Over 290 pieces and sets of landscape sculptures designed for the 2008 Olympic Games started their 3-day show in Lanzhou, capital of Gansu Province in northwestern China on Friday.

Jiang Xiaoyu (fourth from left), Li Ying (second from left) cut ribbons for the exhibition in Lanzhou, catpial of west China Gansu Province, September, 8,2006.[BOCOG]

The day, Sept. 8, 2006, marked the 700-day countdown to the opening of the Games. A ceremony to introduce the exhibits was held with the attendance of local residents and Vice-Governor Li Ying as well as Executive Vice-president of Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) Jiang Xiaoyu.

The exhibits, made of bronze, iron, aluminum and stainless steel were chosen from a 7-month design contest in which artists from over 80 countries and regions contributed their works. The sculptures involve almost every Olympic sport and skillfully demonstrate the Olympic spirit.

The short-listed entries started to be displayed on June 23 this year in Beijing, followed by the Olympic co-host city of Tianjin, northeastern city of Changchun and southeastern city of Xiamen, with overwhelmingly warm reaction from the viewers.

The sculptures will continue to tour other cities in China and abroad till the end of 2007 when the most excellent of them will outstand on the basis of public vote and experts' appraisal.