Zhang Yimou’s Olympic plans

There’s more to Chinese culture than lanterns and opera, says top Chinese movie director Zhang Yimou -- and he plans to prove it at the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Zhang, chief director for the 2008 Olympics opening and closing ceremonies, said in an interview that he hoped to use lesser-known Chinese elements at the shows.

“There are just too many well-known Chinese elements, such as lanterns, kites and Peking operas. There are also many aspects of Chinese culture that few people know,” he said in an interview published Friday in the China Daily newspaper. “For instance, I saw many different kinds of performances when I went to Yunnan [province] to collect folk arts. They are absolutely new to people outside.”