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Celine Dion was invited to perform in Beijing China at the 2013 Spring Festival Gala that rang in the first day of Lunar New Year, the Year of The Snake, on Feb 10, 2013.

The extravagant variety show featuring dozens of domestic celebrities is a traditional annual TV show broadcast by the state network CCTV (China Central Television) all across the country to help celebrate the Chinese New Year.

The Spring Festival Gala 2013 was also re-transmitted to an oversea audience all around the world including Canada here.

Celine Dion sang in Mandarin a duet 茉莉花 (Jasmine Flower) with China songstress Song Zuying 宋祖英. Then Dion sang solo her signature ‘Titanic’ movie theme song ‘My Heart Will Go On.’

According to a Xinhua Net report, this is the first time an A-list singer from the West like Celine Dion was being invited to perform at one of the most-watched television shows of the year in China, the Spring Festival Gala.

Celine’s Mandarin was certainly good enough. Her harmony with Song was exquisite. While Ms Song exhibited a more refined discipline, Ms. Dion’s free-flowing style provided a perfect counter-balance. To this viewer, it is like watching two superb artists applying vastly different brush-strokes on the same canvas that somehow mesh very well together.

VIDEO –China Spring Festival Gala in Beijing (Xinhua Net)

Beijing China

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The Vancouver Cantonese Opera troupe 燕鳳鳴粵劇團 featuring an almost all-female cast performed a number of Peking Opera acts at the Ron Basford Park in Granville Island on July 08, 2012 as part of the All Over the Map, a series of music and dance performances from around the world as presented by New Works of Vancouver BC.

Dream of The Red Chamber 红楼梦 is one of the most famous Chinese novels written by Cao Xueqin 曹雪芹 that saw its first printed publication in 1791. The sad scene depicted in the video is the Flower Burial Swan Song 葬花吟.

VIDEO – Flower Burial in Red Chamber Dream 红楼梦葬花吟


The Drunken Beauty or Guifei Intoxicated贵妃醉酒 is a famous Peking Opera that tells the story of Yang who throws a banquet for Emperor Xuanzong only to discover that he has gone off to another concubine. Greatly disappointed, Yang gets drunk herself instead.

VIDEO – Imperial Consort Yang Intoxicated 贵妃醉酒


According to legend, Imperial Consort Yang Guifei 杨贵妃 born almost 1400 years ago was one of China’s most beautiful women and was the beloved concubine of Emperor Xuanzong 唐玄宗 of the Great Tang Dynasty. Yang was strangled to death at the age of 37 at the order of Xuanzong as the people demanded her death for being suspected of associated with a rebellion that Yang’s cousin was involved in at the time.

The Drunken Beauty was also one of the most favorite acts of Mei Lan Fong 梅兰芳, China’s greatest opera performer.

Mei, a man, was much appreciated for playing female roles in his time. He also single-handedly brought the art of Beijing Opera to the world stage.

In the 1930s, Mei Lan Fong toured Europe and America and was befriended by many Hollywood greats including Charlie Chaplin, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. German playwright Bertold Brecht was so taken by Mei’s work that Brecht later incorporated some of Beijing Opera’s techniques into his own work.

Traditionally, the Beijing Opera was an all-men troupe with male actors taking on cross-dressing female roles. Only boys were allowed entry to the academy and tutored under a very strict training system to become opera performers. But time has certainly changed. Since at least the 1960s, during the Cultural Revolution, different female roles of the Beijing Opera were routinely performed by female actors in many highly-charged political plays.

Interestingly, the Vancouver Cantonese Opera, a non-profit organization established in 2000, remains an overwhelmingly all-female troupe today.

Ron Basford Park, Granville Island, Vancouver BC

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The 33rd Can-Am International Championships was held from July 06-08, 2012. New this year are the 1st Annual International Wushu Festival and the Canada International Health QiGong Championships. On July 06, an elaborate opening ceremony was followed by a variety of kungfu demonstrations.

In the next two days, martial arts practitioners occupied the UBC War Memorial Gym in Vancouver, BC, Canada and competed against each other for championships in different categories including Kung-Fu, Wushu, Karate, Jiu-Jitsu, Tai-Chi, Hapkido, Push-Hands etc. with or without weapons.

The event was organized and promoted by Kung-Fu Master Ken Low and attended by Liu Fei, China Conusl General of Vancouver, Canada. Other dignitaries included a number of BC MLA such as Richard T. Lee, John Yap and other politicians.

VIDEO – 1st Canada International Wushu Festival Opening Ceremonies

VIDEO – Weapons Demonstration

VIDEO – TaiChi, QiGong, KungFu Demonstration

UBC War Memorial Gym

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The Miss World Canada 2012 Gala Celebration included talent performances by contestants/delegates. Courtney Woodford from Triton, Newfoundland and Labrador sang an opera aria. Adding to the multicultural flavor of the evening, Poonam Punni and Nisheeth Proshanti danced to South Asian songs and music for some Bollywood-style entertainment. The night’s activities took place on May 13, 2012 at the River Rock Show Theatre in Richmond BC near Vancouver.

For the “Beauty with a Purpose” pageant (meant to emphasize both inner and outer beauty), Tara Teng of Langley BC was crowned the winner and will represent Canada to compete in Ordos, Inner Mongolia, China for the Miss World 2012 title on August 18, 2012. Miss World Canada 2012 helped raise funds for Variety-The Children’s Charity.

VIDEO – Courtney Woodford opera singing


VIDEO – Poonam Punni and Nisheeth Proshanti South Asian act


River Rock Show Theatre – 8811 River Road, Richmond, BC

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The crowning of Tara Teng as Miss World Canada 2012, 1st Runner-up Lisa Deane and 2nd Runner-up Tanya Halata took place in Vancouver on May 13, 2012 at the River Rock Show Theatre in Richmond BC.

The “Beauty With a Purpose” beauty contest helps raise funds for Variety-The Children’s Charity. Tara Teng became the next ambassador representing Canada to compete in the Miss World Pageant in Ordos, China (Inner Mongolia) later this year.

Miss World® Canada helps raise funds for Variety-The Children’s Charity. So far, the organization has raised more than $500 million globally. Beyond philanthropy, the pageant also aims to inspire women and enrich those contestants who participated for a lifelong career of giving, helping the less fortunate especially children with special needs and enabling them to build a better future.

The winner of Miss World Canada receives an all-expense paid trip to Ordos in China to compete in the Miss World® pageant, as well as scholarships, prizes, and leadership opportunities. This year’s pageant falls right on Mother’s Day and is therefore dedicated to the occasion.

VIDEO – Tara Teng Crowned Miss World Canada 2012

River Rock Show Theatre – 8811 River Road, Richmond, BC

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VIDEO – [SONGS] 2012 Cultures of China, Festival of Spring


VIDEO – [DANCES] http://vancouver21.com/?p=3045

The “Cultures of China, Festival of Spring” 文化中国，四海同春is sponsored by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (OCAO) of China’s State Council and the China Overseas Exchanges Association (COEA), presents art performances overseas during the Chinese Lunar New Year, bringing the spirit of unity, harmony and peace to wherever it travels. The North American tour included six cities – Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, New York, Montreal and last stop Vancouver, Canada on Feb 16, 2012.

2012 is the Year of the Dragon and this year’s performances included folk songs, classical dances, acrobatics, magic and Peking Opera.

Seven groups of performers journeyed through 18 countries and regions, bringing 46 memorable shows to audiences in 36 cities. “Cultures of China, Festival of Spring” acts as a bridge that connects Chinese people from all over the world with art and culture and unites them together with the rhythm of the homeland.

The Vogue Theatre 918 Granville Street, Vancouver BC

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The “Cultures of China, Festival of Spring” 文化中国，四海同春is sponsored by the Overseas Chinese Affairs Office (OCAO) of China’s State Council and the China Overseas Exchanges Association (COEA), presents art performances overseas during the Chinese Lunar New Year, bringing the spirit of unity, harmony and peace to wherever it travels. The North American tour included six cities – Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, New York, Montreal and last stop Vancouver, Canada on Feb 16, 2012.

2012 is the Year of the Dragon and this year’s performances included folk songs, classical dances, acrobatics, magic and Peking Opera.

Seven groups of performers journeyed through 18 countries and regions, bringing 46 memorable shows to audiences in 36 cities. “Cultures of China, Festival of Spring” acts as a bridge that connects Chinese people from all over the world with art and culture and unites them together with the rhythm of the homeland.

VIDEO – 2012 Cultures of China, Festival of Spring DANCES


The Vogue Theatre 918 Granville Street, Vancouver BC

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The Vancouver Spring Show 2012 温哥华春节欢乐晚 that took place on Jan 15, 2012 had the format of a variety show that featured a multicultural cast of singers, dancers and other performers. 2012 is the Year of The Dragon in the Chinese lunar calendar and this is the 2nd annual Vancouver Spring Show. The evening’s program was held at The Centre (777 Homer Street, Vancouver BC) and the night’s event was recorded in high-definition 3D-HD for later broadcast and DVD circulation. The event was meant to promote the exchange of Chinese culture with other Canadian multicultural societies and to develop and present high level performing cultural arts from different cultures and communities to the public.

The main organizer was CCLP International Cultural & Arts Exchange Center with support from The Consulate General of the People’s Republic of China in Vancouver. The Rt. Hon. Stephen Harper, Prime Minister of Canada, Steven Point, OBC, Lieutenant Governor of BC, Christy Clark, Premier of BC, Jason Kenney, federal Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, James Moore, federal Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, Ed Fast, federal Minister of International Trade & Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway, Alice Wong, MP, Minister of State (Seniors), Wai Young, MP, Vancouver South, Richard Lee, MLA, Parliamentary Secretary for Asia-Pacific, John Yap, MLA for Richmond-Steveston, Jenny Kwan, MLA, Gregor Robertson, Vancouver Mayor, Malcolm Brodie, Richmond Mayor, Derek Corrigan, Burnaby Mayor and many others were either present or sent in their letter of congratulations.

The night’s event was hosted by OMNI-TV news hosts Carol Wang and Lisa Wu, together with a number of others such as Kam Razavi (who speaks very good Mandarin), Hui Chen, Harry Lee and Frank Zhang.

Performers included Harry Yang, Jessica Liu, Beijing Little Peacock School of Dance, Nicole Li, Angel Huang Dance Co., Cecilia & Kevin Music Studio, Coast City Ballet, Shou-Yu Liang Wushu Taiji Qigong Institute, Cheondoong Performing Arts Society, De Danaan Irish, Shiamak Davar, Polonez, Sheila Christie, Zhi Liao, Yvonne He, QiaoYun Geng and others.

[Photo credits: Ray Van Eng - V21 Media | www.vancouver21.com ]






















































The Centre, 777 Homer Street, Vancouver BC

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One of the thorniest issues between China and Japan is the Nanking Massacre南京大屠杀that happened in 1937 during the Japanese invasion of China. The matter has never been properly addressed or settled and relationship between the two countries has been strained at best for more than 70 years.

Nanking (or pinyin: Nanjing) was the capital of China during the Second World War. It is estimated that about 300,000 civilians who lived there in late 1937 and early 1938 were brutally murdered by Japanese soldiers in that city alone. Elsewhere in China, there were also countless other victims (civilians and foreign and Chinese prisoners of war) that were slaughtered and or grossly mistreated by the Japanese troupes.

The Nanking Massacre, also known as The Rape of Nanking, remains one of the most horrific military acts of war against a civilian population during World War Two. Beyond the murders and looting, there were also tens of thousands of women and girls as young as 12 years old being dragged away from their homes and forced to be ‘Comfort Women’ to service the Japanese Army.

Up to this day, China feels that Japan has not publicly admitted any wrongdoings nor offered any genuine apology. For China, there is no closure. And in 2000, Japan published New History Textbook that were perceived by most scholars both inside and outside of Japan as an attempt by the Japanese right-wing conservative groups to whitewash or rewrite history of the Japanese wartime atrocities. The revisionist textbooks, although only used by a very small minority (less than 1%) of Japanese junior high schools, further aggravated the Chinese government.

Enters China’s most famous director Zhang Yimou 张艺谋 and his newly crafted movie, The Flowers of War 金陵十三钗.

VIDEO – The Flowers of War Trailer


The movie was based on The 13 Women of Nanjing by Shanghai writer Geling Yan严歌苓. The novel is about 13 prostitutes replacing a group of young girls who are hiding inside a church to avoid being captured and sent away to be sexual slaves.

Zhang Yimou’s new movie maybe one of the ways the Beijing government could use to force the Japanese to face up to the wartime atrocities that Japan has committed during the occupation of Nanjing.

Sure, many movies about The Nanking Massacre has been made before. In the last five years alone there have been Nanking (2007), The Truth about Nanjing (2007), City of Life and Death (2009), John Rabe (2009) etc. But this time it is being directed by China’s most internationally acclaimed filmmaker in the most expensive movie that the country has ever produced (with a budget of almost US$100Million). The WWII epic starring Christian Bale, one of the biggest Hollywood stars will compete for recognition in many of the biggest international film awards such as the Golden Globes and The Oscars.

Christian Bale was referred to Zhang Yimou by Steven Spielberg to star in The Flowers of War. Bale played a young boy in Spielberg’s 1987 Empire of The Sun, a movie set in the 1940s in Shanghai during the Japanese invasion of China.

In The Flowers of War, Christian Bale plays a similar real-life role as John Rabe, a Siemens businessman and Nazi sympathizer who witnessed the Nanking Massacre in 1937. Rabe actually wrote German dictator Adolph Hitler and asked the Führer to intervene with the Japanese to stop the horrific raping and killing that went on. With American missionaries such as Minnie Vautrin, John Magee and others, John Rabe helped save some 250,000 Chinese lives by establishing an international safety zone in Nanking. Rabe even opened up his own resident to shelter another few hundreds more. When the Japanese troupes wanted to enter Rabe’s premises, they were stopped at the door when the German engineer showed them his Nazi membership credentials. As a result of his actions, John Rabe was being dubbed as The Good Nazi of Nanking.

However, after the war, John Rabe became impoverished and lived in destitute. For years, the citizens of Nanking and the mayor sent food to support Rabe and his family even after his death in 1950. In 1997, China honored John Rabe as a national hero and moved his tombstone from Berlin to Nanjing.

The Flowers of War has a limited North America run initially. The movie opens in the U.S. on Dec. 21 in New York and Dec 23 in Los Angeles and San Francisco, enough to qualify for competition as The Best Foreign Language Film in the 84th Academy Awards (The Oscars) on Feb 26, 2012.

Photo: John Rabe’s former home in Nanjing during the war. [Credit: Wikipedia CC2.0]
Nanjing, China

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At the Closing Ceremony of the 2011 Hangzhou Fashion Week 天堂丝绸武林衣秀 杭州时装周闭幕 on Sep 23, 2011, the World Music Fashion Fest (WMFF) models and designers made an appearance on stage to say farewell to the Chinese audience. First up were model and designer Jen Walls and Kyuin Chae. Then Katryna Lonsdale and Fala Chien, Charlotte Lind-Petersen and Arid Chappell, Anna Robinson and Evan Biddell, Alana Douglas and Paul Hardy, Chinese model and Alia Juma and other Chinese models and designers. The event was broadcast on live TV in the Hangzhou, China area.

Other 2011 WMFF models also present were Jenn Kroeker, Stephanie Hood, Stacey McKenzie, Nadege Lauren, Meredith Anne-Harper, Pacifica Grace Chen, Leah Vairo, Stacey Armstrong, Ashley Hynes, Lu Gina, Star Martin and Adrianna Edwards.

WMFF 2011 Models & Designers Bid Farewell to China

Hangzhou, China

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