Michael Phelps

Michael Phelps
gives a swimming lesson in Beijing
.

Jackie Chan, Andy Lau to star in movie about China’s famed martial arts Shaolin Temple

HONG KONG — The king of kung fu cinema is set to star in a new movie about China’s famed shrine of martial arts, the Shaolin Temple.

New managers vow to resurrect storied Hong Kong film studio Golden Harvest

HONG KONG — The new management of a famed Hong Kong film studio that worked with Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and John Woo promised Wednesday to revive the company into a Chinese powerhouse in movie production and multiplexes.

Chow Yun-fat signs on as early 20th century bad guy in Chinese frontier film

HONG KONG — After taking on the ancient sage Confucius, Chow Yun-fat has signed on to play an early 20th century bad guy in a $19 million Chinese frontier film.

China’s anniversary film breaks 400M yuan mark, still lags ‘Transformers’ record

HONG KONG — China’s blockbuster anniversary film to mark 60 years of communist rule has broken the 400 million Chinese yuan ($59 million) mark, but still lags the all-time box office record set by “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” earlier this year, a publicist said Tuesday.

Barbra Streisand auctions ‘The Way We Were’ robe, costumes, art, furniture for charities

LOS ANGELES — A robe worn by Barbra Streisand in “The Way We Were” sold for nearly $6,000 and an outfit from “Meet the Fockers” went for $3,500 at an auction of hundreds of the entertainer’s personal items.

Vlad the Promoter: Putin suggests song contest for Russia, Central Asia, China

MOSCOW — From the Cold War to a Battle of the Bands.

Gap will again advertise merchandise on television and open 1st store in China next year

NEW YORK — The apparel retailer Gap Inc. on Thursday announced plans to return to television advertising in November for its namesake brand, after a two-year hiatus, and said it will continue to expand internationally.

Chinese director says ban on his work allowed him to catch up on watching foreign movies

HONG KONG — A famed Chinese director who was banned for a 1993 film says his nine-year absence from the movies turned out to be a welcome chance to catch up on foreign works.

German book fair head defends choice of China, says country’s selection should help freedom

FRANKFURT — The director of the world’s largest book fair said Wednesday that the selection of China as the event’s special guest should help the country move closer to the West and away from censorship and restrictions on dissent.

Harry Connick Jr. says he did right thing by denouncing Australian blackface skit

HONG KONG — Harry Connick Jr. says he did the right thing by expressing his outrage at a blackface skit poking fun at the Jackson Five in Australia last week.

Retired gymnast Li Ning named first Chinese representative to UN World Food Program

BEIJING — Retired Olympic champion gymnast Li Ning has been named the first Chinese anti-hunger ambassador for the U.N. World Food Program.

Frankfurt book fair highlights China, organizers hope for cultural dialogue

BERLIN — Organizers of the Frankfurt Book Fair worked for 15 years to secure China as the guest of honor at their five-day showcase of global trends and best sellers that opens to industry delegates Wednesday.

Harvard to digitize its collection of rare Chinese books in a 6-year-deal with China

BOSTON — One of the most extensive collections of rare Chinese books outside China will be freely available as Harvard University has agreed to digitize the titles.

Michael Jackson movie to screen in China, gets one of last foreign film import slots

HONG KONG — The Michael Jackson documentary “This Is It” has snapped up one of the last of China’s 20 annual foreign movie import slots, a Sony Pictures executive said Tuesday.

Executive: China’s anniversary propaganda film on track to match record set by ‘Transformers’

HONG KONG — China’s star-studded propaganda blockbuster that marks 60 years of communist rule is on track to match the country’s box office record set by the Hollywood film “Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen” in July, a senior movie executive said Monday.

Edison Chen to appear in 1st movie since sex photo scandal erupted in early 2008

HONG KONG — Edison Chen will appear in his first movie since his career was derailed by a sex photo scandal more than a year ago.

Taiwan’s National Palace Museum to open first-ever joint exhibition with China

TAIPEI, Taiwan — Taiwan’s National Palace Museum said Friday it will open its first-ever joint exhibition with China next week, 60 years after they split amid civil war.

The Bazaar Charity Gala

Jaycee Chan The Bazaar Charity Gala Beijing, China - 28.09.09**Not Available for Publication in China. Available for publication in the Rest of the World**Credit Mandatory: IANS-WENN

Fox invests in 1st Chinese movie, romantic comedy now filming on the mainland

HONG KONG — Fox Filmed Entertainment says it has invested in its first Chinese film, becoming the latest Hollywood studio to enter the booming mainland movie market.

China clears downtown Beijing for massive parade to mark 60 years of communist rule

BEIJING — Downtown Beijing was virtually closed Wednesday, with police blocking off Tiananmen Square, the Forbidden City and other popular tourist landmarks in preparation for an extravaganza to mark 60 years of communist rule.

China launches investigation into imports of US chicken on dumping, subsidy complaints

BEIJING — China on Sunday started investigating complaints that American chicken products are being dumped in China and are unfairly benefiting from subsidies, adding to a string of trade disputes with Washington.