Chinese Trends

World hurdling superstar Liu Xiang will become a silver screen personality when he stars in a promotional film about his hometown Shanghai.

The 23-year-old Olympic gold medalist will spend three days around the city from August 19 shooting the film titled Renovating Dreams, Winning from Shanghai to the World.

The promotional film will finish post production in Hong Kong at the end of the month and is expected to be shown to the public in late September.

Liu joined towering NBA star and fellow Shanghai native Yao Ming as the city's latest image representative in September 2005. City officials believe Liu's presence will further raise Shanghai's profile.

"Yao and I intend to present a beautiful image of Shanghai to the whole world," Liu said as he appeared at the Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower for the shooting.

Yao starred in the promotional film named Countless Yao Ming, A Beautiful Shanghai after he was appointed Shanghai's first ambassador in 2003, said China Youth Daily.

Liu won a gold medal at the 2004 Athens Olympics in the 110-meter hurdles and beat the world mark with his time of 12.88 seconds at the Athletissima Grand Prix in July.

(Xinhua News Agency August 24, 2006)