A major sponsor of the Huntington's new Garden of Flowing Fragrance (Liu Fang Yuan), Air China has taken steps to significantly increase its support for the local community, which is served with nonstop flights to Beijing.

The Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in San Marino, CA, will dedicate the new Chinese garden on Feb. 16.

Support for the Huntington and its Chinese garden is a perfect fit between the stature and prestige of the world-famous Huntington Library and China's leading air carrier.

"Air China is the sole designated flag carrier of China and the only airline partner of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games," said Air China's General Manager of Western United States, Zhihang Chi in Los Angeles. "In line with our international focus, promoting mutual understanding through cultural exchange is something we are pleased to support in this market."

The Huntington's classical Chinese garden, which opens to the public on Feb. 23, is one of the largest of its kind outside China. The Huntington took a unique approach to design and construct an authentic garden, following one of the world's oldest continuous landscape traditions. All the building materials were shipped from China. All of the artisans, who specialize in wood, stone, and tile, traveled from China to the Huntington, courtesy of Air China. The donation is valued at over US$170,000. The cost of the garden's first phase now being dedicated is US$18.3 million.

"Such an ambitious project would not have been possible if it weren't for Air China's generous offer to fly all 50 artisans from China to the US," said Suzy Moser, assistant vice president for advancement at The Huntington. "It is because of the work of these 50 artisans that the Garden of Flowing Fragrance truly is authentic."

Air China is the only airline that flies non-stop from Los Angeles to Beijing, the capital of China and site of the 2008 Olympic Games. Due to the Olympics, experts anticipate a six percent surge in travel to China this year. Air China will meet this increased demand, continuing its 26-year history of bridging the physical distance between China and the US.