When the Fortune Global Forum opens in Beijing next week, chances are world business leaders might envy their spouses.

A carefully thought out "spouse programme" will allow wives or husbands of the participating executives to experience the best of Beijing's rich heritage in three days from Monday, Zhang Qian, an official of the Beijing Municipal Government, said yesterday.

While the global business chiefs rack their brains over the world's pressing economic issues, their other halves will explore a "wild" (unrestored) section of the Great Wall, shop in Beijing's fabled markets, and even practice the martial art of Taiji (Tai Chi).

"The spouse programme is a complimentary three-day event to the Fortune forum. Organizers have taken nearly a year to plan the tour," according to Robert Bierman, president of Fortune magazine's conference division.

By Monday, 89 multinationals, including 77 of those ranked among the Global 500 and a dozen among the Fortune 500, had registered to attend the gathering, which the US publication Fortune magazine chose to hold in China for the third time since 1999.

"The number of spouse attendees reached 129 by May 7," Zhang told a press conference yesterday.

The spouses will begin their first day with a guided exploration to the Great Wall, where they can hike to the ramparts to be greeted by "stunning views."

Then they will be shown around The Commune by the Great Wall, a private collection of contemporary architecture designed by 12 Asian architects, which won a special prize at the prestigious Venice Biennial in 2002.

The spouses will have "a tight but light agenda" on May 17, when they may choose to visit Taimiao, the imperial ancestral temple east of the Forbidden City, tour the Forbidden City, or take a look at the training facility for China's Olympic diving team.

They will immerse themselves in the traditional Chinese arts and culture at Taimiao, where they can watch yangge a popular rural folk dance and "land boat" performance.

It is also the place where Taiji masters demonstrate their ancient martial art, inviting the spouses to practice under their direction.

Other activities on the second day include a trek to the Summer Palace, and watching Peking Opera at Changpuhe Park, a renovated river park lying to the east of the Forbidden City, considered one of Beijing's most beautiful outdoor spaces.

On May 18, the spouses will have a chance to visit the Buddha and Buddhists at Yonghegong Lamasery, and stroll through a hutong, the traditional narrow lanes formed by closely built quadrangular dwellings.

Robert Bierman of the Fortune magazine told reporters the three-day travel route is not only welcomed by their spouses quite a few CEOs also itched to attend the programme.

(China Daily May 13, 2005)