Great Wall meets Hadrian's Wall

An exhibition of photographs of the Great Wall of China curated and sponsored by Chinese publishing company Phoenix Publishing and Media Group (PPMG) opens in London on 2 August at Central Hall, Westminster.
The Hadrian's Wall Trust has helped PPMG stage the exhibition, The Great Wall – Photographs Then and Now, and PPMG chairman Chen Haiyan visited Hadrian’s Wall on 30 July with Linda Tuttiett, chief executive of the Hadrian's Wall Trust to sign a memorandum of understanding on future co-operation.

PPMG is one of the largest publishing and media companies in China.

The exhibition is the first stage in a developing partnership between Hadrian's Wall and the Great Wall. Images of Hadrian's Wall showing Housesteads Crags and Castle Nick are part of the exhibition.

Between 2001 and 2011 volunteers led by photographer Zhang Baotian researched and collected old photographs of the Great Wall taken by archaeologists, geographers, travellers and enthusiasts over the last 140 years, and then took photos of the same locations on the wall today.

The exhibition has been curated by Chen Haiyan and Li Xue, vice president of PPMG.

At the signing of the memorandum of understanding at Steel Rigg, Hadrian's Wall, Linda Tuttiett said: "We're delighted to welcome Chen Haiyan to Hadrian's Wall to see part of the Roman empire's north west frontier and the fabulous natural beauty of the landscape in this part of England.

"We are very pleased to announce we will have the Great Wall photos here in Hadrian's Wall Country in November.

"The Great Wall and Hadrian's Wall were both inscribed as world heritage sites in 1987, so this year is the 25th anniversary of the status for both monuments.

"UNESCO's vision for world heritage sites is to promote understanding, tolerance and co-operation amongst the peoples of the world through respect for their shared heritage.

"Working together with PPMG we hope to raise awareness of the sites with new audiences across the world and help realise their potential to contribute to local communities through sustainable tourism development."

Chen Haiyan said: "In Chinese, the words 'peace' and 'integration' share the same pronuciation.  Peace is the eternal theme of the Great Wall, and integration is the basis of development.

"It is our hope that through cooperation we can promote historical and cultural exchange between China and the UK.

"We are confident that the agreement will build a bridge of communication between the two countries for future collaboration and development."

Future collaboration between PPMG and the Hadrian's Wall Trust will include tourism, conference and publishing projects.

The exhibition will be at Central Hall, Westminster from Thursday 2 August until Saturday 4 August. It then moves to Charing Cross Library on 17 August to 17 September, and to the School of Oriental and African Studies, Russell Square, London from 18 September to 2 November. Entry to all these venues is free.        
      
A photographic book, Remembrance of The Great Wall, consisting of over 560 images has been published by the Great Wall Publishing Center of Phoenix Science Press Ltd under PPMG for distribution later this year.  PPMG has supported the research, production and distribution of books, documentaries and e-publishing about the Great Wall since 2007.

The first overseas subsidiary of PPMG, PPM International (London) Ltd, is now setting up a digital printing factory in Basildon. The company will also be involved in publishing, copyright trading, paper trading, cultural events such as the exhibition, and tourism