For readers of Mao’s Last Dancer comes the inspiring true story of a world-famous acrobat who left communist China to begin a new life in Australia. Jingjing Xue was born in China in 1947, during a period of civil war. Jingjing, left in an orphanage in Shanghai, was destined to a life of hardship before officials singled him out and enlisted him to train with the Shanghai Acrobatics School. Shanghai Acrobat tells the moving story of Jingjing’s rise from poverty to become an admired performer in China and beyond. Through the turbulent period of the Cultural Revolution, he realised the value of freedom. This is a story of hope and perseverance, of overcoming adversity and of finding a place to belong. ‘A beautifully written book ... a poignant, riveting story of determination and perseverance against the odds. This is a success story that will resonate for those from all over the world who have called Australia home.’ —Andrew Kwong, author of One Bright Moon ‘Inspiring . . . the richness of detail, along with the photographs, reveal a marvelous story of endurance and fortitude.’ —Kirkus

Engaging stories covering current personalities, popular sports figures and events, mysteries, disasters, legends and mythology, and amazing facts in science and nature hold students’ interest and capture their imaginations. A controlled vocabulary averaging two readability levels below content ensures understanding and promotes confidence.

In China, unlike in Western cinema, documentary film, rather than fiction film, has been the dominant mode since 1949. In recent years, documentary TV programmes have experienced a meteoric rise. Arguing that there is a gradual process of 'democratization' in the media, in which documentaries play a significant role, this book discusses various types of Chinese documentaries, under both the planned and the market economy. It especially explores the relationship between documentaries and society, showing how, under the market economy, although the government continues to use the genre as propaganda to promote its ideologies and policies, documentaries are being used as a medium where public concerns and alternative voices can be heard.

For readers of Mao's Last Dancer comes the inspiring true story of a world-famous acrobat who escaped communist China to begin a new life in Australia. Jingjing Xue was born in China in the 1950s, during one of the worst times in the reign of communist leader Mao Zedong, or Chairman Mao. Mao's extreme five-year industrialisation plan -- the Great Leap Forward -- left much of the population starving, destitute and gripped with fear. Jingjing, abandoned to an orphanage as a young boy, was destined to a life of hardship before officials singled him out and enlisted him to train with the Shanghai Acrobatics School. This autobiography tells the moving story of his rise from poverty to become an admired performer in China and beyond -- and of his extraordinary escape from Mao's repressive regime to secure his freedom. Set in China from the early years of the communist era, through the turbulent period of the Cultural Revolution, and to a new life in Australia, this is a story of hope and perseverance, of overcoming adversity and of finding a place to belong.

Once an eagerly awaited spectacle, the traveling circus--that miracle of red wagons, trumpeting elephants and spangled trapeze artists that slipped into town at dawn and disappeared by midnight--has all but vanished from the American landscape. This work explores circus history from 1793 to the present and addresses the forces of modern culture (such as the popularity of Cirque du Soleil, and pressure from the animal rights movement) that are pushing big top shows toward what the author calls "circus ballet." Numerous photographs and in-depth interviews conducted with show owners, performers and directors enrich the narrative. Overall, the book reveals a sobering contrast between circuses of yesterday and today, even as it honors the outstanding performers who created, and have sustained, the enduring appeal of the circus.

Kaname is in the doldrums: There's just one week until the end of summer vacation, and she hasn't done anything interesting! Fortunately, Sousuke is here to provide a little adventure, by offering her a trip to Merida Island. But what starts for Kaname as a simple trip to learn more about the mystery surrounding her quickly snowballs into a firefight in a chemical weapons facility, a reunion with a mortal enemy, and a battle for control of a runaway submarine! However things turn out, at least she can't claim that her summer was uneventful...

Placing theme parks from the United States, Europe and Asia in a comparative, multidisciplinary framework, this fascinating book argues that these fantasy environments are an extreme example of the totalization of public space. By illuminating the relationship between theme parks and public space, this book offers critical insights into the ethos of total landscape. Illuminating the relationship between theme parks and public space, the book offers an insight into the ethos, design and expectations of public space in the twenty-first century.

An e-book that contains information from experienced Shanghai travelers on travel, hotels, entertainment, health issues, safety, and business etiquette. This Shanghai Business Travel Guide assumes you are a North American businessperson traveling directly from North America to Shanghai, China. The Guide's goal is to provide you with practical and current information that will allow you to plan and execute your trip most effectively. The Guide contains information written by business people who have lived, worked, and played in Shanghai. The Guide is different from most China travel guides, which are written for tourists not business people and are not frequently updated. Travel guides usually contain glowing reports of life in a particular country; we tell it like it is! This Guide helps you prepare for your trip by advising you how much to budget for your trip, how to get a visa, and what vaccinations you should have. We suggest the best hotels and help you find your way from the airport to your hotel. Of course the main purpose of your trip is business, and understanding Chinese business etiquette may mean the difference between a successful trip and a failure. We explain how the Chinese conduct business and guide you through business meetings and dinners. The Guide is packed with advice from experienced Shanghai travelers on all the things we love about the city and many of the problems we have encountered. We tell you how to power up your laptop and where to find the best restaurants and bars and what to do in an emergency. The Guide is packed with hyperlinks to relevant sites and even has a chapter on critical Chinese phrases you will need. And you can hear a native speaker recitethe phrases. This is an electronic document that will be emailed to you (Be sure to include your email address with your order.) The document is in PDF format and can be read with free Adobe Acrobat Reader software (www.adobe.com).