Carnival for the World's Youth

Children from all over the world, including Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, will soon have a chance to earn a rare certificate given only to those who have climbed the Great Wall of China.

The certificate, given to only 374 foreign heads of state since 1954, may be earned by participants in the First Beijing International Youth Carnival, a summer camp, scheduled for July 21-August 20.

The carnival was created by the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Tourism to introduce youths to one of the great wonders of Beijing, China and the world.

Imagine camp flags bearing participants' signatures flying along the fabled ramparts of the Great Wall; a candlelit dinner at the foot of the wall; camp members attempting to don space suits and climbing into a space shuttle; learning to make paper-cut art, dough figurines, Chinese kites and lanterns; enjoying Chinese gongfu (kung fu), acrobatics, Peking Opera and magic shows. If these kinds of activities whet your sense of adventure, you will find this and more at the carnival. Youths can enjoy the activities in the company of other children their age from around the world.

Imagine the challenge to men and women, girls and boys contained in the saying: "He who has not climbed the Great Wall is not a real man," yet understanding that climbing the wall is not a contest among the participants, but a personal challenge that will allow camp participants to experience the Great Wall's grandeur and magnificence.

Imagine the youths at a party on the evening of July 21 at the foot of the Great Wall where they will share a little of their own cultural heritage with their new friends.

After the opening night, camp activities will take place at the Yurong Bilingual School in Chang Ping District near the Ming Tombs.

On the morning of July 22, all participants will impress their fingerprints on a long scroll of paper, and which will be provided by representatives from the Beijing municipal government and the Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG). Later, Beijing folk artists are expected to demonstrate traditional folk arts such as paper cutting, seal cutting, dough figurines, pottery, Chinese knots as well as gongfu, acrobatics and Peking Opera. On July 23, about 100 presidents of universities and leaders of student unions from China and around the world will hold a symposium focusing on "education facing the future," from which China and foreign countries are expected to learn from each other.

Writing and photographic contests on the theme "I'm in Beijing" are also expected to be held, while Beijing's major travel agencies are expected to show off "the most impressive routes in Beijing" for the benefit of the children. 

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Time: July 21 - August 20

Cost: US$10 for participating in activities at the Great Wall（including tickets, meals etc.）; US$10 for participating in activities at the Beijing Yurong Bilingual School