World Expo and Chinese Culture – Snuff Bottle from Qing Dynasty

Snuff bottle has been an exotic goods, it was taken to China by Italian missionary during the Ming Dynasty. However, after face-lift via Chinese traditional art, later with the production and painting technologies become more and more sophisticated increasingly, snuff bottle become a symbol of identity and taste in the socitey. Both at the London Expo held in 1862 and Panama Expo held in 1915, Chinese snuff bottles won special medals.

Original snuff bottles from the Qing period are a desirable target for serious collectors and museums. A good bottle has an extra quality over and above its exquisite beauty and value: that is touch. Snuff bottles were made to be held and so, as a rule, they have a wonderful tactile quality.



Snuff bottles were made out of many different materials including porcelain, jade, ivory, wood, tortoiseshell, metal and ceramic, though probably the most commonly used material was glass.

The snuff bottle winning prizes at World Expo is an inside-painted snuff bottle. The so-called inside-painting, namely use a specific fine brush, painted exquisite picture inside the snuff bottle by hand.




The class of bottle that arouses most interest is that known as inside painted. These are glass bottles which have pictures and often calligraphy painted on the inside surface of the glass.These delightful scenes are only an inch or two high and are painted while manipulating the brush through the neck of the bottle.

There still has production of inside-painted snuff bottles today, as a pure artwork, snuff bottles had been wiped off its original practical value. While the workmanship of inside hand painting has passed on from generation to generation, and become an essence of traditional Chinese art.

* Original address of this China gift post: China Gift and Fine Arts & Crafts in China

Introduction of 2010 China World Expo Pavilions V - Spain Pavilion

Spain Pavilion at 2010 Shanghai World Expo - The Infinite City

Theme: From the City of Our Parents to the City of Our Children


National Pavilion Day: August 30


Pavilion Area: Around 6,000 Square Meters


Location: Within Zone C of the Expo Site


Pavilion Features:

The Spain Pavilion is designed to be a hand-weaved wicker basket structure supported by the steel framework inside. "The Basket," as some have dubbed the pavilion, is "dressed" in more than 8,000 wicker panels in brown, beige, and black. Wicker weaving is a tradition in both Spain and China and the pavilion is like a bridge connecting the two nations. The panels were handmade by craftsmen in Shandong Province, each one unique in design.

The pavilion contains three exhibition halls which will take visitors through the time and space of the development of the cities in Spain with the theme of "From the City of Our Parents to the City of Our Children." The three displays are created by famous Spanish film makers from three decades.



Highlight 1: Chinese Calligraphy

The design is so specific because the black panels form the shapes of Chinese characters - sun and moon, for instance. It adds more Chinese culture flavor to the pavilion and make the pavilion more artistic.

Highlight 2: Cultural Events

Cultural Events Performance buffs and gourmets will be delighted by the pavilion, where they can enjoy authentic flamenco dancing and taste Spanish delicacies. The Spain Pavilion will be turned into a gastronomic cabaret that offers a feast to visitors every night by serving authentic delicacies and sizzling shows. The Spanish cultural events include soap bubbles, flamenco dancing, Latin and Spanish music. The daily show will be staged twice, at 6pm and 8pm, in the pavilion's amphitheatre.

Previous series of 2010 World Expo: Hong Kong Pavilion
Next series of 2010 World Expo:

* Original address of this China gift post: China Gift and Fine Arts & Crafts in China

May 31: World No Tobacco Day

Today, May 31, is the 23rd "World No Tobacco Day". At least today, you and I should work together to allow the good wish "World No Tobacco" come to reality to an utmost degree.

The ‘World No Tobacco Day’ every year has a specific theme. For example in 2009 it was "Refuse Second-Hand Smoke, Let your Lung Breathe freely", and this year the theme is "Gender and Tobacco: Concern Promotion Behaviors to Women"

Obviously, this year the theme of ‘World No Tobacco Day’ is against to tobacconists directly. As the market aimed to male smokers has no more space to dig – the number of male smokers in many countries and regions is continued to decrease –so tobacco companies around the world switch their expect for a huge profits to women.

In low and middle income countries, including developing countries like China, the tobacco industry begin to infiltrate through female market via various channels, they work hard to play up the benefits of smoking to women. Dr. Betcher, Director of WHO Tobacco Free Initiative, said at the news conference held at United Nations Office at Geneva on 28, May, said: "Tobacco companies are investing heavily in marketing to attract women, especially in middle income countries. They induce women believe that smoking is a symbol of beauty and liberation. Under the influence of this market strategy more and more young girls start smoking. "

Currently, 40% of men around the world smoke, while women smokers only accounted for 9% of the entire female population. Therefore, to promote more and more women to become smokers, become a big business in the eyes of tobacco companies. However, there is an unethical matter lies in this practice: compared to men, women are more susceptible to harms of tobaccos.

Among the 1 billion smokers on the earth, women smokers only account for 20%. However, among the 500 millions people who died from smoking every year, there are 150 millions are women, accounting for 30%. That is to say that among 800 million male smokers, there were 350 million lost their lives due to smoking every year, the ratio accounting for 0.44%; while the death rate of women smokers is as high as 0.75%, which is almost double the male.

Now the WHO is appealing to worldwide governments to prohibit all tobacco adverting, promotion and sponsorship activities, and take actions to protect women's lives and health from threat of tobacco. Aside from the resistance to tobacco advertising, promotion and activities, we should take actions from ourselves, exhort women close to ourselves away for smoking or persuade women smokers give up smoking as soon as possible.

* Original address of this China gift post: China Gift and Fine Arts & Crafts in China

Introduction of 2010 China World Expo Pavilions IV - Hong Kong Pavilion

Hong Kong Pavilion at 2010 Shanghai World Expo Pavilions - The Infinite City

Theme: Hong Kong - The Infinite City

Location: Within Zone A of the Expo Site

Pavilion Features:

The three-story metallic structure explores the theme "Hong Kong - the Infinite City," which features Hong Kong's unique connectivity with the mainland and the world in terms of both hardware and software, as well as the city's links to nature, to the past and to the future. The exhibition focuses on the special administrative region's transport network, advanced scientific facilities, financial and trade systems, multinational culture and sustainable high-quality urban life. Highlights include environmental protection, tourism, culture, innovation and the "one country, two systems" principle.

Pavilion Highlights:



Highlight 1: Wetland Park

The third floor of the pavilion will have an indoor wetland park based on the Hong Kong Wetland Park.


Highlight 2: Cultural Extravaganza

Fashion shows, film debuts, visual art exhibitions, a raft of performances and parades - all these feature in Hong Kong plans for the World Expo. There will be 47 cultural performances from the special administrative region during the fair, featuring Cantonese opera, Chinese and western music, multi-media shows and dance. Two visual art exhibitions are also on the agenda. One show will feature the development and innovation of ink art, while the other will highlight the assimilation and transformation of western and Chinese aesthetics in shaping the uniqueness of Hong Kong art.

Previous series of 2010 World Expo: India Pavilion
Next series of 2010 World Expo: Spain Pavilion

* Original address of this China gift post: China Gift and Fine Arts & Crafts in China

Introduction of 2010 China World Expo Pavilions III - India Pavilion

India Pavilion at 2010 Shanghai World Expo - Cities of Harmony

Theme: Cities of Harmony

National Pavilion Day: August 18

Location: Within Zone A of the Expo Site


Pavilion Features:

The pavilion has a crimson central dome, symbolizing the theme "Unity in Diversity" in India. A focus throughout the exhibit will be on interaction between rural and urban areas through exchange of goods and services.

Revolving around a journey of Indian cities from ancient times through medieval periods to modern India, the pavilion showcases India's rich cultural heritage, its diversity of faith, culture and language, traditional and modern technological development and urban-rural interface.



Highlight 1: Tree of Life


The entrance to the pavilion is through a vaulted portal with the "Tree of Life" carving inspired by the "Siddi Syed Mosque" at Ahmedabad. The central dome is herb-roofed with the "Tree of Life" in copper. The innovative combination of plants and metals distinguishes the dome.

Highlight 2: Zero-chemical Area

The seemingly ancient India Pavilion is replete with marvelous modern technologies. The pavilion is designed as a Zero-chemical Area. Energy efficiency is made possible through the use of solar panels, wind mills, herbs and bamboo. The terracotta and stone floor is inspired by the palace at Rampur in Varanasi and is cooled by embedded pipes. Therefore, visitors will be touring around the pavilion in a cool and comfortable temperature even in the summer.

Highlight 3: Indian Market

The "Indian Market" will be open for curious visitors. In fact, the attic in this market belongs to one of the exhibition areas of the India Pavilion, from which one can get a bird's-eye view of the whole pavilion. The market is also a catering service area. Traditional delicacies from various regions of India can be relished here.



Highlight 4: 360-degree Holographic Projection

The 360-degree Holographic Projection depicts India's evolvement over its long history, from the ancient times of Mohan Jodaro and Harappa (dating back to 2000-3000 BC) through the medieval period to modern India. The displays around the dome will further elaborate on the theme "Cities of Harmony."

- Previous series of 2010 World Expo: Danmark Pavilion
- Next series of 2010 World Expo: Hong Kong Pavilion

* Original address of this China gift post: China Gift and Fine Arts & Crafts in China

Present Your Mother with a Bouquet of Flowers

The special flower presented to mothers is carnation in the popular world, carnation is a species of flower with slender green stems and colorful beautiful flowers, whose petals compact and difficult to wither, as well as spindly leaves that not easy to curl, carnation flowers are graceful and rich, with elegant and chic poses.

Red carnation symbolizes passion, justice, goodliness and never give up, dedicated to mother and wish her mother good health and longevity;

Pink carnation symbolizes beauty, youth and hot love, dedicated to mother and wish her forever young and beautiful;

White carnation stands for pure love of children to mother, dedicated to mother to express real love and sincere gratitude to mother;

Yellow carnation symbolizes thanksgiving, dedicated to mother and thanks for her hard working.

　　
In China the special flower accustomed to dedicate to mother is hemerocallis flower or day lily, also known as Wang-You-Cao in Chinese. Hemerocallis flower is a species of perennial herb and belong the lily family. Hemerocallis flower has fleshy rhizome and long leaves, blossom orange red or orange-yellow flowers on the top of its slender branches, very beautiful, and very suitable for enjoyed watching, the buds of hemerocallis flower called Jin-zhen (in Chinese), so it also called daylily buds.

In the Mother's Day, children may present a bunch of day lily (Wang-You-Cao) to mother, and bless mother away from trouble and sorrow, wish her enjoyed a pleasurable life and have a good health and many happy returns.

On this special day, let us present a bunquet of flowers and our best blessing to all mothers in the world！All take action now, give mothers a happy holiday and do our obligations as children.

* Original address of this China gift post: China Gift and Fine Arts & Crafts in China