A year-long itinerant show featuring 1,000 precious Barbie dolls since their creation in 1959 will be kicked off next January to cover seven Chinese cities including Shanghai and Beijing, an organizer said in Beijing on Wednesday.

The show, which has been staged in 35 countries, will start from Chongqing, then move on to Qingdao, Changsha, Hangzhou, Kunming, Shanghai and end up at Beijing between January 2008 and January 2009, said Zhu Zeling, chairman of the Professional Committee of the Ethic Folklore and Relic with the China Relic Society.

The dolls to be exhibited, alongside with Lego building blocks, are provided by a German company identified as MWS. When the show is on, visitors will also be entertained with film show featuring Barbie dolls, talent shows and contests on garment designing, said Zhu.

The Barbie doll was designed and invested by Ruth Handler in the 1950s. It was first introduced at a toy fair in New York by the Mattel toy company.

In its history of half century, Barbie dolls have been made to represent 45 nationalities and more than 80 occupations. In 1997, Mattel designed and put forward Barbie dolls donning attire of traditional Chinese style.

Part of the proceeds from the shows will go to charity causes in the seven cities, Zhu said.

(Xinhua News Agency September 6, 2007)