The Confucius Institute for Scotland in the University of Edinburgh

Event for All ages, plant lovers, contemporary art and music going audience, people interested in Chinese culture.

Dialogues of Wind and Bamboo is an innovative site-specific, multi-media collaboration inviting the audience to experience traditional and contemporary Chinese culture. The symbol of living bamboo links human activity with the natural environment. Through live performances, sculptural installations and a series of unique workshops, the composer and artistic director Kimho Ip hopes the audience will be inspired to explore the Garden with their ears as well as with their eyes.

On Midsummer Night, the musical composition of Dialogues of Wind and Bamboo, will echo across the Garden from the Palm House – where Scottish artist-musician ensemble Found explore the electronic potential of sound sampled from ‘talking plants’ – past the pond where the Angkalung Ensemble play traditional hand-shaken chimes made from bamboo – to the T’ing at the foot of the Chinese Hillside where groups including the Harmony Ensemble and the Shanghai Jazz Project play music interacting with the soundscape at the top of the hill. Along the way, singers and dancers invite the audience to look and listen, responding to the mood of each location. This is a journey in time, space and cultural experience – from contemporary music symbolising our technological age to the rediscovery of a human connection with nature and the environment. The aim is to break down barriers separating cultures and to encourage the audience to become part of the performance.

China Now in Scotland - Dialogues of Wind and Bamboo - Unique Live Evening Performance

Following on from CBBC’s successful conference ‘UK and China: Partners in Sustainability’, this focused seminar will provide UK companies with an insight to the market situation and business
opportunities in the energy and environment sectors in China.

China has attached increasing importance to the impact of Climate Change. Chinese government stated its plans for renewable energy generation to meet 15% of the country`s growing energy needs by 2020. To achieve this goal, China is set to spend RMB2000 billion (over US$200 billion)by 2020, which would make it the world`s largest consumer of renewable energy.

Areas for discussion will include climate change, renewable energy, clean coal technology, environmental solutions and support for British companies seeking to work with Chinese partners in these areas.

CBBC is delighted to confirm that Mr Gao Guangsheng, Director General of the Office of National Coordination Committee on Climate Change, China National Development and Reform Commission has agreed to be our keynote speaker at the event. Following his introductory remarks, Mr Gao will join a panel including speakers from industry and government for what we anticipate to be a very informative and interactive session. The seminar will be chaired by Mr Stephen Philips, CEO of CBBC.

China Now in Scotland - CBBC/CNIS Seminar: Energy, Environment & Climate Change in China Energy, Environment and Climate Change in China

Take an exquisite, illuminated journey through the magnificent Glasshouses of the Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh and be part of Scotland’s first ever Chinese Spring Lantern Festival.

Produced in association with NVA, Scotland’s leading environmental arts organisation, Spirit is an entrancing celebration of the magical form of lanterns and the beauty of Chinese plants.

Spirit has been created by the RBGE with the support of The Scottish Government and in collaboration with NVA. This event is one of over a hundred taking place nationwide for China Now in Scotland.

Tickets are sold for timed slots, setting off every 10 minutes between 6.30pm - 8.30pm. The walk-through averages 30 minutes.

Royal Botanic Garden - A Chinese Spring Lantern Festival

February 7th 2008 is the first day of the first month in the Lunar Calendar. In the Chinese Zodiac, 2008 is a Year of the Rat. The characteristics associated with the Rat are postive - clever, courageous and enterprising.

The Rat year is the first in the twelve year cycle and this year, for the first time ever the year of the Rat will see the largest ever festival of Chinese culture celebrated here, the China Now in Scotland festival.

These informal social events take place most weeks on a Friday evening from 5pm.

Come along to the Confucius Institute any time from 5pm onwards. Both students of Chinese and Chinese native speakers are very welcome as well as those who would simply like the chance to see what the Institute can offer.

For more information please click here