In an effort to charm Shanghai, the Consulate General of Switzerland has launched a broad promotion of Switzerland in Shanghai in the autumn months of 2003. Many different events in the field of music, theatre, art and architecture are featured from September to December in different venues of the city. These events are completed by a promotion of Swiss food and food products.

The events start with an interesting co-operation between Switzerland and China, the Opera "The Bet for Life", written and composed by Mr. Wen Deqing, a Chinese composer living in Geneva. His contacts with the Geneva Contrechamps orchestra have led to an interesting modern opera shown at the Grand Theatre. The libretti are sung by the stars from the Shanghai opera, accompanied by Contrechamps.

Following at the beginning of October is a theatre performance by the world-famous Mummenschanz troupe, theatre mimes who have achieved world-wide fame with their colourful programs.

Another spectacular and unique music event brings seven grand pianos to the scene, the group "Piano Seven" deriving its name from their way of performing modern jazz for an enthusiastic audience.

Acclaimed Swiss DJ's Michael Fresh and Delabass from Cheesebeat will grace the decks of Shanghai and spread their velveeta gospel of sound.

The Swiss culinary scene is presented to the Shanghai public by the chefs of the Westin Hotel at the Bund Centre in the month of November at the hotel's restaurants. At the same time City Supermarket will engage in a promotion of Swiss food products at its four main shops. Switzerland delicacies are on sale.

An very interesting photo exhibition features pictures of Shanghai and its region taken in 1860 by one of the first Swiss to live in this city, Mr. Adolf Krayer. Another set of pictures was taken by other Swiss residents of Shanghai in the 1920's and 1930's. The two collections on display is completed by an exhibition of the best photographs of Shanghai taken by the Swiss community of Shanghai today. The exhibition shows that Switzerland and Swiss people have played an active role in the development of this city over the last 150 years.

Mr. Heinz Spörli's acclaimed Zurich Ballet will be the talk of the town in early March 2004 when it will perform the famous Goldberg Variations as a China Premiere at the Shanghai Grand Theatre.

The highlight of the CH in SHA project however comes with the official visit of the President of Switzerland, Mr. Pascal Couchepin, at the end of November 2003. He will open the Swiss architecture exhibition "Work in progress" on the 49th floor of the Bund Centre, bringing the best of the Swiss architectural scene to Shanghai's Bund. The exhibition is accompanied by models of some of the most famous buildings realised in the last few years.

A special section of the exhibition presents four Swiss architects already active in China. It features in particular the two models of the stadiums planned for the Beijing Olympics of 2008 by Herzog & de Meuron and Burckhardt & Partners, the new Art Museum of Qinghua University by Mario Botta as well as the new industrial complex of the Firmenich company in Shanghai, built by architect Bernard Vichet.

The exposition tries in particular to present Swiss architectural achievements to the Shanghai authorities and the Shanghai public and will surely fall on a very fertile ground in this city on its move towards the World Exposition of 2010.