Cheongsam, the quintessential national dress for Chinese women re-blooms in New York City after almost a century. [Photo by Hong Xiao/China Daily]

A series of events to celebrate the cheongsam — the quintessential ladies' dress of China — kicked off with a press conference in New York Monday. Sponsored by the Chinese University Alumni Alliance and the Tianjin Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese, the Chinese Cheongsam Cultural Exchange will feature exhibits, panel discussions and fashion shows. The on-going project invites women to dress in cheongsams and pose for photos that will be added to a giant printed scroll. Last year, more than 7,000 women from around the world took part in the project. This year the team hopes to get even more. Meng Qinggang (second from left), fifth-generation cheongsam tailor, will explain the history and skills of cheongsam making in a symposium. Also present at the press conference were Cherry Huang (third from left), president of the Chinese University Alumni Alliance; Liu Bing (fourth from right), creator of the "Guohua-Global Chinese Cheongsam Image Giant Scroll"; and other guests.