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Hutongs. Heritage. Cocktails. Original Art. Silent Auction. Live Music.

One of the most anticipated events of Beijing’s 2010 summer is nearly here.

Do You Hutong? (看！胡同) is an innovative fundraiser hosted by Chinese NGO, Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center (CHP), and will blend cultural heritage, art, dialogue and interpretation to create a fun and informative event in support of preserving priceless pieces of China’s past.

Do You Hutong? features a multi-media cocktail party including original art, live music, photography, and interactive dialogue. The centerpiece of the event is a silent auction of distinctively designed courtyard gates by more than 20 artists and designers, both local and foreign.

Event sponsor: Three Shadows Art Photography Centre. Media sponsors: the Beijinger,  精品购物指南(Lifestyle), photographer Peter Carney. Event partners: Beijing Color Studio, NLGX Design, Quintessentially, Studio-X Beijing, The Fig Tree, The Schoolhouse Mutianyu.

19:00-23:00 | Saturday, 17 July 2010

Three Shadows Photography Art Centre

Advance ticket donation: RMB150 | At door: RMB200.

Ticket includes an inaugural CHP annual membership.

Do You Hutong? is a private event and open by invitation only – call 6403 6532 ext 0 or email events.chp@gmail.com for more information.

CHP would like to announce a change of panelist for the soon approaching Capital Conversations: Vanishing Beijing – Why Preservation this Sunday. Mr. Andrew Jacobs, Beijing Correspondent for The New York Times, has unexpectedly been called away from Beijing.

We are excited to announce that our new panelist is Mr. Ted Plafker, Beijing Correspondent for The Economist. Ted has lived in China since 1989, including his first 11 years in a hutong. He is an expert commentator on key economic, business and political issues in contemporary China and has released a book, Doing Business in China. He also has written for publications such as The Washington Post and International Herald Tribune.

Mr. Plafker will be a very valuable addition to the panel, and we look forward to hearing his ideas and views on cultural heritage preservation!

The UCCA-CHP Congjiang lecture was held at the 798 Art District on a beautiful Spring afternoon. Around 35 people attended, both Chinese and foreign, to listen to UNESCO and UN speakers, and Ms Wang Xiaowang – CHP’s Program Director for the Congjiang project .

Mr Joern Geisselmann, UN Programme Coordinator for The China Culture and Development Partnership Framework, spoke about the overall aims of this framework. The CHP-produced short film The Soul’s Paradise: Congjiang was shown before Ms Wang Xiaowang began discussing the project from CHP’s perspective, followed by a Q&A session

Thank you to the speakers for their participation:

• Ms. Beatrice Mr. Joern Geisselmann – UN Programme Coordinator for The China Culture and Development Partnership Framework
• Ms. Wang Xiaowang – Congjiang Cultural Mapping Project Manager, CHP
• Ms. Li Jiangping – UNESCO Project Coordinator for The China Culture and Development Partnership Framework

CHP would like to announce its new partnership with NLGX design! NLGX is an exciting Beijing-based independent apparel brand and design community. NLGX’s slogan ‘Preserve…Create’ highlights the common goal between both CHP and NLGX of preserving the past, and in NLGX’s case Creating New.

NLGX supports the local design community through collaborations and promotions at their flagship store in Beijing’s historical neighbourhood of Nanluoguxiang.

NLGX will be supporting CHP in a variety of ways, including passing onto CHP a percentage of profits from their ‘bu chai’ 不拆 apparel – NLGX’s best selling line of clothing.

CHP thanks NLGX for their generous support and looks forward to working closely together to protect China’s cultural heritage for future generations.

Visit their shop at:

#33 Nanluoguxiang
Dongcheng District
Beijing China 100009

Or check out their website: www.nlgx.com

Beijing Cultural Heritage Protection Center’s crucial discussion forum on the planned redevelopment of the Drum and Bell Tower neighborhood

The Drum and Bell Tower neighborhood, also known as Gulou among both locals and foreigners living in Beijing, is a unique neighborhood. Gulou has been a lively area since its establishment in the Ming Dynasty. Today, Gulou remains a popular location in Beijing, offering numerous chic shops and coffee bars to local residents and visitors. It is one of the few places left in Beijing that offers an authentic atmosphere truly unique to Beijing.

However, there is currently a demolition threat to the Gulou area. CHP urges everyone to help fight to protect this special neighborhood for future generations to enjoy.

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