IF YOU GOWhat: "Children of Hangzhou: Connecting With China."When: Saturday through May 13.Where: Creative Discovery Museum, 321 Chestnut St.Admission: $10.95.Phone: 756-2738.Website: www.cdmfun.org.
Starting Saturday, visitors to Creative Discovery Museum can learn about one of the oldest civilizations in the world -- and now among the most modern -- in "Children of Hangzhou: Connecting With China."
The interactive exhibit, which continues through May 13, features components of Chinese life today mixed with ancient traditions and modern lifestyles to show that life in China is both very similar to and different from life in North America.
Visitors will follow four young "tour guides" at home, at school, in the library, in the theater and in the countryside. Included are copies of original artwork created specifically for the exhibit.
Scheduled activities during Saturday's opening include calligraphy with Chris Campbell in the atrium from 11 am. to noon; tai ji demonstration in the atrium at 12:30 p.m.; Chinese calligraphy lesson in the Art Studio with Campbell at 1 p.m.; and a Chinese dance performance at 2 p.m.
Other activities and walk-up lessons will be held during the course of the exhibit, including a celebration of Chinese New Year on Jan. 21.
"Children of Hangzhou: Connecting With China" was created by Boston Children's Museum.
ADVENTURE STOPS
"Children of Hangzhou: Connecting With China" features the following locations.
Bus Stop: Enter Hangzhou, China, and meet the four "tour guides."
Wu Lin Men Apartments: Meet Weicheng and his family in their apartment and learn to cook a birthday meal for his grandmother.
Yellow Dragon Theater: Meet Wianyun, who is studying Chinese opera, and join in a performance of White Snake Lady or play traditional instruments.
Bao Chu Ta Middle School: Meet Gangzheng at school while learning about the Great Wall, and count on the abacus.
Pavilion: Learn about Chinese writing, poetry and yin and yang, the traditional worldview of balance and dualities in nature.
Hangzhou Children's Library: Check out the latest software and learn about China.
Huang Tian Fan Village: Meet Duoduo, help her plant rice seedlings with her grandfather, and learn about how two-thirds of people in China live off the land.