YORK'S year-long programme of Chinese events and exhibitions marking the 2008 Beijing Olympics kicks off next week at the National Railway Museum (NRM).

Representatives from a number of York attractions, including the Castle Museum, the National Centre For Early Music, the NRM and Fairfax House, will gather in front of the Chinese Engine on Monday, in the museum's Great Hall, to announce their Chinese events.

The festivities, to celebrate the Beijing Olympics and the run up to the 2012 Olympic Games in London, start in York with Chinese New Year celebrations and will run through to the end of the year with a wide range of activities, events and concerts.

Julie Hutton, head of strategy for North Yorkshire for Yorkshire Forward, one of the companies sponsoring the event, said: "The Yorkshire region is proud of its commitment to the London 2012 Games and recognises the Olympic Games as the ultimate expression of the human spirit.

"It is therefore a great pleasure to be able to offer support to York's city-wide celebrations of China in 2008 leading up to the Beijing Olympics."

Last November, the consulate general of the People's Republic of China paid a visit to the Castle Museum to get a taste of York's plans for 2008. Gong Jianzhong met with the museum's curators and directors to see a new China exhibition, which will go on display later this year.

Other events include the NRM's multi-sensory Chinese Festival over the Easter holidays, from March 21 to April 6.

The 17 days of activities will be packed with the colours, tastes, sounds and sights of China, including tai chi, dragon making, and producing a traditional kite.