five winners were selected among candidates working for forestry security, customs, border army forces and nature reserves along the country's border areas.

Inaugurated in 2008 by the Wildlife Conservation Society China Program, the annual award provides incentives to people involved in wildlife law enforcement in China's border areas and honors those who have made great contributions in the fight against poaching and the cross-border wildlife trade.

Some winners will be eligible for law-enforcement training in Yunnan province.

Art Exhibitions China anniversary celebrated

The exhibition Glorious Mission opened on May 9 at the Beijing New Culture Movement Memorial Museum to celebrate Art Exhibitions China's 40th anniversary.

Art Exhibitions China is a subordinate organization under the State Administration of Cultural Heritage that works to promote Chinese art exhibitions and cultural relics globally.

The exhibition displays about 200 photos and 15,000 documents related to Art Exhibitions China's development in four parts.

State Administration of Cultural Heritage head Shan Jixiang and other experts attended the opening.

French street performers strut their stuff

The French street art troupe Apostrophes recently staged its first China performance in Beijing's World Financial Center.

The troupe, comprising four performers and one musician, appeared suddenly in front of passers-by, sang to them and staged small magic shows. They used French hats and an accordion to lure audiences to the "street performance art", which by definition is casual and unexpected.

The show will also be staged in Mudanjiang in Heilongjiang province, Wuhan in Hubei province and Suzhou in Jiangsu province.

The performance was included in the 2011 Croisements Festival, which was presented by the French Embassy to China. The festival features 183 activities, including more than 30 photography exhibitions, symposiums, concerts and screenings, and will appear in 25 Chinese cities before June 30.

China Daily