CHINA DAILY THURSDAY, MAY 20, 2010 nation 3
zhongshanspecial Zhongshan has long-term relationship with World Expos
By ZHAN LISHENG figure aer he died in 1925. “ere will also be folk art with economic ones, tradition “Dr Sun advocated ‘frater- performances outside, which with modernity and show off Zhongshan will open its nity’ during his lifetime. As are expected to help reproduce the city’s great historical fig- door to visitors from May 22 his hometown, Zhongshan the jollity of the city’s annual ures, celebrities, towns, busi- to 27 at the Urban Best Prac- has done a lot to carry forward gala,” said Jian Haiyan, deputy nesses and brand names. tices Area (UBPA) during the that spirit,” said Yin Zhaoju, president of China Red Cross Shanghai World Expo. vice-mayor of the city. Society’s Zhongshan branch City’s Expo history The Pearl River Delta city e theme for Zhongshan’s and deputy director of the “Believe it or not, we have has three exhibition halls for Expo show will be “fraternity city’s delegation to the Shang- reasonable evidence that the displaying its recent develop- and harmony”. hai Expo. first Chinese who attended the Local folk artists perform dragon dance during the charity parade. ment, its culture and history, as The performances, which World Expo was from Zhong- well as its unique multimedia Charity parade will take place from 15:30 to shan and that the first Chinese charity parade. e charity parade, held on 16:10 everyday during the who proposed that the World e exhibition halls cover a the day of the Chinese Lantern six days, include drunken Expo should be held in Shang- Charity parade helps total area of 1,500 sq m. Festival, the 15th day aer the dragon dance performed by hai was also from our city,” e city is the birthplace of Spring Festival, takes place eve- an art troupe from the city’s said Jian. Dr Sun Yat-sen or Sun Zhong- ry year in the city to raise funds Changzhou West district, as Historical records indicate shan (1886-1925), forerunner for the elderly and needy. well as a crane dance and lion that Xu Rongcun, a business- of China’s democratic revolu- At the Expo exhibition, the dance by the troupe from its man from the city, was the first build a better world tion, which overthrew the development of this annual Shaxi township. Chinese to attend the World feudal Qing Dynasty (1644- parade over the past 23 years According to Jian, Zhong- Expo in London in 1851, while By LAO ZHAN on every Lantern Festival. importance to the local gov- 1911) in 1911. Zhongshan will be highlighted and dis- shan’s exhibition halls will Zheng Guanying, a success- Over 3 million people ernment that use of funds is was named aer this historical played via multimedia. integrate cultural elements ful industrialist and eminent e annual charity parade including representatives of the rational and management of philosopher, became the first has become an integral red-cross societies nationwide, the money raised is transpar- Chinese to propose in 1893 part of Zhongshan people’s overseas Chinese and Hong ent. ey have established an that Shanghai should host the endeavor to develop the spirit Kong and Macao residents oversight system to ensure World Expo. of fraternity advocated by Dr of Zhongshan origin, and that this is the case. The First World Expo in Sun Yat-sen, a native of the migrant workers from across Any individual who donates London in 1851 failed to city and China’s democratic the nation have joined in the over 200 yuan and any organi- attract any attention of the forerunner. parades in the 23 years. zation, which donates over Chinese except Xu Rongcun, The local government’s And more than 1.2 million 1,000 yuan are made public, who was a successful busi- idea to highlight the theme of people have donated over and how the funds are used is nessman in Shanghai then. fraternity and harmony at the 700 million yuan during the subject to professional audit- Xu handpicked 12 packs of Shanghai Expo is what made past 23 parades. ing and made known to the “Yung Kee” silk for the Expo them stand out, according to The vice-mayor said that public every year. in London and the product Yin Zhaoju, vice-mayor of the event is well organized Of the funds, 218 million won a golden prize. the city. with 55 teams consisting of yuan has been used to help In 1893, Zheng Guanying “Our theme in application rural volunteers and another the needy and more than 5 advised that Shanghai should for a presence at the Expo 68 teams of community million yuan has been used to host the World Expo to make immediately impressed the volunteers playing active set up a special school for the the people rich and revitalize selectors among the 106 cases roles in a series of charitable disabled. the businesses in his master- submitted by over 80 cities activities ranging from Another 180 million of the piece “Words of Warning in globally,” he said. performances, sales, contests, funds was used for 63 public Times of Prosperity”, in which Yin said the charity parade medical services, maintenance projects including a hospital he elaborated upon the concept is a good demonstration of services and donations. and a first-aid center, with of commercial war. this theme. e city initiated The event is a showcase another 146 million yuan Zheng wrote that the World the annual charity parade in for folk activities including being used for disaster-relief Expo would bring numerous 1988, initially in an attempt the crane dance, phoenix on occasions including the benefits to the people and to raise funds for the elderly. dance, lion dance, and piu-sik Sichuan earthquake in 2008 the nation, and help improve It is now an annual charitable parade, turning the gala into and the disaster caused by PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY techniques, products and busi- gala in which tens of thou- a carnival. typhoon Morakot in Taiwan The former residence of Dr Sun Yat-sen, China’s democratic forerunner. nesses in China. sands of people participate He said that it is of great in 2009.