China Radio International
theMessenger
www.crienglish.com
CHINA-ASEAN
COOPERATION TOUR
On the Road: Southeast Asia
Discover a Real Xian
Summer Special
Vol.18 No.3
May - Jun., 2007
China Radio International
theMessenger
www.crienglish.com
Vol.18 No.3
May - Jun., 2007
CONTENTS
FEATURE: CHINA-ASEAN COOPERATION TOUR
CHINA-ASEAN
COOPERATION TOUR
50 days, over 30 cities, 10 countries...
First-hand stories of a fascinating journey.
On the Road: Southeast Asia
Discover a Real Xian
Summer Special
Growing Up in China (I)
4
12
FEATURED SNAPSHOTS
Editor's
Message
I
n May 1990, CRI's English
Service started the bimonthly
four-color newsletter "The
Messenger" with an eye on
strengthening ties with listeners.
The publication was delivered to
overseas listeners and to foreigners
in China who work at embassies
or consulates, foreign-owned and
joint-venture companies, as well as
students, teachers, journalists and
tourists, or those who request it.
It brought them information about
Radio Beijing's (the former name
of CRI) activities and future plans.
Since then, "The Messenger"
has evolved into fresher looks
to
reflect
CRI's
tremendous
modernization and changes over the
years. The annual NPC and CPPCC
sessions have also provided us with
new opportunities to explore the
breathtaking transformations China
has undergone in recent years.
All of the staff working on
"The Messenger" will continue to
strive for excellence because we
believe that is what you deserve. Wehope you will continue to share our
adventure as we journey down new
and exciting paths.
On the Road through Southeast Asia
17
CRI NEWS BRIEFS
"China-Russia Friendship Tour - China Tour" Starts
18
SUMMER SPECIAL
Alaska, Alaska!
19
BEHIND THE SCENES
Small Role, Big Stage
— Yajie's Speech on CRI's "Why I Love My Job" Speech Competition
21
Discover a Real Xian
22
FROM OUR LISTENERS
Mailbag
27
Learn Chinese Now
29
Contemporary Cultural Venation - China Version
30
Lu Xun Blossoms in Beijing
31
Peony to Blossom at the Imperial Granary
32
Broadcast Times and Frequencies for English Language Service
34
A Visit to the Ho Chi Minh Vestige Museum
5
A Chinese Family Restaurant in Kuala Lumpur
6
The Great Tonle Sap Lake
7
A Chinese Language Radio Station in Brunei
8
The Reporters
9
A Balcony with a View
11
Hoi An: A Place Which Will Never Change
11
theMessenger
China-ASEAN Cooperation Tour
China-ASEAN From April 2007 to June 2007
COOPERATION TOUR
Joint Radio and TV Media Coverage Activity
Sponsors:
China Radio International
Radio, Film and Television Administration of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region
Phoenix Satellite Television Holdings Ltd.
Guangxi People's Radio Station
Guangxi Television
A
s close neighbors linked by
mountains and seas, China and
ASEAN have a long history of
exchanges and deep traditional
friendship.
The leaders of China and 10
ASEAN member countries signed the Joint
Statement of China-ASEAN Commemorative
Summit on October 30th, 2006 in Nanning,
Guangxi.
The statement says that the strategic
partnership for peace and prosperity between
China and ASEAN has not only vigorously
boosted their own development and brought
tangible benefits to their peoples, but also
contributed significantly to peace, stability
and prosperity in the region and the world at
large.
With the approval of the State
Administration of Radio, Film and Television
and China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, China
Radio International, Guangxi Administration
of Radio Film and Television, Phoenix
Satellite Television, Guangxi People's Radio
Station and Guangxi Television have together
www.crienglish.com
formed a delegation to embark on ChinaASEAN Cooperation Tour, a joint radio
and TV media coverage activity. The largescale cross-border media campaign aims to
facilitate the establishment of China-ASEAN
Free Trade Area, explore the potential for
economic cooperation in the pan-Beibu Bay
area, and give an impetus to the formation
of a new pattern on regional economic
cooperation.
The media delegation, which consists
of more than 40 people including radio and
TV journalists and members of the secretariat
of China and ASEAN Expo, departed
from Guangxi's Pingxiang Friendship Pass
on April 24. During the 50-day tour, the
delegation traveled through the Zhongnan
Peninsula, flied over the pan-Beibu Bay area,
and visited more than 30 cities in 10 ASEAN
member countries. The 20,000-kilometerlong journey made it possible for reporters
to interview high-level government officials,
entrepreneurs, celebrated public figures and
ordinary people.
The radio and TV audience in China,
ASEAN member countries and other regions
of the world got media reports that cover the
cooperation between China and ASEAN in
a variety of fields including economic and
cultural fields, development experiences
and prospects for further growth, and the
construction progress of the China-ASEAN
Free Trade Area. The trip helped to increase
understanding and friendship between the
peoples of China and ASEAN member
countries, and also facilitate the friendly
cooperation among the radio and TV media
of China and ASEAN member countries.
As collaborative partners of the media
tour, mainstream radio and TV organizations
in ASEAN member countries also participated
in the media coverage inside their respective
borders.
About
Michael Lee
A guy who never misses 3 things:
good interview opportunity, good food,
and chance to tell wonderful stories.
For more stories on ChinaASEAN Cooperation Tour, please log
on our online feature at http://english.cri.
cn/3126/2007/04/22/Zt1042@219057.
htm.
China-ASEAN Cooperation Tour
H
o Chi Minh is the
founding father of
Vietnam. Many
Vietnamese people
go to his birthplace
- Kim Lien village
to give homage to this great
revolutionary of Vietnamese
history.
If you come to the
city of Vinh, you should
not miss the Ho Chi Minh
Vestige Museum. The
vestige museum is located
in Kim Lien village, about
20 kilometres from Vinh.
Inside a small hut
where Ho Chi Minh used
to live when he was a child,
the tour guide is introducing
his childhood, many tourists
are flocking in to listen.
Ho Chi Minh was
born on May 19, 1890. He
was the third child in the
family.
As the founding
father of Vietnam, Ho Chi
Minh's life had a great
influence on the Vietnamese
nation. Vietnamese people
still love him very much.
One tourist tells me that he
theMessenger
Picture taken in the Memorial Hall of Ho Chi Minh Vestige Museum.
[Photo by Michael Lee]
A Visit to the
Ho Chi Minh
By Michael Lee
Vestige Museum
CRI Correspondent Michael Lee,
interviewing a Ho Chi Minh Vestige
Museum tour guide.
[Photo provided by Michael Lee]
This police officer is younger than
me. He looks pretty cute in his uniform.
[Photo provided by Michael Lee]
has travelled a long way to
come here today and pay
homage to the great man.
"I
travelled
30
kilometres to get here, and
it's my 10th time coming
here. Many people like
me respect him. I think I'll
bring my children here in
the future."
Another tourist says
Ho Chi Minh's dedication
to
Sino-Vietnamese
friendship was an important
part of his life.
"Chairman Ho Chi
Minh did a lot to promote
the friendship between
China, Vietnam and the
former Soviet Union.
What he did will not be
forgotten."
The curator of Ho
Chi Minh Vestige Museum,
Nguyen Ba Hoe, says that
patriotic tourism is very
popular these days. Many
schools use the Ho Chi
Minh Vestige Museum
as a base for patriotic
studies. Last year, about
1.5 million people visited
the museum.
Nguyen Ba Hoe
also tells us that they
are planning to exhibit
reminders of Ho Chi Minh's
experiences in China.
"We
are
now
studying Ho Chi Minh's
experiences in China. We
hope to exhibit something
which can demonstrate his
friendship with Chairman
Mao Zedong and Premier
Zhou Enlai."
www.crienglish.com
theMessenger
O
pening up a restaurant is
the type of work that
many overseas Chinese
consider when they move
abroad. Is it easy? What
is their life like?
With restaurant meals I
always consider two factors: is the
food tasty, and can I stay within
budget. Three colleagues and I
chose a "Dong Bei" or north-east
Chinese cuisine restaurant to try. It
transpired that we had made a very
good decision.
The owner of the restaurant,
You Huancheng, is an easygoing man. His wife and his only
daughter Ting Ting help him run the
restaurant. They moved to Kuala
Lumpur in 2000. You Huancheng
says, the first four years were really
hard.
"Of course there were a whole
bunch of problems. Language is a
big one. The local official in charge
of food safety and sanitation came
and fined us many times. But it
was really a misunderstanding. If
we could speak the language we
could have explained it to them,
then it wouldn't have been such a
problem."
But You Huancheng adds that
Malaysian government agencies
are friendly and flexible. Later on
a friend helped him explain their
Ting Ting sees me off.
China-ASEAN Cooperation Tour
A Chinese Family
Restaurant
in Kuala Lumpur
By Michael Lee
The appearance of the Dong Bei Restaurant.
[Photo by Michael Lee]
[Photo by Michael Lee]
situation to the official, and such problems
never occurred again. He also says not like
in China, the Malaysian government provides
"one-stop service" for businessman like
himself. He pays all his fees and taxes once a
www.crienglish.com
"I like the dumpling here.
They're big and full of filling. I
come here nearly 2 to 3 times a
week. Each time it takes me half
an hour to drive here. The family
is friendly and they don't charge a
service fee or additional tax. This
is a wonderful restaurant."
You Huancheng is satisfied
with the current status of his
restaurant. Of course, he says,
not every restaurant is successful.
Talking about experiences, he
says:
Making dumplings. It makes me feel homesick. My
"We have never changed
mom cooks very good dumplings too.
[Photo by Michael Lee]
our style. In the beginning, nobody
knew about 'Dong Bei' food,
because most of the people here are either
year, to one department, and doesn't need to
from southern China, Malay or India. They
go to other departments over and over.
have no idea. I think my food should be of a
While we were talking, a few customers
typical 'Dong Bei' flavour, so I didn't change
were eating next to us. They are Chinese, and
anything. Gradually they started to like the
are regular customers of the restaurant.
China-ASEAN Cooperation Tour
food and my restaurant."
While we are talking, his wife, daughter
and a chef are making dumplings.
Ting Ting tells me, they prefer hiring
Chinese staffs rather than locals.
"Though we may spend more money
and time on their visa, it's worth it. They can
introduce our food culture to the customers."
Ting Ting still keeps in touch with her
classmates via internet. She goes back to
north-east China once a year. But she and her
parents says that they've already got used to
the local climate. Going back to the freezing
cold of northern China at Spring Festival is a
big challenge for them.
Ting Ting got her first job as an
accountant, but not in her parents' restaurant.
"In the beginning, I worked for a
Chinese company. But later, my parents'
business becomes so successful that I decide
U
By Michael Lee
sually when talking
about Cambodia,
Angkor Wat will
naturally come to
your mind. But do
you know which is the
largest freshwater lake in
South-East Asia? It's Tonle
Sap Lake in Cambodia.
I've never imagined
that a boat could sail in
water less than one meter
deep. It looks like the boat
is sailing in the mud. But
it is true. It's still the dry
season here.
theMessenger
to quit and help them. I am the only child in
my family. They need my help, and I love
them."
When we finished the meal, it was
already 11 pm. You Huancheng and his
family were still preparing food for the next
day. Ting Ting saw us off at the gate. She
asked me if I could send the pictures to her. I
told her, she could see them on the website.
of being surrounded by
enthusiastic local vendors is
high. Tonle Sap Lake is no
exception. There is a small
dock on the lake, where
some local people are selling
souvenirs. What about the
price? I guess a 20 US dollar
paper fan wouldn't surprise
you!
A girl selling fruit was
intrigued by my recording
equipment. I encouraged her
to sing a song, she took me
up on the offer.
There is a strong
relationship between the
The Great Tonle Sap Lake
Tonle Sap Lake.
[Photo by Michael Lee]
Cambodia's
Tonle
people and the natural
Sap Lake, located in Siem
resources of Tonle Sap Lake.
Reap Province, is the
It supplies the basis of life
largest lake in South-East
for the local people.
Asia. It's one of the world's
Ke Jin Liang says
most unique geographical
there is a fishing ban of Tonle
wonders. The lake offers
Sap Lake from December to
visitors an insight into the
May. However, despite this
centuries-old traditions of
effort, the number of fish
riparian life and the natural
in the lake has still been
splendour of the country.
dramatically reduced.
In the rainy season,
"Over-fishing
has
Tonle Sap Lake can be
already caused some fish
as large as 10,000 square
species to become extinct
kilometres, but in the dry
in the lake. Compared to
season, the lake may shrink
the 1980s, the number of
to no more than 3,000
fish caught in the lake has
square kilometres.
dropped by 70 percent."
Michael Lee is interviewing river vendors, a group of Cambodian children. [Photo
provided by Michael Lee]
Our tour guide Ke Jin
It started to rain when
Liang explains that because
we were leaving. The rainy
water level. Most of the families move 7 to
there is a big water level difference between
season will soon come, and Tonle Sap Lake
8 times a year. It's very easy to move their
the dry and the rainy season, most of the
will going experience another round of
hut and all their belongings. It takes only 2
2,600 people residing beside the lake have to
flooding and renewal. The circle of life will
people to do it."
move with the changing seasons.
carry on.
At any tourism site, the possibility
"People move with the change of the
www.crienglish.com
theMessenger
F
China-ASEAN Cooperation Tour
M 95.9 / 96.9 is the official Chinese
FM radio service in Brunei's capital
city of Bandar Seri Begawan. Brunei
has a population of over 300,000, and
about 50,000 of those are overseas
Chinese.
Huang Meiting, the producer of the
channel, says that besides music, the channel
broadcasts mainly in Chinese and English,
and that the channel is also dedicated to
building a bridge between China and local
audiences.
"Actually, every weekend, we have
feature programs introducing the landscape,
customs, culture and peoples of China. We
hope to boost cultural exchange between
the two countries by introducing more
information about China."
FM 95.9 / 96.9 is just one of the many
radio and TV channels owned by Radio and
TV Brunei or RTB. It is the state broadcaster
of Brunei. RTB has a history of over 50
years and has diversified programs specially
targeted at youngsters, families and religious
worshippers. But since June 1, the country's
royal family wedding has become the core of
all media coverage.
In the street, big banners with pictures
of the royal bride and bridegroom can be seen
everywhere. Huang Meiting explains that the
royal wedding ceremony has many traditions
to follow.
"The ceremony lasts from June 1 to
June 14. There are many steps to follow. In
the beginning, there's the match-making,
then the marriage proposal, engagement, etc.
Important rituals include the blessing from
both sets of parents. And finally, on June 10
will be the official wedding ceremony. A big
parade will be held on that day, and the new
couple will show up in the parade too."
Reporting on the wedding has become
RTB's key task. A very detailed timetable
of proceedings hangs on the walls of many
offices. The Assistant Director of RTB,
Manap Adam says that RTB will provide full
media coverage.
"We really have a grand coverage
scheme. We have a plan from where we can
do all of the important coverage for this royal
wedding. So, even people who cannot come
here have the opportunity to watch it on TV."
RTB staff members all speak English
and Malay at the very least. The multi-cultural
working atmosphere leaves all visitors with
a deep impression. If you are interested
in learning more about this royal family
wedding and RTB, you can log on to RTB's
website: www.rtb.gov.bn to take a look.
www.crienglish.com
A mosque in Brunei's capital, Bandar Seri Begawan.
[Photo by Michael Lee]
A Chinese Langua
Station in Brunei
Advertisement of a Chinese song competition held by RTB.
[Photo by Michael Lee]
China-ASEAN Cooperation Tour
theMessenger
The Reporters
1
age Radio
By Michael Lee
Staffs busy working on preparations of the grand
royal family wedding.
[Photo by Michael Lee]
3
2
4
1. After
driving
500
kilometres, we became like
this. Cambodia.
[Photo by Michael Lee]
2. Bin Bin, my CRI
colleague, who always has
a good appetite!
[Photo by Michael Lee]
3. Eating outdoors, the
convoy takes a break.
Vietnam.
[Photo by Michael Lee]
4. Michael
Lee
is
interviewing a tourist in
Hui An, Vietnam.
[Photo provided by Michael
Lee]
5
5. Leaving Ping Xiang Friendship Pass. The kick-off ceremony.
[Photo by Michael Lee]
6. Michael Lee is interviewing on the
street in Hanoi, Vietnam.
[Photo provided by Michael Lee]
7. Michael Lee is interviewing the local
people in Hui An, Vietnam.
[Photo provided by Michael Lee]
6
7
www.crienglish.com
theMessenger
China-ASEAN Cooperation Tour
8
13 14
9
15 16
8. Malaysian overseas Chinese welcome the
delegation. [Photo by Michael Lee]
9. Smart, logical, workaholic, perfectionist,
the exclusive, Phoenix reporter, Shen Yu!
[Photo by Michael Lee]
10. The chief commander of the convoy.
Without our nine drivers, we couldn't have
made it all these countries, thank you!
[Photo by Michael Lee]
10
11. The camera person of Phoenix TV, Han
Wei. [Photo by Michael Lee]
12. The sunlight is very strong while we are
having lunch. The convoy takes a break in
Vietnam. [Photo by Michael Lee]
11
12
10 www.crienglish.com
17
13. My roommate for the whole trip, Hong Lin,
director of CRI's New Radio.
[Photo by Michael Lee]
14. Michael Lee is trying a local snack. It tastes
soooooooooo good. Hui An, Vietnam.
[Photo provided by Michael Lee]
15. Sandstorm, bumpy road. Cambodia.
[Photo by Michael Lee]
16. There are many days like this, pouring with
rain!
[Photo by Michael Lee]
17. Zhang Zhe, my CRI colleague. He knows
everything, but he is modest. He is also good at
observing people and situations.
[Photo by Michael Lee]
China-ASEAN Cooperation Tour
theMessenger
1. A fisherman passes my balcony. He is in my view,
and I am part of his view, too. [Photo by Michael Lee]
2. Some athletes are exercising in the morning. The
far-off misty outline is downtown, removed from my
peaceful world.
[Photo by Michael Lee]
1
2
By Michael Lee
In Ha Noi, we reside at Thang Loi Hotel, until now I had
never imagined that I may live beside a beautiful lake except in
my dreams. I used to dream that I may spend my holiday in a hut
beside a big lake, better on a rainy day, so I can enjoy the touch
of the wind, while the quietness and the scent of water mixed
with mud and grass keep me company all the time.
When I open the door to my balcony, my dream is right
in front of me. The lake is very big, local people call it "West
Lake", the same name as the one in the eastern Chinese city of
Hangzhou.
On the left-hand side there is a small peninsula with some
cute, petite ethnic buildings. I know I am not in a dream, but this
is my dream.
It rained yesterday evening. The overcast weather makes
me feel calm and relaxed. I can see downtown is about 2
An assembly hall in Hoi An.
Vietnam's "Angkor" - Myson.
kilometres away, on the other side of the lake. A small boat is
meandering in the centre of the lake; the fisherman is standing
on it. So isolated but content, I think I am the fisherman, far away
from the noisy city, enjoying the lightness of being.
I am sitting on the balcony. A tiny spider is creeping along
my laptop display. A few water birds pass by; their chattering
makes me feel the warmth all around me. Lying on my boat, there
is nothing in my mind but simplicity. No words can describe how
much I enjoy the peace at this time.
The smell of rain is getting stronger. In tropical areas like
Vietnam, it's so common.
There are two kinds of eternity in my mind. One is like
the sun: it's there, but you never realize it, because you see it
everyday. The other is like a shooting star, it's short, but you
remember it forever, because it's soooo...soooo...beautiful.
It reminds me of a scene in the
movie "Spirited Away".
It's going to rain. I've never seen
such a scene before. For a man
who loves rainy days, it's so
enjoyable.
By Michael Lee
[Photo by Michael Lee]
The convoy is leaving Danang for Nha Trang. The sun
rises on my left side, at 10 o'clock. On the right side, a remote
mountain is surrounded by floating clouds. That's Vietnam's
"Angkor" - Myson. We are leaving this spot, but the memory
will linger for a long time.
Danang is modern. But what impressed me more was a
small town located 25 kilometres away from Danang, called Hoi
An.
This little town was designated a UNESCO World
Heritage Site in 1999, and is a tourism resort recommended
by American National Geographic. From the 16th to the 18th
century, the city was Vietnam's most important port and trading
post. People from many different countries used to come here,
thus you can see diverse architectural styles in everything that is
very well preserved. However, what I see the most are buildings
with a strong Chinese flavour.
In the streets you can see tourists from varied countries:
Australia, India, China, Japan...
This is indeed a slow-paced small town. I feel very
relaxed. But that impulse suddenly left when I saw an ice-cream
cart. Two and a half yuan for a cup, bargain! I bought 3 cups. It
tasted really good.
Walking in the alleys of Hoi An, you can see lots of
Chinese-style architectural buildings, such as assembly halls,
temples and water wells. The town has a population of 80,000,
and more than 1,000 Chinese live here.
But this is just a glimpse of this cute little town. Sometimes,
I can't help thinking that what you see here is like a traditional
Chinese painting. While you are appreciating this painting, you
are in the painting too.
The convoy is leaving again, heading to the next
destination. What we saw in Hoi An goes frame by frame in my
mind. I think I'll miss this place.
www.crienglish.com
11
theMessenger
Growing Up in China
Left Behind at
Home
C
hina is in the midst of a major shift
toward urbanization. Around 120
million farmers have moved to
the cities to search for work in the
past few decades. But their children
are often left behind in the care of a
single parent, grandparents or other relatives.
This lonely group have become
known as China's "left-behind children".
It's estimated there are around 20 million of
them.
"My parents left home on the Lantern
Festival, 15 days after the Spring Festival.
That day was my birthday."
11-year-old Yuan Shushu studies at the
primary school in Fuqiao Village, a small and
rather remote corner of Southwest Sichuan
Province. Her parents left her to return to
Anhui Province, where they work. The Spring
Festival, or Chinese New Year holiday is the
only time they get to reunite with their kids.
Fuqiao village near Suining is set in a
hilly area covered with crops and small ponds.
But the farmland is too small to provide work
for everyone, so more than one third of the
total population have left their hometown to
make a living in the big cities. Most have left
their children behind.
Yuan Shushu lived with her
grandmother in 2006. Her mother returned
this year, picked her up and settled down. She
says it's good to have her mom back, but her
father still seems very distant.
"Since I was very young I've lived
alone with my mom. My dad has always had
to travel to find work. He went to Shenzhen
and Lhasa to work as an electrician. I'm so
glad I'm with my mom again. When they
weren't with me, I missed them very much."
Government statistics show there are
more than 20 million left-behind children in
China's rural areas.
Now educators and society as a whole
are faced with the problem of how to deal
with them.
Wei Yi is a Suining Municipal
government official in charge of youth work.
12 www.crienglish.com
By Wu Yixiu
He says left-behind children
often
encounter
serious
difficulties.
"Some stay-at-home
children
have
serious
difficulties, like when their
parents fail to send them
money in time. But the most
outstanding problems are
actually psychological ones,
because the families of these
left-behind children are
incomplete. Because of the
absence of any sort of family
education, these children are
more likely to suffer from
psychological problems, like
feeling lonely, insecure and
even ignored. They are also
more likely than ordinary
children to perform poorly
at school, or even commit
crimes. "
At Fuqiao Village
Primary School, almost
more than 60 percent of the
students have one or both of
their parents working away
from home. All the kids seem
to have happy faces, but some
of their lives are harder than
others.
A fifth-grade pupil
called Si Xue hardly ever sees
her mom and dad because
they are migrant workers all
year long.
She's
lived
with
her
grandparents
since
CRI reporter Wu Yixiu (L) interviews a student from Suining
kindergarten. Now she lives
Middle School.
[Photo provided by Wu Yixiu]
at the school dormitory and
goes home every weekend.
housework. My grandparents are getting old.
"When I get home on weekends, I wash
I want to help them."
my clothes, after fetching the water from a
Every month, Si Xue's parents send her
tank with a small bucket. Then I help my
500 yuan to cover her living expenses. That's
grandpa with the farming. My parents always
more than 60 US dollars, quite a lot of money
tell me I should help my grandparents with
for a kid in China's countryside. Si Xue says
Growing Up in China
This is a room with 6
double-decker beds. There is no
furniture aside from these, except
a small table in the middle of the
room. From the different types
and colors of the bed clothes, I
can tell that the children living
here come from a wide range of
family backgrounds. More than
500 children stay in the building.
Over 80 per cent of them have
parents working away from home
for a living.
I'm with Li Tao, deputy
headmaster of the school.
Reporter: How old are the
kids who live here?
Li Tao: They range from
preschool kids, about 5 or 6 years
old, to sixth grade students, who
are 12 years old.
Reporter: How does the
school look after such young
children?
Li Tao: We have two
dormitory masters on duty at
night. They take care of the
children when they work and
rest. At night, they inspect every
room and look after the little kids
who need particular help. It is a
Wu Yixiu (R2) poses with students from Suining
rather tiring job, but they've done
Middle School. [Photo provided by Wu Yixiu]
it excellently.
Li Tao says the school pays particular
she can easily satisfy all her material needs,
attention to left-home children during the
but she misses her mom and dad more and
classes every day.
more every day.
"At the beginning of every term,
"I hope that they can come back and
teachers in each class investigate each child's
not to go out to work any more. When they
family background. The left-behind children
are home it's a real family. It feels warm and
are noted and they will receive special
I experience more love. My little sister is 9
attention. Teachers contact their parents
years old. She always asks me when mom
regularly over the phone and the school
and dad will be back. What can I say? I don't
organizes a range of activities to help them
even know where they stay in Guangzhou. So
feel less lonely."
every time I tell her, mom and dad are coming
Almost every residential community
home soon."
block in Suining contains a house for leftSome migrant workers take their
behind children. I'm walking to the Empty
children to the cities with them. But most
Nest Children's House on the Nanjin Road.
of them find it too expensive to bring their
Set up in 2004 at the Nanjin Road Residential
families. Or job insecurity and housing
Community, the house is China's first centre
conditions at construction sites and factory
for left-behind children.
dormitories make it simply untenable.
The house has become a regular
To address the absence of parental love
hang-out for the left-behind children in the
and care, schools and society at large are
neighborhood. Children go there after school
taking on greater responsibilities in raising
to read books, use the computer, watch videos
left-behind children.
and play sports.
The student dormitory at Fuqiao
Lv Xiaoying is in charge of the dayVillage Primary School accommodates most
to-day running of the Empty Nest Children's
of the left-behind children in the village. It
House.
serves as one big family.
theMessenger
She says the left-behind children have
a lot of fun at the house.
"We organize club activities every
weekend and during school holidays. We
encourage local residents to spend the Spring
Festival with migrant workers' children.
They can act like parents by playing with
these children, spending time with them and
inviting them to family celebrations. That's
one way to build family bonds."
Liu Ni is a second grade student at
Suining Middle school.
Her mom and dad work as construction
worker and laundry woman in Chengdu. She
used to live with her parents, but her parents'
jobs changed so much she had to change her
primary school twice.
Now she lives at the dormitory in the
high school. She goes to the Empty Nest
Children's House to relax on weekends.
"I come here every week. I read or
play chess with my friends. Sometimes we
play games together. I think I need more
communication with parents, teachers and
friends now. I think life is okay compared
to the unstable life I had in Chengdu, but I
always wish my parents could come back and
be by my side, so I could be like other kids
with a normal family life. I hope next time
they make enough money, they will settle
down and stop moving around."
Liu Ning faces a mixture of bitterness
and happiness as a left-behind child, but she's
very certain about one thing. She believes she
has to study as hard as she can, so she would
pursue a better life and live up to her parent's
expectations.
"Dad and Mom always tell me that as
long as I pass the university entrance exams,
they will do whatever they can to pay my
tuition fees and support me. But if I fail in
my studies, they won't give me any financial
support when I grow up. I also feel like I
should study very hard. I want to be a teacher
in the future."
Growing up without parents is hard
for anyone. But a huge group of children are
getting through their lonely childhoods with
the help and support of a number of people
from all walks of life.
As more and more people work to
help the children who are left-behind, we
hope they experience a lot less frustration
as they grow up, as well as more happiness
and laughter. Every kid deserves to have a
beautiful childhood.
Even if they are left behind at home,
they will not be left alone.
www.crienglish.com 13
theMessenger
Growing Up in China
M
By Ni Dandan
ost three-year-old children can
only communicate with simple
words. But one toddler in Xi'an,
an ancient city in northwest
China, can recite the Chinese
classics fluently.
And he's not alone. There are a number
of other children like him in Xi'an. Do they
have a special talent? Is there something in
the air they breathe?
It's early in the morning on a weekend
in Xi'an and the whole city seems to be
sleeping. But the children have already
started their classes at the Yiming Classics
Recitation School.
Some of the little ones in the classroom
personality. To be simple, we’re teaching the
kids how to be a good person, how to treat
others nicely and accomplish things.”
There’s an old Chinese saying: read a
book a hundred times and you’ll naturally get
its meaning.
The teachers use reading and recitation
as the main teaching method for this
classroom, which is made up of children of
different ages.
And of course, sometimes he also tells
stories, introduces small games and teaches
songs to help students better understand the
content.
Pengpeng is a three-year-old little kid.
Even his mother is amazed by his passion for
classical Chinese culture.
Favorite Lines
from the Classics
are only three or four years old, while the
oldest is around ten. But big or small, they're
all focused on their books. Can you guess
what they're reading?
It's the Analects of Confucius.
Confucius was the most well-known educator,
thinker and philosopher in ancient China. The
Analects, with a history of more than two
thousand years, was a record of the words
and activities of Confucius and his disciples.
It has heavily influenced the philosophy and
moral values of China, as well as many other
Asian countries.
Even adults find it hard to understand
the ancient language in the book, let alone the
children.
So how do these children manage to
recite their work so fluently?
Their teacher Wang Yifeng explains.
“Our weekend classes provide the
children with a kind of supplemental
education. We mainly teach them some
traditional and classical Chinese books, like
the Analects of Confucius and the Standards
for Students. We hope this traditional
Chinese culture will help the children of
today to cultivate a healthier, well-rounded
14 www.crienglish.com
“The first time I played him a VCD
with stories from ancient poems, he enjoyed
it so much that he sat silently before the TV
set for a long time. From then on, I’ve bought
him lots of books and tapes about traditional
Chinese learning. He often becomes quiet and
focused when he reads or listens to them. I
sent him here after I learnt about the school.”
There are more than a dozen schools
like this in Xi'an. And hundreds of parents
send their children to the schools so they can
receive an education in traditional Chinese
culture.
So why are these schools so popular in
Xi'an?
Well, the city is definitely rich in
culture. It was the capital of 13 dynasties in
Chinese history.
He Xiaoyan is an expert who has been
keen on promoting education in traditional
Chinese culture for years.
“Traditional Chinese culture is the root
of our culture and our society. I think more
and more people, not just the people in Xi’an,
but lots of others across China, are aware of
this now.”
He Xiaoyan says children are easily
A boy recites a Chinese poem
of the class at the Yiming
Recitation School in Xi'an, an
city in northwest China.
[Photo by Ni Dandan]
influenced by what they hear and read at such
an early age. So it's very important for society
to teach them how to recite the classics.
At the Yiming Classics Recitation
School, the children are the masters of each
class. They enjoy reading and learning the
Chinese classics.
“I love reading books, especially the
Chinese classics. My father plays me some
tapes when I brush my teeth every morning.
People read classical books on the tape. So I
just follow him. It’s easy for me to remember
the lines.”
The five year old boy tells us he spends
around five hours reading everyday. But he's
also keen on playing games, just like other
kids.
“I love playing hide-and-seek.”
Another small kid jumps before our
microphone and tells us there isn't even a TV
set in his house. They have books everywhere
instead.
“There are so so, so many books in my
house. Some of them are my mother’s, and
some are gifts my aunts and uncles bought
me. I don’t know when I can finish reading
Growing Up in China
theMessenger
Nine-year-old Liu Chentao (L) helps a three-year-old kid called Pengpeng to learn “the
Analects of Confucius” at the Yiming Classics Recitation School in Xi'an, an ancient city
in northwest China.
[Photo by Ni Dandan]
m in front
Classics
n ancient
them all. I enjoy reading them. I like fairytales
as well as the classics.”
Definitely, those preschool-aged kids
have a lot less to worry about than their
bigger brothers and sisters, who also have the
burden of homework.
But how much do they really enjoy
their weekend classes?
And what do they think they can learn
from the classics?
Well, the class is over. Let's follow one
of the kids home for a closer look.
“My name is Liu Chentao. I’m nine
years old.”
The girl started preparing fruit and tea
for me as soon as I stepped into their house.
Liu Chentao’s mother says the most
obvious change she has seen in her daughter
is that she can now recite the whole book of
“the Analects of Confucius” fluently.
But that was not her original intention.
“Before they are thirteen, children are
in a golden time in terms of their memory.
This is the best time for them to learn how to
recite the classics. I hope she can adopt all the
philosophies she has learned to recite in her
future life. I guess the influence will
be subtle, gradual but substantial.
I’m really glad she enjoys this class
the most out of all her extracurricular
classes.”
“In the class, I can sing, I can dance, I
can also answer questions if I want. In a word,
I don’t feel any pressure. The atmosphere is
relaxing. And the teacher tells us stories about
how to be filial at home. Of course, there are
some stories I cannot understand right away.
Then I’ll take some time to think about them
after I return home. I can usually understand
them in the end.”
The daughter says the lack of pressure
attracts her to the classes. But the father has a
different opinion.
“I believe the classes are attractive
because the classics are so charismatic. We
have never forced our child to go there. She
just liked the books the first time she came
into contact with them. Their teacher simply
says, ‘follow me to read, children.’ And the
students follow him quite well.”
Many people think recitation sounds
quite dull. But the girl's mother says she's
been very moved by some of the things her
daughter has learned.
“One day when I got back home, my
mom was sick. I took out a bowl and prepared
the herb infusion, a type of traditional Chinese
medicine, for my mom.” Liu Chentao
recalls.
“She carried the bowl to my bedside
and helped me sit up. She made sure the
medicine was all right for me to drink and
handed the bowl to me. When she saw me
drink it, she asked, ‘does it taste bitter’? All
her words and actions showed a child caring
for her mother. It’s the first time I’ve seen her
doing such things. It’s really hard to describe
how I felt at that moment.” Her mother says.
Besides the classics, Liu Chentao is
also good at playing string instruments.
The girl tells us her favorite pastime is
playing a nice piece of music while reciting
her favorite lines from the classics.
Most of the parents tell us they don't
expect their kids to become philosophers,
writers or musicians by reciting the classics.
They just have a common and simple
wish. They hope their kids can become good
people, with broad minds and big hearts,
people who love their families, society and
all living things, people who always do their
best to help others.
www.crienglish.com 15
theMessenger
1
On the Road
Through
Southeast
Asia
Photo by Michael Lee
1. An amazing place. It makes
you feel that humanity is so
small.
9. On the other side of the
river is Thailand. The hotel I
stay at is in Laos.
2. I took this picture in the car,
but it looks like I am flying in
the sky.
10. Overseas Chinese welcome
the delegation. Malaysia.
3. The royal palace of the king
of Cambodia.
4. Nothing is so natural and
pure as his eyes.
2
3
4
16 www.crienglish.com
5. Muslim girls walking along
the street in Malaysia.
11. The whole team, around 40
members of the delegation, stop
at a durian cart. We ate a lot of
durian that day. Ten yuan for
one kilo, cheap and tasty. And I
didn't get diarrhoea at all.
12. Wind blows. Rain comes.
6. The impact of history, the
power of time.
13. 007's Phuket Island. I don't
wanna come back to my office
again.
7. Going
Vietnam!
home.
14. Vision of the sunset. Beauty
is everywhere.
8. Sunset.
Thailand.
Somewhere
Hello,
in
15. Port Klang, the biggest port
in Malaysia.
Featured Snapshots
theMessenger
6 10
11 12
7
5
8
13
14
15
9
www.crienglish.com
17
theMessenger
CRI News Briefs
Wang
Gengnian,
directorgeneral of CRI, delivers a
speech at the departure
ceremony of the "China-Russia
Friendship Tour - China Tour",
at Tiananmen Square in central
Beijing on Friday morning, May
25 2007.
[Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]
4
" China-Russia Friendship Tour
China Tour " Starts
T
he "China-Russia Friendship Tour: China Tour", a largescale media activity jointly organized by China Radio
International (CRI) and Russia's ITAR-TASS news agency,
was launched in Beijing on May 25th.
The media delegation departed from Beijing's central
Tiananmen Square in the morning. They will travel some 8,600
kilometers before returning to Beijing at the tour's end in late June.
Director for the State Administration of Radio, Film and
Television Wang Taihua, Director-General of CRI Wang Gengnian,
Russian Ambassador to China Sergey Razov, and other officials
attended the departure ceremony.
The China Tour is part of the celebrations for the "Year of
China" been held in Russia, a reciprocal event for last year's "Year of
Russia" in China.
Journalists from 12 mainstream Russian media organizations
will travel through some 15 Chinese provinces, municipalities
and autonomous regions, reporting stories about China's social
development and the co-operation between China and Russia.
The Russia Tour, also organized by CRI and ITAR-TASS last
year, had more than 40 Chinese journalists participate. Over a month's
duration, the tour traveled from Beijing to Moscow carrying the spirit
of shared friendship between China and Russia.
A Chinese reporter participating in the
"China-Russia Friendship Tour" waves goodbye as their motorcade leaves Tiananmen
Square in central Beijing after a departure
ceremony on Friday morning, May 25 2007.
[Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]
18 www.crienglish.com
Members of the media delegation show
a big flag with Chinese and Russian officials'
signatures on the departure ceremony of the
"China-Russia Friendship Tour - China Tour",
at Tiananmen Square in central Beijing on
Friday morning, May 25 2007.
[Photo: CRIENGLISH.com]
The floatplane is an important means of transportation in
Alaska, due to the existence of many isolated islands in the
state.
Alaskan fishermen are lucky to work in a
picturesque place.
Breath-taking blue glaciers in the tranquility. Glacier cruises are
available in many cities in Alaska. Photo taken in Anchorage.
The governor's house, now occupi
woman to serve as governor of Ala
ied by Sarah Palin, the first
aska. Photo taken in Juneau.
Fisherman is an important profession in Alaska. Photo taken in
Juneau.
There are many fishing boats in Alaska. Then ports become a
common scene. Photo taken in Kodiak.
Alaska, Alaska!
Photo: Liu Bing / Liu Min
Summer Special
Dog-sled ride is a popular recreation in Alaska. It
gives visitors a taste of Last Frontier life and legend.
A dog-sled base owner. Photo taken in Anchorage.
Kayaking is a popular activity in
Alaska. Pam takes her kayak with
her on the top of her van.
Dogs are ready to go.
Bill takes us to a fantastic dogsled ride. Photo taken in Anchorage.
The eagle is commonly seen in Alaska.
Photo taken in Ketchikan.
A big brown bear digs. There are 600,000
people in Alaska, and 100,000 bears.
Moose -State land mammal is the largest deer
species.
People clean fish in the street. Photo taken in Kodiac.
It is not the mating time for
sea lions.. But the husband is
doing something not suitable
for under-18... Oops.
Fisheries in Alaska
produce top-quality seafood
products, especially salmon.
Dan is an experienced
fisherman. What a fruitful day!
Fresh seafood is not a
luxury to locals.
Behind the Scenes
theMessenger
Small Role, Big Stage
Yajie's Speech on CRI's "Why I Love My Job" Speech Competition
1
Three years ago, I participated in a
national English speaking contest. It was
because of that contest that I got to know
China Radio International.
During the past three years, I dedicated
myself to the radio career that I've fallen in
love with.
When Work Is Fun
Currently I'm hosting "Learning Pub"
on CRI Easy FM. It is a fun English teaching
program. Through media reports, movies,
music and much more, the show helps
students learn English through a multitude of
multimedia choices.
As a matter of fact, it's a lot of fun to live
in a bilingual environment. Take Raymond,
my American partner, for instance. Listeners
gave him a Chinese name - "Lei Da", which
means "radar" in English, and Raymond
is thrilled by it. Furthermore the audience
learned that Raymond is learning Chinese,
they opened up a special column on CRI's
online forum which contains all
the Chinese that Raymond has
spoken in the show.
This online "scrapbook"
is a big encouragement for
Raymond in his Chinese
language studies. Now he is
able to say quite a few Chinese
expressions. For example, He
knows that "BMW" stands for
"Bie Mo Wo" in Chinese pin yin,
which means "Don't touch me!"
He also knows a Chinese
saying -"Ren Shi Tie, Fan Shi
Gang", literally translated as
"Man is iron, while food is
steel". This means people can't
live without eating. When it
comes to lunch, it's the best time
for him to use this saying.
Besides the humorous
foreign colleagues, I'm very
lucky to work with a group
of passionate, diligent and
optimistic Chinese people.
Shen Ting is the host of the
CRI English featured program
- "In the Spotlight". As a very
knowledgeable person, he was
given the nickname "Cai Zi",
meaning bel esprit or scholar.
Xu Jue is the host of CRI's
music show "China Beat". We
call her "Immortal" because we
never see her eat or sleep.
Many other colleagues,
like the aforementioned, in
the English service dedicate
themselves to their careers
with their heart and soul while
enjoying it very much.
When
Devotion Is Joy
2
Working is fun, but
sometimes it's not easy. But I
strongly believe that all of this
hard work will pay off.
www.crienglish.com 21
theMessenger
Behind the Scenes
On the eve of this year's Spring
Festival, when most Chinese people were
having family reunion dinners at home, I was
doing my holiday shift in the office, alone.
However, I was not lonely at all. As
I logged on to CRI's online forum, I found
lots of New Year's wishes posted by listeners.
In addition, many of them kept listening
to "Learning Pub" and updated the online
notebook as usual.
I remember there was a post by a big
fan of the show. She is from Inner Mongolia
and she was at her first year in a university
in Beijing. For certain reasons, she couldn't
make it back home for her winter vacation.
This is what she said:
"I feel quite homesick right now.
Fortunately I can hear you guys on the air. I’ll
try my best to speak as fluent English as you
do. Thanks a lot."
It's because of listeners like her that we
feel our dedication is worthwhile.
When It Comes to
Responsibility
I did my debut live broadcast in 2005.
During the past two years, I've participated
in 8 special live coverage events for
CRI, including the 50th Anniversary of
the Establishment of the Xinjiang Uygur
Autonomous Region in 2005 and the official
operation of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway last
year.
The more live coverage that I do,
the more responsibility I sense on my
shoulders. The CRI English Service serves
global listeners. On such occasions, I'm
not just speaking on behalf of myself, not
even on behalf of CRI; I realize that I'm the
representative of China. People from the
whole world get to know China through my
voice.
After the live coverage about the official
operation of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, an
Australian listener left us a message:
"I have to say your live coverage on
this special event is marvelous. I listened to
the radio while holding a map of China, so
that I could look up the names of those places
along the railway. It's amazing that tourists
can travel from Beijing to Lhasa through the
Qinghai-Tibet Railway."
Although it's still a long way to go, I
do quite enjoy the small role I'm playing on
this big stage.
1. Leading the way.
2. Yajie's boss - Wang Lu Station Director of CRI Easy
FM.
3. Get ready.
4. Strength through friends
-Yajie and her "cheering
squad".
[Photo by Cui Hong]
3
Yajie
Yajie is a passionate girl
and her passions cover many
areas. She is a lover of dogs,
languages, movies, various forms of music, swimming, socializing
with good friends and meeting new people…
She is an ambitious girl with big dreams and plans for the
About
4
future. While her head is in the clouds she remains a down to
earth girl that still enjoys the simple pleasures in life.
Yajie loves her radio career at CRI as it nurtures her
innovative side and keeps her creative juices flowing.
Yajie tries to live by the wise words of Ella Fitzgerald: "It
isn't where you came from; it's where you're going that counts."
Discover a Real Xi'an
T
By Chu Daye
[Photo: Chu Daye]
his June, after many delays and
doubts, I finally embarked on a trip
to Xi'an.
Leaning back in the seat, I
relished on the thought of being able to
tour Xi'an in a matter of hours. I looked down
at my list of possible destinations and found
that all of them could easily be described as
"relics." A relic is something that survived
22 www.crienglish.com
time, a touchstone of history, and a piece of
memory of a long, dark past. Such a trip is
ideal for a history buff like me.
Xi'an's airport, Xianyang International
Airport, is built near Xianyang, the ancient
capital of the Qin dynasty (221-207 B.C.),
the first unified empire in China's history.
Actually, Shaanxi is also called the land of
Qin, because the land belonged to the Qin
state since the Spring and Autumn Period
(770-476 B.C.).
Some experts say the shape of the map
of Shaanxi resembles a kneeling terracotta
archer. His head and trunk is the yellow,
ragged Loess Plateau; his thighs the vast,
flat and fertile plain of Guanzhong, the land
inside the Hangu Pass. His feet are Hanzhong,
a region located in the warm sub-tropical
Behind the Scenes
The Drum Tower lies at the geometrical centre of the
ancient city, serving as an easy-to-recognize landmark and
the entrance to the city's time-honored Muslim quarter.
zone full of mountains and rivers. Hanzhong
by the way is the last stronghold of China's
endangered animal species, home to the giant
panda, the golden monkey, the golden takin
and the crested ibis.
A shuttle bus picked up us from the
airport and in the night we settled on a small
hotel near the Xi'an Railway Station. Lying
on the bed, holding a Shaanxi tourist map
all excited about finally getting to see these
“well-known” relics with my own eyes, I
began to hum cheerfully...
Day 1
theMessenger
You can't throw a stick and not hit
an imperial tomb in Shaanxi, making the
decision of which one to visit difficult. We
finally settle on the tombs of the Han(206
B.C.-220 A.D.) and Tang (618-907 A.D.)
dynasties. Both are located in Fufeng County,
about 100 kilometers west of Xi'an.
The most interesting tomb is the joint
tomb of Tang Emperor Gaozong and Empress
Wu Zetian.
Empress Wu Zetian is the only female
emperor in the 2100 years of imperial China.
She found her own dynasty, the Zhou, and
ruled under the name Emperor Shensheng
from 690 to 705 A.D. Her rise and reign has
been criticized harshly by China's Confucian
historians but has been viewed under a
different light after the 1950s.
The joint tomb of Empress Wu Zetian
and Emperor Gaozong is built on the top of
a hill. A wide and long passageway leads to
the tomb entrance. The passage is guarded on
each side by stone engravings of courtesans,
generals, and animals. They are numerous
and exquisite.
The thing that got me most is Empress
Wu Zetian's "Stele without Epitaph." The
stele has been standing in front of their joint
tomb since the tomb was finished. But, unlike
other steles erected before an emperor's
tomb, there wasn't a single word on it when
the stele was completed! The inscriptions we
see today were all written later. As to who
erected this stele without epigraphy and why
he or she did so, this is still a conundrum for
archeologists today.
Standing under the burning afternoon
sun, our guide tells us three hypotheses.
Hypothesis no. 1, Wu Zetian herself erected
the stele. But she thought no words could
describe her unmatchable exploits, so she
ordered not to leave a single word on the stele.
Hypothesis no.2, Wu Zetian herself erected
the stele, but the once arrogant empress
began to realize the sins she committed on
The Bell Tower is not far away from the Drum
Tower, both of which are used to tell the time —
the bell rings in the morning and the drum beats
at dusk.
Our first day's itinerary
included a tour to the imperial
tombs about 100 kilometers to the
west of Xi'an and the world-famous
Famen Temple with its underground
shelter, but what is really important
is that the shelter enshrines a finger
of Buddha Sakyamuni, a relic in the
strict sense of the word.
www.crienglish.com 23
A "wish lock", with this you make a wish and then lock it inside the lock,
and throw the key away forever into an abyss... this way your wish will
be protected forever!
theMessenger
Terracotta soldiers stand in row—vigilant, prepared and in full
battle armour.
her road to power in her old age and thought
for the Famen Temple, a pilgrimage site for
time, but the underground shelter remained
her sins and exploits canceled each other out,
Buddhists all over the world. The Famen
unknown after the Tang dynasty.
so ordered not to write anything on the stele.
temple is famous for its underground shelter
The original pagoda was destroyed
Hypothesis no.3, Wu's son, Emperor Zhong
discovered in 1987.
in an earthquake in the late Ming dynasty.
Zong, erected the stele, but as he had been so
When the gate of the underground
Local people, though very poor at that time,
badly treated by his mother in his youth he
shelter beneath the pagoda was opened,
managed to repair it, and that's the pagoda we
planned not to erect steles in front of the tomb
people found countless treasure troves and
can see today.
The hexagon pagoda has 13 floors.
of his mother. But the courtesans pressured
reliquaries. All of them have been sealed up
That's the epitome of form for a Buddhist
the new emperor, saying an emperor should
for more than a thousand years. To everyone's
pagoda. Each of the angles is decorated with
be an example for every citizen in the empire.
great surprise, there was even a finger of
a bronze bell; altogether, there are 78 bells on
If he opted not to show the customary respect
Buddha Sakyamuni.
the pagoda. When the wind blows, the bells
towards his mother then everybody would
Legend has it that King Asoka of India
ring out.
follow his lead and the empire would fall
built the temple on his road to redemption,
Mulling over the temple's history, I
into chaos. Emperor Zhong Zong agreed
1,800 years ago. He left the finger of Buddha
stood in the afternoon breeze, closed my eyes
and erected a stele in front of the tomb of his
to be enshrined here. The Famen Temple was
and listened to the bells.
mother. But he forbade anything good to be
preeminent during the Tang dynasty. The
written on the stele; thus, the "Stele without
temple has lasted throughout the course of
Epitaph."
There is an ethnic minority
garden not far away from the
My second day included a trip
imperial tombs area, awkwardly
to Huaqing Spa Park and the tomb
called Huangtu Ethnicity Garden.
of Emperor Qin Shi Huang and his
On the recommendation of our
terracotta army.
guide, we went in. The garden
There isn't a great deal to see
offers a focused display about
in Huaqing Spa Park, but because a
Shaanxi people's lives, customs, folk
famous story associated with the place,
traditions, and architecture. There
visiting the spa park has become a
are several yaodong (grottos) in the
must-do for nearly every Chinese who
garden. Though I have seen yaodong
ventures to these parts.
many times in movies and on TV,
The legendary love story
this was the first time for me to walk
into a real yaodong. It was very cool
between Emperor Xuan Zong and his
inside!
concubine Yang Guifei is a household
The most impressive part of
tale in China. It is to Chinese what
this tour was watching an Ansai waist
the story of Romeo and Juliet to
drum dance from northern Shaanxi.
Westerners. Poets and folk artists are
To tell the truth, nearly
constantly returning to the story for
everyone
who
watched
the
material. As I was touring around the
performance was impressed by it. The
ruins of the former bath facilities, I
drumbeat was hot, making my heart
began to recite the following poem:
throb. The movements were wild and
On the seventh day of the
Repeatedly mentioned in travel books as the "most precipitous
exaggerated. In the dance, one could
seventh month, in the Palace of Long
mountain" in China, Huashan Mountain is another must-see of
sense the bold and unstrained spirit
Life,
Shaanxi Province. There is a perilous cliff-ladder on the side
of the northern Shaanxi people.
We told each other secretly in
of the mountain.
In the afternoon we headed
Day 2
24 www.crienglish.com
Behind the Scenes
the quiet midnight world
That we wished to fly in heaven, like
two birds with the wings of one,
And to grow together on earth, like two
branches of one tree.
Earth endures, heaven endures; in time
both of us shall end,
While this unending sorrow will go on
and on forever.
A little hokey, I know. Call me a
romantic, when I think that the fall of
the magnificent Tang was all about this
romance...
Emperor Qin Shi Huang's tomb and
his terracotta warriors are only a few miles
from Huaqing Spa Park. Our guide told us the
tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang doesn't have
that much to see. It's just a hill-like tomb,
like any other imperial tombs you can see in
Shaanxi. But the tomb is seen as a treasure
by archaeologists. Not only for the renowned
terracotta army, also for fact that this tomb
hasn't fallen into the hands of grave robbers
and therefore has been left complete. Even
today, the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang
is a mystery, and it will probably remain as a
mystery for future generations.
The Terracotta Army Museum is very
close to the tomb of Emperor Qin Shi Huang.
There are three pits in the museum, and a
display hall of two Bronze Chariots.
Our guide told us the Pit 1 is the largest
pit, so we headed there directly. Pit 1 is a
combined battle formation of charioteers and
infantrymen. At the eastern end of the pit there
are three rows of vanguards. Immediately
behind the vanguards is the main body of the
battle formation. Around the outer edge, there
is one row of soldiers facing south, north and
west respectively as the flanks to guard the
sides and rear of the army.
Rows after rows of soldiers stand
vigilantly as if facing the enemy. This group
image is utterly awe inspiring. There are at
least 3,000 men in this pit, but each is unique,
especially in terms of facial expression. No
prefab, mass production used in creating this
army.
Pit 2 and 3 are full of ruins. As far as I
could tell, distorted bodies and fallen parts of
the terracotta warriors are scattered at every
corner of this pit. Passing through the pit is
just like crossing a battlefield of some bloody,
terrifying, and decisive battle back in the age
Where to go at night? The snack street in the Muslim quarter of course! Drink
local beer, feast on kebabs, and take in the lively atmosphere of this northwestern Chinese city.
of Qin.
Besides the terracotta army, the other
treasures in the museum are the bronze
chariots that were found together in the
pit. The bronze chariots are really refined
artwork. The bridles and saddles of the horses
are all exquisitely inlaid with gold and silver
designs. It is said that the first chariot was for
clearing the road for the Emperor's entourage,
and the second was his sleeping chariot. As
I was reading the illustration, I discovered
that these two half-life size bronze chariots
are made up of 6,000 small components! I
was amazed when a worker in the museum
showed visitors how the sliding umbrella
stand can be adjusted in accordance to the
position of the sun. I could only admire this
marvelous Qin technology.
Day 3
On the third day of our visit, we toured
around the city on foot. The temperature was
still hot, making our last day in Xi'an a bit
uncomfortable.
It is said that if you want to see one
A marble statue of imperial concubine
Yang Guifei stands in the pool of
Huaqing Park.
The famous
"stele without
epitaph" stands
erect under the
scorching sun.
The calligraphy
works of
emperors, poets
and scholars of
later dynasties
can be seen on
the stele.
Breathtaking cliffs and superb
mountain scenery-this is what you
can expect on a trip to Huashan
Mountain.
theMessenger
The square of Big Wild Goose Pagoda. There is a
music fountain here and local people spend the
sweltering summer night out of square relaxing.
The Famen
pagoda - a
replica of the
original-guards
the entrance to
the underground
palace hiding in
its basement.
www.crienglish.com 25
theMessenger
Behind the Scenes
thousand years of history, you should go to
Beijing; if you want to see two thousand
years of history, you should go to Luoyang;
if you want to see three thousand years of
history, then come to Xi'an. This saying is
no exaggeration. When Chang'an was the
empire's capital, Luoyang was just beginning
to rise, and Beijng was no more than a border
town. But as time went by, the former cultural
and political center gave way to other cities
younger than her.
The ancient city of Xi'an we speak of
today was rebuilt from a small quarter of
the Great Chang'an city, the capital of the
Tang Dynasty (618-907 A.D.) and of great
importance in the early Ming Dynasty. The
city's after that was renamed Xi'an, meaning
peace in the west in Chinese, as the Ming
emperor sitting in Nanjing hoped the empire's
western border would always be blessed with
peace and prosperity.
When walking along the streets of
Xi'an, for most of the time, it is easy to forget
the fact that you are walking through a 3,000
years old city. Wide roads and refined city
gardens, business districts and fashionably
dressed girls… All these make you feel like
you are walking along the streets of a young
and booming city elsewhere in the country.
But in some other aspects, especially in the
downtown area, you can still find traces of
the old city to remind you of its true age. The
street names ring familiar to Chinese as they
have been in existence thousands of years and
are taught in history books in Chinese middle
schools. There are some extraordinarily
old trees, and the city's chessboard way of
construction--the capital way. As a Beijinger,
I was at home the moment I walked out
into this old city. The two cities' layout is
practically the same! A vender at a roadside
shop even told me that strangers from other
provinces never get lost in Xi’an, because
the city's building pattern is so clear and easy
to remember. I laughed and replied, "I am a
prime example of this!"
Besides the old city's chessboard layout,
the city has the largest surviving ancient
military defense system in the world and the
most complete city wall in the country. We
even planned to go on top of the wall to get
a panoramic view of the old city on a good
day. But we didn't get around to this, partly
due to the oppressive heat, partly due to the
ticket price hike. It was a little too expensive
for what it was.
After a brief visit along the city wall,
we decided to return to the hotel to escape the
heat and wait for night to fall.
26 www.crienglish.com
Nightlife and Where
to Eat
Xi'an is probably the only restless
city at night in the northwestern part of the
country. After night fell and the temperature
dropped, we came out again, this time, to visit
Xi'an's renowned Muslim quarter and try its
northwestern delicacies.
Historical records show that there
were thousands of households from other
nations in the Chang'an city during the
Tang dynasty. At that time, many foreigners
chose to stay in Chang'an because it was a
great medieval metropolis. Many of such
permanent immigrants are the Hui people.
The Hui tended to live together and their
residential area finally grew into the city's
Muslim quarter which is near the Drum and
Bell Tower.
We consulted our guide beforehand
and decided the right place to eat is in the
city's Muslim quarter with the Drum Tower
as its entrance. As we entered from the Drum
Tower gate, we immediately found ourselves
in a crowded street filled with snack stalls,
traders, hawkers and tourists from home and
abroad. For a few minutes, I felt like I had
walked into the market of a medieval castle.
An old Hui man caught my eye. He
was standing in front of his tricycle beneath
the entrance of the drum tower selling a kind
of local cake called "Linglonggao." I bought
one and ate it, only to find out its looks is
more appealing than its taste.
One food universally offered on this
snack street was Xinjiang-style kebabs. Many
restaurants put their kebab grill outside, partly
to escape the heat, partly to draw customers.
As soon as I was in this atmosphere, I felt
like eating a horse. And I did. I ate tons
of kebabs that night. The kebabs were no
big deal. They were just like those sold in
Beijing, but the way they sell kebabs here is
much different and got me. The meat on each
skewer here is generally smaller than their
Beijing counterpart. Instead of selling kebabs
one by one, the Hui boy here holds a large
bunch of kebabs, hundreds maybe, and asks
you "How large a portion do you want from
this bunch, sir?" The best way to answer him
is to say in a forthright way: "Hey, boy, give
me one quarter of your share!" And when you
are finished, they will come over and count
the number of skewers to calculate how much
you should pay for the bill. In other words,
the style of ordering food instead of the style
of the food is the highlight of eating in Xi'an.
Now you can get northwestern food anywhere
in the country but you can only order food in
such an "impressive" way in Xi'an.
Of course, there are other choices.
Like the renowned Paomo (fried cake soaked
in mutton soup), Guantangbao (juicy stuffed
bun). But my advice is to eat them during
winter, because they are all much too heavy
for a hot summer night!
Hotels
The city has hotels of various kinds to
cater to travelers needs. They can be found
easily within the old city. As for the hotel we
lodged in, it looks more like a small inn, a
standard room with double beds and a private
toilet and bathroom cost 100 yuan per day.
There is also a youth hostel near the southern
end of the old city, though I heard that the
cost is a little higher and you probably will
have to share your room with strangers.
City Transportation
At any rate, I have to say Xi'an's
transportation control is much better than
that in Beijing. The number of private cars in
the old quarter is strictly controlled to make
transportation easier. The city's main force of
transportation, I mean, in the old quarter, is
composed of public buses and cabs. The cost
of taking taxi is also much lower than that in
Beijing. For 6 yuan you can almost take a cab
to anywhere in the old quarter and a large part
of greater Xi’an city itself.
Travel Service
To my surprise and delight, Xi'an's
travel services are well organized and closely
related to volunteer work. Food, souvenirs,
and service fees are all marked with clearly
readable prices; there should be no confusion
over prices when buying things. Volunteer
work is another good thing to mention. On
our way to the Terra Cotta Army Museum,
some university grads or tourism school
apprentices offered to be our guide, for free.
This should really make you feel good; not
only for the free price tag, but also to know
that the travel services are so well-organized
in Xi'an.
From Our Listeners
Thanks you I received your e-mail. I
became so happy for the second time this is
my second letter that I am going to send it to
your nice and informative radio. I will always
send your letter with some of the information.
I hope you are all fine. Wish you make more
informative and best programs. I should say
that your programs are so interesting. Every
Friday I listen to your radio. I wish I had
time to listen always to your radio. I like
all program especially Listener Garden and
China Horizons. Say hello to everyone from
my side.
Rahimullah
Afghanistan
I'm 1st year student of Trnava (Slovak
Republic) that is currently collaborating
with Catholic University of Eastern Africa
(Kenya).I've been a listener of CRI since Feb.
2006 especially that part of learning Chinese
language but the problem is that I really
encountered during the show was that it was
very hard for me to write down the spellings
of some words of the Chinese language this is
because they were almost
being pronounced the
same way. I would really
love to learn Chinese
language.
Victor Otieno
Slovak Republic
interested in Chinese literatures like “The
three kingdoms, Sanguozhi”, “The Water
Margin”, and I know some idioms from “The
three kingdoms”. So could you tell me any
idioms for “The Water Margin” if there are
any?
Hideyasu Mayuzumi
Japan
NI HAO! Hope you will be well. We
have been listening to CRI regularly since
1990. It gradually became a part of our
daily life. CRI is the best station for every
radio listener. We salute the staff of CRI in
Beijing. And really we want to tell you, we
have introduced CRI to many people here in
Pakistan. Now they are regular listeners of
CRI. As you well aware we belong to a very
backward region, and we have a little access to
internet. There for you are requested to reply
our letter through post mail instead of E-mail.
We also enjoy reading the Messenger.
Rafiullah Mandokhail
Pakistan
theMessenger
knowledge and information about China and
her people and use the education to benefit
their own lives. GOD BLESS CHINA.
Dhawa Singi Lama
Nepal
I have received your E Mail and I thank
you for it. I hope everything is great. Even if
you are busy and do not have time to reply
[since I understand that CRI has to prepare
for events of historical proportions such as
the Beijing Olympics of 2008]], I do listen
to CRI and I am always sending reception
reports. When there is a news segment here
that may interest CRI, I send it as well. I have
at times sent CRI English messages when
a society such as the one I live in attempts
to defame China with lies. For example, I
remember sending to CRI the true history of
the USA when the USA attempted to defame
China. Without much, I remain a supporter,
friend, and family of CRI English as I have
been since 1970.
Roberto Carlos Alvarez Galloso
USA
Mailbag
As a listener to
CRI - and former Radio
Peking - for more than
30 years now, more or
less regularly, but always
with great interest in what I heard, my dream
has been once to visit your country and make
a walk on The Great Wall. Well, now my
children have fulfilled this dream: they gave
me a trip to Beijing as a present for my recent
birthday! The ticket is booked, and so the hotel
and I will stay in Beijing from September
30th until October 10th, 2007. During these
days it would be a great pleasure to me, if
it could be possible visiting the CRI English
Service and meet some of the staff.
Ydun M. Ritz
Denmark
This is my first reception and report to
English Service of CRI. I notice your English
programs can be received in very good
condition all day in Japan, so I decide to listen
your programs to learn English, of course,
Chinese, too. I enjoy today’s programs,
especially “Chinese Idioms”. Japanese use
today’s idiom in exactly same meaning. I am
Your signal was excellent! I have been
an SWL and Amateur Radio Operator for
many years. I've never sent a signal report to
a short wave broadcast station before. I think
it is more important than ever to let you know
that people are enjoying your programs since
everything is moving to the internet.
Richard J. Holley
USA
Dear Sir, I got this opportunity to read
the news about the future establishment of
CONFUCIOUS institute. I live in a village
and my ancestors originally migrated from
a village in Tibet (China). I know about the
great Chinese Philosopher Confucius since
I was 9 years old. I read about him in my
social study book. Ever since, I have great
respect for Confucius and his philosophy. So,
the idea and plan to build and institute about
him is for me just like a dream come true.
I hope Nepalese people will achieve great
similar interests!
I have been listening
to your programs for over
two months. I find your
programs very interesting
- it gives a fascinating look
at the different cultures
associated with China.
It also makes me realize
that whilst there may
be language differences
between
China
and
England, we both have
Wayne Dearden
United Kingdom
This is making two one year since I
started listening to CRI. I am a Nigerian who
loves China so much, may be it is because
of their nice people or because of their films
that I watch. I want to comment on your radio
service, it is just magnificence. Keep it up and
the sky will be your limit. God bless China.
Udeme Asanga
Nigeria
I hope the recent Second Economic
Dialogue meeting between the USA and
China bears much good fruit. In the global
market place both countries need each
other, like it or not. The aviation agreement
reached during that meeting in a way affects
me. My wife works for Northwest Airlines,
which will most likely be able to increase
www.crienglish.com 27
theMessenger
From Our Listeners
flights to China from the USA because of this
agreement. Most of the profits for Northwest
Airlines come from overseas flights. CRI had
very good coverage of the Second Economic
Dialogue both in the news and in People in
the Know.
Mike Peraaho
USA
Hello, ni hao ma? This is me, Randolfh
Empredo, from the Philippines. Thanks a lot
for reading my e-mail on- air. That was the
first time I heard my name from one of CRI
English' broadcast, I loved your presentation,
I even recorded it on a cassette tape, and I'll
definitely listen to the news and reports of
yours to know more information about the
on-going China-ASEAN friendship tour. I
also listen to your special series, "Growing
Up in China", and it's great, I love it, it's cute.
Oh, you have a new host for the news and
reports, what's his name again?
Randolph Empredo
Philippines
It’s always a pleasure to be in touch with
you. As I told you before it’s very difficult
to me to hear you from here. Short waves in
English are not beamed to this region, but it
would be highly esteemed if you send new
schedule. Thank you in advance. However I
look at web site of CRI in English every day.
The recent visit of Hu Jintao to Korea and
Japan or the China-ASEAN cooperation tour
are matter very important to me.
Longhi Hugo Héctor
Argentina
Now I have a big bone to pick with
CRI on Saturdays at 10 UTC China Roots
as much as I like China Beat the modern
Chinese music. Must you Americanize every
thing? I listen to CRI because it has culture
(5000 years of it) great old folk music along
with all the old musical instruments now you
have replaced this with American based pop
music, if I want to listen to that I will tune to
VOA not CRI. Please return China Roots or a
similar folk style music program I understand
that it would be difficult to produce. It’s ok to
modernize your radio station but please keep
your culture program of China Roots.
Bruce White
Australia
I wonder whether there are any plans
to replace "China Roots." I realise that it was
a rather long programme and did not sit that
comfortably in your schedule. On the other
hand, you have retained "China Beat" in
a shortened form. It would be good to see
something from China's long cultural tradition
in the schedule as well as a programme
featuring contemporary music. It is, I think,
an issue for the programme planners to think
about.
International broadcasters do vary in
the emphasis they give to music. I always
think that there is scope for surveys of
listener opinion on issues like this, although I
realise that CRI is a station that does try such
surveys. It must be so difficult to get a true
idea of what foreign listeners appreciate.......
and, no doubt, it will vary from continent to
continent.
Brian Kendall
United Kingdom
China Radio International,
English Department,
Have a happy day. We are regular listeners of CRI. We have
CRI’s news and reports. Our club has taken part in several CRI’s
been listening to CRI English Service since 1995. Our club
knowledge contests.
was found in 1971 for Radio Peking Urdu Service. The club
has 110 members. Our club members are doing work for CRI
With best compliments.
in our Sindh Province. We also held exhibitions to introduce
CRI and promote Pakistan-China relations.
President of Taj Radio Listeners Club
We like all the programs of CRI. From CRI’s programs
Khatri Shakeel Ahmed Taj.
we get information about the Chinese culture. We also like
Khatri Shakeel Ahmed Taj, President of Taj Radio Listeners Club.
[Photo provided by Khatri Shakeel Ahmed Taj]
28 www.crienglish.com
Visitors are attracted by the exhibits on the CRI Exhibition.
[Photo provided by Khatri Shakeel Ahmed Taj]
theMessenger
Learn Chinese Now!
Hi! Dàjiāhǎo! It’s so good to see you again. And let's not waste time,
我们不要浪费时间 wǒmen bú yào làngfèi shíjiān because we are
going to a bar. 因蛾我们要去酒吧 Yīnwéi wǒmen yào qù jiǔbā.
You'll never find me wasting time in a bar. And the most important
thing here is probably to get a drink.
The waiter may ask you: what do you want to drink? 你想喝什么?
nǐ xiǎng hē shénme? You must be very familiar with 你, nǐ, you. 想
means want to. 喝 is to drink. 什么, what.
If you want to order a glass of beer. You can say 我想喝一杯啤酒. Wǒ
xiǎng hē yī bēi píjiǔ. 啤酒, beer.
If you just want to have ice water, you can say我想喝冰水. Wǒ xiǎng
hē bīng shuǐ. 冰, is 'ice'. 水, is 'water'. 冰水, Bīng shuǐ, ice water.
Or if the waiter or waitress is not near you, you can say the following:
服务员, 请来一杯冰水. Fúwùyuán, qǐng lái yī bēi bīng shuǐ.
Fuwuyuan means waiter or waitress.
If you want to know more about "Learn Chinese Now" , please log on
to our website: http://www.crienglish.com, click onto learn Chinese.
春
望
杜 甫
国破山河在，城春草木深。
感时花溅泪，恨别鸟惊心。
烽火连三月，家书抵万金。
白头搔更短，浑欲不胜簪。
[Notes]
家书: home letter
烽火: war flame
[Translation of the Poem]
Introduction to the Poet:
A Spring View
Du Fu (about 712-770 A.D.) was born in China and raised as a Confucian,
but failed to gain the government post he sought. He subsequently
traveled throughout China, observing the conditions of the people and
commenting on his impressions in poems. He was a friend of Li Bai,
another prominent poet at that time, and the Confucianism in his poetry
sometimes complements Li Bai’s Taoism.
Though a country be sundered, hills and rivers endure;
And spring comes green again to trees and grasses
Where petals have been shed like tears
And lonely birds have sung their grief.
...After the war-fires of three months,
One message from home is worth a ton of gold.
...I stroke my white hair. It has grown too thin
To hold the hairpins any more.
Du Fu was an outspoken critic of the bloodshed in border wars and in
the rebellions that often followed them. The poem on the drafting of
peasantry into military service illustrates his opposition to war. Another
poem on fireflies shows him reflecting on his own mortality, while the
poem on the parrot can be seen as a protest against the way beauty is
trapped and imprisoned.
www.crienglish.com 29
theMessenger
Contemporary-Cultural Venation
By Zhu Wenxiu
China Version
1
In recent years, China has enjoyed a
thriving contemporary arts scene. Not only
have many international galleries boomed
in big cities, like Beijing and Shanghai;
also, many more Chinese artists have gained
recognition in the international art world.
As Chinese artists embrace more
western cultural elements in their creative
works, there are also increasing concerns to
integrate the essence of Chinese culture with
this western approach.
Curator Chen Xiaoxin is one of the
vanguards looking for an answer. He is
concerned that Chinese contemporary art
would lose its edge if it gets too "westernized".
He believes that the contemporary genre of
arts has got to mature through developing the
country's own characteristics.
"China has come to a critical turning
point as its contemporary art has developed
in a new century. We should go beyond both
traditional and western styles and find our
own cultural voice."
In this context, an art exhibition
called "Contemporary Cultural Venation China Version" opened at Beijing Today Art
Museum.
The exhibition features art pieces by 58
artists with degrees of elegance, bizarreness
and sheer profundity. Many of the works
on display are from the hands of young and
talented artists who enjoy reputations both in
China and the international art world.
Zhang Fangbai, one of the renowned
painters, has his works showcased at the
exhibition.
"It's about being a free artist, for the one
1.Containers by Bai Ming.
[Photo provided by Today Art Museum]
2. Chinese Ink Painting by Shan Zeng.
[Photo provided by Today Art Museum]
3. Chinese Ink Painting by Shan Zeng.
[Photo provided by Today Art Museum]
2
30 www.crienglish.com
3
theMessenger
thing, by expressing your native artistic vigor
freely. It's also about inheriting the cultural
voice of our nation. I think this is what we
should do now as we explore contemporary
art in China".
The exhibition has two parts: "canvas
and paper constructions" and "space and
video constructions". In the first part, artworks
employing traditional media, such as canvas
and paper, are showcased. There are more
than one hundred pieces of oil painting and
Chinese ink painting on display. The second
part has over 20 pieces of new-media artwork,
such as installation, photography and digital
art. All these works have well presented the
aesthetic imagination and increasing sense of
humanity among Chinese artists.
This is the fourth year that the exhibition
features the theme of "Contemporary Cultural
Venation - China Version" since 2003.
Apart from Beijing, audiences in Shenzhen
and Shanghai will also have the chance to
delve into the fine collection of Chinese
contemporary artwork. The organizer believes
that this year will be the most influential in
terms of funding and scale.
Leading global financial services
company, Credit Suisse, is the sole sponsor
of this year's exhibition. Head of the China
Commercial Bank Credit Suisse, Dr. Urs
Buchmann, says it is part of their corporate
philosophy to facilitate cross-border cultural
exchanges.
He adds that he is quite impressed by
the quality of the work on display.
"It leaves me with the impression of a
more colorful China, with a very vibrant arts
scene - that is exploring new modes. What
you can feel is a very serious search of new
modes for expression. I think there will be
hardly any visitor to this exhibition who will
not be touched."
Dr. Buchmann is right. Cai Jie is a
student from the Tianjin Academy of Fine
Arts. She traveled to Beijing especially to
visit this exhibition.
"I like the painting called 'Fingerprint'
by Zhang Yu. It is awesome. I think it also
touches on the sphere of performance art because it has such a strong visual impact."
The exhibition is definitely a visual
banquet for art fans. It is bound to draw
crowds, even though it is opening during the
peak season for art exhibitions in Beijing.
It also offers a new thought-provoking
perspective for people to appreciate
contemporary Chinese art.
LuXunBlossoms
in Beijing
By Liu Bing
2
1
1.2.3. Scenes from the drama, Lu Xun Blossoms.
[Photo provided by Shanghai Dramatic Arts Center]
You might be curious to see how
three Chinese and three foreigners might
interpret the roles of Kong Yiji and Xiang
Linsao, familiar names from the Chinese
writer Lu Xun's dramatic works. You might,
for example, wonder how they might meet
the requirement of transforming themselves
3
from humans to animals in a second. We can
tell you that Kong Yiji, and Xiang Linsao do
indeed come alive, and that their characters
flourish on the stage of Beijing, starting from
June 6.
Physical theatre "Lu Xun Blossoms",
the first even Sino-Canadian theatrical co-
production hit Beijing's People's Art Theater.
The project, presented by Canada Theatre's
Smith-Gilmour and the Shanghai Dramatic
Arts Center, is based on 5 brilliant short stories
by Lu Xun, considered by many as the father
of contemporary Chinese literature. The short
stories include Blessing (Zhu Fu), Kong Yiji,
www.crienglish.com 31
theMessenger
and A Little Incident (Yijian Xiaoshi) .
Dean Gilmour, the director of the
drama, says the most difficult thing the
team has encountered is communicating in
two languages. "The communication we are
looking for is underneath the words, what do
we think of each other, what each person can do
to tell the story. If the communication is only
about translating, then Chinese actors will be
passive, just waiting for the translation. We
have to search together. It's very difficult to
find the connection." However, it's performed
in English and Chinese back and forth, but
with Chinese and English subtitles explaining
everything.
The show has already premiered
in Shanghai this May, receiving very
positive responses from its Chinese and
foreign audiences. It is considered to be a
very important show for both Chinese and
foreigners, for making the world of Lu Xun,
which is China, accessible to foreigners, and
it reminds Chinese of their culture and their
struggles. It's a bridge between cultures.
The drama will last till June 10 in
Beijing. It will then tour to Hongkong,
Macao, Guangzhou and Canada.
Peony to Blossom at
the Imperial Granary
V
ariety in culture is the name
card of Beijing. Ordinary people
can hang out in the Tianqiao Le
Teahouse to enjoy all-night
cross-talk humor, while amateur
Peking opera performers might
prefer to gather at Huguang Guildhall. Then,
how about Kunqu opera fans? A visit to the
Imperial Granary may now give you an answer.
To celebrate the sixth anniversary since
Kunqu Opera was listed on the UNESCO
register of Intangible Cultural Heritage, a
new version of "The Peony Pavilion" has
been put on stage in Nanxincang, Beijing's
600-year-old Imperial Granary.
Compared with many other excellent
editions, how does this new edition stand out?
As the very first man to initiate the smalltheater modern drama in China, director of
the performance Lin Zhaohua has this to say.
"At first, I was also hesitant - there
have been so many editions, all of which have
gained wide popularity. Would people accept
this Imperial Granary edition? Featuring
the ancient architecture, it targets a special
audience. In ancient times, kunqu opera
troupes would usually be raised by a wealthy
family, and performed just in the family hall.
Therefore, I think the idea of performing such
an ancient art in ancient architecture is quite
appropriate."
Wang Xiang is general manager of
the investor Poloarts Entertainment. He is
positive on the outcome of the show.
"This ancient architecture and ancient
32 www.crienglish.com
By Zhu Wenxiu
A poster of “The Peony Pavilion”.
[Photo provided by Poloart Entertainment]
art form match just so perfectly! The Imperial
Granary was built in the same period as
Kunqu Opera was becoming popular. When
we put something of 'World Intangible
Cultural Heritage' into such an ancient space,
it will generate a huge cultural impact."
In the Qing Dynasty, Kunqu opera
developed into a noble art. Kunqu was shown
to the royal or wealthy families only. Its
music is much softer, and the dialogue more
poetical and refined. Most of the stories in
Kunqu are romantic.
This time, the producer plans to make
the show even more exquisite, and bring the
utmost joy to both the ears and eyes of the
audience.
Qian Hongming, a master flute player
from the Jiangsu Province Kunqu Theatre,
performs the flute solo for this play.
"Traditions are beautiful. If you want
to adapt the play, the beauty of tradition is
still a benchmark. For instruments, we add
zither (guzheng) to the band. The instrument
has a very beautiful sound, and it could also
theMessenger
simulate the sound of the Guqin. Playing with
Xiao (a vertical bamboo flute), it generates a
great sound."
24-year-old Zeng Jie is the hero
Liu Mengmei in the play, and 19-year-old
Hu Zhexing, is the heroine Du Liniang.
Though very young in age, their impressive
performance won the hearts of audience.
Still an art school student, Hu Zhexing
feels much pressure but he believes it is bound
to arouse resonance among young people.
"Zeng Jie has more
stage experience than me.
Du Liniang and Chunxiang.
[Photo provided by Poloart
Entertainment]
A snapshot of Liu Mengmei.
[Photo provided by Poloart
Entertainment]
A snapshot of Du
Liniang.
[Photo provided
by Poloart
Entertainment]
I'm afraid I could not match him. I may appear
immature. I think Young people will find this
play easy to understand. It is a romantic story.
And the two lovers are both perfect."
Indeed, young people are the carriers
of traditions. In one of China's oldest
universities, Peking University, a "Peking
Opera & Kunqu Opera Amateur Society" has
been in operation for years.
Lv Zhenkai is in charge of the society at
present. As a sophomore majoring in physics,
he has a different opinion regarding these
young-performer editions of kunqu opera.
"I really appreciate idea of Master Bai
Xianyong's Young Lovers' Edition of The
Peony Pavilion. It has made this art form
reach out to more young people. We often
contact kunqu masters, inviting them to give
lectures on our campus. Although what we
could do is so limited, it actually reflects our
attitude. We do hope the tradition of kunqu
opera can be continued."
www.crienglish.com 33
theMessenger
BROADCAST TIMES AND FREQUENCIES FOR
ENGLISH LANGUAGE SERVICE
Shortwave Frequencies (Beginning March 25th, 2007)
UTC
Service Areas
Meter Bands
Frequencies
UTC
Service Areas
North America (East Coast)
Meter Bands
Frequencies
Southeast Asia
23:00-24:00
48.82; 30.61; 25.34
6145; 9800; 11840
16:00-18:00
00:00-02:00
49.83; 31.35
6020; 9570
00:00-01:00
Laos, Vietnam
277.78
1080
25.24; 19.83
11885; 15125
01:00-02:00
31.32; 30.64
9580; 9790
01:00-02:00
19.83; 19.01
15125; 15785
03:00-04:00
30.96; 30.64
9690; 9790
06:00-08:00
21.96, 16.94
13660; 17710
10:00-12:00
04:00-05:00
49.83; 49.34
6020; 6080
05:00-06:00
48.47; 49.83
6190; 6020
10:00-12:00
49.67
6040
11:00-12:00
25.53
11750
13:00-14:00
31.35; 31.09; 19.66
14:00-16:00
21.83
21.87; 22.08
13720; 13590
Manila
223.71
1341
9730
Rangoon
30.83
9570; 9650; 15260
Bangkok, Ho Chi
Minh City, Phnom
Penh, Vientiane
25.04
13740
Ho Chi Minh City
438.6
Manila
223.71
684
Bangkok, Ho Chi
Minh City, Phnom
Penh, Vientiane
25.04; 30.83
11980; 9730
12:00-13:00
North America (West Coast)
11980
23:00-24:00
48.82; 30.61,25.34
6145;9800,11840
01:00-02:00
31.32; 30.64
9580; 9790
03:00-04:00
30.96; 30.64
9690; 9790
13:00-16:00
30.4
9870
04:00-05:00
49.83; 49.34
6020; 6080
15:00-16:00
40.96
7325
05:00-06:00
48.47; 49.83
6190; 6020
10:00-12:00
49.67
6040
16:00-18:00
Islamabad
11:00-12:00
25.53
11750
23:00-24:00
Delhi, Colombo
13:00-14:00
31.35; 31.09; 19.66
9570; 9650; 15260
00:00-01:00
Delhi, Colombo
14:00-16:00
21.83
13740
01:00-02:00
Delhi, Colombo
5990
03:00-04:00
05:00-09:00
North America (East Coast)
23:00-24:00
Caribbean Sea
50.08
13:00-14:00
South Asia
226.76
1323
25.25; 19.54;
19.40; 17.10
11880; 15350;
15465; 17540
09:00-10:00
19.54; 16.90
15350; 17750
10:00-11:00
19.75; 19.54
15190; 15350
236.41
1269
25.73; 25.75;
25.43; 21.99
11660; 11650;
11795; 13645
252.53; 236.41
1188; 1269
31.71; 25.75; 25.73;
21.99
9460; 11650; 11660;
13645
25.73; 21.81
11660; 13755
25.70; 25.50
11675; 11765
252.53; 226.76;
41.90; 30.61
1188; 1323;
7160; 9800
02:00-03:00
East Asia
22:00-23:00
31.28
9590
23:00-00:00
25.66
11690
00:00-01:00
21.82
13750
21.82
13750
19.84; 19.01
15120; 15785
03:00-05:00
Siberia
03:00-05:00
08:00-10:00
25.82
11620
10:00-11:00
Siberia
25.78; 25.84
11635; 11610
10:00-11:00
22.03
13620
11:00-16:00
50.38
5955
11:00-12:00
Delhi, Colombo
Delhi, Colombo
Islamabad
Delhi, Colombo
Islamabad
11:00-12:00
Dhaka
12:00-13:00
Delhi
Katmandu
Middle Asia
04:00-06:00
16.92; 16.80
17730; 17855
12:00-13:00
25.66
11690
13:00-15:00
30.72
9765
12:00-13:00
13:00-14:00
Delhi, Colombo
14:00-15:00
Islamabad
Dhaka
Katmandu
15:00-16:00
34 www.crienglish.com
Dhaka
Delhi, Colombo
theMessenger
UTC
Service Areas
Meter Bands
Frequencies
UTC
Service Areas
Ankara, Damascus,
Amman
19:00-20:00
Baghdad, Kowait
41.12; 31.80
7295; 9435
20:00-21:00
Iran, Iraq, Turkey,
Turkmenistan,
Afghanistan
41.12; 31.78
7295; 9440
05:00-07:00
Iran, Iraq, Turkey,
Turkmenistan,
Afghanistan
17.14
17505
25.27; 19.82
11870; 15140
Kabul
UTC
Service Areas
Meter Bands
Frequencies
East and South Africa
Lilongwe, Kigali,
Bujumbura
16:00-18:00
Antananarivo,
Mogadishu, Kampala,
Nairobi,
Dar es Salaam, Adis
Abeba, Djibouti
25.21; 31.35
11900; 9570
Antananarivo,
Mogadishu,
Kampala, Nairobi,
Dar es Salaam
25.77; 22.01
11640; 13630
17.02
17630
14:00-16:00
South Africa Area
21.92
13685
West and North Africa
9600; 13760
41.72; 31.25
7190; 9600
50.34; 41.18
5960; 7285
20:00-22:00
Central Europe
22:00-23:00
41.81
7175
00:00-01:00
42.08
7130
01:00-02:00
31.68
9470
07:00-09:00
21.88; 17.15
13710; 17490
09:00-11:00
17.15
17490
11:00-13:00
21.98; 17.15
13650; 17490
12:00-13:00
21.75
13790
13:00-14:00
22.04; 21.75
13610; 13790
14:00-15:00
21.88; 21.75
13710; 13790
15:00-16:00
25.07; 21.99
11965; 13640
Meter Bands
Frequencies
Service Areas
09:00-11:00
Aust.E.S.T
N.Z.S.T
Canberra, Moresby
Port, Sydney
19.72; 16.96
15210; 17690
25.51; 30.74
11760; 9760
The Messenger wants your contribution
Lome, Accra,
Yamoussoukro,
Monrovia, Conakry,
Bamako
- be it a story about your life, notes from
41.12; 31.80
7295; 9435
a recent trip, insights into your hobbies or
a book you'd like to recommend... Let our
Cairo, Khartoum
readers all over the world share your joy.
Lome, Accra,
Yamoussoukro,
Monrovia, Conakry,
Bamako, Nouakchott
41.12; 31.78
7295; 9440
Egypt, Libya, Algeria,
Mauritania,Niger
17.14
17505
Egypt
25.62
11710
Ndjamena, Yaoundé,
Abuja, Porto-Novo,
Bangui, Tunis
31.25; 21.80
London
Wellington
Antananarivo,
Mogadishu, Kampala,
Nairobi,
Dar es Salaam
20:00-21:00
9695; 11940; 13760
12:00-14:00
14:00-16:00
N’djamena, Yaoundé,
Abuja, Porto-Novo,
Bangui, Tunis
11940; 11965; 13760
The South Pacific
Lilongwe, Kigali,
Bujumbura, Harare,
Lusaka
19:00-20:00
25.13; 25.07; 21.80
30.94; 25.13; 21.80
UTC
Lilongwe, Kigali,
Bujumbura,
Harare, Lusaka
20:00-21:30
16:00-17:00
20:00-22:00
Kuwait
06:00-07:00
Frequencies
17:00-18:00
18:00-19:00
Teheran
Muscat, Abu Dhabi,
Doha, Riyadh
Meter Bands
Europe
West Asia
E-mail: themessenger@crifm.com
Cairo, Khartoum
05:00-07:00
www.crienglish.com 35
theMessenger
China Radio International
The Messenger magazine is the internal
journal of the English Service of China Radio
International, published bimonthly for CRI
listeners and web visitors.
Director-General: Wang Gengnian
Director: Yang Lei
The Messenger is free of charge. For extra
copies, further information and sending in
your contributions, please contact:
E-mail to: themessenger@crifm.com
English Service CRI, 16A Shijingshan Road,
Beijing, China 100040
Tel: 86-10-68891617/ 2971
Fax: 86-10-68891121
Email:crieng@crifm.com / crieng@cri.com.cn
Website: www.crienglish.com
Publisher: Liu Chi
Editor: Xie Qiao
Executive Editors: Zhao Jianfu, Li Yongjing, Peng Ran
Designer: Zhang Nan