China in London 2006
London will benefit from strong economic and cultural ties with China, says Mayor
www.visitlondon.com/chinainlondon
At the official start of China in London, the biggest celebration of Chinese culture ever seen in the capital, the Mayor of London Ken Livingstone said today:
‘From January to March, there are over 100 events and attractions featuring China in London. They will be a unique opportunity for Londoners to sample that vast country’s rich cultural history and to celebrate the Chinese community’s contribution to the life of our city.
‘The links between London and China have been greatly strengthened by London’s successful bid to host the Olympic Games in 2012, which follows Beijing in 2008. I want to see these links develop in all fields, investment and business, visits and stays by tourists and students, cultural exchange and creative links. I am extremely pleased that in addition to the traditional Chinese New Year celebrations, and the many exhibitions, Chinese pop phenomenon Li Yuchun is here to launch the season.
‘London’s growing relationship with the fastest growing market in the world is already bringing significant economic benefit to the city. The UK is the largest European recipient of Chinese foreign direct investment projects and London is attracting 30 per cent of these. Trade and tourism are rapidly expanding. I want Chinese companies to see London as their most important point of entry into Europe’
The Mayor, who is planning to go to China in April, added: ‘Later this year I will be visiting both Beijing and Shanghai, with a delegation of representatives from London business. I will be opening London offices in both cities to promote links between London and China. I regard it as the highest strategic priority for London that we develop the strongest possible links with the Chinese economy. It is also central to the continued strength of London, as a financial centre, that we remain open to the most important development in the global economy.’
The Mayor is officially launching the China in London season today, when he switches on specially designed lanterns in Oxford Circus, with Super Girl champion and Chinese pop phenomenon Li Yuchun.
OTHER HIGHLIGHTS DURING CHINA IN LONDON
•Chinese New Year celebration and parade – Year of the Dog. Sunday 29 January. Chinatown, Leicester Square, Trafalgar Square, Charing Cross Road. To include Gold Sail Dance Troupe from Beijing who will also be performing at other selected venues.
•Royal Academy of Arts’ exhibition ‘China: The Three Emperors, 1662–1795’ (Until 17 April).
•Beijing Olympics 2008, photography exhibition at City Hall. 26 Jan–28 February
•Shanghai on Screen film festival – Vue cinema, West End 8-15 February.
•More than 100 events and promotions at locations throughout London. Participating organisations include: British Museum, British Library, Victoria & Albert Museum, National Portrait Gallery, Museum in Docklands, London Underground – Platform for Art, British Library, Madame Tussauds, London Zoo, Yellow Earth Theatre, Asia House, the Red Mansion Foundation, Natural History Museum plus many more.
•West End retail sector. Includes in-store promotions, lighting display at Oxford Circus, window and in-store displays by Chinese artists at Selfridges.
Public information – including in Chinese: www.visitlondon.com/chinainlondon.
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT CHINA IN LONDON FOLLOWS
Notes to editors
1.The capital’s celebrations to mark the start of the Chinese New Year – the Year of the Dog – will take place in London’s Chinatown, Leicester Square and Trafalgar Square on Sunday 29 January 2006. London Chinatown Chinese Association organises the annual Chinese New Year celebrations with support from the Chinese Embassy, Arts Council England, the Mayor of London, Westminster City Council, Metropolitan Police and others. More information is available at www.chinatownchinese.com.
2.A cornerstone of China in London 2006 is ‘China: The Three Emperors, 1662-1795’, which will be on show at the Royal Academy from 12 November 2005—17 April 2006. Devoted to treasures of the Chinese court, drawn mainly from the Palace Museum, Beijing, the landmark exhibition will present 400 works illustrating the artistic and cultural riches of imperial China during the reign of three of the most powerful emperors of China’s last dynasty: the Qing. Many of the objects have never been shown outside China. For more information go to the website: www.threeemperors.org.uk.
3.Cultural institutions and organisations that are participating in China in London 2006 already include the Victoria and Albert Museum; Natural History Museum; National Portrait Gallery; National Maritime Museum; Museum in Docklands; British Library; Madame Tussauds; Chinese Cultural Centre; the Stephen Lawrence Gallery; Asia House.
4.The Mayor has announced plans to open London offices in Beijing and Shanghai and is working with Think London to improve support for Chinese companies investing into London. He has announced a consultation on setting up a business quarter for Chinese organisations in the Thames Gateway and has been working to forge stronger links with China. London has also gained Approved Destination Status from China, which has been welcomed as a major step forward in encouraging more Chinese visitors to the capital.
MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Press information is available from Ben McKnight on 020 7983 4071 / 07881 501 920 (numbers not for publication); ben.mcknight@london.gov.uk.
GENERAL PUBLIC/NON-MEDIA ENQUIRIES: Call the Public Liaison Unit at the Greater London Authority on 020 7983 4100
DUTY PRESS OFFICER: For out-of-hours media enquiries, please call 020 7983 4000
MORE ABOUT CHINA IN LONDON 2006
THREE MONTHS OF ACTIVITIES ACROSS THE CAPITAL – INCLUDING: CHINESE NEW YEAR CELEBRATIONS • FILM • ART • PHOTOGRAPHY • INSTALLATIONS • THEATRE • DANCE & LIVE PERFORMANCE• MUSIC • MUSEUMS • FAMILY ACTIVITIES • LOCAL EVENTS • FOOD • RETAIL & COMPETITIONS
Public information – including in Chinese: www.visitlondon.com/chinainlondon. The public can also call the Greater London Authority on 020 7983 4100 during office hours.
China in London 2006 is the largest celebration of Chinese culture ever seen in the capital. Backed by the Mayor of London, it will begin with the switching on of specially designed Chinese lanterns at Oxford Circus on Thursday 26 January and the annual Chinese New Year parade and festival in central London on Sunday 29 January, which marks the start of the Year of the Dog.
China in London 2006 will run until the end of March and feature more than 100 events across the capital and is being organised through a partnership between the Mayor of London, Visit London, and the Royal Academy of Arts, as well as a wide range of organisations, including London Chinatown Chinese Association, New West End Company, Regents Street Association, Transport for London and the London Development Agency. The British Airways London Eye will also be turned red on Sunday 29 January – the same day as the Chinese New Year celebrations.
London Mayor Ken Livingstone said: ‘China in London 2006 is the largest celebration of Chinese culture ever seen in the capital. As well as specially created red lanterns being lit in Oxford Circus and the annual Chinese New Year parade and festival, which herald the Year of the Dog at the end of January, there are over 100 events taking place until the end of March. There is an incredible array of activities across London, offering something for everyone. We want Londoners and the capital’s visitors to get out and sample just a little of that vast country’s rich cultural history and celebrate the Chinese community’s contribution to the life of our capital.’
THEATRE, DANCE AND LIVE PERFORMANCE DURING CHINA IN LONDON 2006
The programme includes Yellow Gentlemen a new play by Benjamin Yeoh at the Oval House Theatre, a version of Hans Christian Andersen’s The Nightingale by Yellow Earth Theatre Company at the Polka Theatre in Wimbledon and the Ren Wu Theatre at the Artsdepot in Finchley. The Place in Euston has hosted the Baoyin Dance Group as part of Resolution! 2006 and the Croydon Clockhouse will present performance piece Chinese Whispers. The Battersea Arts Centre will feature ‘Tailkonaut! How to save the world’ in a scratch performance artist by Anna Chen. There will be a range of other performances and workshops at different venues during the China in London 2006 season, including Year of the Dog Variety Shows coordinated by the Chinese Cultural Centre at venues across the capital www.chineseculturalcentre.org.uk.
ART AND PHOTOGRAPHY DURING CHINA IN LONDON 2006
A large number of art and photography shows includes the acclaimed ‘China: The Three Emperors, 1662-1795’, now on show at the Royal Academy of Arts, featuring 400 works, many of which have never been shown outside China.
The Red Mansion Foundation, a not-for-profit organisation, which promotes cultural exchange between China and the UK through contemporary art, is staging several shows. This includes group shows by contemporary Chinese artists at its premises in Great Portland Street and The Hospital in Covent Garden, recent work at the Royal Academy of Arts by Royal Academicians John Bellany, Paul Huxley, Allen Jones, David Mach, Ian McKeever and Chris Orr following a visit to China, as well as ‘Eat the City’, an installation involving a city built of sweets by artist Song Dong at Selfridges. Selfridges will also feature ‘Follow Me’, a huge work along the entire run of its Oxford Street windows by Wang Qingsong.
Asia House is showcasing work by female Chinese artists, Cao Fei, Suki Chan, Gayle Chong Kwan and Xing Danwen. The Chinese Contemporary Gallery has a group show, plus a solo exhibition of work by Wei Dong. One of China’s leading contemporary artists Qu Lei Lei, who has exhibited at the Venice Biennale and the Ashmolean in Oxford has a solo show and is giving a talk at Campbell’s Gallery in Exhibition Road. Clarion Contemporary Art in Hammersmith will bring together a selection of mixed media work by British-Chinese artists.
Chinatown Arts Space will stage lighting installations around Lisle Street and Portland Place by two young British Chinese artists Suki Chan and Shen Ying. There will be photography, video and installation work in Dog Days at the Stephen Lawrence Gallery to mark the start of the Year of the Dog. There will also be photography at City Hall in a special show arranged in association with the Beijing Olympics Organising Committee and assisted by CTS Horizons.
The Royal Artillery Museum has an exhibition of gunpowder, weapons and firepower over 600 years, including the ‘rediscovered’ and rare dragon shield, whilst the British Library will be showing a 17th century Life of Confucius for the first time, in an exhibition of the earliest Chinese Books in London.
FILM EVENTS DURING CHINA IN LONDON 2006
They include the Shanghai on Screen film festival in the West End, as well as films and screenings at the Museum in Docklands, the National Portrait Gallery and City Hall. There is also an exclusive event at the National Film Theatre, featuring celebrated director Jiang Wen in conversation with Anthony Minghella and a rare screening of his award winning Devils on the Doorstep.
Shanghai on Screen is a celebration of China’s city of cinema, including new titles, classic films and animation. They include Leaving Me, Loving You (2004), Shanghai Story (2004), Shanghai Women (2002), Nezha conquers the Dragon King (1980) Myriads of Lights (1948) and The Goddess (1934). Screenings will take place at the Vue West End from 8-15 February and at the Museum in Docklands from 28 January. Shanghai on Screen is organised by the Chinese Cultural Centre in association with Shanghai International Film Festival and British Council, Shanghai. The season is supported by the Mayor of London, London Development Agency, Vue Cinemas, Film London and UKFC Lottery.
WEST END SPECTACULAR – INCLUDING DRAW TO WIN HOLIDAY TO CHINA
For the first time ever Oxford Circus comes alive with a glow of exotic Chinese lanterns from 26 January until end of February. Shop, wine and dine in London’s West End and you could be on your way to China. Simply pick up a postcard in many stores along Bond Street, Oxford Street or Regent Street for your chance to enter a FREE prize draw to WIN a once in a lifetime Thomas Cook Signature family holiday to China staying in a Shangri-La Hotel. Either post or go online to enter www.newwestend.com.
DANCE TROUPE FROM BEIJING – The following West End stores welcome the Gold Sail Dance Group a fantastic 35 strong student dance troupe from Beijing as part of London’s Chinese New Year celebrations:
Monday 30 January. FREE
4pm – Debenhams, 334-348, Oxford Street, W1C 1JG. www.debenhams.com.
5pm – Austin Reed, 103 – 113 Regent Street, W1B 4HL. www.austinreed.co.uk.
6pm – Trocadero, 1 Piccadilly Circus, W1D 7DH www.troc.co.uk
BEIJING OLYMPICS PHOTOGRAPHY EXHIBITION
27 January – 28 February AT City Hall, The Queen’s Walk, SE1 2AA
www.london.gov.uk / 020 7983 4100
An exhibition of photographs arranged in association with the Beijing Olympics Organising Committee and assisted by CTS Horizons. The exhibition include images depicting the Beijing Olympic bid, preparations for the Games, the Torch Relay in Beijing, public celebrations, Olympic athletes, Beijing Olympic imagery, the venues and infrastructure. The exhibition not only conveys the spirit and universal themes of the Olympics and the enormous sense of pride experienced in Beijing as a result of the city’s successful bid, but also highlights the growing links with Beijing as London itself prepares to host the games in 2012.
Public information – including in Chinese: www.visitlondon.com/chinainlondon. The public can also call the Greater London Authority on 020 7983 4100 during office hours.
