On September 29, 2024, the USC U.S.-China Institute hosted a workshop at the Huntington’s Chinese garden, offering K-12 educators hands-on insights into using the garden as a teaching tool. With expert presentations, a guided tour, and new resources, the event explored how Chinese gardens' rich history and cultural significance can be integrated into classrooms. Interested in learning more? Click below for details on the workshop and upcoming programs for educators.
55 Days at Peking
Part of the series Power Moves: The Empress Dowager Onscreen
Where
Packing in action and such Hollywood wattage as Charlton Heston, Ava Gardner, and David Niven, 55 Days at Peking was director Nicholas Ray’s second collaboration with producer Samuel Bronston after King of Kings (1961). In this epic telling of the Boxer Rebellion of 1900, a Chinese secret society claiming invincibility against enemy swords and bullets sets siege to the foreign diplomatic quarters in Beijing. Convinced that the revolt will drive out foreign powers harboring colonial designs on China, the Empress Dowager backs the rebels.
Despite the film’s sympathies for the besieged foreigners—Heston’s square-jawed Marine leads the charge for survival against the Boxer hordes—55 Days remains one of the rare complex depictions of the Empress Dowager onscreen. Flora Dobson breaks through her yellow-face makeup to portray a powerful woman whose miscalculations ultimately render her a tragic figure. Description by Cheng-sim Lim.
Featured Articles
Happy Lunar New Year from the USC US-China Institute!
Events
Ying Zhu looks at new developments for Chinese and global streaming services.
David Zweig examines China's talent recruitment efforts, particularly towards those scientists and engineers who left China for further study. U.S. universities, labs and companies have long brought in talent from China. Are such people still welcome?