Star Wars Episode II -- Attack of the Clones, a science fiction Hollywood movie like its predecessors is a box office record breaker. Staged in almost all the cinemas of Beijing, the country's capital, it has brought a three-day box office takings of 2.5 million yuan, exceeding the takings of Harry Potter and Lord of the Rings in their first-three-day showings in the city.

Following the film success, a newly-published book series of Star Wars quickly edged into the best sellers in Beijing, Tuesday's China Youth Daily reported.

An exhibition of works by one of the world's most famous surrealist artists, Salvador Dali, is also touring China's major cities, currently reaching its climax in Beijing's sweltering summer days.

The traveling exhibition, with the theme "Salvador Dali: A Journey Into Fantasy," displays 370 pieces of the artist's works, renowned for their fantastic dreamlike images. It has attracted thousands of visitors every day since opening in Beijing on July 15.

Despite a luke-warm reception in Guangzhou, David Copperfield, a noted American master magician, still retains his magical touch in Beijing, the next leg in his tour, as advance ticket sales are encouraging in the city.

Though the conjuring shows will not start in Beijing until the end of July, the low-end seats costing 110 yuan or 220 yuan have already been sold out.

In addition, many foreign youth symphony orchestras also begin to show up more frequently in Beijing's classical musical circle this summer.

With the increased opening up of the Chinese cultural market, students aged from 17 to 25, who are also the major consumers on the market, want to increase their vision and cultural experiences and to develop an open mind.

Experts consider that this attitude provides a solid foundation which will encourage the spread of foreign art to China, but in doing so may also bring big challenges to domestic art.

(Xinhua News Agency July 23, 2002)