Celebrating China at Clare Hall

Over the past two years the college has hosted several events celebrating some of the different cultures which contribute to its diverse student body. In February, it is the turn of China.

A photography exhibition exploring Chinese people abroad and the development of China was opened at the college on Monday 4. It displays photographs taken by the winners and finalists of a competition organised by the Chinese Students & Scholars Association in Cambridge.

On Saturday 9 the celebrated poet, crime novelist, critic and academic Professor Qiu Xiaolong will discuss his latest novel, Red Mandarin Dress. The book features his recurring protagonist Inspector Chen on the trail of a serial killer in Shanghai. Professor Qiu will be signing copies of his book at the event.

Several lectures will also be given as part of the celebrations. These include talks from the British Museum's curator of China and Korea on The First Emperor Exhibition and from one of the most influential scholars of Chinese history in the last 50 years, Dr. Michael Loewe, who will discuss ‘The Qin Empire and its achievements'. Both will be delivered on Sunday 17.

On Friday 22, BP's Director of Advanced Technology, Dr. Stephen Wittrig, will speak on ‘Turning Great Chinese Science into Global Technologies'. Dr. Wittrig has been deeply involved in developing and deploying clean technologies for China and the rest of the world, in collaboration with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Tsinghua University.

His talk will be followed by a lecture from Judge Business School's Professor Peter Nolan on globalisation and China. He is Director of the Chinese Big Business Programme at the school and conducts fieldwork in China's leading home firms and many of the world's largest companies.

Clare Hall will play host to an exhibition of two contemporary Chinese artists, opening on Thursday 21. The mixed media collages and photographs of Chiu Kim Lee explore the perception of multicultural identity, whilst Wen Wu's pieces address ideas of beauty through a mixture of classical Chinese and modern popular cultures.

On Saturday 23 the college will host a workshop on making Chinese dumplings, pancakes and noodles, suitable for all the family. That evening, the Chinese film Still Life, winner of 2006's Golden Lion prize at the Venice Film Festival, will be shown. The film tells the story of the inhabitants of a town being evacuated to make way for a new dam.

The celebrations will be rounded off on Sunday 24 with a performance from a string and wind group world renowned for their performance of traditional Chinese music. The Silk and Bamboo Ensemble consists of expert musicians and play regional, traditional and contemporary music, as well as participating in cross-cultural and cross-genre musical events. They toured for two years with the Shaolin Monks' musical Shaolin: Wheel of Life.

Full details of all the events can be found on Clare Hall's website (see sidebar). All events are free and open to the public, except where otherwise noted. Those seeking further information should contact Clare Hall on 01223 332368.