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As China evolves from a third-world nation into a significant power, it faces growing responsibility as a world leader, as well as new foreign policy challenges. What kind of leader will China be? Might it eclipse the U.S.? Scalapino will discuss foreign policy issues, including Taiwan; China's role in resolving North Korea's nuclear threat; tension between China and Japan over Japan's war conduct and China's thirst for oil.

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China is undergoing an unprecedented boom in its artistic fields: art collectors are throwing down record sums of money, and a massive quantity of writing has emerged over the last six months. Will this be a speculative bubble of interest, or is this the beginning of a renaissance, the likes of which the world has not previously witnessed? Kelley recounts his adventures among China's artistic elite and presents slides of prominent Chinese art.

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Discuss Jung Chang's true story of how three generations of women in her family fared in the political maelstrom of China during the 20th century's tumult. Chang whisks readers across China's history, from the days of the warlords, to the Japanese occupation, to the struggle between the Kuomintang and the Communists, on through the Cultural Revolution. As a reminder, this is a book discussion group; the author will NOT be present.

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For the first time, the Chinese government has volunteered information about prisoners whose names were unknown outside of China. Death sentences have been commuted and other sentences reduced. Why this change? Kamm has personally intervened on behalf of many Chinese political detainees. He'll present an update on developments within China and discuss the impact of U.S. policies on human rights in China.

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Christianity is spreading in China at an astonishing speed, with 2 million new members baptised annually in the country's Protestant church. This is just one example of China's social transformation. Huilin will focus on the influence and changing face of religion in the midst of China's historic growth.

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Building a 40-story condo in a rural farming village will undoubtedly bring dramatic upheaval. Multiply these effects by a thousand, and a picture of China's urban transformation starts to emerge. Seto discusses the environmental and social effects in the world's fastest-growing nation and factors shaping China's future.

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Be transported back to the ancient Ching Dynasty as you enjoy a six-course marriage of classic Chinese cuisine with French influences. And to make sure you behave properly in such a setting, etiquette expert Seid will teach the finer points of Asian table manners and etiquette, including how to use chopsticks and pour tea. Also, enjoy the fine wines of Hahn Vineyards.

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China's growing strength extends beyond the business culture to the world of weapons and troops. Twomey will survey the recent conventional and nuclear enhancements in Chinese military capabilities. He will look at how China's military buildup may affect Taiwan and Japan, and the potential impact on U.S political and military involvement in East Asia.

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Too late for regrets, Google. China's Internet controls have enormous sway in shaping Chinese public opinion of the U.S. While the world waits anxiously to see if China will export its advanced Internet censorship technology to repressive regimes such as Zimbabwe and North Korea, Bartholomew explains the challenges that China poses to U.S. national security and reveals her commission's controversial findings.

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China is the sixth biggest economy and may well leap into third ahead of France and Britain. As China has moved towards a market economy over the past two decades, investors have clamored to cash in on its huge growth. But it pays to do your homework, as remnants of the central planning bureaucracy persist. Headley draws on experience investing in Asia to explain risks and rewards of jumping into the market.

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Will China be the sole global superpower in 2056? Renowned futurist Schwartz takes us on an exploration of scenarios for China's future and their global impact. Schwartz headed scenario planning for the Royal Dutch Shell group and now works with corporations, governments and institutions to create alternative perspectives of the future and to develop robust strategies for an uncertain world.

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Lack of information flowing out of China often leads to myth and conjecture. In response, Gallup recently completed a 10-year, nationwide series of surveys of China's consumers and workers. The data provide a picture of changing attitudes, market opportunities and management challenges. McEwen reviews survey findings, which looked at the habits, hopes and plans of both urban and rural Chinese.

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China's oil consumption will nearly triple in the next 25 years, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. How does Beijing plan to meet its future energy needs, given its current reliance on Middle East oil? Regional turmoil and geographic hurdles present obvious challenges. Ratliff shows how China will tackle oil needs and how these actions affect the rest of the world.

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Learn how cultural practices and values inform Chinese executives' roles. Drawing from surveys of Chinese management personnel, Javidan explores tensions that will determine how China's executives will develop in the coming years: empowerment versus autocracy, diversity versus insularity and self-sufficiency versus reliance on government.

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Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) is increasingly gaining credibility with the American scientific community; Cancer Research's May cover story revealed an encouraging link between TCM and leukemia tumor inhibition. Huang and Jiao will describe the philosophy behind this ancient medicine, its status in U.S. medicine and future applications.

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As the AIDS epidemic turns 25, see how activists are combating the disease in China. The face of AIDS in that country is dramatically different, but its impact is similarly catastrophic. The AIDS epidemic has not impacted the gay community in China as strongly as it has affected the U.S. gay population. Rather, rural farmers and drug addicts have been particularly hard hit; in some rural areas, 40 to 60 percent of the adult population is infected. Panelists working to combat AIDS in China will discuss the battles ahead and assess solutions that blend tradition with innovation. Chung To will discuss the situation and future of AIDS orphans in central China. Humphrey Wou will describe his work interviewing Chinese activist leaders and finding grantees. He has also made short films in afflicted villages, and will show one at the end of the program.

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Acupuncture aims to treat ailments that mainstream medicine often fails to cure. What does this ancient Chinese practice entail, and do its proponents' claims hold water? Sampson will speak about the nature and history of traditional Chinese medicine, the psychology behind acupuncture's perceived efficacy, and the status of clinical trials.