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: Hastings prepares to celebrate Hastings-Guilin Sister City anniversary 
Hastings is gearing up to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Hastings-Guilin Sister City relationship.
Festivities will begin on Wednesday 1 March, when the centre of the Hastings business district will be colourfully decorated to create a Guilin-inspired ambience. At 7.30pm the Rotary Club of Hastings launches the Secondary Schools Ultimate Challenge. The winning team will get an all expenses-paid return trip to Guilin, sponsored by the Rotary Club of Hastings.
Families are encouraged to participate in the nightly celebrations. There will be entertainment and information displayed in the central city, with a chance to meet the Guilin dancing girls, who will perform throughout the celebrations.
Films, posters and presentations will offer some insight into both the Hastings-Guilin relationship and Chinese culture in general.
From 6pm, lit by the glow of Chinese lanterns, a night market offering Chinese music and cuisine will be complemented with entertainment provided by New Zealand Chinese groups and the Guilin dancers until 9.15pm. The dancers will be performing traditional Chinese dance items each evening and on Saturday morning.
Miranda Chan will demonstrate the art of Chinese Calligraphy from 3.30 to 4.30 on Friday 3 March at the Hastings Central Library, which will also screen a scenic DVD of Guilin throughout the week.
The official recognition of the signing of the Sister City protocol will take place in the square on Saturday 4 March at 11am. Entertainment and Guilin dancers perform from 10am onwards.
A delegation from Guilin will be in Hastings to join in the celebrations.
Stay in the city to check out the Pak'n'Save Hastings Edible Fashion Awards 2006, starting at noon.
For more information:
Please contact Cr Kevin Watkins on 027 304 6213
