China Holiday

China Holiday

More Mainlanders Visit HK, Macao in First Quarter
Tourist arrivals in Hong Kong and Macao from the Chinese mainland in the first quarter reached 827,000, up 47.1 percent year-on-year, statistics released by the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) Wednesday show. China initiated a facilitated individual travel (FIT) policy on Hong Kong- and Macao-bound tours last year, which has helped the growth of tourist arrivals in these regions. To further facilitate the personnel exchanges between the mainland and Hong Kong and Macao and to pro

Oldest Confucius Temple Opens to Public in Shanxi
The oldest Confucius temple, in Pingyao County in north China's Shanxi Province, was opened to the public Monday after a one-year renovation project. A state-level key cultural relics site, the Pingyao Confucius Temple is located in the southwest of Pingyao, whose ancient township compound was listed as a World Cultural Heritage Site for its intact ancient structure and well-preserved traditional Chinese architectures. The main building of the temple was built in 1163, in the Yuan

Hotelman Happy as Golden Week Nears
Although the seven-day-long May Day holiday is till a few days away, hotels in Hangzhou, capital of east China's Zhejiang Province, seem to have no vacant rooms left for tourists. According to Hangzhou Tourism Commission (HTC), beginning last week, the occupancy rate of rooms at major star-rated hotels in the city has maintained at over 80 percent. The situation is expected to continue during the holiday, HTC said, adding that it'll be difficult for tourists to check in at hotels t

Jinan Int'l Airport Being Expanded
The International Airport in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, will take on a new look when an expansion project is completed at the end of the year. The expansion project, at cost of 1.624 billion yuan (US$196 million), started in late 2002. The project includes an 80,000-sq-m terminal building with 13 boarding gates and an annual handling capacity of 8 million passengers, 230,000-sq-m parking aprons capable of accommodating 40 planes and a navigation building and

More Foreign Flights Granted to Shanghai
China is encouraging more foreign airlines to open air routes to its eastern metropolis.
The increased promotion stems from China's more active and open attitude towards international flight rights, a top civil aviation official said Wednesday.

Who Safeguards China's Ancient Cultural Heritage
Cultural relics are in jam and the reality is there aren't enough career men to take on archaeology work. There are few universities with archaeology departments in China.
Chinese cultural relics are in jam and the reality is there aren't enough career

Oldest Confucius Temple Opens to Public in Shanxi
The oldest Confucius temple, in Pingyao County in north China's Shanxi Province, was opened to the public Monday after a one-year renovation project.
A state-level key cultural relics site, the Pingyao Confucius Temple is located in the southwest of Pi

Airports Donate Confiscated Alcohol to Charity
Project Hope, a charitable organization that helps poor children in China afford an education, recently received a unique donation, 10,000 bottles of liquor and wine from Shanghai Pudong International Airport.
The booze was donated by the local airport

Pilgrimage to Wudang
Wudang Mountain, in the northwest of Hubei Province, is perhaps the best known of China's Taoist holy mountains. It was listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1994. The main tourist attractions, spread over an area of 300 square kilometers, compose a spectacular panorama of traditional Chinese landscape painting. Known to locals as Taihe or Xuanyue, Wudang Mountain's beautiful scenery of tranquil valleys juxtaposed with precipitous peaks offers three main areas of in

Weather Capricious During May Holiday
After experiencing overcast skies for days, Beijing finally got what it needed: Bursts of rain fell yesterday afternoon. The inclement weather was just what the doctor ordered for the city's drought conditions, but it dampened the hopes for many people that fair weather would prevail during the 7-day-long May Day holidays. But if the public can lower its expectations just a little, things won't be that bad, said Guo Hu, director of the Beijing Municipal Observatory. Guo is g

Over 90 Million May Day Travelers Expected
Tourism-related industries expected to rake in some 35 billion yuan (US$4.2 billion) from nationwide travel, said Zhang Xiqin, deputy director of China's National Tourism Administration (CNTA). The optimistic forecast was made despite the recent SARS cases in Beijing and Anhui Province. Every effort is being made to ensure that domestic and overseas travelers have a pleasant holiday week. Vice-Minister of Health Zhu Qingsheng said during a visit to Malaysia earlier this week that C

Weather Capricious During May Day Holiday
After experiencing overcast skies for days, Beijing finally got what it needed: Bursts of rain fell yesterday afternoon. The inclement weather was just what the doctor ordered for the city's drought conditions, but it dampened the hopes for many people that fair weather would prevail during the 7-day-long May Day holidays. But if the public can lower its expectations just a little, things won't be that bad, said Guo Hu, director of the Beijing Municipal Observatory. Guo is g

China to Ensure Work Safety During 'Golden Week'
China has taken strict measures to guarantee work safety during the coming May Day holiday, said a spokesman with the national work safety watchdog Thursday. Huang Yi, spokesman of the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS), told a press conference that to ensure work safety is a priority during the holiday from May 1 to 7, a golden travel season for Chinese people. Safety in public places and scenic spots is the most important, Huang said. To guarantee work safety during the h

Holiday to See 90 Million Travelers
More than 90 million tourists were expected to travel during the seven-day holiday that starts on May 1. Tourism related industries expected to reap some 35 billion yuan (US$4.2 billion) from countrywide travel, said Zhang Xiqin, the deputy director with China's National Tourism Administration (CNTA). However, the optimistic forecast was made before nine confirmed and suspected SARS cases were reported in Beijing and Anhui Province in the last week. To ensure both domestic a

Weather Capricious During May Holiday
After experiencing overcast skies for days, Beijing finally got what it needed: Bursts of rain fell yesterday afternoon. The inclement weather was just what the doctor ordered for the city's drought conditions, but it dampened the hopes for many people that fair weather would prevail during the 7-day-long May Day holidays. But if the public can lower its expectations just a little, things won't be that bad, said Guo Hu, director of the Beijing Municipal Observatory. Guo is g

Internet Firms Release First Quarter Results
Three NASDAQ-listed Chinese Internet companies released their first quarter results yesterday before the one-week Labor Day holiday beginning on May 1, but the stocks of two companies fell due to market worries about their wireless message business. Sohu.com Inc achieved record revenues of US$25.9 million for the first quarter with a year-on-year growth of 80 percent. However, the quarter-on-quarter growth of Sohu's revenues was only 5 percent. Its net profits reached US$10.

Over 90 Million May Day Travelers Expected
More than 90 million tourists were expected to travel during the seven-day holiday that starts on May 1. Tourism related industries expected to reap some 35 billion yuan (US$4.2 billion) from countrywide travel, said Zhang Xiqin, the deputy director with China's National Tourism Administration (CNTA). Yet the optimistic forecast was made despite SARS reports. To ensure both domestic and overseas tourists enjoy a pleasurable May Day break, Zhu Qingsheng, vice minister of Health said

Over 90 Million May Day Travelers Expected
More than 90 million tourists were expected to travel during the seven-day holiday that starts on May 1.
Tourism related industries expected to reap some 35 billion yuan (US$4.2 billion) from countrywide travel, said Zhang Xiqin, the deputy director wi

China to Ensure Work Safety During 'Golden Week'
China has taken strict measures to guarantee work safety during the coming May Day holiday, said a spokesman with the national work safety watchdog Thursday.
Huang Yi, spokesman of the State Administration of Work Safety (SAWS), told a press conference

Most HK Hotels Booked out
Most of Hong Kong's hotel rooms had been booked out for the May Day holidays, Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Henry Tang said Wednesday.
Some hotels had increased their rates by 5 to 15 percent, the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily quoted the financial secr

Holiday Plans Vary for Expats
Like many Shenzhen citizens, expatriates have plans for the coming May Day holidays, including traveling, shopping, exercising, or having a romantic night at hotel.
"I'm going to Shenzhen to celebrate my birthday. We will probably choose a hotel and st

Museums Open Doors to Students
Seven museums in Beijing announced their plans to admit students free of charge yesterday to let kids make better use of public cultural facilities. The seven museums, including the National Library, the National Palace Museum (Forbidden City), the National Museum, the National Art Museum, Prince Gong's Residence, Museum of Lu Xun in Beijing and Mei Lanfang Memorial Museum, said that primary and high school students can visit the museums without paying beginning in May. Each museum

Asia's Biggest Shopping Mall to Open in Beijing
Beijing locals will have yet another venue for shopping sprees as the biggest shopping mall in Asia will open in the Chinese capital later this year. When the giant shopping center at Beijing's Haidian District is in full operation, it would take someone 90 hours to visit every shop, even spending just 10 minutes in each one. The multi-function center is a one-stop-shop for anything the buyer could want, including a car exhibition hall, seven cinemas, a sauna bath area, furniture s

SARS checks at Manila, Bangkok airports
SARS screening has been reinstated at Bangkok's Don Muang International Airport as well as Ninoy Aquino, Mactan and Laoag International Airports in the Philippines. The Philippine airports will screen passengers flying in from China, Hong Kong, Singapore and Taiwan for symptoms of SARS. They will be required to fill up a health form and go through thermal scanning. Thailand's public health minister Sudarat Keyurphan said body-temperature detection equipment had been re-insta

TUI-China expands network in China
Joint-venture company TUI-China has signed a deal with GDCTS, the No.1 tour operator in Guangdong province, to be its franchisee in China's most vigorous southern province. This agreement follows the same partnership signed with Shanghai's partner Shanghai Airlines Tours International just one month ago. TUI-China's chief operating officer Li Huiyang told TravelWeekly that TUI-China is planning to develop 31 franchisees in China by the end of this year or early next year. This will

Guangzhou Baiyun Airport to Relocate
Guangzhou Baiyun International Airport in south China is set to move to its new location, despite some expected difficulties. The new airport is greatly improved, with state-of-the-art security and luggage systems and clearly marked terminals. Other facilities including hotels, restaurants, shops and even post offices will be available when the new airport is put into use. Airport authorities have worked out an emergency plan to deal will any problems that occur during the r

Stele Forest to Apply for World Heritage
The 900-year-old Forest of Steles in northwest China's Shaanxi Province is applying for World Heritage Site status. Based in the provincial capital of Xi'an, The Forest of Steles has gathered over 3,300 ancient steles and grave stones, with the earliest dating back to the Han Dynasty. The stele forest, dubbed the largest stone library in China, was first built in Song Dynasty. It holds the popular stele of Daqin Nestorianism, which was carved in Tang Dynasty to mark the open

China Issues New Law to Regulate Traffic
Chinese people who take to the wheel over the May Day holiday will have to be extra careful when they hit the road. The country's new Law on Road Traffic Safety takes effect on the first day of May, and it stipulates heavier fines on transgressors. The nation's capital is launching a traffic safety campaign citywide during the May Day holidays. Director of the Beijing Traffic Police Bureau, Li Jianhua says the targets will be drunk drivers and other traffic violators. "During the M

NBA Legend Michael Jordan to Visit China
For the first time ever, NBA legend Michael Jordan is to visit China in May as part of his 2004 Asian tour sponsored by sportswear maker Nike. The star will travel to several Chinese cities during the footwear promotional tour although details of his itinerary are yet to be released. While promoting his latest Air Jordan sneakers will be topping his whirlwind visit, fans in China will be thrilled to enjoy a one-on-one face-off with the greatest ever basketball player.

New Law Issued to Regulate Traffic
Chinese people who take to the wheel over the May Day holiday will have to be extra careful when they hit the road. The country's new Law on Road Traffic Safety takes effect on the first day of May, and it stipulates heavier fines on transgressors. The nation's capital is launching a traffic safety campaign citywide during the May Day holidays. Director of the Beijing Traffic Police Bureau, Li Jianhua says the targets will be drunk drivers and other traffic violators. "During the M

Holiday-goers Exhorted on Traffic Safety
People who plan for outings or to go traveling extensively during the coming May Day holidays have been admonished to abide by traffic law, value their precious lives and keep vigilance on safety during their trips.
The Traffic Administration under the

Holiday-goers Exhorted on Traffic Safety
People who plan for outings or to go traveling extensively during the coming May Day holidays have been admonished to abide by traffic law, value their precious lives and keep vigilance on safety during their trips.
The Traffic Administration under the

Travelers Choose Different Ways Spending
Seven-day Vacation
It is farming season now. We decide to take our son to the suburban areas to taste farmers' dishes and plant vegetables, said Li Zhengfeng, a government employee.
His 9-year-old son Li Yuncong was too excited to sleep after knowing he can plant his fav

Chinese Open International Labor Day
Holiday with Joy
From north to south, west to east, Chinese people kicked off the International Labor Day, also the first day of the holiday week, in various ways of entertainment and celebration.
Over 20,000 people from across the country gathered at the Tian'anmen Sq

Shanghai Wooes More Int'l Agencies
The local authority is accelerating its efforts to attract more overseas tourists to Shanghai by allowing more international travel agencies access to the local market, said Zhu Chengrong, director of the International Tourism Development Department. Since China announced it had granted permission for foreign share-holders and solely-owned travel agencies to operate last July, international partners and investors from Germany, the United States, Japan and various Southeast Asian countries

Flying Man Jordan to Land in China in Mid-May
NBA legend Michael Jordan will have a busy three days when he visits China in mid-May. Promoting Air Jordan sneakers, chatting with internet fans and playing basketball with high school kids, NBA legend Michael Jordan will have a busy three days when he visits China in mid-May. The 41-year-old star's first ever China visit, from May 17th to 20th, is part of his 2004 Asian tour sponsored by sportswear giant Nike. Reports say Jordan will travel to Beijing and south China's Gua

Shanghai Movers & Shakers Love May Travel
To travel abroad is no longer a luxury for upwardly mobile Shanghainese. Nowadays, it's the fashion. "Some 'hot lines' between Shanghai and Southeast Asian countries for the Labour Day holiday (May 1 to 7) were fully booked at our agency by April 10," said Wei Haicheng, a marketing manager at Shanghai Orient Travel Agency. "It seems that out-of-country travel became hot overnight," Wei said. Only a few local people could afford overseas trips in the 1990s, but the situation

Traffic Jam on Qinghai-Tibet Highway Relieved
Traffic flow at the pass of Kunlun Mountains, at an altitude of over 4,000 meters, on the Qinghai-Tibet highway has resumed.
Several truck drivers told Xinhua at 22:30 Monday at the checkpoint in Golmud, the terminal of the Qinghai-Tibet highway, that

Army Tours for Foreign Visitors Considered
During the Beijing Municipal People's Congress session in February, a representative suggested that tourism authorities develop a one-day "army barracks tour" for visitors from abroad. Now, barracks, firing range and tank museum tours are being considered and will likely be offered to travelers in the near future, says the Beijing Tourism Administration (BTA). BTA Vice Director Xiong Yumei said that the anticipated tours would also include watching the troops practice drill and ceremony.<

Army Tours for Foreign Visitors Considered
During the Beijing Municipal People's Congress session in February, a representative suggested that tourism authorities develop a one-day "army barracks tour" for visitors from abroad. Now, barracks, firing range and tank museum tours are being considered

China to Apply Three World Heritage Sites
China is hoping to have three more world cultural heritage sites designated by the United Nations this year.
China is hoping to have three more world cultural heritage sites designated by the United Nations this year. These include Gaojuli imper

Shanghai Movers & Shakers Love May Travel
To travel abroad is no longer a luxury for upwardly mobile Shanghainese. Nowadays, it's the fashion.
"Some 'hot lines' between Shanghai and Southeast Asian countries for the Labour Day holiday (May 1 to 7) were fully booked at our agency by April 10,"

Where There's a Will . . .
Many people don't think about having a will made until they sprout a few gray hairs. But recently, in the Harbin City, Heilongjiang Province, notary office has seen quite a few young people come in to have their wills notarized. The head of the administration department of the Harbin notary office says that they have now grown used to seeing young people come in to have their wills notarized. This group has a variety of reasons: some have serious illnesses; others travel frequently and fe

50,000 Visitors Throng to Hukou Waterfall
During the Holidays
Hukou Waterfall, a marvelous waterfall on the Yellow River flowing through the Jingshan Valley at Ji County of north China's Shanxi Province.
The scenery area received almost 50,000 visitors on Tuesday, the fourth day of the May Day Holidays. Th

Mainland Tourists Fuel HK Retail Market
Chinese mainland tourists have become a dynamic consumption force in Hong Kong retail market, with the extension of the Individual Visit Scheme in more Chinese mainland cities, said Yu Pang-chun, Director of Hong Kong Retail Management Association (HKRMA)

A City of Stone
Southern China's Hunan Province is bestowed with more than its fair share of picturesque landscapes. Among them, the old city of Huangsiqiao (literally "yellow silk bridge") is a must visit.
'Ecological' tourism is becoming more and more popular around

Drawn to Leisurely Bars in Beijing
A stream of taxis wriggles along the crowded road of Gongti Beilu. Most of them turn at the corner of Sanlitun Road North, stop, and drop off fashionably dressed people.
This is a very ordinary Friday and Saturday night scene in Beijing. After a

Tongli: A Place for Meditation
Tongli, Jiangsu: Spring is the time for outings.
But in North China, spring passes by much too quickly. Before people make their plans and pack their bags, it is already gone. Many of the spring clothes this year have remained in the closet and people

More Mainland Individuals Allowed to Visit Hong Kong
The Chinese central government will relax travel curbs to allow more people on the Chinese mainland to visit Hong Kong, in a move expected to boost the city's economy, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government announced. It was the central government's latest economic gift to the HKSAR. Over the next several months, the central government will allow another 43 million Chinese mainland residents to visit Hong Kong, as individuals, without requiring them to join

Police Seizes over 50 kg of Drugs in Yunnan
Chinese police seized over 50 kilograms of drugs in southwest China's Yunnan Province during the just-concluded May Day holiday, local police said Saturday. A total of 58 suspects involved in 50 trafficking cases were captured in the week-long holiday. Local police said they greatly strengthened the frontier inspection in the period in a bid to stop those drug traffickers who attempted to pass themselves off as tourists, as many travelers swarmed to the border area during the golde

Beijing Taps Business Value of Public Toilets
Since Beijing stopped collecting fees at public toilets a few years ago, building and maintaining public toilets has become a headache for district governments.
To solve this problem, the government of Beijing's Fengtai District has decided to raise fu

Tourist Reception Authorization System to Be Abolished in Beijing
Over 1,000 authorized tourist reception enterprises, including restaurants, hotels and stores, will lose their authorization beginning from July 1, according to officials from the Beijing Tourism Administration. Travelers of tourist groups in Beijing will

Shanghai Stages Human Body Sculpture Show
Shanghai has staged a human body sculpture show at Jing'an Park.
The show attracted many young people, curious to see how well the sculptures held their form. Professional actors made themselves up to imitate real bronze sculptures by using diff

Heritage Logo Contest Under Way
A competition has kicked off for the design of a cultural heritage protection logo for China.
Hosted by the State Administration of Cultural Heritage (SACH), the contest welcomes the participation of designers, artists and people from around the world

Chinese, Romanian Youth Celebrate Ties
A week-long Chinese-Romanian youth festival opened on May 8 in Shanghai. The event marks the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries. The 58-member Romanian youth delegation includes young statesmen, entrepreneurs, media workers, artists and representatives from non-governmental organizations. During the festival, the young Romanian delegates will cruise on the Huangpu River and visit remarkable buildings in Shanghai. They will also t

Tourism Income Sets Record High in Shanxi During Holidays
North China's Shanxi Province, one of the country's major popular tourist destinations, registered a record high of nearly 1.56 billion yuan (approximately US$190 million) in tourism income during the week-long May Day holidays that ended on Friday. The figure represented a rise of hefty 51 percent over the same period in 2002 for the local tourism sector, which suffered losses like other provinces during the 2003 SARS attack. The May Day holidays this year saw a record high of 7.0

Chinese City Maps Public Toilets for Tourists
A map of public toilets became a best-seller in the streets of Kunming City, southwest China, over the week-long May Day holiday. The map, printed by a local survey and mapping institute at the request of tourists and locals alike, highlighted 325 public toilets in the city, all of which were within 20 meters from the city's main streets, said Wang Guiwu, head of the institute. The map has also included a detailed schedule of inbound and outbound trains at Kunming Railway Station,

Holiday Economy Scores Returns
The seven-day May Day holiday in spring and its autumn counterpart, National Day, serve a dual purpose. They spur domestic consumption while offering people a chance to improve the quality of their lives with leisure time. China extended the May Day holiday to seven consecutive days in 2001. Last year, however, the SARS outbreak forced the central government to cancel the long spring break. Tourism industry sources say that this year, nearly 30 percent of Chinaa s urban population

Central Gov't Easing HK Travel Restrictions
The Chinese central government will relax travel curbs to allow more people on the Chinese mainland to visit Hong Kong, in a move expected to boost the city's economy, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government announced. It was the central government's latest economic gift to the HKSAR. Over the next several months, the central government will allow another 43 million Chinese mainland residents to visit Hong Kong, as individuals, without requiring them to join

China Trains Professionals to Boost Sino-ASEAN Cooperation
While many Chinese travel half a world to study languages, science and technologies in Western countries, some others have found a place to learn the essence of exotic Asian cultures without leaving their home country. Nearly 500 students are learning Southeast Asian languages and cultures at the Foreign Languages Department of Guangxi Institute for Nationalities based in Nanning, capital of the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Students here have easy access to live radio

Language Study to Boost Sino-ASEAN Cooperation
While many Chinese travel half a world to study language, science and technology in Western countries, others have found a place to learn the essence of exotic Asian cultures without leaving their home country. Nearly 500 students are learning Southeast Asian languages and cultures at the foreign languages department of the Guangxi Institute for Nationalities in Nanning, capital of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, in southern China Students here have easy access to live radio

Holiday Economy Scores Good Returns
The seven-day holiday that just concluded Friday in celebration of May Day, or the International Labor Day, witnessed a wide range of recreational activities for the Chinese people and posted good economic returns across the nation. The holiday economy is now seen not only as a means by the government to spur domestic consumption but also as a good chance for common people to improve their lives in leisure as a new cultural mode, some economists and sociologists believe. China bega

China Trains Professionals to Boost Sino-ASEAN Cooperation
While many Chinese travel half a world to study languages, science and technologies in Western countries, some others have found a place to learn the essence of exotic Asian cultures without leaving their home country. Nearly 500 students are learning southeast Asian languages and cultures at the foreign languages department of Guangxi Institute for Nationalities based in Nanning, capital of the southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Students here have easy access to live radio

Premier Wen's Opportune Visit to the EU
Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to the European Union falls on an unusual time. First, Premier Wen is the first foreign state leader visiting EU member countries and the EU headquarters after EU's enlargement. Second, May 6 -- the day the Chinese Premier visited the EU headquarters -- was the 29th anniversary of China's establishment of formal relationship with the European Economic Community -- the predecessor of the EU. Third, Sino-EU relations saw remarkable achievements in 2003 and momentum had b

China to Launch New Air Flight to Tajikistan
A new air route will be launched on Monday, linking Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, with the Tajik capital Dushanbe to serve the growing number of Tajik tourists coming to China. This weekly flight, available every Monday, is operated by the Xinjiang based company of China Southern Airlines. This will be the sixth air route that the Xinjiang Company runs to Central Asian countries.

Consumption up During Long Holiday
Travel agents, restaurants owners and even souvenir peddlers are happily counting revenues brought by heaps of nationwide tourists during the May Day holiday last week. While some went sightseeing, shopping or eating, others made efforts to keep fit, read or watch TV. Yet, others slumbered away the seven-day holiday. Official statistics show that more than 100 million trips were taken during the holiday week that ended on Friday. Travelers spent up to 39 billion yuan (US$4.7 billio

Calls for "Paid Holiday" Rise Again as Golden Week Ends
As another golden week ended, increasingly affluent Chinese tourists are calling more than ever for a "paid holiday" as they still find themselves packed among throngs of people who all head to the same destinations. "I couldn't get an air ticket discount. The accommodation price of the hotel I stayed at was at two times that of the normal season. Every time I took up my camera, I found at least six people in the frame," said Chen Zailin, who just returned from a trip to Mt. Lushan, a fam

China UnionPay Bank Card Spending Hits Record High
Chinese holiday makers traveling throughout the country during the Labor Day holiday paid US$120 million worth of bills by means of bank cards, a record high and a rise of 350 percent over last year. Bank cards carrying a UnionPay logo, including those issued by the country's major banks, may be used for payment or withdrawing cash from ATMs owned by other member banks in and outside places of residence within China, including Hong Kong. China UnionPay says that during the seven-da

Calls for "Paid Holiday" Rise Again as Golden Week Ends
As another golden week ended, increasingly affluent Chinese tourists are calling more than ever for a "paid holiday" as they still find themselves packed among throngs of people who all head to the same destinations.
"I couldn't get an air ticket disco

New Railway Bridge Links Mainland and Hong Kong
A new railway bridge was completed in the assembly of its structure striding Shenzhen River Sunday morning to link Shenzhen city in southern Guangdong Province with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.
The new Luohu bridge, 40 meters long and 2

Jade Culture Museum Opens in Guilin
A museum on jade culture has opened in Guilin, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, one of the major jade producers in south China, with a jade-made nine-dragon screen wall weighing more than 100 tons stealing the limelight.
The screen wall, 29.99 met

France to Glimpse Ancient Glory of "Capital of Porcelain"
People in France can enjoy the elegance and delicacy of Chinese porcelain from next week at an exhibition of the ancient craft works.
An exhibition of 60 ancient porcelain wares from Jingdezhen, dubbed "capital of china", will be staged in Paris as par

World Cultural Cities Expo Concludes
Nanjing's week-long Fair of World Historical and Cultural Cities has come to a close. The event has attracted municipal leaders from 21 renowned cities from China and around the world. Various cultural activities were held to mark the end of the Expo. The closing ceremony was kicked off by a motorcycle parade. Then, on behalf of nearly 7 million Nanjing citizens, more than a hundred young girls greeted guests with flowers and colorful flags. They were followed by folk art pe

TUI-China expands network in China
Joint-venture company TUI-China has signed a deal with GDCTS, the No.1 tour operator in Guangdong province, to be its franchisee in China's most vigorous southern province. This agreement follows the same partnership signed with Shanghai's partner Shanghai Airlines Tours International just one month ago. TUI-China's chief operating officer Li Huiyang told TravelWeekly that TUI-China is planning to develop 31 franchisees in China by the end of this year or early next year. This will

Tourism income reached 2.254 billion
Statistics show that Guangzhou received 4.9986 million visitors during the May Day Holiday while the scenery spots received 9.122 million visitors, up 8.5% compared with the same period last year. Owing to 70% residents traveling in Guangzhou, the local consumption rose up. The income of catering and retail exceeded the corresponding period last year. According to the statistics, the total tourism income reached 2.254 billion yuan during the holiday. The total turnover of 13 appoin

Sanya Sees More Individual Visitors
During this national May Day Holiday (May 1-7), Sanya hosted a total of 96.1 thousand visitors, who brought in 186 million yuan (USD 22.5 million) to the tourism city. Individual visitors to the city account for nearly half of the total.

Huge sales over 7 days
Shanghai retailers were the big winners from this year's May Day holiday - the majority of sales were clothes, food and home appliances. Sales by the city's 299 major retailers hit 1.83 billion yuan (US$221 million) from May 1 until yesterday which was in line with expectations. The holiday sales figures were an increase of 52.7 percent from the same period last year when the city's retail businesses were trapped in a national SARS outbreak, Shanghai Economic Commission reported ye

Beijing Receives 3.61 Million Tourists During 'Golden Week'
The Chinese capital of Beijing received 3.61 million tourists during the "golden week" May Day holiday, with the total tourist income reaching 2.5 billion yuan (US$305 million), the city government said Friday. A total of 1.33 million tourists from other cities consumed 1.94 billion yuan (US$237 million) in Beijing, down 32 percent and 40 percent respectively over 2002. However, 2.28 million Beijing residents spending the holiday near home consumed 560 million yuan (US$68 million),

Chinese city maps public toilets for tourists
A map of public toilets became a best-seller in the streets of Kunming City, southwest China, over the week-long May Day holiday. The map, printed by a local survey and mapping institute at the request of tourists and locals alike, highlighted 325 public toilets in the city, all of which were within 20 meters from the city's main streets, said Wang Guiwu, head of the institute. The map has also included a detailed schedule of inbound and outbound trains at Kunming Railway Station,

Tourist Reception Authorization System to Be Abolished in Beijing
Over 1,000 authorized tourist reception enterprises, including restaurants, hotels and stores, will lose their authorization beginning from July 1, according to officials from the Beijing Tourism Administration. Travelers of tourist groups in Beijing will not have to consume in government-pointed reception sites. The authorization of tourist reception sites is a product of planned economy, which has been implemented in the country since 1987, when most restaurants, hotels and shops had si

Vehicle Market Growth Poses Challenges
China is increasingly shaking off its reputation as the world's "bicycle kingdom" as automobile ownership continues to accelerate. Government think-tanks believe that this trend will not be bucked as growing prosperity continues to drive auto ownership upward. But Chen Qingtai, deputy director of the State Council's Development Research Center, warns that although the auto sector has great growth potential over the next two decades, it will also face challenges resulting from energ

More Chinese Regions Allowed to Organize Australia, NZ Tour
From July 1, six more Chinese regions will be allowed to organize group tours to Australia and New Zealand, according to a source from the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA). The six are Tianjin and Chongqing municipalities and Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. This is a new measure after the two governments recently agreed to expand the regions inChina organizing group tours to cover the whole nation. Group tours to the two Ocean nations started in 1999, b

Calls for 'Paid Holiday' Rise
As another golden week ended, increasingly affluent Chinese tourists are calling more than ever for a "paid holiday" as they still find themselves packed among throngs of people who all head to the same destinations. "I couldn't get an air ticket discount. The accommodation price of the hotel I stayed at was at two times that of the normal season. Every time I took up my camera, I found at least six people in the frame," said Chen Zailin, who just returned from a trip to Mt. Lushan, a fam

Consumption up During Long Holiday
Travel agents, restaurants owners and even souvenir peddlers are happily counting revenues brought by heaps of nationwide tourists during the May Day holiday last week.
While some went sightseeing, shopping or eating, others made efforts to keep fit, r

UK Airline Company Expands Ticketing Network in China
British airline company Virgin Atlantic Airways expects rising sales in China by expanding its ticketing network through cooperation with a Chinese company, a top official said Monday.
Steve Ridgway, CEO of the British company, said here that his compa

China-Spain Urban Transportation Forum Opens
An urban transportation forum sponsored by Chinese and Spanish governments opened Monday in Beijing to share Spain's experience in tackling transportation problems as Barcelona did in the 1992 Olympic Games.
The forum was held to promote exchanges and

More Chinese Regions Open to Australia, NZ Tour
From July 1, six more Chinese regions will be allowed to organize group tours to Australia and New Zealand, according to a source from the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA).
The six are Tianjin and Chongqing municipalities and Hebei, Shandon

May Day Holiday Harvests in Dalian
During May.1-7, known as the 'May Day golden week,' Dalian's tourist amount and tourism comprehensive revenue saw the obvious increases compared with that of in 2002. This year, Dalian succeeded in accepting 665,600 tourists (12,000 came abroad), increased by 14.7 percent than in 2002, tourism comprehensive revenue reached to 474 million RMB yuan, increased by 27.4 percent than in 2002, fueled from Dalian Vacation Office yesterday. Due to the bad influence of the SARS last year, th

May Day Holiday Harvests in Dalian
During May.1-7, known as the 'May Day golden week,' Dalian's tourist amount and tourism comprehensive revenue saw the obvious increases compared with that of in 2002. This year, Dalian succeeded in accepting 665,600 tourists (12,000 came abroad), increased by 14.7 percent than in 2002, tourism comprehensive revenue reached to 474 million RMB yuan, increased by 27.4 percent than in 2002, fueled from Dalian Vacation Office yesterday. Due to the bad influence of the SARS last year, th

Tourism income sets record high in Shanxi during holidays
North China's Shanxi province, one of the country's major popular tourist destinations, registered a record high of nearly 1.56 billion yuan (approximately 190 millionUS dollars) in tourism income during the week-long May Day holidays that ended on Friday. The figure represented a rise of hefty 51 percent over the same period in 2002 for the local tourism sector, which suffered losses like other provinces during the 2003 SARS attack. The May Day holidays this year saw a record high

China on the Move During May Day Holiday
Beijing has welcomed more than 3.6 million tourists during the May Day holiday, with total tourist income reaching over US$300 million. City officials say many Beijingers chose to drive private cars to the surrounding countryside, which was the main feature of this May Day holiday. One highlight was Africa's Drumstruck Band's thrilling performance at the Fourth "Meet in Beijing" festival in Beijing's Longtan Lake Park. Artists from nine countries including Egypt, South Africa and T

Extended holiday ends in good economic returns for China
China 's four-year-old scheme to boost consumer spending by giving people longer holidays has proven successful during the just ended Labor Day holiday which saw tourism and spending rise significantly nationwide, state media said. Retail sales during the May 1-7 Golden Week increased by 23 percent from the same period in 2002, the People's Daily said, citing figures from the Commerce Ministry. No amount was given. Beijing began giving its citizens a week-long holiday to celebrate

China to Launch New Air Flight to Tajikistan
A new air route will be launched Monday, linking Urumqi, capital of Xinjiang in northwest China, with the Tajik capital Dushanbe to serve the growing number of Tajik tourists to China. The weekly flight, available every Monday, is operated by the Xinjiang company of China's Southern Airlines. This is the sixth air route the Xinjiang Company runs to Central Asian countries, following the ones to Alma-Ata of Kazakhstan and Bishkek of Kyrgyzstan.

Central Gov't Easing HK Travel Restrictions
The Chinese central government will relax travel curbs to allow more people on the Chinese mainland to visit Hong Kong, in a move expected to boost the city's economy, the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) Government announced. It was the central government's latest economic gift to the HKSAR. Over the next several months, the central government will allow another 43 million Chinese mainland residents to visit Hong Kong, as individuals, without requiring them to join

Two Million Travelers Choose to "Fly" During Golden Week
During May 1 to 7, known as the golden week, China had taken off 20,559 flights, with 22 percent increase than that of 2002, according to the administration. Airports in scenic spots, such as Sanya and Haikou in south China's island province of Hainan and Guilin in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, were very busy during the golden week, with many flights having 90 percent seats occupied. The capital city of Beijing, east China's Shanghai, south China's Guangzhou became the busi

Consumption up During Long Holiday
Travel agents, restaurants owners and even souvenir peddlers are happily counting revenues brought by heaps of nationwide tourists during the May Day holiday last week. While some went sightseeing, shopping or eating, others made efforts to keep fit, read or watch TV. Yet, others slumbered away the seven-day holiday. Official statistics show that more than 100 million trips were taken during the holiday week that ended on Friday. Travelers spent up to 39 billion yuan (US$4.7 billio

China UnionPay Bank Card Spending Hits Record High
Chinese holiday makers traveling throughout the country during the Labor Day holiday paid US$120 million worth of bills by means of bank cards, a record high and a rise of 350 percent over last year. Bank cards carrying a UnionPay logo, including those issued by the country's major banks, may be used for payment or withdrawing cash from ATMs owned by other member banks in and outside places of residence within China, including Hong Kong. China UnionPay says that during the seven-da

Two Million Travelers Choose to "Fly" During Golden Week
During May 1 to 7, known as the golden week, China had taken off 20,559 flights, with 22 percent increase than that of 2002, according to the administration. Airports in scenic spots, such as Sanya and Haikou in south China's island province of Hainan and Guilin in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, were very busy during the golden week, with many flights having 90 percent seats occupied. The capital city of Beijing, east China's Shanghai, south China's Guangzhou became the busi

More Chinese regions to organize group tours to Australia, NZ
From July 1, six more Chinese regions will be allowed to organize group tours to Australia and New Zealand, according to a source from the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA). The six are Tianjin and Chongqing municipalities and Hebei, Shandong, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces. This is a new measure after the two governments recently agreed to expand the regions inChina organizing group tours to cover the whole nation. Group tours to the two Oceanian nations started in 1999

Calls for "Paid Holiday" Rise Again as Golden Week Ends
As another golden week ended, increasingly affluent Chinese tourists are calling more than ever for a "paid holiday" as they still find themselves packed among throngs of people who all head to the same destinations. "I couldn't get an air ticket discount. The accommodation price of the hotel I stayed at was at two times that of the normal season. Every time I took up my camera, I found at least six people in the frame," said Chen Zailin, who just returned from a trip to Mt. Lushan, a fam

Cats Heats Up Beijing Musical Stage
The group of the world's most famous Cats made their long-awaited debut in Beijing on April 27th. Staged for 9 consecutive days at the Great Hall of People, the musical is considered a great success by local media. We've got no box-office reports yet, but the musical has certainly triggered a Cats craze among Beijing audience. Here're some of them. And to give you a better idea of what the musical has achieved worldwide, here're some facts&figures about Cats. Cats

New Railway Bridge Links Mainland and Hong Kong
A new railway bridge was completed in the assembly of its structure striding Shenzhen River Sunday morning to link Shenzhen city in southern Guangdong Province with the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region. The new Luohu bridge, 40 meters long and 224 tons in weight, is expected to be put into operation on June 13. Yin Daqiao, official in charge of the construction of the project, said that all the assembly work was done by Sunday morning. In the next stage, they will lay rails

New Part-time Job Taken by College Students
Chinese people's life has become more diversified. So are the jobs. "Chatting partner" is one of them. Some university students in southern China's Nanning City have advertised their services. Not long ago, Meng Hua surfed the web and found that many young people are now working as "chatting partners" for others. This college boy from southern China's Nanning City wasted no time to call several of his peers to join him. And they are now advertising themselves to people who need companions

Speed Limit in 4th Capital's Ring Road Down to 80 Kmph
The maximum speed limit in Beijing's fourth ring road has been lowered from 100 kilometers per hour to 80.
That is the same maximum speed limit now posted at the second and third ring roads. Meanwhile the minimum speed in the fourth ring road is

UK Airline Company Expands Ticketing Network in China
British airline company Virgin Atlantic Airways expects rising sales in China by expanding its ticketing network through cooperation with a Chinese company, a top official said Monday.
Steve Ridgway, CEO of the British company, said here that his compa

Travel agencies bring 263,000 tourists to Macao in March
A total of 263,288 tourists who traveled in groups visited in March 2004, marking a 47 percent increase as compared with the same month of last year. According to a news release by the Statistic and Census Services of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) Tuesday, among the travelers are 238,552 from China's mainland, 12,170fromTaiwan province, and 6,486 from the Hong Kong SAR. Meanwhile, some 12,000 Macao residents took trips as members of tourist groups, up 63.9 percent o

UK Airline Company Expands Ticketing Network in China
British airline company Virgin Atlantic Airways expects rising sales in China by expanding its ticketing network through cooperation with a Chinese company, a top official said Monday. Steve Ridgway, CEO of the British company, said here that his company's cooperation with China Civil Aviation Information Network Co. Ltd was of strategic importance to developing its business in China. According to Ridgway, Virgin's ticketing network will connect to that of the Chinese company, and

Black Boxes Installed in Beijing Buses
Some 170 long-distance and other tourist buses in Beijing have been equipped with black boxes, similar to the flight recorders used in planes, to document information while on the road. Driving information such as time, speed and mileage will be recorded by the black boxes, while the buses' license plate number, color and driver's license number will also be registered to ensure all necessary information is immediately on hand if an accident should occur. Experts point out the blac

Nation's 1st World Heritage Park opens
China's first park to exhibit small-scale World Heritage sites recently opened to the public in Lijiang City of southwest China's Yunnan Province. The World Heritage Park occupies 33 hectares about 2 kilometers away from Lijiang, a city with a history of 800 years in Yunnan Province. It displays a dozen scenic spots that are part of Lijiang's World Heritage sites in a proportion of one to 150 square meters. Lijiang has been included on the World Heritage List of the United Nations

Irish Art Festival Commences in Beijing
The Irish Art Festival kicked off with the return of Riverdance, the Irish dance performance that electrified Chinese audiences last year. As an important part of this year's Meet in Beijing International Arts Festival, a stellar cast has been assembled to showcase the cultural treasures of Ireland. Zhou Lin, who just saw Riverdance at Beijing's Poly Theater, says she can't wait to experience more of the Irish art scene. "I missed Riverdance last year, but luckily I got the chance

China Southern Airlines Begins New Shanghai-Saipan Service
China Southern Airlines is now operating new service between Shanghai and Saipan in the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands. The administrative center of the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands, Saipan has attracted flocks of tourists each year with a plethora of historical and tourist resources. Since China Southern launched its first direct Guangzhou-Saipan service in 2000, Saipan has become one of the very first choices for Chinese vacationers to spend their holidays. To prov

SriLankan Airlines to launch China service in October
SriLankan Airlines will make its entry into China in October with a thrice-weekly Beijing¨CBangkok¨CColombo service. The new service is targeted at leisure and business traffic to India, Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The carrier has connections in Colombo to nine Indian cities (10 by July), Karachi and the Maldives, and the Beijing service is intended to afford China's growing middle class more connections to South Asia. SriLankan will shortly be opening a full-fledged ticket office in Beijin

'Olympic Painter' Portrays Beijing
When he made his first visit to China in 1996, internationally acclaimed Australian artist Charles Billich never expected that his life would become so closely connected with the ancient country. Eight years later, thanks to his devotion in supporting the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, he has become one of the most renowned contemporary foreign painters to Chinese art-lovers. At the crucial moment when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) chose the host city of the 2008 Games, Bi

China Signs Tourism MOUs with 53 Nations
China has signed tourism Memorandum of Understandings on visa and related issues with 53 nations, with the two most recent signed with Ireland on Tuesday and with Seychelles in late April. China has so far approved 67 nations with Authorized Destination Status (ADS), among which the 10 new members of the European Union were automatically added in the list from May 1. However, Chinese group tours organized by travel agencies can only go to 26 nations so far while the others are work

Syria Criticizes Sanctions, Seeks Talks
Syria denounced US economic sanctions on Wednesday and other Arab countries -- including close US allies -- joined in the criticism. Europe ignored the penalties by dispatching a trade delegation to Damascus. Some Arabs questioned the validity of the measures and the motives behind them, saying they serve Israeli -- not American -- interests and could further antagonize Arab feelings toward the United States, already soured by the war in Iraq, the prisoner-abuse scandal and the Israeli-Pa

'Olympic Painter' Portrays Beijing
When he made his first visit to China in 1996, internationally acclaimed Australian artist Charles Billich never expected that his life would become so closely connected with the ancient country. Eight years later, thanks to his devotion in supporting the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, he has become one of the most renowned contemporary foreign painters to Chinese art-lovers. At the crucial moment when the International Olympic Committee (IOC) chose the host city of the 2008 Games, Bi

Three Sites to Bid for UNESCO Heritage List
China is working for adding three historical sites, including the imperial palace, imperial mausoleum and tombs for nobles belonging to the ancient Gaogouli regime, to the World Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO at an international heritage conference to b

263,000 Group Tourists Visited Macao in March
A total of 263,288 tourists who traveled in groups visited in March 2004, marking a 47 percent increase as compared with the same month of last year.
According to a news release by the Statistic and Census Services of the Macao Special Administrative R

Nation's 1st World Heritage Park Opens
China's first park to exhibit small-scale World Heritage sites recently opened to the public in Lijiang City of southwest China's Yunnan Province.
The World Heritage Park occupies 33 hectares about 2 kilometers away from Lijiang, a city with a history

Multi-functional Cozy Loos for Beijing
Fifty multi-functional toilets will be built this year in bustling areas of south Beijing. Do your thing - then do your shopping! Mini-markets and exclusive agencies will be open in the two-storey Loos.
Each two-storey loo will cover no less than 450 s

Shandong Airlines Buys Blended Winglets and Becomes First Operator in China With an All-Winglet Boeing NG Fleet
Shandong is the Launch Customer for BFE Winglets and Aviation Partners Boeing's First Sales Agreement Directly With a Chinese Operator. Shandong Airlines, a subsidiary of SDA (Shandong Aviation Group, a state-owned aviation transportation giant), signed a sales agreement for 3 Boeing 737-700's and 4 Boeing 737-800's to be delivered in 2005. The carrier has also committed to options for 8 additional 737 Blended Winglet shipsets. This makes Shandong the first customer for Buyer Furnished Eq

Int'l cultural industry fair to be held in Shenzhen
The first international cultural industry fair will take place in Shenzhen City of Guangdong Province, south China, during Nov. 18-22, Shenzhen Mayor Li Hongzhong said here Wednesday. Over 800 Chinese and overseas cultural companies, including big-name Disney, have applied to attend the fair, and the venue has been fixed at the Shenzhen High-Tech Fair Hall, said Li who is in the national capital to promote the fair. The fair, which will be a biennial event, will be jointly held by

Multi-functional Cozy Loos for Beijing
Fifty multi-functional toilets will be built this year in bustling areas of south Beijing. Do your thing - then do your shopping! Mini-markets and exclusive agencies will be open in the two-storey Loos. Each two-storey loo will cover no less than 450 square meters. A room will be available for mothers to feed their babies. The loos will be easy to use for disabled people, the elderly, minors and mothers holding babies. Adding to the convenience and comfort, a lobby, a

Hotel Background Music Charges to Skyrocket
Charges for hotel background music have been skyrocketing in Beijing since the current music copyright agreement expired on April 10th this year. The Music Copyright Society of China says the music fee in star-level hotels could rise by over 100 percent. The 63 hotels affiliated to the Beijing Tourism Industry Association could enjoy some discounts. Meanwhile, the Beijing Tourism Industry Association and Music Copyright Society of China are discussing the contract renewal.

Pillars in Tian'anmen Protected by Injecting Antiseptic
Pillars in Tian'anmen Gate have recently been injected with antiseptic in an effort to better protect the construction. Like patients receiving transfusion, each pillar in the southern Tian'anman Gate was placed on four drips filling with antiseptic. After standing for nearly six-hundred years, although the pillars were made up of precious timbers at that time, some are being corroded by severe weather and the polluted environment. Experts say injecting the antiseptic can ke

Amadeus mission-ready for China
NICE ¨C Amadeus is mission-ready for China, said Olivier Froger, director, product management (Asia/Pacific) in Amadeus¡¯ Nice office. Froger said Amadeus has been told the Chinese government is ready to open the doors for discussions between foreign-owned GDSs like Amadeus and China¡¯s BSP this July. ¡°We have a ready central ticketing system which we developed for the China market in 1999. Once we are given the go-ahead, we can turn it on immediately,¡± said Froger. Amadeus¡¯ te

Three Sites to Bid for UNESCO Heritage List
China is working for adding three historical sites, including the imperial palace, imperial mausoleum and tombs for nobles belonging to the ancient Gaogouli regime, to the World Cultural Heritage List of UNESCO at an international heritage conference to be held in late June. The other two sites are the three imperial mausoleums dedicated to first and second emperors and the two empresses of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), as well as to the ancestors of the emperors, all of which are in Shen

Xiamen Designs Public Toilet Map
The sanitation department in Xiamen City of east China's Fujian Province has designed a public toilet map to help tourists and local residents find restrooms more easily. Xiamen now has more than 200 public toilets in the urban area. That is adequate but the problem now is that they are all located in out-of-the-way places and have no obvious signs. Besides restrooms, other environmental sanitation facilities, like sewage disposal stations and sprinkler stops, will be signed clearl

Reporters to Set Off on 'Journey to the West'
Monk Xuanzang of the Tang Dynasty (618-907) journeyed west, to India, to obtain the Buddhist scriptures in AD 627. Eighteen years later he returned to Chang'an (present-day Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province), then the Tang Dynasty capital. Based on the story of Xuanzang's pilgrimage, Ming Dynasty (1368 - 1644) writer Wu Cheng'en penned the famous novel, Journey to the West, one of the four great classics of Chinese literature. Next week, more than 70 journalists from various eveni

Thai Tigers Safe and Sound in Hainan
Allegations that tigers imported from Thailand to China were used to make aphrodisiacs are "groundless," say officials. "All of the tigers are intact and in good condition in the breeding base and more than 50 cubs have been born since they arrived at the breeding centre," Maitree Temsiripone said on Wednesday. Meitree is president of Sanya Maitree Concept Co Ltd -- a Sino-Thai joint venture in Sanya, Hainan Province -- that arranged for the importation of 100 Bengal tigers from Th

New Tours to Historic Sites
A one-day tour to cultural and historic sites in Nanshan District is to open in the next two months, district government sources said. The tour is being sponsored by the district bureaus of culture and tourism and the cultural and historic site administration office. The route is scheduled to include the Tianhou Palace, which contains the province's largest Matsu Temple, the Left Emplacement and mausoleum of the last and youngest emperor in the Song Dynasty (960-1279) at Chiwan, Sh

Thai Tigers Safe and Sound in Hainan
Allegations that tigers imported from Thailand to China were used to make aphrodisiacs are "groundless," say officials.
"All of the tigers are intact and in good condition in the breeding base and more than 50 cubs have been born since they arrived at

China to Be No 1 Tourist Resort by 2020
Asia is becoming the second largest tourism destination in the world, second only to Europe, said Long Yongtu, secretary general of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), at a press conference Thursday in Hangzhou, the capital city of East China's Zhejiang Provin

Peking Opera to Apply for World Intangible Heritage
A senior cultural official in Beijing says Peking Opera could become the next Chinese cultural legacy after Kunqu Opera to be listed on the World Intangible Heritage.
The Capital Museum in Beijing is to set up an exhibition hall of folk arts and cultur

Digital Dunhuang Website Launched
Chinese viewers can now scan the huge collections of ancient Buddhist Dunhuang documents by logging onto www.idp.nlc.gov.cn, China's digital Dunhuang website.
Nearly 10 thousand titles of digitalised Dunhuang documents, and more than 50 actual document

Survey: Women's Shopping Horizons Broaden
Recent studies have shown that Chinese women are broadening their shopping horizons, spending on everything from travel to plastic surgery. Research conducted by the Beijing-based China Mainland Medicine Marketing Research Ltd Co indicated that while women spend significant amounts on garments, social activities and dining out, other items such as tourism, sports and even plastic surgery are eating into savings nationwide. "We noticed that female spending has become diversified," s

Cultural Relics to Be Exhibited in Greece
A total of 106 cultural relics from China will be shipped to Athens of Greece for exhibition when the 2004 Olympic Games are held there in August.
All compulsory customs clearance procures for the shipment have been finished and the relics will leave t

Singapore Simplifies Visa Process
Beginning later this month, Beijing travelers will be able to receive a visa to Singapore one day after applying.
The process has also been simplified for applicants and now requires only an ID card and passport to complete the procedure. The ne

Great Wall of China from Space
The Earth looked very beautiful from space, but I did not see our Great Wall, lamented China's first astronaut, Yang Liwei, after 21 hours in orbit last October. The comment triggered a round of news stories that implied the structure could not be seen by

Fruitful Year for Domestic Listed Firms
Around 1,300 listed companies in China produced satisfactory results for their investors in 2003. By the end of April, most of the listed companies in Shanghai and Shenzhen had released annual reports for the year. Altogether 1,289 companies realized a net profit of 125.8 billion yuan last year (US$15.2 billion), a 37.5 percent growth year-on-year. Average earnings per share also rose by 37 percent to 0.196 yuan (2.4 US cents). It was the first time Chinese listed com

Discover Tibet in Books
The English version of a photo collection by a father and his son covering the changes in Tibet will be soon published by China Intercontinental Press. Entitled Tibet Through the Lenses of Father and Son Photographers, the book features photos by Denzin Gyaco, the 10th Demu Living Buddha, and his second son Demu Wangjug Doje, who is vice-president of the Tibet Photographers' Association. Taking up the camera in 1925, Denzin Gyaco was one of the first Tibetans to record the lives of

Air China Eyes IPO by Year-end
Air China is expected to launch its overseas initial public offering by the end of this year, according to company sources on May 14. The airline, China's flag carrier which operates many of the country's international flights, is likely to gain a full-year profit well above its previous target of 1 billion yuan (US$120 million) for the year due to soaring air travel. "The company is to be listed in Hong Kong at around the end of this year, but no further details I can provide at t

Air China Eyes IPO by Year-end
Air China is expected to launch its overseas initial public offering by the end of this year, according to company sources on May 14. The airline, China's flag carrier which operates many of the country's international flights, is likely to gain a full-year profit well above its previous target of 1 billion yuan (US$120 million) for the year due to soaring air travel. "The company is to be listed in Hong Kong at around the end of this year, but no further details I can provide at t

Taoism Culture Festival to Open in Chengdu
The 2004 China Taoism Culture Festival will open on June 5 on Mount Qingcheng, a World Heritage site some 63 kilometers from Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.
The six-day festival will feature Taoist music, martial arts, food and

Planner: Maintain Old Architectural Sites
Planning officials are calling for a greater number of old buildings here to receive historical protection from the government.
Of most concern are Republic of China-era buildings, or those from the period between 1912-1949. "They are characteri

Hainan Province to Open More Intl Air Routes
South China's Hainan Province is going to open air routes to Malaysia's Kuala Lumpur and Singapore in the second half year.
According to the Hainan airline authority, weekly flights to Kuala Lumpur will begin operation on August 7. The Singapore

Individual Tour to Singapore to Open to 13 Chinese Cities
Individual travel to Singapore opens to 13 big cities in China from this month, including Guangzhou, capital city of Guangdong Province, Shenzhen, economic hub of south China, and Beijing, Shanghai, etc. The Singapore travel visa application and approval will take only one day, much shorter than that of Hong Kong individual tour, which last for 10 to 15 working days. What is more, the visa to Singapore is valid for one month, while visa to Hong Kong last for only one week. Hong Kon

Subway to Link Two Airports in Shanghai
Shanghai government has adopted a plan to extend the subway network to 510 kilometers and build 10 multi-level underground transfer hubs by 2010.
The plan, announced by the Shanghai Urban Planning Administrative Bureau yesterday, will extend both ends

Curators Call for Efforts to Protect Heritage
Nearly 200 curators from home and abroad participating in a forum Monday in Beijing appealed for the world museum circle to make more efforts to preserve intangible heritage from the threat of cultural homogenization.
National Museum of China Executive

World Museum Day Celebrated in Beijing
More than 100 museums from around the world are celebrating their day today at a major exposition at the Agricultural Museum of China in Beijing.
The Museum and Relevant Products and Technologies Exposition, which kicked off today and runs until Friday

French Club Eyes Chinese Tourism Market
Club Med, France's top vacation provider has held a feast celebrating its achievement in adding 2,000 club members in China over the past six months. Its global CEO says that its initial number of members in China is much higher than in other countries when first entering those markets. Club Med is planning to build vacation villages and resorts in southwest China's Xishuangbanna and Yalong Bay. It is said that the company is also willing to establish a joint venture in Shan

Olympic Torch Relay's Beijing Leg Rescheduled
The Beijing leg of the worldwide Athens Olympic torch relay has been rescheduled one day later from the original date of June 8, to avoid collision with the national collegiate entrance exams. The Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad (BOCOG) announced on Wednesday that a total of 148 torch bearers will carry the torch throughout Beijing on June 9. The torch arrives in the Chinese capital on June 8, the fifth stop of the first truly global relay in the Olympic hi

Airport in Revolution Cradle Opens
The Jinggangshan Airport in east China's Jiangxi Province opened on Tuesday morning with its first group of passengers flying in from Beijing, the local government has announced. With an investment of 190 million yuan (US$15.83 million), the airport, located at the foot of Jinggangshan Mountain in Taihe County, is able to handle 280,000 passengers and 400 tons of cargo per year. The opening of the airport will inject new energy to the development of local tourism, which is of great

Accor Expands Sofitel Network to Hefei, China
Accor continues the rapid expansion of its luxury Sofitel brand in China with the addition of Sofitel Grand Park Hefei, increasing its network to eight Sofitels under management around China.
Located near the Economic and Technological Development Zone

Airport in Revolution Cradle Opens
The Jinggangshan Airport in east China's Jiangxi Province opened on Tuesday morning with its first group of passengers flying in from Beijing, the local government has announced.
With an investment of 190 million yuan (US$15.83 million), the airport, l

NZ, China Agree on New Air Services Arrangements
New Zealand and China have agreed on new air services arrangements, which will create significant new opportunities for the airlines between the two countries, Transport Minister Pete Hodgson said Tuesday.
Hodgson said in a statement that new air servi

UN Chief Meets with Chinese Astronaut
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday met China's first astronaut, Yang Liwei, who presented the UN chief with two UN flags which he had taken with him on his mission in October. Congratulating China on its first successful manned space flight, Annan said at the handover ceremony that it is a "great achievement" watched by all Chinese people and people around the world. Annan said space travel always excites the imagination and that the United Nations has taken a

Kitchen Hand Scores High in TOEFL
It would not be easy for an outstanding student at a prestigious university to score as high as 630 in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). But a young chef at Tsinghua University, one of the top 10 universities in China, scored 630 the first time he took the test. The maximum TOEFL test score is 670. How did a chef who prepared three meals a day for university students manage to get such a high score. It's a long story but it was no miracle. Like all success stories, this o

Beijing Increasingly Needs Way Out of Traffic Jams
Axel Chan, 31, works for a multinational company with annual income of US$60,000 and lives in a seven-room house in a well-developed community in western Beijing. He seems to have no worries - except one thing. He has to get up before 5:30 a.m. everyday and drives two hours to his office in the east of the city. The journey repeats when he gets back home in the evening. "I spend four hours on the road everyday, twice of that three years ago. I just cannot stand it." Chan's a

UN Chief Meets with Chinese Astronaut
United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan on Wednesday met China's first astronaut, Yang Liwei, who presented the UN chief with two UN flags which he had taken with him on his mission in October. Congratulating China on its first successful manned space flight, Annan said at the handover ceremony that it is a "great achievement" watched by all Chinese people and people around the world. Annan said space travel always excites the imagination and that the United Nations has taken a

Kitchen Hand Scores High in TOEFL
It would not be easy for an outstanding student at a prestigious university to score as high as 630 in the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). But a young chef at Tsinghua University, one of the top 10 universities in China, scored 630 the first time he took the test. The maximum TOEFL test score is 670. How did a chef who prepared three meals a day for university students manage to get such a high score It's a long story but it was no miracle. Like all success stories, this o

Drinkers Cause Alarm on Flights
China Southern Airlines has warned passengers not to drink alcohol before flying.
The airline had to treat three in-flight passengers who had been drinking before boarding flights between May 12 and May 15. On May 12, a passenger surnamed Wu was

Safari Park in Xinjiang Built
Construction of the largest safari park in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region commenced Tuesday.
The construction of a 63 sq-km park located in Dabancheng, a tourist destination with the easy reach of Urumqi, the autonomous regional cap

Beijing's Last Two SARS Patients to Be Removed
from Isolation
China's Health ministry said that Beijing's last two confirmed severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) patients will be removed from isolation soon in Beijing on Wednesday.
The ministry said one patient surnamed Yang has had normal temperature for nin

Individual Tour to Singapore to Open to 13 Chinese Cities
Individual travel to Singapore opens to 13 big cities in China from this month, including Guangzhou, capital city of Guangdong Province, Shenzhen, economic hub of south China, and Beijing, Shanghai, etc. The Singapore travel visa application and approval will take only one day, much shorter than that of Hong Kong individual tour, which last for 10 to 15 working days. What is more, the visa to Singapore is valid for one month, while visa to Hong Kong last for only one week. Hong Kon

Crocodile Park to Open in Guangzhou
A new crocodile park, claiming to be the world's biggest, will open up in south China's Guangzhou later this month. The crocodile park will have 100 thousand crocodiles, that's 70 percent of China's total crocodiles. The park will give visitors a chance to get up close and personal with the crocodiles. Visitors lure crocodiles closer with meat bait. A six-meter-long crocodile is reportedly the park's main attraction. Crocodiles are one of the most ferocious animals in

Buddha bone to be displayed in HK
Buddhist organizations from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong have signed an agreement to display the remains of Buddha's finger bone. The exhibition will be held at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center starting on May 26. At the same event, another 20 religious treasures will be shown to the public. Buddhist masters and believers attended the signing ceremony in Hong Kong on Monday. The public will be able to worship Buddha's finger relics for 10 days. The Venerable Kwok Kuang

Subway to Link Two Airports in Shanghai
Shanghai government has adopted a plan to extend the subway network to 510 kilometers and build 10 multi-level underground transfer hubs by 2010. The plan, announced by the Shanghai Urban Planning Administrative Bureau yesterday, will extend both ends of Rail Transport No. 2 to connect the Hongqiao airport with Pudong airport. The 19-kilometer line will be extended 9.4 kilometers west to Hongqiao International Airport and 29.2 kilometers east to Pudong International Airport.

World Museum Day Celebrated in Beijing
More than 100 museums from around the world are celebrating their day today at a major exposition at the Agricultural Museum of China in Beijing. The Museum and Relevant Products and Technologies Exposition, which kicked off today and runs until Friday, is the first museum exposition to be held in China and probably the biggest event that has happened in recent years in the country in celebration of World Museum Day. It is hosted by the Chinese Society of Museums, the Chinese Assoc

NZ, China agree on new air services arrangements
New Zealand and China have agreed on new air services arrangements which will create significant new opportunities for the airlines between the two countries, Transport Minister Pete Hodgson said Tuesday. Hodgson said in a statement that new air services arrangements negotiated with China mean New Zealand and Chinese airlines may now operate to and from any points in each country. Previously only two airports in each country were available. There is also more flexibility provided f

Fuel for thought
Hong Kong carriers want to add surcharges to airfares because of the surging cost of oil. Cathay Pacific and Dragonair have joined the industry call for extra charges to be added to all passenger tickets. It's a heavy cost, a Dragonair spokesman said, referring to the oil price rise. The spokesman said the carrier had put in a request to government for a temporary fuel surcharge of HK$65 (US$8) on all one-way tickets. The plea brings to seven the number of carriers which have asked

Low-cost airlines face China barriers
Beijing exerts a tight grip on its state-dominated airline industry, controlling prices for jet fuel and tickets and handling aircraft purchases. That, combined with low Internet and credit card usage and opposition from bloated state carriers, means low-cost airlines will have to be content to circle the fringes of the world's fastest-growing aviation market for the foreseeable future. "There still needs to be certain regulatory advances in China before low-cost carriers can be se

French club eyes Chinese tourism market
Club Med, France's top vacation provider has held a feast celebrating its achievement in adding 2,000 club members in China over the past six months. Its global CEO says that its initial number of members in China is much higher than in other countries when first entering those markets. Club Med is planning to build vacation villages and resorts in southwest China's Xishuangbanna and Yalong Bay. It is said that the company is also willing to establish a joint venture in Shan

In-flight Service Offered on Chongqing Buses
Residents of southwest China's Municipality of Chongqing can now enjoy a more comfortable and better bus service as the city follows the example set by the aviation service. Free newspapers are available to passengers on buses. Moreover, at the bus stations, drivers and conductors will greet the passengers at the door of the bus before leading them to their seats. Conductors will also introduce scenic spots along the road and bus routes to the passengers.

Biggest Desert Safari Park Being Built in Xinjiang
China's biggest desert safari park has broken ground in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The safari park has an investment of two hundred million yuan or about 24 million US dollars and should be open to visitors in 2005. Currently there are snow leopard and argal in the park, and the ultimate aim is to have around 10, 000 species living there. Local officials believe the park will stimulate the region's tourism and at the same time improve the local ecology.

Luxurious Palace in Forbidden City to be Renovated
Beijing's Palace Museum has set up a preservation program for Juanqin Zhai, one of the most luxurious buildings in the Forbidden City. The World Cultural Heritage Foundation has earmarked 2.1 million US dollars for the program, which tops all donations by the foundation for Chinese cultural relics, including the Great Wall and the Sanxingdui Ruins. Built during the Qianlong reign of the Qing Dynasty, Juanqin Dian has nine rooms including a well-kept opera-stage that served as a pla

Airport in Revolution Cradle Opens
The Jinggangshan Airport in east China's Jiangxi Province opened on Tuesday morning with its first group of passengers flying in from Beijing, the local government has announced. With an investment of 190 million yuan (US$15.83 million), the airport, located at the foot of Jinggangshan Mountain in Taihe County, is able to handle 280,000 passengers and 400 tons of cargo per year. The opening of the airport will inject new energy to the development of local tourism, which is of great

Egyptian Culture Week Opens in China
An Egyptian Culture Show has opened in eight Chinese cities around the country. It is the largest Egyptian cultural exhibition in China since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1956. The two-week-long event is held in cities such as Beijing, Tianjin, Shanghai, Hangzhou, Dalian and Guangzhou. Visitors can enjoy ancient and modern Egyptian culture as well other many other exhibits displaying the country's dynamic features. In addition, a series of wor

China Art Festival to Debut in Washington
The China Art Festival 2005 is jointly sponsored by China's Ministry of Culture and the John F. Kennedy Centre for the Performing Arts. Chinese ambassador to the US Yang Jiechi has inked a cooperation agreement with the Kennedy Centre to officially start making preparations for the event. A series of activities will be staged during the month-long festival, including performances, exhibitions, art education and dance. Music shows, visual art shows, literature and film events will a

SilkAir to debut Chongqing flights
SilkAir will start direct flights to Chongqing, China from Singapore with effect from June 15. The twice-weekly service will operate every Tuesdays and Fridays on SilkAir's A319 aircraft. Flight MI 978 departs from Singapore Changi Airport at 18.55 and arrives at Chongqing International Airport at 23.30. Return flight MI 977 departs from Chongqing at 00.20 the following morning and arrives in Singapore at 05.05 the same day.

Cebu Pacific to service Manila ¨C Xiamen
Manila ¨C Cebu Pacific is set to inaugurate its twice weekly services between Manila and Xiamen this Friday to meet the growing demand of regional travellers. General manager Bong Mojica said they are expecting a strong business traveller base because of the city's surging economy. At the same, they also expect to develop the leisure market because Xiamen is inching its way up the vacationer's list, he added. Xiamen will be the airline's fourth international destination after Hong Kong, Seoul and

Festival Celebrates Wonderful Watermelons
Watermelon festival This year's watermelon festival will take place in the town of Daxing from May 28 to June 1. The festival centers on local farmers from Daxing bringing high-quality watermelons to local fruit markets and lots of celebrations. Daxing hopes to use the festival to promote the development of the local economy. During the watermelon festival, many evening parties and theatrical performances will be held. The opening ceremony will begin at the squ

Northeast Region Offers Best Value for Tourists
The northeast China region is certainly an exciting and worthwhile destination for tourists. The region contains almost every aspect of modern China: huge industrial cities, vast and fertile plains, long rivers and high mountains. As well, it offers its own unique attractions to tourists. Natural wonders Surrounding the vast northeast China Plain are several huge mountain ranges covered by dense virgin forests. The forests, mostly in the Great Xing'an Mountain

Low-cost Airlines Face China Barriers
Beijing exerts a tight grip on its state-dominated airline industry, controlling prices for jet fuel and tickets and handling aircraft purchases. That, combined with low Internet and credit card usage and opposition from bloated state carriers, means low-cost airlines will have to be content to circle the fringes of the world's fastest-growing aviation market for the foreseeable future. "There still needs to be certain regulatory advances in China before low-cost carriers can be se

Low-cost Airlines Face China Barriers
Beijing exerts a tight grip on its state-dominated airline industry, controlling prices for jet fuel and tickets and handling aircraft purchases.
That, combined with low Internet and credit card usage and opposition from bloated state carriers, means l

SilkAir to Debut Chongqing Flights
SilkAir will start direct flights to Chongqing, China from Singapore with effect from June 15.
The twice-weekly service will operate every Tuesdays and Fridays on SilkAir¡¦s A319 aircraft. Flight MI 978 departs from Singapore Changi Airport at 18

Cebu Pacific to Service Manila - Xiamen
Manila - Cebu Pacific is set to inaugurate its twice weekly services between Manila and Xiamen this Friday to meet the growing demand of regional travelers.
General manager Bong Mojica said they are expecting a strong business traveler base because of

China Art Festival to Debut in Washington
The China Art Festival 2005 is jointly sponsored by China's Ministry of Culture and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Chinese ambassador to the US Yang Jiechi has inked a cooperation agreement with the Kennedy Center to officially sta

Record Number of Tourists Visit Macao in Early 2004
Some 5.1 million tourist arrivals were registered in Macao in the first four months of 2004, up 39.7 percent over the same period of last year, said in Maocao on Friday the Statistics and Census Bureau of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR). In April, Macao logged a monthly record with a total of 1.35 million visitor arrivals, over 105.1 percent over the same month of last year. Tourism officials of the SAR government attributed the huge growth in April to China's mainland's fac

A New Paradigm in Poverty Reduction
From May 25 to 27 in Shanghai, several heads of state, more than 80 ministers and heads of agencies, along with some 1,000 development specialists, public and private sector executives, academics and social representatives, will meet on the worlda s most urgent important topic: how to scale up the fight against global poverty. Along with the government of China, which is cosponsoring the meeting, Presidents Lula of Brazil, Mkapa of Tanzania, Museveni of Uganda and Prime Minister Zia of Ba

China Sees Growth of Business Travel
Business tourism in China has been expanding alongside economic growth in recent years and China has a big potential in this sector, a Chinese commerce official said in Beijing on Sunday. Economic globalization has boosted business tourism, and China's rapid economic growth has also created favorable conditions for its development, said Yu Guangzhou, Chinese vice minister of commerce. China will promote comprehensive and harmonious development of business tourism, said Yu at the In

Finery Brightens Austere Tibet
The Tibetan people always take great pride in their dress and the accessories they wear. This is evident in the heavy and well-preserved dresses passed down across generations and still shining on happy Tibetans, as well as the devotion of tailors and peddlers to their traditional dress. Women on the prairie of northern Tibet look the most beautiful in summer when the flowers are in full bloom. The summer months, the best season on the plateau, are packed with horse races and trade

Shangri-La to Have First Airport
The first helicopter airport for transporting tourists to and from the Tibet Autonomous Prefecture of Deqen, popularly known as Shangri-La, will soon be built, a local government official announced in Kunming on Thursday. The heliport is about 13 kilometers from the county seat of Deqen in southwest China's Yunnan Province and its construction will cost 37.5 million yuan (US$4.5 million), said Guo Shilin, an official of the prefecture's merchant bureau. Deqen is situated at heart o

Finery Brightens Austere Tibet
The Tibetan people always take great pride in their dress and the accessories they wear. This is evident in the heavy and well-preserved dresses passed down across generations and still shining on happy Tibetans, as well as the devotion of tailors and ped

Shangri-La to Have First Airport
The first helicopter airport for transporting tour