A year-long itinerant show featuring 1,000 precious Barbie dolls
since their creation in 1959 will be kicked off next January to
cover seven Chinese cities including Shanghai and Beijing, an
organizer said in Beijing on Wednesday.
The show, which has been staged in 35 countries, will start from
Chongqing, then move on to Qingdao, Changsha, Hangzhou, Kunming,
Shanghai and end up at Beijing between January 2008 and January
2009, said Zhu Zeling, chairman of the Professional Committee of
the Ethic Folklore and Relic with the China Relic Society.
The dolls to be exhibited, alongside with Lego building blocks,
are provided by a German company identified as MWS. When the show
is on, visitors will also be entertained with film show featuring
Barbie dolls, talent shows and contests on garment designing, said
Zhu.
The Barbie doll was designed and invested by Ruth Handler in the
1950s. It was first introduced at a toy fair in New York by the
Mattel toy company.
In its history of half century, Barbie dolls have been made to
represent 45 nationalities and more than 80 occupations. In 1997,
Mattel designed and put forward Barbie dolls donning attire of
traditional Chinese style.
Part of the proceeds from the shows will go to charity causes in
the seven cities, Zhu said.
(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2007)
