China-Israel Cultural and Trade Promotion Activities Attract Israelis

A series of China-Israel cultural and trade promotion activities were launched on January 8 at the China Cultural Center in Tel Aviv， attracting scores of Israelis.

The three-day activities included a China-Israel cultural innovation program roadshow，“China Style” cultural and creative product exhibition as well as “This Moment in Pudong”photography exhibition to commemorate the 40th anniversary of Chinas reform and openingup. “The Jewish Refugees and Shanghai” exhibition and “Oriental Rhythms” Yueju Opera class are also two important parts of these activities. Chinas national intangible cultural heritage， pottery and porcelain， silk， embroidery， and tea ceremony were also staged.

The activities will further enhance the two countries practical cooperation， said Ren Yibiao， president of the National Base for International Cultural Trade（Shanghai）.

Through cultural exchanges， Israelis will have a better understanding of a changing China， Ren added.

As the relations between Israel and China are getting stronger， the degree of cultural exchange is also increasing， said Gal Furer， vice chairman of Israel-China Friendship Society， adding that he is glad to see an increasing number of Chinese cultural products to be accessible to Israelis.

New York Museum Launches EightWeek Chinese New Year Celebration

The Museum of Chinese in America （MOCA） in New York has launched an eight-week lunar New Year celebration to welcome the Year of the Pig on the Chinese calendar， aiming to foster a genuine and deeper understanding of this famed festival.

Named MOCA FEST 2019， the festivities running from January 6 through March 2 will include the opening of MOCAs new shop in partnership with the Big Apples iconic Chinese goods store Pearl River Mart， a variety of lunar New Yearthemed programs， and cultural activities.

“It is a time-honored tradition that involves offering new， meaningful ways every year for visitors to deepen their appreciation of the lunar New Year beyond the stereotypes and clichés， and understand how the holiday has contributed to history and culture in America，”said Nancy Yao Maasbach， president of MOCA.

The grand opening of the MOCA shop by Pearl River Mart， one of the celebrations highlights， is scheduled to take place on the first day of the lunar New Year.

Interwoven throughout MOCA FEST 2019 are a series of curated talks related to the lunar New Year and a special lion dance activity “Lucky Lions” which showcases the history and craftsmanship behind traditional Chinese lion heads.

China Compiles Dictionary to Save an Ethnic Culture

Southwest Chinas Yunnan Province published a dictionary on January 1 to preserve the culture of the Lahu ethnic group with a population of 486，000.

“Dictionaries on Chinese Ethnic Minorities – Lahu Volumes”collect social， geographical， historical， philosophical， and religious texts and files of the Lahu.

Boasting a long history and excellent traditional culture， the Lahu ethnic group doesnt have its own written language. Literature documents about the Lahu are also scarce.

“The premiere of the dictionary can be seen as a major landmark in saving and inheriting the culture of Lahu，” said Liu Jinrong， a professor at Yunnan Minzu University， and chief editor of the two volumes on Lahu.

The Lahu people mainly live in the cities of Puer and Lincang and Xishuangbanna Dai Autonomous Prefecture， according to the sixth national census in 2010.

After the founding of the Peoples Republic of China， the living conditions of the Lahu people have been greatly improved， with government support regarding housing and infrastructure， including roads and telecommunication， said Liu.

The “Dictionaries on Chinese Ethnic Minorities，” launched in 1992， is a national project to protect the cultures of all 55 ethnic minorities in the country.

Activity

The National Dance Company of Ireland Rhythm of the Dance

Dates： February 6-10， 2019

Venue： National Center for the Performing Arts

Price： RMB 180， 280， 380， 600， 700， 1080

Rhythm of the Dance continues the Lord of the Dance and Riverdance legacies with a performance that combines Irish step dancing with toetapping live music and a smattering of Latin rhythms. The show is an inspiring epic， reliving the journey of the Irish Celts throughout history. Using modern art forms of dance and music， this richly costumed show marries the contemporary and the ancient.

NCPA Drama King Lear

Dates： January 26-February 2， 2019

Venue： National Center for the Performing Arts

Price： RMB 200， 320， 480， 880

King Lear is NCPAs third production of a Shakespearean play， after A Midsummer Nights Dream and Hamlet， this time in cooperation with Mr. Li Liuyis Drama Theater studio in Beijing. As a tribute to the master playwright， the National Center for the Performing Arts （NCPA） has extended a special invitation to the script supervisor of the Royal Shakespeare Company to coach the actors， and selected Mr. Yang Shipengs rendering as the rehearsal script.