The traditional Zhongshan suit, a tunic often worn by China's revolutionary forefather Sun Yat-sen, may soon be officially recognized as a cultural heritage icon.
The suit has four pockets in the front and a turned-down collar.
The cultural authority of Zhongshan is now collecting information about the Zhongshan suit and will submit an application to the highest cultural authority, to have the uniform registered on the "national intangible cultural relics list", Chen Qiaozhang, the authority's deputy director, said.
"Once the application is approved, the special Zhongshan suit will be better protected and promoted," Chen said.
As part of efforts to promote the use of the uniform, the nation's first Zhongshan suit culture exhibition center, which occupies about 400 sq m in Zhongshan, will be opened next month.
Chen Wenzhu, a manager of Zhongshan Chinese Costume Ltd, a company with an 80-year-old history of making Zhongshan suits, says it is hoped the suit would again become popular.
"We surely support the application," he said.
The Zhongshan suit became fashionable among Chinese people in the early part of last century and remained popular with late leaders such as Mao Zedong. It was a must-have item for young Chinese people in the 1960s and 70s.
Although fewer people are wearing the suits these days, Chen said he is sure it will again regain popularity because the suit has been given a slight makeover.
"Based on the original suit, we have upgraded it with modern fashionable elements including new materials and design features in an effort to keep in pace with the times," Chen said.
These include leather detailing and embroidered Olympic rings, he said.
Questions:
1. What is special about the Zhongshan suit's design?
2. How many square metres does the Zhongshan suit culture exhibition center occupy?
3. When was the Zhongshan suit a must-have fashion item for young Chinese?
Answers:
1. The suit has four pockets in the front and a turned-down collar.
2. About 400 Sq m.
3. 1960-70s.
（英语点津 Linda 编辑）
About the broadcaster:
Marc Checkley is a freelance journalist and media producer from Auckland, New Zealand. Marc has an eclectic career in the media/arts, most recently working as a radio journalist for NewstalkZB, New Zealand’s leading news radio network, as a feature writer for Travel Inc, New Nutrition Business (UK) and contributor for Mana Magazine and the Sunday Star Times. Marc is also a passionate arts educator and is involved in various media/theatre projects in his native New Zealand and Singapore where he is currently based. Marc joins the China Daily with support from the Asia New Zealand Foundation.
