Crowds flock to Olympic props exhibition in Beijing

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-08-30 15:58

BEIJING -- An exhibit of the ancient Chinese drum, or "fou", and other props used at the opening and closing ceremonies of the Beijing Olympics has been attracting thousands of visitors.

Crowds swarmed into the "One World, One Dream" Beijing Olympic Theme Exhibition at the Beijing World Art Museum at the weekend to take a closer look at dozens of items used for the shows.

Nine fou drums, costumes of the fou drummers and the grey robes worn by performers in the Confucian Analects chapter are among the exhibits.

"I come all the way to have a look at the fou drum. I am curious about it since I was amazed by the 2,008 fou drummers playing at the opening ceremony," said Li Zhe, a junior from Henan University of Finance and Economics in central China's Henan Province, who came with his parents.

The fou -- a pottery or bronze crock, pot, or similar vessel, which is struck with a stick -- dates back to the Xia Dynasty (2100 BC-1600 BC) or Shang Dynasty (1600 BC to 1100 BC) when it was used in rituals.

Yuan Wei, a volunteer at the exhibition, said the props were gaining the most attention, and "when the guide played the Fou drum, visitors would crowd around to listen to the drumbeat."

The Olympic flame container and Olympic torches, and the lute and the two-stringed Chinese fiddle played in Beijing's eight-minute show at the closing ceremony of the 2004 Athens Summer Olympics are also on display.

The collection includes the gold, silver and bronze medals of the Beijing Olympics and the first gold medal for China won by pistol shooter Xu Haifeng in the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics, among other items.

The exhibition is open free to 4,000 ticket holders each day until October10. The public can apply for tickets with their ID cards.

Li Jing, who works for the China Petroleum and Chemical Corp, said he came to the exhibition to "recapture the Beijing Olympic feeling".

"I am still so excited when thinking of the Games, and I will keep an eye on the Paralympics too," Li said.