Air China Sponsors Architects and Artists for Huntington's Chinese Garden.

BEIJING -- Air China will sponsor the travel of more than 50 Chinese architects and artists engaged in one of the largest classical Chinese gardens outside China, now under construction at the Huntington Library in Los Angeles. Air China is an enthusiastic patron of cultural exchange and is proud to support the development of classical Chinese gardens around the world.

The Huntington Library is a collections-based research and educational institution established in 1919 by Henry and Arabella Huntington, active collectors of rare books and manuscripts, art, and plants. Located twelve miles from Los Angeles in San Marino, California, the Library features 120 acres of botanical gardens organized into more than a dozen thematic areas. The Chinese Garden will occupy a twelve-acre site, which will reflect a blend of nature, art, and literature in its first phase.

"Air China is pleased to sponsor so many fine artists and architects to help share this wonderful tradition of the classical Chinese garden," said Mrs. Zhang Lan, Senior Vice President for Air China. "China has the oldest continuous tradition of garden design in the world, and the Huntington can now present and preserve Chinese culture through this ancient art form. Air China is glad to support to this tradition at such a great institution as the Huntington."

Classical Chinese garden design incorporates traditional elements, materials, and scholarly associations, involving a variety of artistic disciplines. All Chinese architects and artists sponsored by Air China for their travels to Huntington are important for the construction of the Chinese Garden and for cultural exchange between the two countries.

As China's sole designated flag carrier and the Airline Partner of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, Air China (HKEX: 0753; LSE: AIRC; SSE: 601111) serves 78 domestic and 39 international cities with an extensive network from its Beijing hub, conveniently linking passengers between China and destinations around the world. In North America, Air China serves New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, and Vancouver with daily non-stop service to Beijing.

For more information visit http://www.airchina.com.cn/ or http://us.fly-airchina.com.