Guangzhou

Music of the city

Hong Kong lyricist Chris Shum Wai-chung will share how he captures the beauty of Cantonese as he writes expressive lyrics with catchy rhymes. Shum's award-winning works include Crossroad, which was named Best Original Film Song at Taiwan's Golden Horse Awards in 2006. He is also the man behind the vivid Cantonese translations of songs in renowned musicals such as The Sound of Music and West Side Story. Shum says lyrics are closely related to the city where the language is born and used. Besides telling anecdotes of his lyrics writing in the past 20 years, Shum will also explain the connections between lyrics and urban culture.

3 pm-5 pm, Feb 3. Fangsuo Commune, TaiKoo Hui Shopping Mall, 383 Tianhe Lu, Tianhe district, Guangzhou. 020-3868-2327.

Pottery with stories

Exhibition lures with breathtaking art from Sichuan

More than 120 exquisite pieces of Tang tri-color pottery are on display in Guangzhou until Feb 27. The craft with yellow, brown and green as basic colors prevailed in the Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907). The exhibits showcase the arts, customs and people's daily lives in that prosperous era. For example, vivid designs portray beautiful dancing women in colorful dress.

9 am-5:30 pm, daily until Feb 27. The Museum of the Western Han Dynastry Mausoleum of the Nanyue King, 867 Jiefang Beilu, Yuexiu district, Guangzhou. 020-3618-2920.

Art of the needle

Flowers blossom on handbags and blankets hang over walls. These hand-sewn artworks, on exhibition in Guangzhou until Feb 24, display the beauty of Chinese needlework. In the old days of China, a fair lady was expected to be a master at needlework. Visitors can appreciate the creations of Chen Shaofang, a master of Cantonese embroidery, and fashionable accessories designed by Zhang Xiaochuan, a rising designer and a native of Guangzhou.

11 am-11 pm, daily until Feb 24. Third Floor, Goelia 225 Commune, 225 Beijing Lu, Yuexiu district, Guangzhou. 020-8336-0050