China Paints New York Red

Timed to coincide with Chinese president Hu Jintao's three-day visit to the U.S. that kicked off today, a nation-branding campaign dubbed "Experience China" has taken over New York's Times Square even though Hu is in Washington for talks with President Obama.

The video billboard is running a promo, above, with China's traditional red and a Who's Who of VIPs. The 50 homegrown talents include Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing, basketball star Yao Ming, movie director John Woo and astronaut Yang Li-wei.

Developed by the China State Information Council Office and Lintas Shanghai, the video will be simulcast on six screens at Times Square, for 300 times a day in the coming month. It will also run on CNN and the BBC, with Europe, Latin America and the Middle East to follow.