UNIVERSAL CITY, Calif., Jan. 4, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Universal Studios Hollywood^SM today welcomed the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development's Culture Fair, a celebration of Chinese art and culture featuring three days of engaging activities and interactive displays exhibiting the historical city's most notable landmarks. The event, "Glamorous Beijing: World City," promotes tourism to the People's Republic of China's capital city and takes place through January 6, 2013, in the theme park's iconic Globe Theatre from 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.  Admission will be free to the Globe Theatre during the event.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130104/LA37421-a)

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130104/LA37421-b)

The fair, which opened on January 4 with a dynamic opening ceremony featuring a traditional lion and dragon dance, gives guests an exclusive opportunity to explore the magic of Beijing.

During the vibrant opening event, representatives from the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development and the Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board (LA Tourism) signed an official agreement indicating a new stage of partnership between the two organizations within the World Tourism Cities Federation (WTCF), further promoting an exchange of tourism between the influential destinations.

Larry Kurzweil, President, Universal Studios Hollywood, said:  "Universal Studios Hollywood is proud to extend the red-carpet treatment to the Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism and to all of our visitors from China.  We take great pride in supporting the exchange of Chinese and American culture by hosting this event within our movie studio and theme park experience."

Yu Debin, deputy director of Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development, said: "Universal Studios Hollywood, The Entertainment Capital of L.A., is the ideal location for hosting the Beijing Tourism Cultural Fair.  This event is more than a display of Beijing—it also represents the beginning of a strong partnership between Beijing and Los Angeles tourism."

Ernest Wooden Jr., President & CEO for LA Tourism, said: "Today's celebration is not just about travel to Beijing or to Los Angeles…it is about the cultural and economic benefits of tourism between our two great destinations.  Signing this Memorandum of Understanding today is another positive step in growing tourism between the leading gateways of China and the U.S."

Activities at the family-friendly fair include lessons on the ancient arts of paper cutting and creating figures with palm leaves, as well as painting and creating clay figurines and Beijing opera masks. Dozens of delicate drawings on display feature captions giving an overall description of natural scenery, local customs, cultural charm and the international vision of Beijing.

While Beijing has been the capital of China for 860 years, the city has 3,000 years of history to explore. In conjunction with the event, the ICN TV Network's television program, "Glamorous Beijing," will be introduced.

Universal Studios Hollywood caters to Chinese guests with in-language park maps; menu options popular with Chinese visitors at select restaurants in the park; Mandarin-speaking guides on the famous behind-the-scenes Studio Tour; and Mandarin-speaking retail associates available in the park's shops to help guests find the perfect memento of their visit.

Universal Studios Hollywood, The Entertainment Capital of L.A., includes a full-day, movie-based theme park and Studio Tour; the CityWalk entertainment, shopping and dining complex, the Universal CityWalk Cinemas, the "5 Towers" state-of-the-art outdoor concert venue, and the Gibson Amphitheatre concert and special event arena.  World-class rides and attractions include the critically-acclaimed thrill ride, "Transformers™: The Ride—3D," the intense, award-winning ride, "King Kong 360 3-D" on the famed behind-the-scenes Studio Tour, "The Simpsons Ride^TM," "Revenge of the Mummy^SM —The Ride" indoor roller coaster and "Jurassic Park® —The Ride."

As one of the composing departments of the People's Government of Beijing Municipality, Beijing Municipal Tourism Development Commission mainly takes the responsibilities of promoting the city's tourism image, managing its tourism resources and coordinating the development of its tourism industry. Functions of the Commission also cover the formulation of the city's tourism laws and regulations, its tourism environment build-up, the policy guidance and the administration for the city's tourism industry. 

Beijing Municipal Tourism Development Commission is proud to be the administrative and service sector for a city which is both an ancient oriental capital with splendid civilization, culture and history, and an international metropolis in modern era. The Commission is dedicated to making Beijing a world class city in tourism, and enabling those who visit and stop over the city to truly experience the glamour and vitality that the city offers, and to fully enjoy the warmth and inclusiveness from the local people. 

Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board is a private, nonprofit business association whose primary mission is to market and promote Los Angeles as the premier site for leisure travel, meetings and conventions. Though not part of City government, LA Tourism is recognized as the City's official tourism marketing organization. For more information, visit the official visitor information website of Los Angeles at www.discoverLosAngeles.com, facebook.com/LosAngelesFan or go to Twitter @discoverLA.

ICN TV Network is now a leading company in North America for broadcasting the largest audience and the broadest coverage in the Chinese Media.  It has 16 channels covering Los Angeles, New York, San Francisco, Houston, Austin, Seattle, Vancouver and Toronto in Canada.  Its English and Chinese channels broadcast programs of real-time news, entertainment, drama, education and culture and business investment around the clock and seven days a week by means of online and mobile platforms provide netizens and mobile users all over the world with direct access to its English and Chinese programs.

ICN also boasts a super-strong team of technical staff who are versed in integrating resources of all kinds to provide clients with customized services for publicity or advertising campaigns in collaboration with radio, TV, newspapers, outdoor media and other forms of media, with truly stunning results.

SOURCE Universal Studios Hollywood