Inside High Walls——Prisons in Shanghai and Suzhou

The article is based on a visit to the Tilanqiao, Qingpu and Women's prisons and a juvenile delinquent rehabilitation center in Shanghai and the Suzhou Prison of Jiangsu Province in February 2001 by the author, a graduate student of human rights. She made the trip with a group of experts from China Society for Human Rights Studies.     

Farmers' Self-decision Right in New Countryside Construction——An interview with Lu Xueyi,a specialist on rural issues

EDITOR'S NOTE: In October 2005, the central government of China put forward the historical task of constructing a socialist new countryside. Since then, China has adopted many practical and effective measures for the construction of a socialist new countryside. This year farmers had a good harvest of grains, incomes for fanners have continued to increase and execution of social programs in the countryside has accelerated. It can be said that construction of a new socialist countryside has had a good beginning. How to evaluate the current state of affairs relating to the building of a new countryside? How to respect and safeguard farmers' human rights in constructing a new countryside? What issues should be paid attention to in the protection of farmer's rights and interests? Lu Xueyi, a specialist on "san nong"-related issues ("san nong" refers to agriculture, the countryside and peasantry), addresses these questions in a recent interview.     

Xiahe——a Jewel in Gansu

In a remote southwest corner of GansuProvince, five hours from Lanzhou, liesGannan Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture. Formany years I had a desire to visit the principaltown, Xiahe. 3,000 metres above sea level, it isa major centre of Buddhism and hence attractspilgrims from a wide area.I visited Xiahe in the autumn of 1997 aspart of a journey I was undertaking along the fa-bled Silk Road.I appreciated the kindness and help shown     

Inclusion of Human Rights in the Constitution——An Important Milestone in China's Human Rights Development

On March 14, 2004, a proposed amendment to the Constitution was adopted by the Second Session of the Tenth National People's Congress (NPC), which stipulates clearly that "the state respects and safeguards human fights." This is the first time that the concept of "human rights" has been included in the Constitution—a major event in the development of China's democratic constitutionalism and political civilization, and an important milestone in human rights progress in China.     

For People''''s Right to Safety Of Lives and Health——On development of health-related human rights in China

Medical and health work constitutes the prerequisite to protection of the people's right to safety of lives and health. Over the past decades, the Chinese Government has spared no effort in this regard and, as a result, the Chinese people's health has significantly improved. In the nationwide fight against the SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) epidemic in the first half of 2003, the Government placed the health of the Chinese people and the safety of their lives above everything else. With a huge input of human, financial and material resources, the country won a decisive victory over the epidemic. Following is the full text of an interview by Human Rights with Gao Qiang, executive vice-minister of the Ministry of Health, on China's medical and health work and how it is related to protection of human rights.     

Modern Art in an Ancient Setting——Beijing's Red Gate Gallery

A SCENDING the ancient stone steps to Red Gate Gallery reveals the quintessential Beijing pan orama. The gallery is housed in Dongbianmen Watchtower, a Ming Dynasty structure straddling the last crumbling vestiges of Beijing＇s city wall. Like a besieged bastion of the city＇s imperial past, the watchtower is hemmed in by railway lines and Beijing＇s Second Ring Road. The glass and steel edifices of the CBD loom in the distance. It＇s appropriate that this ancient fortress, surrounded by a cornucopia of modern development, houses a gallery that has long been a cultural bastion of a more contemoorary kind.     

A TRIP OF FRIENDSHIP, SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY——Chinese Teenager Astronautics Summer Camp Delegation in Russia

Invited by the Russian organi- zation concerned the Chinese Teenager Astronautics Delegation of 51 members jointly sent by the CPAFFC, the China Association for Science and Technology and the Chi nese Soc iety of Astronautics, went to participate in the astronautics summer camp in Russia from July 12 to 21. It is most accurate to call their visit to Russia a “trip of astronautic science and technol- ogy”. The delegation visited the Space Museum of Rocket and Space Corporation Energ…     

Let Each Child Have a Role to Play——A teacher''''s experiences in human rights education

The future of a country and society belongs to children and youngsters. As a primary school teacher, I keenly feel the need to educate our children in human rights, so that they will develop in an all-round way, morally, intellectually and physically. Over the past few yeas, I have tried to incorporate education in human rights into activities in     

Development of China''''s Human Rights Cause in the Past 13 Years

The most recent 13 years constitute a period of paramount importance in the history of human rights development in China. These years have seen the Chinese government persistently take economic construction as the core of all work and spare no effort to strengthen the building of democracy and the legal system and promote the development of spiritual civilization. This has brought about an all-round progress of the reform and development undertakings, ensured stability of the country, and brought about a sharp increase in the national strength. A historic change has taken place in living standards, and the Chinese people have come to enjoy a better life after they succeeded in producing enough to feed and clothe themselves. To sum up, Chi-     

Development of China''''s Human Rights Cause in the Past 13 Years

The most recent 13 years constitute a period of paramount importance in the history of human rights development in China. These years have seen the Chinese government persistently take economic construction as the core of all work and spare no effort to strengthen the building of democracy and the legal system and promote the development of spiritual civilization. This has brought about an all-round progress of the reform and development undertakings, ensured stability of the country, and brought about a sharp increase in the national strength. A historic change has taken place in living standards, and the Chinese people have come to enjoy a better life after they succeeded in producing enough to feed and clothe themselves. To sum up, Chi-     

Just a Small Cog——Reflections on My 30-Year Experience as a Foreign Affairs Worker in Shanghai

On an autumn day in 1964, I stepped into the Foreign AffairsOffice of Shanghai, a short-haired former school teacher,dressed in white blouse and black skirt, apparently with all the verveof a youngster and the nervousness of a student on first enteringcollege. One of the leading officials in the room said to his colleagues:"She is now the youngest among us." This was the scene how I joinedthe staff there.     

Harry Potter Weaves His Magic in China

ON a stormy night so severe that dozens of trees were knocked down in the innerBeijing suburb of Dongzhimen, local girl Zhang Jing braved the harsh weather and empty streets to make her way to a cinema. Inside Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was playing on the silver screen. ＂HP fans＂ with Zhang Jing＇s dedication are by no means rare in China. Despite hitting local screens a month behind the global release date, enjoying only limited publicity and suffering from a small number of film prints in circulation, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix was a certified blockbuster in China, grossing over RMB 110 million in just nine days.     

The Mysterious Forest in Xishuangbanna

Shen Xueren was born in Weifang City,Shandong Province in June 1941.He graduated from the Central Academy of Arts in 1966,and re- ceived a doctor's degree at the United Nations International University. Now,he is a member of the China Artists Association and the Chinese Calligrapher Association,a consultant for the China International Association of Celebrity,the arts and cultural exchange ambassador of the World Peace Foundation,an honorable member of the British Royal Joint Academy of Sciences,a researcher at the Research Center of the World Cultural Arts and an honored painter of the Cultural Market Development Center of the Ministry of Culture. In 1978,Shen created the Flower Painting Association.In the same year,he participated in the setting up of Beijing Painting Shop.In 1980,he created the Research Association of Flower and Bird Paintings together with his friends.In 1999,he set up Shen Xueren Art Gallery and Shen Xueren Art Museum.From 1982 to 2000,he had many art exhibitions in many countries including the U.S.A.,Japan,France,Canada and Singapore.Wu Zuoren,Chairman of China Artists Association,attended the opening ceremony of his exhibition in Beijing.The chairman of the Artists Association hosted his exhibition in France.The Chinese Ambassador in Canada,Yu Chen,hosted his exhibi- tion in Canada. The local TV and newspapers report on his exhibitions,and his artwork is collected by embassies and museums.He was invited to draw pictures for the National Museum of China,the Great Hall of the People, Xinhua News Agency,the People's Daily and CCTV,and was also invited to the University of Toronto to give lectures on Chinese painting. Shen has won many awards in many countries.These include an award of excellence for international ink paintings held in Japan in 1986, an award of excellence for new in- ternational art exhibitions in 1988 in Japan,the gold medal of the second Chinese Art Competition in 1999,a sil- ver medal in the 2000 World Chinese Art Exhibition,and a special award from the 2001 Beijing International Art Exhibition.In 2007 his artwork was collected by the UN World Peace Foundation and was awarded the World Peace Art Achievement Award. He was given the title World Art Master.     

A Pearl Embedded in the New Silk Road——An Exclusive Interview with Mayor of Kaifeng Ji Bing

正KAIFENG,located in the heart of China,was the world’s biggest and busiest city during the 11th and 12th centuries.As the intersection of the land and maritime Silk Roads,it was a place from where goods were dispatched and traders from the East and West met.Today,it is a major city in the central China economic region due to its integrated development with Zhengzhou,capital of Henan Province.     

Fantasy,Somnambulism and Games in Liu Ye''''s Paintings

LIU Ye's paintings are a surrealistic blend of fantasy and reality. His canvases are a conglomeration of images of happy childhood and of catastrophic events unrelated to daily life. They combine to express a dread of reality. Liu beckons his viewers to join in the games of this visionary world, playing whatever roles they see fit. A girl and boy dressed in sailor suits look bemused, and two youths that magnetize the viewer's attention are in an     

Different Outlooks on Life——Reflected in Chinese and Western Fisherman's Poems

Natural poems,especially fisherman’s poems,can always reflect different outlooks on life of Chinese and western poets.And such differences mainly result from cultural backgrounds.Under the influence of Christian belief,western fisherman’s poems attached more significance to the afterlife,while Chinese poets always express satisfaction in the unity of man and nature in this life,as a result of the influence of Confucianism and Taoism.     

Overcoming Language Barrier——Bilingual education in Dongxiang County,Gansu

Education has been underdeveloped in Dongxiang Autonomous County, Gansu Province, which is the only region in China where ethnic Dongxiangs live in compact communities. In primary schools there, only about 20% of the pupils achieve a passing grade for the two basic subjects of Chinese and mathematics, less than one-third of the average local rate. However, this has changed markedly thanks to a bilingual education experiment.     

Legal Problems Concerning Health Discrimination in Employment

Year 2003 was regarded by the Chinese media as a year of antidiscrimination by hepatitis virus B (HVB) carriers. The series of events that happened in the year aroused the attention of the whole society to show concern for discrimination against HVB carriers. On April 3, a murder case occurred in Zhejiang Province; on November 20, 1,611 citizens put their signatures to a proposals, demanding review of the provisions on public servant recruitment that bar HVB carriers in 31 provinces and cities and calling for laws to protect HVB carriers. The signed proposal was delivered to the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress, the Ministry of Health and the Legislative Affairs Office of the State Council. In December, the people's court in Xinwu District of Wuhu City in Anhui officially accepted the case of the first HVB carrier against the personnel bureau of     

Tibetan Religious Culture——Speech at ASEM5 People’s Forum in Hanoi,Vietnam

My name is Nyima Tshering.I am speaking on behalf of the China Association for Pres-ervation and Development of Tibetan Culture.Mytopic is Tibetan religious culture.I am a Tibetan monk from the Jokhang Mon-astery in Lhasa of Tibet as well as council mem-ber of the China Association for Preservation andDevelopment of Tibetan Culture.As a Tibetanmonk I feel greatly honoured to discuss Tibetanculture and religions with you.Located in the southwest of China,Tibet lieson the Qinghai-Tib…