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[+/-] : Dalai Lama family's former manor celebrates "spring ploughing day"
LHASA, March 15 (Xinhua) -- Nearly 50 km west of Lhasa's city center, hidden in the middle of nowhere in the Lhasa River Valley surrounded by craggy mountains, is the obscure village of Shexing, a former manor of the 14th Dalai Lama's parents and the now home to about 400 Tibetan farmers.
Villagers present Chemar during a ceremony to mark the start of the spring farming season at Dagze County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region,
Sunday is the "spring ploughing day", the 20th day of the Tibetan new year and an auspicious date to begin farming according to the Tibetan calendar, calculated on the basis of star movements.
Sunday is the "spring ploughing day", the 20th day of the Tibetan new year and an auspicious date to begin farming according to the Tibetan calendar, calculated on the basis of star movements.
All the villagers were dolled up in their best clothing: traditional costumes, hats or scarves and boots for the elderly, elegant silk jacket and costumes for young women, and colorful down coats with Mickey Mouse or other Disney images for children.
Ten-year-old Awangdasan stood out as the "chief seeder" for this year's ceremony. The third-grader was born in the Chinese year of the rabbit, with an auspicious birth date that implied good harvest, said village official Alodanba through an interpreter.
Awangdasan was dressed in a brown costume, with a hand-knitted, green and brown woolen sweater underneath and a scarlet hat on his head. A shy boy with few words, he quietly held a small bucket of highland barley, and followed two cattle -- both hybrids of bull and yak, to spread the seeds on the ploughed ground.
Eleven tractors, all privately-owned, followed them to plough the field, in the middle of which a fire had been lit. As a tradition, housewives from every family added firewood, highland barley and flour to the fire to keep it burning and giving off thick, but not suffocating, smoke, a gesture to worship gods and pray for harvest.
Ten-year-old Awangdasan stood out as the "chief seeder" for this year's ceremony. The third-grader was born in the Chinese year of the rabbit, with an auspicious birth date that implied good harvest, said village official Alodanba through an interpreter.
Awangdasan was dressed in a brown costume, with a hand-knitted, green and brown woolen sweater underneath and a scarlet hat on his head. A shy boy with few words, he quietly held a small bucket of highland barley, and followed two cattle -- both hybrids of bull and yak, to spread the seeds on the ploughed ground.
Eleven tractors, all privately-owned, followed them to plough the field, in the middle of which a fire had been lit. As a tradition, housewives from every family added firewood, highland barley and flour to the fire to keep it burning and giving off thick, but not suffocating, smoke, a gesture to worship gods and pray for harvest.
Local villagers drive tractors in a row during a ceremony to mark the start of the spring farming season at Shexing Village, Doilung Deqen County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 15, 2009.
Not every inch of the village's 133 hectares of farmland was ploughed and planted Sunday. "It was just a ceremony, but an important event for all Tibetan farmers," said Alodanba. "Everyone will begin working in the fields tomorrow."
At the end of the ceremony, every family offered a hada, a white, Tibetan-style scarf to the "chief seeder", the cattle and the tractor drivers. At least 60 men and women stood in a circle to dance Tibetan dances and sing songs to hail their hometown.
"In my lovely homeland there is a pagoda made of gold; on top of the pagoda there is a beautiful mural; even after three days of rain and snow, the mural remains unchanged..." as one of the songs goes.
"We love to sing about the beautiful things in our life: the mountains, rivers, blue sky, and love between young men and women," said village official Alodanba. "In one word, we sing and dance to express our wish, for everyone to be healthy and for our homeland to be peaceful."
At the end of the ceremony, every family offered a hada, a white, Tibetan-style scarf to the "chief seeder", the cattle and the tractor drivers. At least 60 men and women stood in a circle to dance Tibetan dances and sing songs to hail their hometown.
"In my lovely homeland there is a pagoda made of gold; on top of the pagoda there is a beautiful mural; even after three days of rain and snow, the mural remains unchanged..." as one of the songs goes.
"We love to sing about the beautiful things in our life: the mountains, rivers, blue sky, and love between young men and women," said village official Alodanba. "In one word, we sing and dance to express our wish, for everyone to be healthy and for our homeland to be peaceful."
Local villagers perform a kind of traditional dance during a ceremony to mark the start of the spring farming season at Shexing Village, Doilung Deqen County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 15, 2009.
FEUDAL MANOR LOST
In Shexing Village today, few people remember the life before 1959, the year feudal serfdom was abolished in Tibet.
The village used to be a manor of the 14th Dalai Lama's parents. "No one remembered seeing his parents here. They entrusted a relative to take care of the holding," said Siniloshang, 68.
Siniloshang, who was a village official for 40 years before he retired last year, moved to Shexing Village to live with his wife's family in 1960. "I just heard the elderly people say the manor's housekeeper, Longsaiphuntsok, was cruel to the serfs. Every time he passed on horseback, whoever was on his way must turn around and run as far as possible."
In Shexing Village today, few people remember the life before 1959, the year feudal serfdom was abolished in Tibet.
The village used to be a manor of the 14th Dalai Lama's parents. "No one remembered seeing his parents here. They entrusted a relative to take care of the holding," said Siniloshang, 68.
Siniloshang, who was a village official for 40 years before he retired last year, moved to Shexing Village to live with his wife's family in 1960. "I just heard the elderly people say the manor's housekeeper, Longsaiphuntsok, was cruel to the serfs. Every time he passed on horseback, whoever was on his way must turn around and run as far as possible."
Local villagers burn joss sticks during a ceremony to mark the start of the spring farming season at Shexing Village, Doilung Deqen County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 15, 2009
As a young man, Siniloshang used to hear the elderly villagers sing a doggerel, which, with black humor, told the life and mindset of the serfs. The doggerel goes as follows, when translated into English:
"No food, no drink, but not a second's hesitation when there's work to be done; No shoes, no socks, trek along on your bare feet, day and night, all year round. So? Pray you had ironclad hoofs, and eyes of an owl so that you can work tirelessly day in, day out."
Today, not a single house of the former manor is still standing. "The old houses were shared among the poor villagers after 1959 and have been torn down over the years," said Siniloshang.
In a government-sponsored project, the villagers are building new homes with subsidies ranging from 24,000 to 45,000 yuan (3,530 to 6,620 U.S. dollars). By the end of this year, every family will move into their new homes, said Siniloshang.
"No food, no drink, but not a second's hesitation when there's work to be done; No shoes, no socks, trek along on your bare feet, day and night, all year round. So? Pray you had ironclad hoofs, and eyes of an owl so that you can work tirelessly day in, day out."
Today, not a single house of the former manor is still standing. "The old houses were shared among the poor villagers after 1959 and have been torn down over the years," said Siniloshang.
In a government-sponsored project, the villagers are building new homes with subsidies ranging from 24,000 to 45,000 yuan (3,530 to 6,620 U.S. dollars). By the end of this year, every family will move into their new homes, said Siniloshang.
Women present highland barley wine to tractor drivers during a ceremony to mark the start of the spring farming season at Dagze County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, March 15, 2009.
Siniloshang was elected village secretary shortly after he was married. "It was a 'democratic election'," he said. "There were about 10 candidates but no ballot. So we just put our hats on the ground and the villagers voted by throwing peas into the hat of the ideal candidate."
Life was tough in the village, as few crops survive at an altitude more than 3,700 meters high. The villagers mainly plant highland barley and a little wheat, peas and occasionally, rape.
But thanks to the rich clay resources in the Lhasa River valley, most villagers make two incomes nowadays by farming and working at a local brickyard. "When they're not busy in the fields, they can work at the brickyard for 30 to 50 yuan a day," said Siniloshang.
The village, surrounded by mountains on all sides, had little access to traffic before the plateau highway linking Qinghai and Tibet was built in the 1950s. Today, a few families have bought trucks to bring in supplies to and from the inland regions. "Theserich families report 20,000 yuan of per capita income a year," said Siniloshang.
Life was tough in the village, as few crops survive at an altitude more than 3,700 meters high. The villagers mainly plant highland barley and a little wheat, peas and occasionally, rape.
But thanks to the rich clay resources in the Lhasa River valley, most villagers make two incomes nowadays by farming and working at a local brickyard. "When they're not busy in the fields, they can work at the brickyard for 30 to 50 yuan a day," said Siniloshang.
The village, surrounded by mountains on all sides, had little access to traffic before the plateau highway linking Qinghai and Tibet was built in the 1950s. Today, a few families have bought trucks to bring in supplies to and from the inland regions. "Theserich families report 20,000 yuan of per capita income a year," said Siniloshang.
The average per capita annual income in Shexing Village is about 4,000 yuan a year, incomparable with the city dwellers but higher than the average 3,400 yuan in Maxiang Township, a cluster of six villages including Shexing. 
"Until 1967, no one was able to read or write except a living Buddha at the village monastery," said Siniloshang. "The first village school was founded in the late 1960s."
Today, all the children go to the village primary school and move to the county seat of Doilungdeqen for secondary education. At least six young people have entered college, the oldest of whom, Zhasang, has secured a job at the Agricultural Bank of China in Nyemo County, in the suburbs of Lhasa.
"Until 1967, no one was able to read or write except a living Buddha at the village monastery," said Siniloshang. "The first village school was founded in the late 1960s."
Today, all the children go to the village primary school and move to the county seat of Doilungdeqen for secondary education. At least six young people have entered college, the oldest of whom, Zhasang, has secured a job at the Agricultural Bank of China in Nyemo County, in the suburbs of Lhasa.
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[+/-] : DPRK top leader poses for group photo with soldiers
Top leader Kim Jong-il (front row C) of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) poses for a group photo with soldiers in Pyongyang in this undated picture released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on March 21, 2009.
Top leader Kim Jong-il (front row C) of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) poses for a group photo with soldiers in Pyongyang in this undated picture released by the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on March 21, 2009.
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[+/-] : Soong Ching-ling exhibition opens in Hong Kong
The Dr Sun Yat-sen Museum in Hong Kong began to display on Thursday a selection of valuable artifacts and photographs showing the life of Dr Sun's wife Soong Ching-ling (1893-1981).
The 70 exhibits are being shown in Hong Kong for the first time, including the wedding gift from Soong's mother, the pen Dr Sun used to sign his will and his family testaments.
A series of lectures and activities will be held during the exhibition period, which will end June 17....
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The 70 exhibits are being shown in Hong Kong for the first time, including the wedding gift from Soong's mother, the pen Dr Sun used to sign his will and his family testaments.
A series of lectures and activities will be held during the exhibition period, which will end June 17....
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[+/-] : Tibetan intangible cultural heritage exhibition unveiled in Macao
MACAO, March 20 (Xinhua) -- Being the first of its kind in Macao, the Exhibition of Essence of Tibetan Intangible Cultural Heritage opened here on Friday, which featured a total of 99 exhibits that are of Tibetan cultural importance.
With the theme of "Customs and Practices in Snow-capped Plateau", the five-day exhibition was sponsored by China's Ministry of Culture, and co-hosted by various associations and governmental departments in the Chinese mainland and the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).
Former vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, Raidi speaks at a joint interview after attending the opening ceremony of the Exhibition of Essence of Tibetan Intangible Cultural Heritage in Macao, south China, March 20, 2009. He emphasized that the fundamental issue of Tibet is economical development and living standard improvment relies on science, education and cultural development and also human resources training.
The exhibition showcased Tibetan cultural classics, such as Thangka, golden Buddha statues, scriptures, Tibetan opera masks and precious historical records of Tibetan literature, music, dancing, and opera, etc. The event attracted over 450 local visitors upon opening.
Being an inalienable part of China, a unitary multi-ethnic country, Tibetan ethnic culture is "a shining pearl" of Chinese culture and "a valuable treasure" to the world, said Raidi, former vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, in a speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the exhibition. He is also an ethnic Tibetan and a former leader of Tibet Autonomous Region.
An aureate carving silvern pot made in ancient China's Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) is seen in the Exhibition of Essence of Tibetan Intangible Cultural Heritage in Macao, south China, March 20, 2009. The five-day exhibition was opened here on Friday, displaying 99 exhibits that are of Tibetan cultural importance.
Over a long historical period, the Tibetans created a rich and diversified culture with distinct characteristics, which not only include a large number of tangible cultural heritage, such as the world-renowned Potala Palace, but a more comprehensive intangible cultural heritage in the forms of language and literature, opera and music, painting and sculpting, etc.
For the time being, a total of 46 items of Tibetan dancing, music, opera, etc have been put under national preservation as they are listed in China's intangible cultural heritage catalog, according to the organizer of the exhibition.
Photo taken on March 20, 2009 shows a view of the Exhibition of Essence of Tibetan Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Macao, south China. The five-day exhibition was opened here on Friday, displaying 99 exhibits that are of Tibetan cultural importance.
Meanwhile, there were at least 2,330 registered historical sites of various types in Tibet, among which 329 had been put under protection at different levels, including 35 key ones under state protection, 112 under regional protection, and 182 under the protection of cities and counties by the end of 2006, according to the white paper issued last year by China's Information Office of the State Council.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the democratic reform in Tibet. In the years following the reform, China's central government has drawn up specific laws and regulations and invested a large amount of manpower and funds to preserve Tibetan cultural heritage, said Raidi, adding that the preservation works and its development have achieved "huge success".
Tibetan opera masks are seen in the Exhibition of Essence of Tibetan Intangible Cultural Heritage in Macao, south China, on March 20, 2009. The five-day exhibition was opened here on Friday, displaying 99 exhibits that are of Tibetan cultural importance. (Xinhua/Zhou Lei)Photo
With the theme of "Customs and Practices in Snow-capped Plateau", the five-day exhibition was sponsored by China's Ministry of Culture, and co-hosted by various associations and governmental departments in the Chinese mainland and the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).
Former vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, China's top legislature, Raidi speaks at a joint interview after attending the opening ceremony of the Exhibition of Essence of Tibetan Intangible Cultural Heritage in Macao, south China, March 20, 2009. He emphasized that the fundamental issue of Tibet is economical development and living standard improvment relies on science, education and cultural development and also human resources training.
The exhibition showcased Tibetan cultural classics, such as Thangka, golden Buddha statues, scriptures, Tibetan opera masks and precious historical records of Tibetan literature, music, dancing, and opera, etc. The event attracted over 450 local visitors upon opening.
Being an inalienable part of China, a unitary multi-ethnic country, Tibetan ethnic culture is "a shining pearl" of Chinese culture and "a valuable treasure" to the world, said Raidi, former vice-chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, in a speech delivered at the opening ceremony of the exhibition. He is also an ethnic Tibetan and a former leader of Tibet Autonomous Region.
An aureate carving silvern pot made in ancient China's Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) is seen in the Exhibition of Essence of Tibetan Intangible Cultural Heritage in Macao, south China, March 20, 2009. The five-day exhibition was opened here on Friday, displaying 99 exhibits that are of Tibetan cultural importance.
Over a long historical period, the Tibetans created a rich and diversified culture with distinct characteristics, which not only include a large number of tangible cultural heritage, such as the world-renowned Potala Palace, but a more comprehensive intangible cultural heritage in the forms of language and literature, opera and music, painting and sculpting, etc.
For the time being, a total of 46 items of Tibetan dancing, music, opera, etc have been put under national preservation as they are listed in China's intangible cultural heritage catalog, according to the organizer of the exhibition.
Photo taken on March 20, 2009 shows a view of the Exhibition of Essence of Tibetan Intangible Cultural Heritage held in Macao, south China. The five-day exhibition was opened here on Friday, displaying 99 exhibits that are of Tibetan cultural importance.
Meanwhile, there were at least 2,330 registered historical sites of various types in Tibet, among which 329 had been put under protection at different levels, including 35 key ones under state protection, 112 under regional protection, and 182 under the protection of cities and counties by the end of 2006, according to the white paper issued last year by China's Information Office of the State Council.
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the democratic reform in Tibet. In the years following the reform, China's central government has drawn up specific laws and regulations and invested a large amount of manpower and funds to preserve Tibetan cultural heritage, said Raidi, adding that the preservation works and its development have achieved "huge success".
Tibetan opera masks are seen in the Exhibition of Essence of Tibetan Intangible Cultural Heritage in Macao, south China, on March 20, 2009. The five-day exhibition was opened here on Friday, displaying 99 exhibits that are of Tibetan cultural importance. (Xinhua/Zhou Lei)Photo
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[+/-] : Team gold goes to China in Men's Gymnastics
Chen Yibing holds up his fist after his performance
China dominated Men's Gymnastics today, winning the Team Gold with a total of 286.125 points. Japan won the silver medal with 278.875 points and the United States won the bronze medal with 275.850 points.
China performed modestly on its first two apparatuses, the Floor Exercise and Pommel, but blew the field away with a masterful display in both the Rings and Vault.
A relaxed and smiling Chinese team was led by its veterans, Huang Xu, Yang Wei and Li Xiaopeng.
Huang performed well in the Rings, scoring 16.000. However, his performance was just a taste of things to come because Yang and Chen Yibing scored 16.300 and 16.575 in the Rings respectively, helping China be the top-ranking team on the apparatus.
All-Around specialist Yang continued his good form by scoring a high 16.600 in the Vault. Li then ensured that China would also be the highest-scoring team in the Vault by scoring 16.775, taking China's score in the Vault to 49.325.
China practically secured its gold medal by the end of the fifth rotation, dominating the Parallel Bars. All three Chinese gymnasts, Huang, Yang and Li, scored over 16 points on the apparatus.
China still managed to be the best-performed team in the Horizontal Bar, despite the apparatus being seen as one of the team's weak links. Youngster Zou Kai finished off China's gold-medal-winning performance by scoring 15.975 – the best individual performance in the Horizontal Bar.
Prior to the Team final, Japan was seen as China's main rival for the gold medal. However, Japan rarely threatened China and was only able to trump China in the Floor Exercise.
Japan's attempt to win the gold medal came totally unstuck in the Vault – it performed very poorly and was the lowest ranking team on the apparatus with only 46.750 points.
The United States looked as though it was going to challenge Japan for the silver medal, but its performance in the last two rotations was poor. The United States' Joey Hagerty performed poorly in the Floor Exercise and Kevin Tan was the worst performed individual in the Pommel.
The gold medal is a glorious success for China, who failed to win a medal in the Men's Team event at Athens 2004 after winning the gold medal at Sydney 2000. Three members of today's team, Yang, Li and Huang were all part of the gold-medal-winning team in Sydney.
China performed modestly on its first two apparatuses, the Floor Exercise and Pommel, but blew the field away with a masterful display in both the Rings and Vault.
A relaxed and smiling Chinese team was led by its veterans, Huang Xu, Yang Wei and Li Xiaopeng.
Huang performed well in the Rings, scoring 16.000. However, his performance was just a taste of things to come because Yang and Chen Yibing scored 16.300 and 16.575 in the Rings respectively, helping China be the top-ranking team on the apparatus.
All-Around specialist Yang continued his good form by scoring a high 16.600 in the Vault. Li then ensured that China would also be the highest-scoring team in the Vault by scoring 16.775, taking China's score in the Vault to 49.325.
China practically secured its gold medal by the end of the fifth rotation, dominating the Parallel Bars. All three Chinese gymnasts, Huang, Yang and Li, scored over 16 points on the apparatus.
China still managed to be the best-performed team in the Horizontal Bar, despite the apparatus being seen as one of the team's weak links. Youngster Zou Kai finished off China's gold-medal-winning performance by scoring 15.975 – the best individual performance in the Horizontal Bar.
Prior to the Team final, Japan was seen as China's main rival for the gold medal. However, Japan rarely threatened China and was only able to trump China in the Floor Exercise.
Japan's attempt to win the gold medal came totally unstuck in the Vault – it performed very poorly and was the lowest ranking team on the apparatus with only 46.750 points.
The United States looked as though it was going to challenge Japan for the silver medal, but its performance in the last two rotations was poor. The United States' Joey Hagerty performed poorly in the Floor Exercise and Kevin Tan was the worst performed individual in the Pommel.
The gold medal is a glorious success for China, who failed to win a medal in the Men's Team event at Athens 2004 after winning the gold medal at Sydney 2000. Three members of today's team, Yang, Li and Huang were all part of the gold-medal-winning team in Sydney.
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[+/-] : Coughlin takes gold in Women's 100m Backstroke
Coughlin competesNatalie Coughlin of the United States won gold medal in the Women's 100m Backstroke final on Tuesday at the National Aquatics Center in an American record time of 58.96.
Coughlin, the defending Olympic champion, was second fastest qualifier into the final and sped out hard to see off the challenge from Monday's world record setter Kirsty Coventry from Zimbabwe .
This was the first gold medal for the US women in what has been a disappointing Games in the pool for them so far.
World record holder Coventry qualified fastest for the final but after her busy program she was unable to match Coughlin's speed and finished with the silver medal in 59.19.
Margaret Hoelzer, also from the US, touched out Gemma Spofforth of Great Britain to take bronze in 59.34.
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[+/-] : Women's Football Day 1
Solveig Gulbrandsen (L) of Norway competes with Shannon Boxx of the United States
Norwegian striker Leni Larsen Kaurin's two-minute goal in Norway's 2-0 victory over the Athens 2004 gold medalist, the United States was the fastest-ever goal in the Women's Olympic Football tournament.
The previous fastest goal in the women's tournament was scored at Atlanta 1996 when Germany's Pia Wunderlich scored in the fourth minute against Brazil. Norway's second goal was just as early as the previous fastest goal, when Melissa Wiik stole the ball from the US defense and scored.
Brazil's Formiga holds off Germany's Renate Lingorof
After six first-round group games, China and Canada are leading their groups, after they scored 2-1 victories over Sweden and Argentina.
The 0-0 draw between 2007 World Cup champion and runner-up, Germany and Brazil, put them in equal second place in their group. A 1-0 win over Nigeria put the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the top of Group F, and its opponent Nigeria has been banished to the bottom of the group behind Germany and Brazil.
Group G is similar to Group F, with Norway on top, Japan and New Zealand in equal second place after their 2-2 draw, and the United States in last place after opening-minute mistakes cost it dearly in its first game.
...The 0-0 draw between 2007 World Cup champion and runner-up, Germany and Brazil, put them in equal second place in their group. A 1-0 win over Nigeria put the Democratic People's Republic of Korea at the top of Group F, and its opponent Nigeria has been banished to the bottom of the group behind Germany and Brazil.
Group G is similar to Group F, with Norway on top, Japan and New Zealand in equal second place after their 2-2 draw, and the United States in last place after opening-minute mistakes cost it dearly in its first game.
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