Shakespear's Globe: The Merchant of Venice

Date: Aug 31-Sept 4 - 7:30 pm/3 pm

Venue: Guangzhou Opera House

Price: 80-880 yuan

In Venice, the epicenter of consumption, speculation and debt, Bassanio borrows money from his friend Antonio to finance his attempt to win the hand of Portia, a wealthy heiress. Antonio, in turn, takes out a loan from the moneylender Shylock. The loan will be repaid when Antonio's ships return to the city. But if they should fail, and the money cannot be repaid, Antonio shall give to Shylock a pound of his own flesh. And they do fail. And Shylock will have his 'bond'.

Contact: 400-610-3721

Cloud Gate Dance Theater Moon Water

Date: Aug 25-28 - 7:30 pm

Venue: National Center for the Performing Arts

Price: 100-680 yuan

Topped the list of the best dances in 2003, selected by the chief critic Anna Kisselgoff of The New York Times, Moon Water has been presented by festivals and venues all over the world, receiving rave acclaims since its premiere in 1998. To the Chinese, moon Water, or Shui Yuei in Chinese, is a metaphor of two things. One is a Buddhist proverb: "Flowers in a mirror and moon on the water are both illusory." The other describes the ideal state of Tai Chi practitioners: "Energy flows as water, while the spirit shines as the moon." Moon Water owes its movement motives to Tai Chi Tao Yin, a Chi Kung exercise that can be traced back to more than 2,000 years ago.