The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts Appoints Professor Anna CY Chan as New Director

The Council of The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (the Academy) announces the appointment of Professor Anna CY Chan as the new Director of the Academy with effect from 18 April 2025. Professor Chan is a leader with a combination of artistic excellence, extensive management experience and vast industry network. Having dedicated 35 years to advancing the performing arts and arts education, her leadership could be illustrated by her impact on the global performing arts landscape.

From 2014 to 2018, she was the inaugural Head of Dance at the Performing Arts at the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority. Since then, she has taken up the role as the Dean of the School of Dance of the Academy. Professor Chan received her professional dance training in Hong Kong, Australia and the UK and holds a Professional Dancer Diploma from the Royal Ballet School (London), an MA degree in Dance Studies from the University of Surrey and M.Ed degree from the University of Sheffield.

Mr. Charles Yang, Council Chairman of the Academy said: “On behalf of the Council, I am pleased to appoint Professor Anna CY Chan to serve as the next Academy Director. Anna is a dedicated educator as well as a well-respected professional in the performing arts industry, both locally and inte ationally. I am confident that with her extensive experience, network with the creative industries and strong commitment to serving the Academy community, she will lead the Academy to a new height with further advancements covering important aspects in performing arts education and arts and culture development for the region.”

Professor Chan expressed that, “I am deeply honoured to be entrusted with the opportunity to lead The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts at this significant moment in its history, as we celebrate its 40th Anniversary. I look forward to working closely with our Academy Council, stakeholders, colleagues, and students to build on this strong foundation. Positioned within the dynamic Greater Bay Area, we are uniquely placed to enrich the region’s arts and cultural landscape, leveraging our distinctive role to inspire creativity while further strengthening our global standing as a leading performing arts institution.”

From east to west, north to south: City University of Hong Kong expands global collaboration

A host of fresh partnerships sees City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK) strengthening its position at the forefront of international outreach. By partnering with influential global institutions, CityUHK is expanding opportunities for innovative learning and research, reinforcing its commitment to academic excellence.

Building bridges to Belgium

A new cooperative relationship with KU Leuven’s Science, Engineering and Technology Group marks a substantial milestone in our European connections. Founded in 1425, KU Leuven is the world’s oldest Catholic university and Belgium’s highest-ranked institution. The feasibility of developing joint bachelor’s degree programmes and facilitating faculty exchanges, visiting scholars and post-doctoral fellows are the critical points of an MoU signed on 27 August 2024 by CityUHK’s President, Professor Freddy Boey, and the Rector of KU Leuven, Professor Luc Sels.

This MoU will make exploring cooperative education programmes possible, especially in digital medicine, biochemical engineering, mechanical engineering, and health technology.

“We are very excited to collaborate with the Science, Engineering and Technology Group at KU Leuven,” said President Boey. “This partnership demonstrates our dedication to forging dynamic alliances with global partners in keeping with our reputation as one of the most international universities in the world. We look forward to joining hands with this Group at KU Leuven to promote inspirational, interactive, and innovative learning and world-class research.”

Strengthening humanities ties with Milan

In another strategic move, an MoU between CityUHK’s College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences and POLIMI Graduate School of Management in Milan signed on 15 July 2024 turns attention to faculty exchanges, customised education programmes, and joint degree offerings, a partnership sure to enhance the educational experiences of students and faculty at both institutions.

Cooperating with the Russell Group

Initiatives that address global challenges through knowledge exchange and research with top UK universities have also created a recent buzz. Programmes that enable academic visits feature in a partnership with the University of Cambridge through Lucy Cavendish College, while ties with Cambridge’s Department of Engineering and Department of Chemical Engineering and Biotechnology offer excellent research and exchange opportunities for CityUHK and Cambridge students. Alliances have also been significantly deepened with other Russell Group universities such as the University of Exeter and the University of Glasgow.

Journeying out to France, South Africa, and Kazakhstan

From east to west, and north to south, CityUHK is embracing diversity, globalisation and interconnectivity. Freshly minted agreements with CentraleSupélec, Paris-Saclay University in France, and the University of Johannesburg in South Africa have diversified CityUHK’s international engagements, opening new avenues for academic and cultural exchange. Meanwhile, a unique alliance with Satbayev University (SU) enhances teaching, learning, and research with the support of Kazakhstan’s Ministry of Science and Higher Education. Additionally, this alliance will see the establishment of a CityUHK research institute at SU to promote interdisciplinary studies.

These ventures offer unparalleled opportunities for CityUHK students and faculty to advance their careers and engage with leading academic peers worldwide and will foster, we hope, a shared innovative mindset.

49 EdUHK scholars named world’s top 2% scientists by Stanford University

The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) is excited to share that 49 of its scholars have been listed among the World’s Top 2% Most-cited Scientists in the 2024 rankings published by Stanford University. This marks an increase from 38 scholars last year, reflecting the global recognition of its academic excellence and impactful research.

Our scholars span a wide range of subject disciplines within and beyond Education, totaling 17 different fields. The latest rankings not only underscore the University’s established leadership in Education but also reflect our ongoing efforts to build capacity in emerging fields such as Artificial Intelligence & Image Processing, Environmental Sciences, and Languages & Linguistics.

Through our Education Futures interdisciplinary approach, EdUHK aims to maximise the impact and reach of its scholars’ research and innovations. Recent advancements in our research infrastructure include the launch of two new university-level research facilities, the University Research Facility of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (UDSAI) and the University Research Facility of Human Behavioural Neuroscience (UHBN), both established in 2023. These state-of-the-art technological platforms have been created to support our researchers in interdisciplinary research.

To further strengthen our specialised research programmes, nine multidisciplinary strategic research clusters have been formed since 2021/22. With support from the University, these clusters target tackling significant real world issues, extending their impact to diverse beneficiaries and contributing to the University’s overall research excellence.

In addition, EdUHK has made significant strides in knowledge transfer, achieving 32 prestigious international innovation awards in 2024. The University’s patent portfolio encompasses diverse fields such as EdTech, HealthTech, microelectronics, AI models, and neurosciences. These innovations offer practical, affordable and sustainable solutions that address societal needs.

At EdUHK, our researchers are dedicated to addressing real world challenges and making a positive impact on society. The University values diverse research outputs including journal papers, books and creative works, as well as knowledge transfer activities and contributions to policy formation, scholarship of teaching and learning and educational innovation. We are also deeply committed to quality education and teacher education, emphasising the importance of enhancing educational standards.

The Stanford research team compiles the ranking list based on career-long citation impact and single-year citation impact of top scientists in various fields with data updated to the end of 2023. The result reflects the global influence of EdUHK scholars across a wide range of research fields.

EdUHK holds launching ceremony of Artificial Intelligence Research and Education Alliance

The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) held an AI and Education Forum cum Launching Ceremony of Artificial Intelligence Research and Education Alliance (AIREA) on 16 September. In response to the rapid development of Artificial Intelligence (AI) across various sectors, EdUHK has established AIREA by collaborating with experts and professionals from renowned universities, research centres, and industry entities worldwide. Its aim is to enhance global collaboration on research, drive innovation, and advance AI technologies in the education sector, fostering a more inclusive and responsible AI research and education ecosystem.

The launching ceremony of AIREA was officiated by EdUHK President Professor John Lee Chi-Kin, Vice President (Academic) Professor May Cheng May-hung, Professor Xu Guandong, Director of Centre for Learning, Teaching, and Technology (LTTC) and the Director of University Research Facility of Data Science and Artificial Intelligence (UDSAI), senior management of EdUHK and distinguished guest speakers.

In his welcoming address, Professor Lee pointed out the importance of developing AI in the field of education, as its application has become widespread in society. The University aims to prepare future educators who can adapt to the evolving demands of industry, embracing cutting-edge tools while remaining mindful of the ethical implications and traditional virtues that ground the educators’ work. He also stated that the most important requirements for developing AI were facilities with computing power, high-quality data, and experts proficient in the field of AI. “Establishing AIREA is just the beginning, EdUHK is determined to continue integrating AI into educational applications, bringing greater impact to the development of the country and the Hong Kong SAR,” said Professor Lee.

Professor Cheng highlighted the University’s various initiatives to leverage innovative technologies, including establishing the Large Language Model Studio (LLM Studio) to create in-house AI tools, benefitting both students and teachers. “We will continue to explore more innovative measures to ensure EdUHK remains at the forefront of educational innovation while upholding the highest standards of academic quality and integrity.” she remarked.

Professor Xu extended his gratitude to all participants for supporting this initiative. He emphasised that the establishment of AIREA marked a significant milestone in the development of AI education. He believes that creating a collaborative platform is crucial for fostering innovative thinking and providing solutions to the challenges and opportunities faced in the education sector. Professor Xu sincerely invited all distinguished guests to join AIREA and become part of the effort to advance AI education and research.

On the same day, AIREA held a forum on AI and education, which included three talks hosted by distinguished scholars. The lectures were given by Professor Lionel Ni Ming-shuan, Founding President of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) and Chair Professor of the Department of Computer Science and Engineering at HKUST, Professor Zhang Min, Professor of the Department of Computer Science and Technology at Tsinghua University, and Professor Gong Zhiguo, Head of the Department of Computer and Information Science at University of Macau. Additionally, a panel discussion entitled ‘Navigating AI in Education: Opportunities and Challenges’ was held to explore the role of AI in education.

With the rapid development of AI, its impact on issues such as professional ethics and morality, data privacy, and the well-being of students and teachers has become increasingly concerning. Through AIREA, EdUHK aims to establish a platform for collaboration and knowledge-sharing, bringing the best together from academia, industry and practitioners to further promote the application and development of AI in the field of education. AIREA will organise more forums, workshops, and seminars, featuring the most innovative minds in the educational landscape to explore the boundless potential of AI in education.

HKAPA and CAEG sign MoU on Strategic Collaboration in Nurturing Arts and Cultural Talents across the region

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) announced a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed with the China Arts and Entertainment Group (CAEG) to collaborate in nurturing diverse arts and cultural talents in Hong Kong and the Mainland, and promoting the development of the arts and cultural industry as well as performing arts education in higher education sector.

The MoU signing ceremony took place on Wednesday, 16 October 2024, at The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts following the visit by the CAEG delegation. The memorandum was signed by Mr Charles Yang Chuen-liang, Council Chairman of HKAPA, and Mr Li Jinsheng, Chairman of CAEG, with the attendance of representatives from both organisations.

Under the Government’s policy to develop Hong Kong as an East-meets-West centre for international cultural exchange, HKAPA has always been focusing on nurturing a rich diversity of arts and cultural talents in Hong Kong and the region. This MoU with CAEG marks the Academy’s first industry-academic partnership with a Mainland industry leader, aimed at strengthening the Academy’s industry connections and enhancing students’ professional portfolios and career prospects in Hong Kong, the Mainland, and overseas. Building on this strategic partnership, the Academy and the Group will join hands to explore extensive artistic collaborations and bolster the education and training of top-notch performing arts talents as cultural ambassadors. The collaboration will commence with a series of potential initiatives, including students’ education and staff training, joint artistic creations and performances, student artistic practice and internships, and artistic research.

Mr Charles Yang Chuen-liang, Council Chairman of the Academy, expressed, “The signing of the MoU with the China Arts and Entertainment Group is an important milestone in the development of the Academy as it is the first Academy’s ‘school-enterprise collaboration’ with a leading cultural enterprise in the Mainland. I eagerly look forward to the extensive collaboration between the Academy and the China Arts and Entertainment Group in the future to strengthen talent cultivation, promote east-west cultural exchange, enhance the international influence of Chinese performing arts, and bring more development opportunities for talents from both sides.”

Mr Li Jinsheng, Chairman of CAEG, said, “We are delighted to have visited the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts and to have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Academy. The China Arts and Entertainment Group is willing to collaborate with the Academy by leveraging our respective high-quality resources. We aim to engage in extensive and in-depth exchanges and cooperation in areas of talent cultivation, joint artistic creation and performance, student artistic practice and internships, and artistic research. Together, we shall promote the development of the cultural and art industry and performing arts education.”

Professor Gillian Choa, Director of the Academy, welcomed the collaboration, “The signing of the MoU symbolises a strengthened and beneficial relationship between HKAPA and CAEG that has been forged for a few years. The Academy is dedicated to advancing innovative performing arts education, pushing the boundaries of performing arts practices and fostering collaborations with leading academic and industry institutions. I am glad that our educational mission and vision align strongly with the goals of CAEG. We look forward to partnering and engaging CAEG in extensive and in-depth exchanges and cooperation to nurture performing arts talent and contribute to the cultural development of Hong Kong and the Greater Bay Area. Together, we shall promote the development of the arts and cultural industry and performing arts education.”

In celebration of the 40th Anniversary, the Academy is presenting, throughout the academic year, a myriad of engaging events with the aim to showcase the exceptional talents of our students from the six Schools and its achievements over the past four decades. Highlights in October include HKAPA PerformTech Symposium 2024: Staging the Future of Performing Arts, Lincoln Center Chamber Music Series and 40 Years of Brilliance – Inheriting the Artistic Legacy: HKAPA 40th Anniversary Performance Showcase. Open Day 2025 presented next March and an original musical featuring all six Schools in May 2025 are also major events that should not be missed.

HKAPA PerformTech Symposium 2024: Staging the Future of Performing Arts

In celebration of the Academy’s 40th Anniversary, you are cordially invited to join our 3-day symposium (15-17/10), where we will delve into the profound impact of technology, including artificial intelligence and machine learning, on theatrical practices, scenography, film production, and arts education. The two showcase performances collaborated by artists and students, intertwining dance and music with groundbreaking technologies are also not to be missed!

“The PerformTech Symposium will be an inspiring event with leading practitioners sharing their insights in the latest developments in technology-enhanced live entertainment.”
– Jim McGowan, Acting Dean of Theatre and Entertainment Arts

For details and ticketing, please check out www.cityline.com from September 12.

HKAPA continues to embrace world, nurture next generation of performing artists

The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts strives to provide the students with opportunities to engage in international competitions and exchange programmes in the Mainland and overseas to widen their horizons. In the last academic year, students of the School of Music travelled to various places, including the Mainland, Switzerland, the United States, Thailand, etc., to collaborate with local artists. These programmes have helped students further arts and cultural development on the global stage.

Highlighting Lingnan’s digital strengths at Asia-wide conference

Lingnan University was well represented at a recent prestigious conference that brought together leading academics and policymakers from around the region. The focus of the Times Higher Education’s Digital Universities Asia 2024, which took place in Bali from 1 to 3 July, was the transformation now being seen in two important areas.

One involved the steps academic institutions are taking to become more accessible and inclusive environments. The other centred on groundbreaking developments in the zone where education and technology intersect, in particular how innovative tools like generative AI will reshape diverse aspects of university life.

In a keynote speech, Lingnan’s President S. Joe Qin addressed the topic of “Reimagining Higher Education in the Age of AI”. He assessed the evolving impact of the digital revolution and what it means for curriculum content, teaching methodologies, research projects, and the overall concept of education in arts and sciences.

He noted that AI can already work on cognitive tasks, if not physical ones like cooking or cleaning. However, the rate of advances in autonomous driving, large language models (LLMs), and GPTs (generative pre-trained transformers) indicate the possibilities of using knowledge gained from data.

In May last year, ChatGPT was asked what it can bring to the field of higher education. The answers included easy access and enabling individuals or groups to generate content such as essays, poems, summaries, lyrics and code based on user input and preferences. Also mentioned were the feedback and suggestions given to improve content. ChatGPT claimed too that it can be integrated into liberal arts and AI courses and projects to enhance learning outcomes and engagement.

For universities, the key question is whether this will lead to some majors being discontinued and others being created or expanded. There are also implications for how students are taught, what skills are expected of them, and what is left to learn.

“We still want our students to build critical thinking skills, especially high-order thinking,” said Professor Qin, who is also Wai Kee Kau Chair Professor of Data Science at Lingnan. “And we need to instil our value system, so that we control AI, not the other way round.”

In July 2023, the university committed to making ChatGPT and subsequent releases available for everyone on campus. It also encouraged proposals for several new undergraduate programmes in arts and social sciences with more digitally relevant content. Starting in September 2024, all freshmen will take a common core course on generative AI to ensure they have the basic know-how and apply it.

Similarly important is a plan to promote the concept of digital humanities. The aim is to study the meaning and making of human culture, finding new insights through geographical information systems, data visualisation, network analysis, and text mining.

“History, for example, will become a lot more interesting and accessible,” Professor Qin said. “My message is that humans are at the centre of the post-AI world. In higher education, we have to adapt; we cannot expect to teach things that AI will replace effectively and efficiently.”

EdUHK, Association Recherche et Enseignement du Chinois jointly hold ‘International Conference on the History of Chinese Linguistics and Chinese Education’

On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France, The Education University of Hong Kong (EdUHK) and Université Paris Cité jointly initiated and organised the ‘International Conference on Chinese Linguistics and History of Chinese Language Education’. The conference was also one of the events celebrating the 30th anniversary of EdUHK.

The event was held on 13 and 14 June at Université Paris Cité in France, and was co-hosted by the Association Recherche et Enseignement du Chinois (AREC), the Department of Chinese Language Studies at EdUHK, the Department of East Asian Languages and Civilisations at Université Paris Cité, and the Confucius Institute at Université Paris Cité, based on the Hong Kong-France Joint Project (ANR-RGC: CLDA) ‘Language Contact and Areal Diffusion of Sinitic Languages in the GBA’. The conference was attended by more than 70 scholars from Hong Kong, mainland China and around the globe, to discuss the latest research findings in Chinese linguistics, Chinese language education and Chinese culture.

The Hong Kong Principal Investigator (PI) of the CLDA project, Dr Wang Cong from the Department of Chinese Language Studies at EdUHK, and the France PI, Dr Qi Chong from Université Paris Cité and the Centre de Recherches Linguistiques sur l’Asie Orientale, served as the organising committee chairs for the conference. They presented the CLDA project’s significant interim findings, which captured widespread attention and stimulated heated discussion among the international scholars.

Professor John Lee Chi-Kin, Director of Academy for Applied Policy Studies and Education Futures at EdUHK, Chair Professor of Curriculum and Instruction at EdUHK, and UNESCO Chair in Regional Education Development and Lifelong Learning, delivered a keynote speech entitled ‘An initial exploration of the concepts and educational implications related to Zhongyong’. He analysed different translations of Zhongyong in the English-speaking world since the 19th century.

Professor John Erni, Dean of the Faculty of Humanities and Chair Professor of the Department of Literature and Cultural Studies at EdUHK, delivered a keynote speech entitled ‘Popular fantastic novels and middle-class enhancement in China’. Professor Erni focused on the phenomenon of the transnational flow of Western popular fiction into China and explored how these literary works reshaped the Chinese middle class. The speech prompted keen interest and in-depth exchanges of ideas regarding the influence of Western literature and culture on Chinese society among all scholars and students at the conference.

Several faculty members from the Department of Chinese Language Studies at EdUHK delivered invited speeches and academic paper reports. Doctoral student Dai Yanmei, who was awarded the Hong Kong PhD Fellowship Scheme (HKPFS) in 2024, and Zhu Sida, a 2022 EdD graduate currently serving as a lecturer at a renowned mainland Chinese university, presented their latest research findings.

HKAPA ignites cultural exchange, nurtures young musicians through Greater Bay Area Youth Orchestra

Following last year’s successful debut concert tour, the Greater Bay Area Youth Orchestra (GBAYO), presented by The Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts (HKAPA) and supported by the Swire Group as Founding Patron, has returned for a second tour across four cities in the Greater Bay Area (GBA). This year’s concert tour, Romancing the Dragon, continues the mission of cultural exchange and fostering talents by gathering 93 promising young musicians aged between 16 and 24 from Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou and Shenzhen for 11 days of training and live concert performances.

Officiating guests of this year’s opening concert in Hong Kong on July 8 included Mr. Raistlin Lau JP, Acting Secretary for Culture, Sports and Tourism of the HKSAR Government; Mr. Charles Yang BBS JP, Council Chairman of HKAPA; Professor Gillian Choa, Director of HKAPA; and Mr. Guy Bradley, Chairman of Swire Pacific Limited.

The GBAYO is a unique platform for cultural and artistic exchange amongst young musicians in the region. The opening performance this year took place at HKAPA’s Hong Kong Jockey Club Amphitheatre, giving the wider public an opportunity to enjoy the captivating performances of the young musicians. The GBAYO will perform in its second concert at The University of Macau – University Hall (N2) on July 10, while audiences in the Mainland will be able to enjoy two more performances at the Concert Hall of Xinghai Conservatory of Music in Guangzhou on July 11, and at the Shenzhen Grand Theatre on July 12.

Uniting young artists on a musical journey to enrich culture and cultivate talents

The GBAYO initiative was created to nurture young musicians in the region, providing them with an opportunity to hone their skills and pursue the highest standards of orchestral performance.

In April, the programme began a recruiting process and welcomed 93 members from across the Greater Bay Area. The young musicians honed their skills further, thanks to 40 hours of exclusive training with 13 renowned instructors in a training camp at HKAPA in Hong Kong from July 2 to July 7.

Prof. Gillian Choa, Director of HKAPA, remarks, “Following the resounding success of last year’s debut concert, we are pleased to once again bring the enchantment of music to the public by the Academy’s School of Music and our institutional partners in the Greater Bay Area, including Xinghai Conservatory of Music and The Macao Youth Symphony Orchestra Association. Echoing the Year of the Dragon, symbolising wisdom, prosperity and success, this year’s concert is titled Romancing the Dragon. With a captivating blend of classical and contemporary pieces, we hope to create a symphonic journey for the audiences near and far to immerse in the essence of the dragon’s spirits and amazing energy. As a higher education institution dedicated to fostering performing artists and cultural leaders, the GBAYO aims to provide a platform for the highest standard of classical orchestral performance in the region, nurturing young talents through professional training and coaching by world-renowned musicians. I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau of the HKSAR Government for being a supporting organisation of the concert tour this year. My special thanks also go to the Founding Patron, Swire Group, as well as other sponsors and supporting partners, including Culture, Media, Tourism and Sports Bureau of Shenzhen Municipality as well as SJM Resorts S.A., for their generous support for the concert tour.”

Sharing the dragon spirit across the GBA

Under the baton of Prof. Sharon Choa, HKAPA’s Professor of Music (Conducting and Cultural Leadership), students from Hong Kong, Macau, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen showcased their flourishing skills through their exceptional performances.

This year’s GBAYO has mastered a repertoire that includes pieces such as Leonard Bernstein’s Symphonic Dance from West Side Story, Chan Ming-chi’s Dragon Roaming the Earth, Tan Dun’s Crouching Tiger Concerto (4th and 5th movements) and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Romeo & Juliet Fantasy Overture.

The GBAYO believes that music can connect young people from diverse backgrounds who aspire to pursue their dreams alongside one another. The cooperation and support from all sectors of society are crucial in encouraging young people to participate in cultural exchanges and ensure the thriving development of the GBA.

“We are pleased that the GBA Youth Orchestra remains committed to its founding aspiration of promoting cultural exchange and integration in the GBA. The success of the GBAYO is symbolic of the deepening cooperation between Hong Kong, Macau and our neighbouring cities in Guangdong, as the GBA continues to go from strength to strength. As a company deeply rooted in Hong Kong, and with an expanding presence in the GBA, Swire is honoured to continue our patronage of this inspirational youth initiative. Our support for the orchestra is an example of our long-standing commitment to promoting youth development, as well as the arts and culture, within our communities,” said Mr. Arnold Cheng, Director, Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, John Swire & Sons (China) Limited.

Established in July 2022 by HKAPA, in partnership with Xinghai Conservatory of Music and The Macao Youth Symphony Orchestra Association, with support from the Swire Group as Founding Patron, the GBAYO aspires to be one of the top global youth orchestras.

With a vision to elevate the musical standard in the GBA and establish a world-class platform for classical orchestral performances, the GBAYO hopes its upcoming tour can captivate audiences with exceptional talent and the meticulously selected programme which echoes the theme of Romancing the Dragon.