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The 16th Asian Games has opened in central Guangzhou in a blaze of fireworks as China staged the biggest sporting gala since the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The spectacular ceremony took place on Haixinsha Island in the Pearl River, with the 610-meter high Guangzhou Tower as a backdrop. Before the event tens of thousands of ordinary Guangzhou residents welcomed the games to their city as the 45 participating delegations sailed from White Swan Bay in the stunning Pearl River pageant. To view video from the opening ceremony and pageant and keep up to date with the games action visit the CNTV Special Feature 16th Asian Games.

The Shanghai World Expo 2010 was officially closed on 31 October 2010 after receiving a record 73 million visitors. China realised its century-old dream of hosting the event, and at the 184-day grand gala China and other countries from around the world eagerly showcased their history and culture. The Shanghai World Expo, the first held in a developing country in the event’s 159-year history, set one record after another in terms of the number of participating countries or regions, the size of the Expo park, and the number of visitors.

Under the theme of “Better City, Better Life,” the Shanghai Expo drew 246 participating nations and international organizations at the largest ever world fair site of 5.28 square kilometers. The ideas of pluralism, harmony, tolerance, originality and co-existence that the Shanghai Expo has upheld will carry on, inspire and encourage people to carry on and create an even brighter future in the post-Expo era.

To look back on the many facets of this great event visit the CNTV Special Feature World Expo 2010 Shanghai China.

The “Double Ninth Festival”, also known as the “Chongyang festival”, is a traditional Chinese festival which falls on the 9th day of the 9th month of the lunar calendar. It usually falls in October in the Gregorian calendar, this year on 16 October. In an ancient and mysterious book Yi Jing, or The Book of Changes, number “6” was thought to be of Yin character, meaning feminine or negative, while number “9” was thought to be Yang, meaning masculine or positive. So the number nine in both month and day create the Double Ninth Festival, or Chongyang Festival. Chong in Chinese means “double.” In 1989, the Chinese government rededicated the Double Ninth Festival as Senior Citizens’ Day, making it an opportunity for people to show their appreciation to the elderly. To find out more see the CNTV Special Feature Double Ninth, Double Happiness and the China.org.cn Feature Traditional Chinese Festivals – Double Ninth Festival.

A ceremony marking the 150th anniversary of the looting and burning of Yuanmingyuan, the Old Summer Palace, was held in Beijing on 18 October 2010. This imperial garden built in the Qing dynasty (1636-1911) was ransacked and destroyed by the British and French forces on 18 and 19 October 1860 during the Second Opium War. Yuanmingyuan, also known as “Garden of Gardens”, was 5 times the size of the Forbidden City. It was renowned for its garden and building architecture. The initial construction began in 1707, during reign of Emperor Kangxi, and the expansion continued for the next 150 years. Find out more in the CNTV Special Feature 150th Anniversary of Looting and Burning of Yuanmingyuan.

In just under a month the 16th Asian Games will commence in Guangzhou with what will undoubtedly be a spectacular opening ceremony. Final preparations are being put in place for this major event and the torch relay is underway. To find out more about the Guangzhou Asian Games host locations, venues, events, torch relay and preparations see the CNTV Special Feature Guangzhou Asian Games.