The Beijing International Airport kicked off its Chinese culture week on Thursday in the new Terminal 3, with the aim of giving Olympic visitors a fond farewell.

Chinese folk artists were performing Chinese calligraphy and paper cutting, making traditional clay figures and tying Chinese knots in the departure hall.

"We are planning a Chinese culture feast to see off foreign quests and members of the Olympic family," said Dong Zhiyi, the airport general manager.

Between Thursday and August 27, artists will give passengers performances of Chinese traditional music, Peking Opera, Tai Chi and other local dramas, he said.

(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2008)