China's Terracotta Army replica industry in Shaanxi province

   The latest issue of China Daily (European Weekly) (here) features an article on nearly thirty factories in Shaanxi province that produce reproductions of the terracotta army guarding the tomb complex of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor of China.

   You can read the full article here.

Michael Freeman talks about the Tea Horse Road at Asia House, London June 22nd

    Award-winning photographer Michael Freeman will discuss the two years he spent compiling a remarkable visual record, from the Tea Mountains of Yunnan and Sichuan to Tibet, at Asia House, New Cavendish St, London, W1 at 6.45pm on June 22nd.

   One of the longest and most dramatic trade routes of the ancient world, the Tea Horse Road facilitated a crucial exchange of tea and horse for 13 centuries between China and Tibet. This 3,000km network of trails through forests, gorges and high passes onto the Himalayan plateaus was traversed by horse, mule and yak caravan and human porters, linking cultures, economies and political ambitions.

   Freeman has made a speciality of documentary reportage on Asia over the last three decades, and his work has been featured in the Smithsonian Magazine, Time-Life, The Sunday Times Magazine and GEO, among many others. Though best known for his work on Asia, he has also written and/or taken photographs of subjects all over the world, including the UK, the USA, South America and Sudan.

   You can get further details here. Tickets are £8.00 and places are limited. See you there.

Beijing & Kunqu Opera at the Southbank Centre July 21st

Chinese efforts to preserve underwater archaeological wreck sites

   I picked up a copy of the European weekly edition of China Daily (here) and there's an article on the Chinese Goverment's efforts to salvage the wrecks of the Ming Dynasty merchant vessel Nan'ao No. 1 discovered in 2007 in the South China Sea, and also the Song Dynasty Nanhai No. 1 lifted entire from the seabed also in 2007.

   You can read the article here.