China Hot Destinations

China Hot Destinations

Int'l Airline Caterers Eye China
International airline caterers are eyeing the Chinese market looking to capitalize on the rapid growth in air travel. The industry's largest caterer, LSG Sky Chefs, says it will invest more in China and increase the current 11 percent share to 30 percent. The caterer forecasts that in the following three years, the Chinese airline catering market will grow at two digit speed. The upcoming 2008 Beijing Olympics and the 2010 Shanghai World Expo are expected to be a huge boost

World Cartoon Carnival Opens in Beijing
Actors are rehearsing for the world cartoon carnival, which is to be held during the National Day holiday, starting this Friday. Over 40 terrific acts will entertain visitors in the Beijing Amusement Park. The program includes nine float parades with 200 performers. The one-week carnival will be decorated by colorful bright lights in the shapes of more than 200 world-famous cartoon figures.

Hot Destinations During the National Day Holidays
Shangri-la A mystery and a dream, a wonderland hidden in a remote place, a paradise sought for ages; this is Shangri-la as first depicted in James Hilton's novel Lost Horizons. It Describes the adventures of Hugh Conway and his three Western traveling companions who, whilst traveling from South Asian Baskul (a name invented by the author) to Peshawar, were taken by a mysterious oriental skyjacker to the hidden Valley of the Blue Moon and the city of Shangri-La. Jiuzhaigou Valley

From Action Maestro to Serious Actor
Actor Jackie Chan is tired of being typecast as an action hero. The superstar, who turned 50 in April, wants to be known as a serious actor. In Singapore for a day to promote his latest movie, New Police Story, he appeared uncharacteristically subdued and pensive at the Conrad Centennial hotel yesterday. Dressed in a yellow samfoo, he was nursing a cold but brushed it aside irritably, saying in Mandarin: 'I'm cheap. Whenever I stop working, I fall ill.' When asked if

DIY Tours More Popular
More tourists are shunning crowded tourist spots during the National Day holidays and seeking a different sort of holiday experience-- tranquility and freedom-- by organizing their own trips. A survey by the Guangzhou Tourism Administration's holiday office found that 3.67 million residents planned to travel during the week-long holiday, which starts Friday. But travel agencies have yet to feel the benefit of the holiday business. Liang Zhiyi, a manager fro Guangdong Nanhu Internat

Meteorologist Blows in to the Northwest
When Japanese meteorologist Masao Mikami first came to the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in Northwest China in 1990, he was deeply impressed by the natural beauty and culture. "I admired from afar the broad and beautiful landscape in Xinjiang which I had never seen. Now that I have been, I love the friendly, shy people there," said Mikami, 49, who was recently granted a national Friendship Award for his long dedication to climate research and training in China. Leading a China-J

Beijing Gears up for Holiday Havoc
This is the 55th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic China. Beijing's Tourism Administration predicts 150 million visitors will pass through Beijing. Transportation, destinations, parks, and restaurants are gearing for overload. If you plan to travel in, around, or outside Beijing, prepare early. The Beijing Railway Bureau is expecting more than 250,000 people using the subway between September 30 and October 1. Another peak is expected between October 5 - 7, when most tr

Airline Opens New Route
A new weekly flight between Guangzhou and Huangguoshu, Guizhou Province opened Tuesday, which is expected to cut the price of a six-day package tour to Huangguoshu from 3,000 yuan (US$365.85) per person to 2,000 yuan. Huangguoshu is one of the most popular tourist places in Guizhou Province. However, passengers traveling to Huangguoshu had to fly to the capital city of Guizhou and then spend another three hours on a bus to Huangguoshu. With a single fare of 860 yuan, passengers fro

Beijing Holiday Parks on Track
Parks in Beijing are in full swing to receive the expected influx of visitors during the coming National Day holiday. The city's public parks will give visitors a chance to see the changes in China over the past 55 years, along with exciting performances and relaxing scenery, reported China Radio Internaitonal. Festivities in public parks are a major part of the National Day celebrations. The main locations are Zhongshan Park, the Workers Cultural Palace, Beihai Park, the Temple of

Chinese People Celebrate the Mid-autumn Festival
Chinese people celebrated the Mid-autumn Festival or Moon Festival yesterday in traditional style. While in Shanghai, people made pleasure boats to exhibit on the Huangpu River (Left photo). The Mid-Autumn Festival falls on the 15th day of the 8th lunar month, usually in October in Gregorian calendar. People selected the August 15 to celebrate because it is a season when crops and fruits are all ripe and weather pleasant. On the Mid-Autumn Festival, all family members or fri

DIY Tours More Popular
More tourists are shunning crowded tourist spots during the National Day holidays and seeking a different sort of holiday experience -- tranquility and freedom -- by organizing their own trips. A survey by the Guangzhou Tourism Administration's holiday office found that 3.67 million residents planned to travel during the week-long holiday, which starts Friday. But travel agencies have yet to feel the benefit of the holiday business. Liang Zhiyi, a manager fro Guangdong Nanhu Intern

Shanghaineses Choose to Rest at Home
Many workers are choosing to rest at home for the upcoming National Day holiday due to their long-term heavy workloads, the Laodong Daily reported today. According to the latest survey by www.zhaopin.com on how to spend the weeklong National Day holiday, 33 percent of respondents said they plan to have a good rest during the holiday. "I am planning to buy many DVDs these days to enjoy myself for the holiday, as I am tired of the faster work rhythms and frequent social activities,"

Thousands Attend Confucius' Birthday Party
For the first time since the establishment of the People's Republic of China in 1949, an official memorial ceremony was conducted on Tuesday to honor the birth anniversary of Confucius. It was the renowned scholar and ethicist's 2,555th birthday. More than 3,000 people from around the world attended the ceremony in the great man's hometown, Qufu City in east China's Shandong Province. Descendants, government officials and representatives from various walks of life saluted the altar

Beijingers Prefer to Travel to Europe
About ten thousand Beijing tourists are busy preparing to pack their bags for a European getaway, during the "Golden Week" of the National Day Holidays. Some tourism agencies say a popular package tour in Europe includes 15 countries in 10 days. Germany, France, North European countries and Portugal are the most popular destinations. Though expensive, these Europe packages have attracted many Chinese tourists in the first "Gold Week" since European countries were opened up to Chine

Guangzhou to Build Asia's Largest Greenhouse
A French company has won the bid to design the Exhibition Greenhouse of South China Botanical Garden, the largest of its kind in Asia. The 100 million yuan, about 12 million US dollar landmark greenhouse for South China's Guangzhou city, will be called the "Kapok Petal", named after a municipal flower. It will cover an area of 7,600 square meters, and will include a model of the Amazon River, scenes of tropical rainforests and primitive ecological environment.

Qatar adds Beijing to network
Qatar Airways is expanding its Chinese operation with the addition of Beijing in November. The Beijing service comes a year after the launch of scheduled flights to Shanghai. From November 25, three return flights a week will operate non-stop between Doha and Beijing. The route will be operated with a wide-body Airbus A330-200 in a two-class configuration ¨C 12 Business and 226 Economy.

More US Airlines eye China
In A bid to capitalise on the US-China air service agreement announced in June, three major US air carriers, American Airlines, Delta and Continental, have announced they would seek permission from the US Department of Transportation to operate to China. The June agreement allows for up to nine airlines each from the US and China to fly between both destinations, up from the existing four carriers, by 2010. This translates to nearly five times the number of weekly flights allowed by each

Air Travel: Flight Delay Vs. Passengers' Rage
More than 300 disputes between passengers and airline companies have been reported during the past two months since Chinaa s top aviation administration issued the flight-delay compensation guidelines at the end of June. Statistics from the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) show that punctual flights in July accounted for only 75.89 percent, below the set goal of 80 percent. Ironically, the rate of punctual flights in June was 82.2 percent. One of the two mai

Peak Traffic Hits China
Thousands of tourists are waiting outside the long-distance bus station in Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang Province. The Ministry of Railways predicts that over four million person-times will travel by railway October 1, while bus passengers will top 50 million person-times. The first peak traffic during the National Day Holidays has already come. [newsphoto]

Chinese Flock to European Tours
Once it was assumed that when traditionally frugal Chinese families could afford to travel the world, they would select inexpensive routes with more overseas destinations. But like other tourist markets, the country has a wealthy minority that wants to enjoy more leisure or luxurious trips in European countries since Chinese travel agencies were approved to organize tour groups to 26 countries there on September 1. Quite a number of the tourists are not very satisfied with sightsee

Mainland Consumers Lift Hong Kong Retail Sales
Hong Kong's retail sector has benefited greatly from the strong inflow of the "consumption engine," Chinese mainland tourists, since October 1, the start of the seven-day National Day holiday or the Golden Week. According to the latest figures released by the Immigration Department on Saturday, a total of 293,486 people arrived in Hong Kong via the special administrative region's land, sea and air check points on Friday, and 147,009 of them came to Hong Kong via Lo Wu Check Point. Among t

ADB Grants Loans on Railway Project
The ADB said the proposed project, for which the TA will help with a feasibility study, is the middle segment of Xuzhou-Lanzhou main passenger trunk line, running from Zhengzhou in central China to Xi'an in northwest China. According to the ADB, in the project area, about 2.6 million people live on incomes below the national or provincial poverty line and most of the 3,300 poverty-stricken villages do not have access to highways, electricity, telephones or clean drinking water. Pas

Cultural History Show to Be Held in New York
Sinologists and art lovers in New York are to be treated to a festival of Chinese history at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The showcase is being billed as the largest Chinese cultural history show ever to be held in the United States. The exhibition is named "Towards the Peak Period of Tang Dynasty (AD 618-907)" and opens on October 12. Some 400 precious cultural artefacts dating back more than 2,000 years - including many that have been never on display outside China - wi

UN Secretary-General to Visit China
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan will arrive in Beijing on Saturday to begin his official visit to China. He will meet with Chinese President Hu Jintao and other senior government officials in Beijing during his stay. UN spokesman Fred Eckhard said that Annan will also visit an eco-village and HIV/AIDS testing center, and he will tour the Chinese peacekeeping training center at Langfang, Hebei Province. In an interview with Chinese reporters shortly before his departure, Annan said

Holiday Ends with Growing Spending
China's urban residents were busy spending money during the "Golden Week" National Day holiday, which came to an end Thursday. According to statistics from the local commercial bureau, Beijingers spent 498 million yuan (US$60.2 million) on shopping in the first six days of the week-long vacation, 6 percent up from the same period last year. The holiday saw millions of Chinese on the move, part of the government's growth-boosting Golden Week of shopping, dining and traveling.

Beijingers Go on Golden Week Spending Spree
Urban Chinese were busy spending money during the a Golden Week¡§¡é National Day holiday, which came to an end on Thursday. Chinese travellers flock along Nanjing Road Pedestrian Mall, one of Shanghai's popular tourist destinations October 6, 2004. Millions of holidaymakers are flocking to China's big cities during their 7-day National Day holiday. According to the municipal commerce bureau, Beijingers spent 498 million yuan (US$60.2 million) on shopping in the first six days of the

Beijingers Go on Golden Week Spending Spree
Urban Chinese were busy spending money during the a Golden Week¡§¡é National Day holiday, which came to an end on Thursday. According to the municipal commerce bureau, Beijingers spent 498 million yuan (US$60.2 million) on shopping in the first six days of the weeklong vacation, up 6 percent from the same period last year. The holiday saw millions of Chinese on the move, shopping, dining and traveling in pleasant compliance with the government's plan to boost domestic consumption.

War on Drug Trade Tackles Poverty
On September 7, 2004, the Lincang police uncovered a group of armed people trafficking drugs near Xiaoletong Town, Yongde County. Over 10 kilograms of heroin, a handgun, six bullets and a grenade were seized. All the suspects involved in the ring were arrested within two days, and all of them were from Banlao Village, a place that has been dubbed Drug-trafficking Village because of the number of people there involved in the illegal trade. Banlao Village is located in southwest part of Yun

Student Bank Hacker Nabbed
The suspected mastermind behind a large online theft from a Chinese bank was arrested after eight months on the run. Police in Guiyang, the capital of southwest Chinaa s Guizhou Province, arrested Song Chenglin, a 23-year-old Harbin college student. He is accused of stealing 770,000 yuan (US$93,000) by hacking into accounts at the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC). Song was caught on September 20 and handed over to police in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang Province

ELong Plans IPO at NASDAQ
Chinese online travel service provider eLong Inc, partially owned by US online travel service giant IAC/Interactive Travel Corp, aims to make an initial public offering (IPO) on the high-tech-laden NASDAQ stock market in New York. It is to further expand business and strengthen its competitiveness against arch-rival Ctrip. The Beijing-based company said in a statement filed to the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday that the company and some shareholders intended to i

ELong Plans IPO at NASDAQ
Chinese online travel service provider eLong Inc, partially owned by US online travel service giant IAC/Interactive Travel Corp, aims to make an initial public offering (IPO) on the high-tech-laden NASDAQ stock market in New York. It is to further expand business and strengthen its competitiveness against arch-rival Ctrip. The Beijing-based company said in a statement filed to the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday that the company and some shareholders intended to i

Bank Card Spending Hits Record High
Chinese bank card holders traveling throughout the country between October 1 and 7, the country's National Day "Golden Week," spent 1.56 billion yuan (about US$190 million) in inter-bank card transactions, 2.7 times that of a year earlier. The figure, which only includes transactions conducted outside the places where the cards were issued, involved 6.81 million deals during the week-long holiday, said China UnionPay Co. (CUP),which operates China's inter-bank card networking business.

Hundreds of Chinese Ancient Porcelains on Exhibit in Jingdezhen
More than 160 ancient Chinese porcelain pieces made between 907-1644 are being shown for the first time at the Museum of Folk Porcelain in Jingdezhen, a leading porcelain-production base in east China's Jiangxi Province. All these articles were unearthed in recent years at China's largest folk porcelain site, the Hutian Kiln, located in the Hutian village on Jingdezhen's outskirts. Sources from the museum said the exhibited porcelains were all made from the period of the Five Dynas

Bus Crash Kills 21 in Southwest China
Three people remained missing Tuesday after a bus crash Sunday morning in Southwest China's Sichuan Province which killed 21 people and injured a further 21. Including the bus driver and a 21-year-old tour guide of China Travel Service, 45 people were on the bus traveling from Chongqing Municipality to Jiuzhaigou, a famous scenic spot in the province, when the tragedy happened in Pingwu County. "The bus was traveling at full speed, when it suddenly crashed into a wall. Then it boun

Kofi Annan Arrives in Beijing
UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan arrived in Beijing on Saturday, starting his five-day official visit to China. During his stay in Beijing, Annan is scheduled to meet with President Hu Jintao and other senior Chinese leaders. Discussions are expected to cover UN reform, including departmental restructuring and budgetary changes, and the implementation of Millennium Development Goals. Annan will also go on some field trips, including visits to a zoological village in rural Beijing and an AI

Bank Card Spending Hit Record High
Chinese bank card holders traveling throughout the country between October 1 and 7, the country's National Day "Golden Week," spent 1.56 billion yuan (about 190 million dollars) in inter-bank card transactions, 2.7 times that of a year earlier. The figure, which only includes transactions conducted outside the places where the cards were issued, involved 6.81 million deals during the week-long holiday, said China UnionPay Co. (CUP), which operates China's inter-bank card networking busine

Protection of Ancient Tibetan Buildings Given Top Priority
In Tibet today the skyline of golden roofed monasteries are intermingled with structures of a different kind. A spider web of scaffolding has appeared around many of the region's older buildings as operation face-lift gets into full swing and renovation returns the important historical structures here back to their former glory. Rhythmic Pounding: Tibetan workers are tamping down a structure's foundation in a traditional way Tibet Autonomous Region boasts over 1,700 monasteries and palace

Bank Card Spending Hit Record High During 'Golden Week'
Chinese bank card holders traveling throughout the country between October 1 and 7, the country's National Day "Golden Week," spent 1.56 billion yuan (about US$190 million) in inter-bank card transactions, 2.7 times that of a year earlier. The figure, which only includes transactions conducted outside the places where the cards were issued, involved 6.81 million deals during the week-long holiday, said China UnionPay Co (CUP), which operates China's inter-bank card networking business.

Ancient City Partially Lifts Firecracker Ban
The decade-long ban on firecrackers and fireworks will soon be partially lifted in Nanjing, the capital of East China's Jiangsu Province, reported China Daily on Tuesday. The Nanjing Municipal People's Congress late last month decided to revise the regulations on the prohibition of firecrackers and fireworks. The new regulations will come into force after being approved by the Standing Committee of the Municipal People's Congress. The controversial ban was introduced in 1994

One Street, Two Systems -- Zhongying Street
From a former shopping paradise to a place of national pride, Shenzhen's 250-meter-long Zhongying Street remains one of the city's top tourist destinations. Zhongying Street in Shatoujiao Township, Yantian District lies between Wutong Mountain and the South China Sea. Stone markers were placed along the middle of the street in 1898 to mark the border between Hong Kong, which was under British rule, and the Chinese mainland. Half of the street is still part of Hong Kong. That is why it has

One Street, Two Systems -- Zhongying Street
From a former shopping paradise to a place of national pride, Shenzhen's 250-meter-long Zhongying Street remains one of the city's top tourist destinations. Zhongying Street in Shatoujiao Township, Yantian District lies between Wutong Mountain and the South China Sea. Stone markers were placed along the middle of the street in 1898 to mark the border between Hong Kong, which was under British rule, and the Chinese mainland. Half of the street is still part of Hong Kong. That is why it has

Tourist Agencies Feel Pinch of High Oil Prices
Rocketing global oil prices have driven Thailand's small tourist agencies out of for increasing travel costs. The climbing oil prices have at least doubled travel costs, which have forced at least 30 travel agencies to close down so far this year, The Nation newspaper reported on Monday. "It's likely that only the big players will survive. New firms with smaller profits are in trouble," Anek Srichevachart, president of the Thai Travel Agent Association, was quoted as saying.

Twenty Die in Bus Crash
Twenty people died when a bus plunged into a river in Sichuan Province on Sunday. Four people were still missing, Agency reported. Of the 45 people on the bus, 21 are in hospital. One was seriously injured. The bus was on its way from Chongqing Municipality to Jiuzhaigou, a famous tourist attraction in Sichuan, when it made a sharp turn and plunged into the Peijiang River. The bus belonged to the Chongqing branch of the China Travel Service, Agency said.

HSBC Launches RMB Credit Card in HK
The Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation Limited (HSBC) launched its renminbi (RMB) credit card services in Hong Kong Monday. The new service would provide financial convenience to customers who frequently travel to the Chinese mainland. HSBC will offer a choice of a gold or classic credit card, which will be widely accepted through China UnionPay Company Limited's (CUP) network of some 370,000 merchants and over 60,000 ATMs throughout the mainland. General Manager of

Volunteers Ready for 'Long March'
A team of volunteers plans to retrace the Long March while providing free medical care for people along the way. The team plans to start off next week from Yudu County, Jiangxi Province, and follow the route of the legendary 1934-35 cross-country trek by the Red Army. Sponsored by the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China and the Ministry of Health, the goal of the program is to focus public attention on health issues in rural China. The health situation i

Med Volunteers Ready for New Long March
In honor of the 70th anniversary of the Red Army's 10,000-km Long March, a team of volunteers is setting off next week to retrace the old route while providing free medical care to people along the way. The team plans to start off next week from Yudu County, Jiangxi Province, and follow the route of the legendary 1934¡§¡é 5 cross-country trek by the Red Army, said project representatives at a press conference in Beijing on October 11. Sponsored by the Central Committee of the Communi

Bus Crash Kills 21 in Southwest China
Three people remained missing Tuesday after a Sunday morning bus crash in southwest China's Sichuan Province that killed 21 people and injured 21 others. Forty-five people, including the driver and a 21-year-old China Travel Service guide, were on the bus traveling from Chongqing Municipality to Jiuzhaigou, a famous Sichuan scenic spot, when the accident occurred in Pingwu County. "The bus was traveling at full speed when it suddenly crashed into a wall. Then it bounced back and pl

Volunteers Ready for 'Long March'
A team of volunteers plans to retrace the Long March while providing free medical care for people along the way. The team plans to start off next week from Yudu County, Jiangxi Province, and follow the route of the legendary 1934-35 cross-country trek by the Red Army. Sponsored by the Central Committee of the Communist Youth League of China and the Ministry of Health, the goal of the program is to focus public attention on health issues in rural China. The health situation i

Thai tourist agencies feel pinch of climbing oil prices
Rocketing global oil prices have driven Thailand's small tourist agencies out of for increasing travel costs. The climbing oil prices have at least doubled travel costs, which have forced at least 30 travel agencies to close down so far this year, The Nation newspaper reported on Monday. "It's likely that only the big players will survive. New firms with smaller profits are in trouble," Anek Srichevachart, president of the Thai Travel Agent Association, was quoted as saying.

One street, two systems -- Zhongying Street
From a former shopping paradise to a place of national pride, Shenzhen's 250-meter-long Zhongying Street remains one of the city's top tourist destinations. Zhongying Street in Shatoujiao Township, Yantian District lies between Wutong Mountain and the South China Sea. Stone markers were placed along the middle of the street in 1898 to mark the border between Hong Kong, which was under British rule, and the Chinese mainland. Half of the street is still part of Hong Kong. That is why it has

Tibet receives record number of tourists during National Day holiday
Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region received a record 208,300 tourists from home and abroad during the week-long National Day holiday that started on Oct.1, an eight-percent rise over the same period of last year, the regional tourism administration said. The figure makes up nearly a quarter of the total reported between January and August of this year. Some 114,100 tourists spent at least one night in Tibet, while the remaining 94,200 stayed there for just a day, according t

2.5 Million to Travel by Air During National Day Holiday
China's Civil Aviation Administration says it is estimated up to 2.5 million passengers will travel by air during the coming National Day Holiday, a 15 percent growth over the same period of last year. Airline companies have been authorized to add a total of 2,400 temporary flights for the upcoming travel peak. Most of these extra flights will be added to help deal with the surge of passengers in tourist areas and large cities. The National Day Holiday will start October 1st

Movie about tiger cubs preludes French Culture Year in China
Two Brothers, a French Movie about twin baby tigers separated at birth, made its China debut in Beijing Saturday, preluding the French Culture Year which is scheduled to officially start on Sunday. The movie was shown in Chengdu, the capital city of southwest China's Sichuan Province, on Friday when French President Jacques Chirac visited there as the start of his China tour. "The box office on that day surprisingly reached 100,000 yuan ( US$12,092)," said Weng Li, vice manager of

China Orders 26 Airbus Aircrafts
Two Chinese airlines have ordered 26 Airbus aircraft. The signing ceremony took place here on Saturday evening. Flag carrier Air China ordered six A319s, which are scheduled for delivery in 2005. The carrier plans to deploy the aircraft mainly on Chengdu-Lhasa and other routes linking high-altitude airports in Sichuan province and Tibet in southwest China. "With its outstanding performance, the A319 is an aircraft suitable for our operations at high-altitude airports. It fits our s

Hundreds of Chinese Ancient Porcelains on Exhibit in Jingdezhen
More than 160 ancient Chinese porcelain pieces made between 907-1644 are being shown for the first time at the Museum of Folk Porcelain in Jingdezhen, a leading porcelain-production base in east China's Jiangxi Province. All these articles were unearthed in recent years at China's largest folk porcelain site, the Hutian Kiln, located in the Hutian village on Jingdezhen's outskirts. Sources from the museum said the exhibited porcelains were all made from the period of the Five Dynas

Guangdong to Invest on New Rail Projects
South China's Guangdong province will invest 139 billion yuan (US$16.8 billion) on nine new rail projects with a total mileage of 2,164 kilometers, according to the minutes of a latest meeting summary of the Ministry of Railways and the Guangdong provincial government on the nine railway projects. When these rail projects are completed, the mileage of Guangdong's railway lines is expected to reach 4,000 km and the trans-provincial railway routes will increase from the current three to fiv

French Culture Year opens in Beijing
An electro-laser concert by French musician Jean Michel Jarre was staged at the front gate or Wumen Gate of the Forbidden City here Sunday evening, kicking off the French Culture Year, jointly advocated by leaders of China and France. Chinese President Hu Jintao and French President Jacques Chirac extended congratulatory letters to each other for the opening cultural gala for the 40th forging anniversary of the of Sino-French diplomatic ties. In President Hu's letter, he said Franc

China to host 1st international wushu festival in Zhengzhou
One hundred and five teams from 45 countries and regions have registered to take part in the first international wushu festival, slated from October 16-20 in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province, organizers said Saturday in Zhengzhou. The international festival, the first and the biggest of the kind, is sanctioned by the International Wushu Federation, featuring some 2,000 wushu players in six aged groups in four categories of quanshu, equipment, one-on-one and team events. During

Ancient Frescos Rotting Away
Lack of money is allowing 19 ancient frescos dating back to the Song Dynasty (420-479 AD) to crumble and decay, reports the Xi'an Evening News. Located in an ancient temple in Baishui County, Shaanxi Province, the frescos by a renowned artist from the period are national treasures. But a shortage of cash in the maintenance budget is threatening their very survival. One of the beautiful works featuring a hundred birds has already lost its lower portion. County officials respo

CPPCC Vice-chairman Meets Syrian Guests
Li Meng, vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), met in Beijing Tuesday with a Syrian delegation, led by Mohammed Bashar Al Mufti, governor of Damascus province of Syria. The delegation is in Beijing for an eight-day goodwill visit to China at the invitation of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. The Syrian guests will also travel to Chongqing municipality in southwestern China an

Gorgeous Scene of Yellow Dragon
Photo taken on Oct. 2, 2004 shows the gorgeous scene of Huanglong beauty spot in southwest China's Sichuan Province. With a thick layer of light-yellow calcium compound in the earth's surface, which looks just like a yellow dragon, the place is also well known as "yellow dragon". Huanglong (Yellow Dragon) Scenic Area, also in northern Sichuan's Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, neighbors the Jiuzhaigou Scenic Area. It was named after the ancient Huanglong Temple within the area

Macao's Casino Revenue Soars in Early October
Macao's gaming revenue was driven up by the holiday travel with all 15 casinos in Macao producing a gross revenue of 1.5 billion patacas (US$187 million) in the first 10 days of the month. Tuesday's Macao Post quoted its source as saying that in October, the casino revenue is expected to beat the monthly record of 4.1 billion patacas (US$512 million) made in August. The first seven days in October coincided with the "Golden Week " holiday in China's mainland, which saw an influx of

Crab City Readies for Autumn Boom
Walking along the 1,000-meter Bajie Lu of Bacheng, a watertown in nearby Jiangsu Province, one is lost in the world of crab -- the street has over 100 restaurants, all with a "crab" theme. Just look at the restaurant names: "Crab City," "Crab King," "Everyday Crab Harbor," "Crab Commander"... one can imagine how business is booming during crab season, which runs from October to November. There is also a folk story behind the street's name. In ancient times, the hero "Bajie" defeate

Four-legged Fighters Arrive for Bullfights
Eight Mexican fighting bulls arrived at Pudong International Airport yesterday evening in preparation for the Shanghai Spanish Bullfighting Festival. The city will host the ancient spectacle with three Spanish matadors and their assistants, from both Spain and Mexico, in Yangpu Stadium next weekend. Weighing about 450 kilograms each, the bulls were airlifted to the city in eight large containers, according to the News Times. The animals were not anesthetized before the fligh

Broadway Stars for Asian Debut
Two Broadway stars will take the lead roles in the upcoming Asian debut of Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical "The Phantom of the Opera" at the Shanghai Grand Theater. Brad Little will play the Phantom and soprano Marni Raab will perform heroine Christine. Little has plenty of experience in the role, having played in the musical on Broadway and across America for more than 10 years. Tim McFarlane, managing director of the Asia-Pacific division of the Really Useful Company, sa

Cooperation Declaration Inked for Shangri-la Development
Three southwest Chinese regions have vowed to go beyond the restrictions caused by administrative demarcation and work together in turning "Shangri-la" into a world-class tourist destination. Shangri-la is said to be a popular Tibetan word for "sun and moon in the heart," or an ideal, enchanting wonderland. A declaration of cooperation was signed by the governmental representatives of Sichuan and Yunnan provinces and Tibet Autonomous Region on Tuesday after full consultations.
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China Southern boosts Australia service
CHINA Southern Airlines will boost its Boeing 777 service between Australia and China. From November 5, it will add a fifth weekly B777-200 flight from Sydney to Guangzhou, departing every Friday at 10.50 (Australian Daylight Saving Time). From December 2, the Sydney service will be on a daily basis for the remainder of the northern summer schedule period, which ends March 26, 2005. The airline's Thursday and Sunday services from Australia will continue to originate in Melbourne, then via

China inbound sees growth
IN the first eight months of this year, the total number of foreign visitors to China reached 70 million, a 20 per cent increase from the same period last year.

Website for Macao Heritage Launched
The official website documenting Macao's heritage was launched on Saturday. The website is aimed to encourage protection of historic sites. An official said she hoped the website help people better understand Macao's four hundred years of history, and encourage protection of historic sites. The website has comprehensive information on historical architecture in Macao, pictures of old Macao and the legislation and policies that protect its cultural heritage. This year is Maca

Music Celebrates China, Norway Friendship
It's been 50 years since China and Norway established diplomatic ties. On Friday night, a concert was held in Beijing's Forbidden City Concert Hall to commemorate the anniversary. Artists from both countries staged a wonderful show to entertain the local audience. The concert opened with Norwegian composer Edward Grieg's symphonic suite "Peer Gynt", played by the Norway Radio Symphony Orchestra. Founded in 1946, this nationally renowned Norwegian orchestra is on its first visit to China.<

French aerobatics show debuts in Beijing
French Air Force's famous aerobatics team, "Patrouille de France" displayed its aerial charmin Beijing Monday amid French President Jacques Chirac's state visit to China. The PAF, with 10 high-performance Alpha jets, presented Chineseviewers in the afternoon with the latest superb aerobatics maneuvers and formations. It is PAF's first road show in China. The troupe will also visit Wuhan city, capital of central Hubei province, Zhuhai, a coastal city of south China's Guangdong provi

Worldwide beauties to compete at International Beauty Pageant in Beijing
Candidates from 58 countries and regions will compete for the global final of the 44th International Beauty Pageant on Oct. 16 in Beijing. The competition, founded in 1960 and known as the "Beauty Olympics", is staged in China for the first time, according to the event's organizer CITIC (China International Trust and Investment Corp.) Cultural Industry Co., Ltd., a major culture company in China. In the global final, candidates will show themselves in traditional national costumes,

Shanghai holiday cash haul jumps
Shanghai earned big bucks from tourism during the weeklong National Day holiday, the municipal government said. By 5pm yesterday, 3.98 million tourists from both home and abroad visited the city, up 5 percent from a year ago, the local office responsible for coordinating holiday travel activity said. Tourists spent 2.3 billion yuan (US$277.11 million) during their stay, 12 percent more than last year. Retail sales in the city were brisk, the Shanghai Economic Commission said yester

Chinese, French Presidents' Tour for Impressionistic Art
With 51 painting treasures by French impressionists, the China Art Gallery in Beijing Sunday received Chinese President Hu Jintao and French President Jacques Chirac, who came together for this kicking-off celebration of the French Culture Year. The show gathers masterpieces by masters such as Claude Monet, Edgar Degas, and Edouard Manet, most of which come from the Museum D'Orsay, world-renowned for its modern art collection. Both President Hu and President Chirac were deeply impr

China Opens Tourist Routes to Nine Countries
China has approved the opening of tourist routes to an additional nine countries, including eight in Africa and one in western Asia, according to the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA). The routes to the nine countries, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Jordan, will open December 15, according to memorandums of understanding (MOU) CNTA signed with the nine countries. According to the MOUs, Chinese travel services can start bri

Canal Brings Prosperity
Located in the city of Linzhou, northwest of central China's Henan Province, Hongqi (Red Banner) Canal has been the venue for youth's patriotic education for quite some time. With the building of a 1,500-kilometer canal in the area, it is widely considered to be the turning point in local people's history of overpowering the harsh environment. To obtain the plentiful supply of water used to irrigate the farmlands, local people spent almost 10 years digging the widely-acclaimed cana

Kobe Fed up with Being O'Neal's Sidekick: Report
Phil Jackson painted Kobe Bryant as a pampered star who took liberties to an extreme degree, caused dissention in the dressing room and received more concessions than any other player he has ever coached. "Nobody this year, or in any year I've coach, has received more allowances than Kobe Bryant," the former Los Angeles Lakers coach Jackson said in an excerpt of his new book The Last Season which was printed in the Los Angeles Times. Jackson said he tried unsuccessfully a number of

Chinese Travelers Ready for Tour in Europe
You need a short break away from it all -- work, social engagements, household chores, the hustle and bustle -- to spend some quality time with your spouse or child, or just some peace and quietness Yang Li, an employee of a State-owned foreign trade company in Beijing may suggest you select the long journey to Europe, one of the most diverse and rewarding holiday destinations available to Chinese travellers. She and her 12-year-old daughter became members of the first Europe Tour

Jinjiang to Expand Outside the Chinese Mainland
The Chinese mainland's biggest hotel management group, Jinjiang International, is looking to expand its business outside the country, especially in southeast Asia. The Shanghai-based company, which is part of the state-owned Jinjiang Group, aims to capitalize on the relaxation of the country's travel policy that has led to growing numbers of mainland tourists going overseas. Company president Christopher Bachran told reporters that southeast Asia is among their favorite destination

Rescued Chinese Hostage Returns Home from Pakistan
Wang Ende, one of the two Chinese engineers held hostage in Pakistan's western tribal belt, returned to China Friday night. In a military operation launched by Pakistan forces Thursday to free the Chinese hostages, Wang Ende was injured, and Wang Peng, the other hostage, was killed. Wang Peng's wife Meng Dequn also arrived together with Wang Ende. The body of Wang Peng has left Islamabad Saturday for Jinan, capital city of China's eastern Shandong Province, Wang's hometown.<

Pentagon: Ex-detainees Return to Terror
Despite gaining their freedom by signing pledges to renounce violence, at least seven former prisoners of the United States at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, have returned to terrorism, at times with deadly consequences. At least two are believed to have died in fighting in Afghanistan, and a third was recaptured during a raid of a suspected training camp in Afghanistan, Lt. Cmdr. Flex Plexico, a Pentagon spokesman, said last week. Others are at large. Additional former detainees have expre

China Marks Int'l Anti-poverty Day
The first recipients of the China Poverty Eradication Award were named on Sunday at a ceremony marking the 12th International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The awards were inaugurated to encourage more citizens, private industry and nongovernmental organizations contribute to the fight against poverty. The international day was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1993 to promote awareness of the need to eradicate poverty and to remind people of the continued need t

Tourism becomes S. Africa's new economic engine
Tourism industry is replacing traditional gold exports as South Africa's new economic engine, producing 53.9 billion rand (8.29 billion US dollars) of foreign exchange a year and contributing about 7 percent to the country's gross domestic product (GDP). A study of the Standard Bank, one of South Africa's leading commercial banks, also showed tourism is emerging as a significantjob creator, which is key to the country's economy pinned down by unemployment rate as high as over 40 percent.<

Thai tourism not affected by bird flu outbreak: official
Thailand's tourism sector hasn't been affected by the avian influenza outbreaks, said the authorities, pointing to increasing visitors in this year. While the kingdom still under the second hit of bird flu outbreaks, the epidemic has no remarkable impact over the country's tourism sector, Deputy Prime Minister Suwat Liptapanlop was quoted on Tuesday by newspaper Businessday as saying. Since the beginning of this year, the number of tourists visiting Thailand has increased by about

Canton Fair to Boost Guangzhou Tourism
The first group of businessmen from the Netherlands arrived in Guangzhou on Monday for the upcoming Chinese Export Commodities Fair (CECF), also known as Canton Fair, the Guangzhou Daily reported. Thousands of businessmen from around the world are expected to arrive in Guangzhou over the next few days. In recent years, most participants have left Guangzhou right after the fair. This year, however, most of them were planning to stay more than three days in the city, to attend the CE

Passengers Through Macao Airport Increase
The number of passengers through the Macao International Airport hit 2.37 million in the first eight months of 2004, marking an increase of 32.1 percent as compared with the same period of last year. According to an executive of the airport, the number of passengers through the Macao International Airport is expected to keep the upward tendency in the fourth quarter of the year, as residents of more and more cities in China's mainland are allowed to make individual trips to Macao Special

Tang Dynasty Culture Graces New York
Culture vultures in New York are being treated to a festival of Chinese history at the Big Apple's Metropolitan Museum of Art by an exhibition featuring the Tang Dynasty culture. Culture vultures in New York are being treated to a festival of Chinese history at the Big Apple's Metropolitan Museum of Art. An exhibition, showcasing the very finest from the Tang Dynasty, puts more than 400 works on display, many for the first time outside their home country. The show is being billed a

Australians are big spenders in Singapore
VISA International presented its first tourist spending report on Singapore today, and revealed cardholders from Australia spent the most in Singapore, followed by cardholders from the US, the UK, Indonesia and Japan. In total, overseas Visa cardholders spent about US$1 billion (S$1.7 billion) last year, representing 25 per cent of Singapore's total tourism spend. The bulk of the expenditure was at local retailers, and subsequently on accommodation, transport services, clothing and medica

Free travel insurance for Korea Travel Card buyers
KOREA Travel Card is giving free travel insurance to international travellers who buy the card. Cardholders will get coverage ranging from 200,000 won (US$174) to 100 million won for cancellations, delays, baggage loss or late arrival, disasters and various accidents. International travellers who buy the card after using foreign exchange services at Shinhan Bank or who buy a 200,000-won card are eligible for the insurance. They must sign up within five days of entering South Korea

Five Killed in Tour Bus Accident in Taiwan
Five Hong Kong women tourists were killed when a coach skidded off a road in a small town in northern Taiwan Monday afternoon. Thirty others on the tour coach, many of whom were women visitors from Hong Kong, were injured. Some were believed to be in "serious" condition. The coach crashed after travelling down a hill in Jiufen, a small town on the outskirts of the northeastern city of Keelung, which was near a popular tourist destination. The coach flipped over a slope and l

Part of Rampart Collapses in Pingyao
A section of circumvallation in the ancient city of Pingyao, in north China's Shanxi Province, was abruptly collapsed on October 17. Witnesses say the collapsed rampart was about 17 meters in width and has huge cracks. Local cultural relic protection departments have immediately taken measures to prevent further collapsing. It is said that lack of proper repair work is the reason behind the collapse. Pingyao has been listed as a World Heritage Site since 1997. The cit

Airline Honored for Quality Service
China Southern Airlines was honored as China's best airline by TTG Asia magazine Monday. TTG Travel Awards 2004 is organized by TTG Asia Media and presented by TTG Asia, Asia's No.1 travel trade newspaper. The annual TTG Travel Awards in the Asia-Pacific calendar are decided by the travel industry to honor its peers for their most outstanding achievements and contributions. TTG Asia Awards 2004 honor the very best in the travel industry with 33 awards in five categories, inc

Bleak Future for Huaihe River
A handful of small, nondescript fish in Lao Wei's boat account for a whole day's fishing on the Shaying River. Wei, 60, from Jieshou City in east China's Anhui Province, like his father and grandfather before him, used to train ospreys to catch fish. He has not been able to work in that profession for more than 10 years now because heavy pollution has wiped out the river's fish population. Nobody trains ospreys on the Shaying, a tributary of the Huaihe River, any more. "We have no

Yiwu Enjoys Golden Prospects
No poetic atmosphere is felt in Yiwu, a small city in Zhejiang Province where people expect to find waterside towns with winding streams, boats, arched bridges and whitewashed old dwellings. Instead, the city is consumed by the mood of commerce as money flows everywhere and everyone dreams of striking it rich. There are 200,000 businessmen arriving in the city, the country's largest small-commodities wholesale market, every day to seek their property dreams with a daily cash flow o

Air France on the lookout for more flights to India
FOLLOWING the Indian government's recently-signed new bilateral air agreement with the UK, and national carrier Air India's code-sharing agreement with Lufthansa, Air France, too, is keen on expanding its operations in India. Air France is exploring new gateways in southern India through cities such as Hyderabad, Chennai and Bangalore and intends to hold discussions on an Indo-French bilateral air services' agreement, according to Air France executive vice-president and managing director

Chinese authorities seek direct flights from Xinjiang to India
XINJIANG Uygur Autonomous Region and China Southern Air Holding are seeking direct air services between Xinjiang and India to improve trade relations and tourism in both countries. Xinjiang chairman, Mr Ismail Tiliwaldi, said the region was keen on opening a direct air link between Kashgar and New Delhi that would take only two hours. He led a delegate from China to New Delhi for a meeting organised by the Confederation of Indian Industry to strengthen links between the two countries.

Macao residents allowed easy travel to HK
Starting on Monday, Macao's new identification (ID) card holders only needed to carry the "smart" cards to travel to Hong Kong without applying for travel documents. The long-awaited easy travel scheme was officially launched on Monday, as the number of Macao's "smart" Permanent Macao Resident Identification Card holders has increased to 124,000. According to the Identification Department of the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government, the government hopes to replace a

800 star hotels to be available for 2008
Officials with the Beijing Tourism Administration say they will have 800 star-rated hotels with 130 thousand rooms ready for the 2008 Olympic Games in the capital. Beijing currently has a total of 601 star-rated hotels, including 33 five-star, 68 four-star, and 204 three-star hotels, China Radio International reported Monday. In order to meet China's commitment to the International Olympic Committee, 200 more hotels are needed to accommodate an estimated 800,000 visitors including

Agencies ready for African tours
Guangzhou travel agencies gear up efforts for package tours to African countries after China's approval of the opening of tourist routes to an additional nine countries, including eight in Africa and one in western Asia. The routes to the nine countries, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Jordan, will open December 15, according to memorandums of understanding (MOU) signed by the nine countries and the China National Tourism Administration.

Yunnan hosts trade and tourism fair
Citizens from China and five ASEAN countries have flocked to Xishuangbanna in the southwest of China for the 10th Border-trade and Tourism Fair. The 8-day fair, which opened on Saturday, aims to promote economic, cultural and tourism links between China and ASEAN members, CCTV reported Sunday. The fair will provide business opportunities for entrepreneurs from China, Thailand, Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and Laos. It offers favorable conditions for business talks, commodity exhibitions and

China opens tourist routes to nine countries
China has approved the opening of tourist routes to an additional nine countries, including eightin Africa and one in western Asia, according to the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA). The routes to the nine countries, Ethiopia, Kenya, Mauritius, Seychelles, Tanzania, Tunisia, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Jordan, will open December 15, according to memorandums of understanding (MOU) CNTA signed with the nine countries. According to the MOUs, Chinese travel services can start brin

US Airline to Launch Non-stop Daily Flights Next Month
United Airlines will inaugurate its new non-stop daily service from Shanghai to Chicago on November 1 to tap massive market potential. The dramatic expansion in the US airline's services to China comes hot on the heels of a landmark aviation pact between the two countries' governments. The launch of the new service means UA will have four air routes to China -- two to Beijing and two to Shanghai, which fly to and from Chicago and San Francisco. John Tague, UA's executive vic

Historic Prison Prepares for Tourists
Tibet's largest historic prison is currently under repair and expected to be opened to the public in May of next year. Costing 500,000 yuan (US$60,241), the Langzisha project aims to restore the original look of the prison and help people learn about Tibet's history, said local officials.
The prison is being repaired for the second time since the decade-long turmoil of the "cultural revolution" that ended in 1976. Losang Jigme, who is in charge of the project, said on Friday tha

New Numbers for Shenzhen Airlines Flights
The flight numbers of Shenzhen Airlines will change to four digits from October 31, as part of nationwide unification of flight codes. The codes will still begin with the airline code "ZH." The airline is among those using three-digit flight numbers, who have been ordered by the state civil aviation authorities to change. The number "9" will be added in front of the three digits of the code numbers of flights originating in Shenzhen. Codes for flights from Wuxi, Nanning and

Streets to Become More Colorful
Streets in Shanghai should start to look a little more colorful by the end of this year as Changning District has decided to pave many roads with green and orange asphalt. District officials say the new roads will provide more friction for vehicles, making them more responsive when turning or braking, and make it easier to visually separate motor vehicle lanes from bicycle lanes. A few roads in the district will be covered in the colored asphalt as a test over the next few months.<

Easy Online Hotel Booking Launched
From now on, passengers of China Southern Airlines could book hotels in China on-line.
China Southern recently implemented an online reservation system covering over 2 thousand hotels in over 2 hundred cities in China. Passengers can reach the online booking service by calling at southern airline ticket office or visiting China Southern Airlines' website at http://www.cs-air.com/en/.

Satcom Providing New Auto Navigation Service
China Satellite Telecommunications Corp (China Satcom), one of the country's six major telecom carriers, announced yesterday the introduction of a special satellite navigation service for automobiles. The company says it hopes the new service will cultivate a new business area and expand its domestic market share. Named "Kuaiyixing," which means quick and easy traveling, the service has been developed by Zhonghuan Satellite Navigation and Communications Co Ltd (ZSNCC), which is con

Festival Goers Sing the Blues
When music school head Zhang Fan initiated the Midi Modern Music Festival in 2000, he was attempting to accommodate a presentation for his students. Zhang is principle at the Beijing Midi School of Music and the event he staged five years ago is now China's biggest annual outdoor music festival. Some 80,000 attended this year's four-day event held earlier this month at Beijing's International Sculpture Park. The Beijing Midi School of Music, established in 1993, is actually not a s

Track-laying Completed on Half of Qinghai-Tibet Railway
Track-laying had been completed on 645 kilometers of the Qinghai-Tibet railway by October 18, accounting for 56 percent of the total length of the railway, sources with the railway construction headquarters announced on Tuesday. Construction on the 1,142-kilometer Qinghai-Tibet railway is moving steadily toward Damxung County in central Tibet, according to the railway construction headquarters based in Lhasa, the regional capital. The railway, the first to link Tibet with rest of C

Over a Half of Tracks Laid for Qinghai-Tibet Railway
Track-laying had been completed on 645 kilometers of the Qinghai-Tibet railway by October 18, accounting for 56 percent of the total length of the railway, sources with the railway construction headquarters announced on Tuesday. Construction on the 1,142-kilometer Qinghai-Tibet railway is moving steadily toward Damxung County in central Tibet, according to the railway construction headquarters based in Lhasa, the regional capital. The railway, the first to link Tibet with rest of C

Learning from Outstanding Cadre Urged
President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao have urged government functionaries to learn from Zhou Guozhi, an outstanding grassroots cadre who died last year at the age of 42. Zhou Guozhi has recently become a household name in China. He is sincerely revered in his workplace, his township in central China's Hubei Province and across the country. Hu said for 20 years, Zhou Guozhi had kept doing good things for people, helping overcoming their difficulties. Wen Jiabao said Zhou's deed

Yahoo! Links up with 12 Firms
US Internet giant Yahoo! Tuesday formed a partnership with 12 Chinese companies to provide e-mail and other services to them. The move appears to contradict the firm's previous pledge that it would not enter the Internet portal market, and compete with NASDAQ-listed domestic rivals Sina Corp, Sohu.com Inc and Netease.com Inc. Yahoo! China said Tuesday that it had formed an e-mail alliance with Chinese firms like NASDAQ-listed travel service company Ctrip, game websites including Ha

Mountain climbing race on Double Ninth Festival
The Seventh Shenzhen Yangtai Mountain Climbing Race will be held Oct. 22 at Yangtai Mountain to celebrate the Chinese Double Ninth Festival. This race, observing the customs in the previous six races, will focus on environmental protection and fitness. It is also an activity organized by the municipal government in promoting the city's top eight scenic spots. The Double Ninth Festival, dated the ninth day of the ninth month in the Chinese lunar calendar, is a Chinese holiday. It be

Greece to boost tourism investment
The Greek government will tender 54-million-euro new tourism programs by the end of the year in a bid to improve competitiveness in tourism industry, Tourism Minister Dimitris Avramopoulos said on Thursday. The programs included training (worth 14 million euros) of around 9,000 people, including tourism education graduates, unemployed, businessmen and volunteers of the Athens 2004 Olympic Games. Speaking to reporters, Avramopoulos stressed that the ministry,in order to mobilize all

Macao's hotels log 2.62m guests in 1st 8 months
Macao's hospitality industry logged a record 2.62 million overnight guests in the first eight months, up 42.1 percent over the same period of last year. According to the latest release from the Macao Statistics and Census Bureau, Macao's 72 hotels and guesthouses recorded 379,952 overnight guests in August, a 7.5 percent growth year-on-year. The official statistics suggested that some 58.1 percent of allguests were from China's mainland, and 37.2 percent of them were Hong Kong resi

Hong Kong's streets get a facelift
THE Tourism Commission has implemented the Tourism District Enhancement Programme to beautify existing tourist spots and upgrade the facilities. "The Tourism Commission launched the programme in the central and western districts as a pilot scheme and the components of the project have been completed in phases," commissioner, Ms Eva Cheng, said. The enhancement works in the central and western districts include street repaving, new seats, signage and greenery for the Hollywood Road

Hilton dreams of returning to Hong Kong
HILTON International has once again repeated its desire to open a new hotel in Hong Kong, the second major hotel group after the Regent group to do so this past week. The much-loved Hilton Hong Kong was demolished in 1995 by owners, Cheung Kong development group, to make way for the company's global headquarters. Hilton area director of development Middle East and Asia Pacific, Mr Guy Phillips, says the group is hunting for a new property of up to 800 rooms. A few days earli

Southern Indian luxury train likely to run in 2005
SOUTHERN Splendour, a luxury tourist train modeled on the lines of Palace on Wheels running in northern Indian states, is expected to be operational from 2005 onwards, according to the Union Minister of State for Tourism, Mr Renuka Choudhary. The total cost for the project, to be borne jointly by the Indian government and southern states, is estimated to be US$8.7 million. Ms Choudhary said instead of each state government planning a special train of its own, it would be better if

Fireworks Light up West Lake Expo
The East China city of Hangzhou has had a glorious night, with a fireworks display setting the skies ablaze as part of the 2004 West Lake Expo. Over 800-thousand people from Hangzhou and beyond attended this annual event. A show of fire and color. A carnival for the people of Hangzhou. The fireworks display over West Lake, 14 times the size of Tiananmen Square, is one of the major events of the annual West Lake Expo and one of the largest in China, CCTV.com reported Monday. The 5-p

Tianjin to Resume Subway Operation
Tianjin, the largest port city in north China, will resume operation of its subway system -- currently closed for construction, in November 2005, said a news briefing on major projects of the municipality. The main infrastructure for the "No.1 subway project," which will consist of open-air light rail and subway, has been completed, including elevated bridges and underground stops, the briefing said. It is expected that 75 percent of the 26.2 km north-south No.1 subway project will

Railway station begins online service
Shenzhen Railway Station began online booking service Monday (Oct. 18th).
Passengers can book tickets four to 10 days ahead by logging onto the Web site: www.gsrail.com. They can also check schedules and ticket prices on the Web site. The service was available only for long-distance trains departing Shenzhen, the railway station said. Passengers can book tickets from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. and collect them at a designated window on the first floor of the Shenzhen Railway Stati

Cathay Agrees to Buy 9.9% of Air China
Hong Kong's largest airline Cathay Pacific has agreed to buy a nearly 10 percent stake in Chinese mainland carrier Air China as part of a deal that promises a close partnership between them. In a statement issued Wednesday night, the two carriers said they would use the investment as a platform for exploring ways to further develop Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok airport and Beijing Capital International Airport as gateways for air travel on the mainland. No sale price for the shares was

'Golden Week' Holidays Lose Favor
Although the recent week-long National Day holiday generated an expected economic boom, the "Golden Week" holidays are losing their charm for more and more Chinese people, a nationwide survey shows. During the recent week-long holiday, China received 101 million tourists nationwide and reaped 39.7 billion yuan (US$4.8 billion) in tourism, the best "harvest" since China introduced two extra "Golden Week" holidays in 1999. However, the "Golden Week" also put unprecedented pressure on

Solar Energy Becomes Popular Choice in Tibet
Purbu, a native of Heping Village of Nyima County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, traveled to Lhasa, the regional capital, during the National Day holiday season to buy a solar energy converter as a dowry for his younger sister. "It's fashionable, pollution-free, and I'm sure my sister will love it," said Purbu, who spent over 2,000 yuan (US$241) on the gift. Purbu's home, located in northern, pastoral Tibet, is some 500 km away from Lhasa and it takes a full day to travel the

Official: Global Talent Welcome Here
The world's largest developing country is forging itself into a magnet for international expertise to help power its economic growth against the background of increasingly heated competition. China is now introducing 400,000 overseas professionals -- half from foreign countries and half from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Macao -- to work in various fields every year. "To introduce more internationally leading talented people into China has been termed a national strategy," said Su Guangmin

Solar Energy Becomes Popular Choice in Tibet
Purbu, a native of Heping Village of Nyima County, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, traveled to Lhasa, the regional capital, during the National Day holiday season to buy a solar energy converter as a dowry for his younger sister. "It's fashionable, pollution-free, and I'm sure my sister will love it," said Purbu, who spent over 2,000 yuan (US$241) on the gift. Purbu's home, located in northern, pastoral Tibet, is some 500 km away from Lhasa and it takes a full day to travel the

Shanghai to make better public toilets
The city is promising more sanitary public bathrooms for its people -- better service, no more stink and no more filth. The campaign calling for better public toilets and improved bathroom etiquette was launched on Monday in Shanghai. The campaign consists of three phases and is expected to see an overall improvement in the city's public bathrooms before the World Expo in 2010. By the end of next year, Shanghai will honour 100 banner bathrooms, with good facilities and servi

Number of visitors to Macao in 1st 9 months surpasses 2003 figure
Over 12.19 million people visited Macao in the first nine months, which has surpassed the total number of visitor arrivals recorded for the whole of last year. Figures released by the Macao Statistics and Census Service suggested that the first nine months' counting was 45.3 percent upover the year-ago period. Visitors from China's mainland constituted 57.1 percent of the total. The number of visitor arrivals in the first three quarters has far exceeded the total of 11.88 million r

Chinese tourism industry booming
The world's largest credit union VISA says China has become the largest tourist source in the Asia-Pacific region. Visa International Service Association's latest report shows China attracted 11.5 million inbound tourists last year. These tourists spent 10 billion US dollars using thier VISA credit card in China. The organization expects China's tourism revenue will reach 60 billion US dollars by 2008. By 2020, China will become the largest tourism destination and the fourth

More flights on Shanghai-Copenhagen air route
Scandinavian Airlines announced on Tuesday that it would increase flights running from Shanghai to Copenhagen in Denmark from three to six per week as from Oct. 31. Currently, flights shuttle between the two cities on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. Under the new schedule, flights are available every day, except Thursday. The decision was made because the occupancy rate of the flights has gone up by 30 to 40 percent since September 1 when Northern Europe was opened as a tourism desti

Guangzhou Public Places to Use English Names
English names may be introduced in every public place in the growing southern city of Guangzhou. The Guangzhou Language Committee said the city government has asked relevant departments and organizations to introduce English names for city streets, scenic spots, parks, residential areas, bus stops, metro stations, piers, museums and even public toilets. The municipal government is striving to turn the city into an international metropolis. Currently, most of the city's publi

Airline Honored for Quality Service
China Southern Airlines was honored as China's best airline by TTG Asia magazine Monday. TTG Travel Awards 2004 is organized by TTG Asia Media and presented by TTG Asia, Asia's No.1 travel trade newspaper. The annual TTG Travel Awards in the Asia-Pacific calendar are decided by the travel industry to honor its peers for their most outstanding achievements and contributions. TTG Asia Awards 2004 honor the very best in the travel industry with 33 awards in five categories, inc

Wind power project to solve Beijing's air pollution
China's rapid economic growth over the past 20 years has meant enormous increases in electrical power demands. However, 75 percent of the power supply comes from coal, which has resulted in severe air pollution in the country. In order to solve the problem of energy shortages while not sacrificing people's living environment, the world's largest wind power project, the Guangting plant will be launched this month in Beijing and city residents may start using green wind-generated electricit

HK issues stamps marking development of Pearl River Delta
Hong Kong Post Tuesday issued special stamps marking the "Development of the Pearl River Delta Region", focusing on the speedy development of the region, particularly in the aspects of infrastructure, logistics, tourism and business. At the issuing ceremony, Hong Kong Postmaster General, Allan Chiang, said that communication and delivery is essential to the region's sustained growth, hence Hong Kong Post, Macao Post and Guangdong Postal Bureau have together played a supporting role in the

Xi'an builds disability friendly facilities
Life for disabled visitors and residents in one of China's foremost cities is set to improve. A major overhaul of facilities for the handicapped in Xi'an - home to the famed Terracotta Warriors - will include signs in braille at major tourist sites. With around 350,000 disabled citizens, the Shaanxi provincial capital is planning to invest huge sums of money to improve its facilities. A lack of funding and focus on the needs of the disabled by some government departments caused Xi'

Weather Alarm Service Launched for Vessels in Bohai Sea
A weather alarm system for vessels in the Bohai Sea off the east China coast has been launched by the Yantai Maritime Bureau in Shandong Province. According to the bureau, when the wind on the Bohai Sea is stronger than the VII grade, the bureau will offer alarms to vessels shipping in the area and suggest them to stop travel. Every winter, strong winds on the Bohai Sea cause shipwrecks near the port city Yantai. The bureau said the weather alarm system is adopted to ensure the saf

Ancient City Wall to Be Repaired Before Winter
A cultural heritage official has said the ancient city wall of Pingyao City in north China's Shanxi Province will be repaired before a freeze sets in. Part of the 630-year-old city wall collapsed Sunday afternoon. The local government said the collapse caused no casualties because no one was around when the 17-meter long, 10-meter tall, three-meter thick section close to the southern city gate suddenly fell apart. A preliminary investigation suggests the collapse was a result of st

China to Grow into World Second Largest Aviation Market
China is expected to require up to 2,300 aircraft in the next 20 years, a senior Boeing official said yesterday. These airplanes, worth about US$183 billion, will quadruple the country's current fleet to 2,801 by the end of 2023, said Randy Baseler, vice president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes responsible for marketing. But three months ago, Adam Brown, vice president of Airbus responsible for customer affairs, said China will need to acquire a total of no less than 1,316 mainline

Airlines Begin to Compensate Passengers for Flight Delays
One of the most frustrating things that can happen to an air traveler is to be told that your flight has been delayed. It sets off a whole chain of events and causes untold inconvenience. China has been coming in for its own stick in this regard, with statistics released by the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) showing that the number of delayed flights reached over 300 in July alone. Disgruntled passengers can, however, at least now derive some benefit from their forced c

China to Grow into Second Largest Aviation Market
China is expected to require up to 2,300 aircraft in the next 20 years, a senior Boeing official said Thursday. These airplanes, worth about US$183 billion, will quadruple the country's current fleet to 2,801 by the end of 2023, said Randy Baseler, vice-president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes responsible for marketing. But three months ago, Adam Brown, vice-president of Airbus responsible for customer affairs, said China will need to acquire a total of no less than 1,316 mainline

Gulangyu -- A Piano Island
The roar of the waves breaks on the rocks. Impressive melodies surround and linger on this island made famous because of its piano-laden past. As a place of residence for Westerners during Xiamen's colonial past, Gulangyu is famous for its architecture and for being home to China's largest piano museum. Covering a total area of 1.78 square kilometers, Gulangyu Island is located off the coast of Xiamen City in Fujian Province. The Chinese name also has musical roots, as gu lang means "drum

Private Airline Under Way
Private companies are about to speed up entering the country's huge civil aviation market. Reliable sources said that Ao'kai Airlines, one of the country's first group of private companies approved by aviation authorities to prepare for entry to the market, is carrying out final procedure for approval. "The company is expected to obtain the final airline operating certificate before the end of this year," the sources said. But an official with the General Administration of C

Dunhuang Better Protects Grottoes
This city in northwest China's Gansu Province is taking advantage of the low tourist season to take steps to protect the Mogao Grottoes, one of the nation's world heritage sites. The city is currently drafting a new strategy to better serve tourists next year and is taking steps to protect local relics, according to the city government. "The city recently passed its high tourist season, giving us ample opportunities to strengthen the protection of Buddha sculptures and frescoes in

Bus Overturn Kills 5 Tourists, Injures 21 in Yunnan
Five tourists were killed on the spot and 21 others were injured when a bus plunged into a lake in the famous Shilin (Stone Forest) Scenery Zone, 100 km away from Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province. The bus driver and two tour guides were unhurt in the accident taking place around noon on Sunday, said information from relevant local departments of the Yi Autonomous County of Shilin, which is under jurisdiction of Kunming City, the provincial capital. According to

Bangkok Airways upgrades Singapore-Samui link
BANGKOK Airways' launch of a Boeing 717-200 service between Singapore and Koh Samui on October 31, will cut travel time by one hour and increase capacity from 70 seats to 120 seats on the four-times-a-week flight. Bangkok Airways vice-president corporate communications, Ms M L Nandhika Varavarn, who was in Singapore to promote the new service to the trade yesterday, said the airline would consider increasing it to a daily service if there was demand. The airline and a number of Koh

China's indoor environment purification industry exceeds US$1 bln
Continually emerging products for indoor atmosphere purification have created a booming new industry in China, with an industrial volume of 10 billion yuan (1.2 billion US dollars). This was announced at the first symposium on the development of the industry hosted Wednesday by China National Interior Decoration Association (CIDA) and relevant governmental departments. Chinese people attach increasing importance to indoor pollution, and the government has set national standards for

French fireworks show presented in Wuhan
The famous French fireworks show, A Little More Light, took place here Thursday as part of the French Culture Year celebrations. The show, presented by French Group F, told Chinese viewers an ancient myth of kidnapping sunlight and giving it back to the people in colors of red, gold and white. The show lasted about 40 minutes and cost about one million euros. Wuhan, capital of central China's Hubei Province, was one of the first cities in China to experience the Sino-French

Ancient city wall to be repaired before winter
A cultural heritage official has said the ancient city wall of Pingyao City in north China's Shanxi Province will be repaired before a freeze sets in. Part of the 630-year-old city wall collapsed Sunday afternoon. The local government said the collapse caused no casualties because no one was around when the 17-meter long, 10-meter tall, three-meter thick section close to the southern city gate suddenly fell apart. A preliminary investigation suggests the collapse was a result of st

Business travel to rebound in 2005: Forecast
The American Express Global Business Travel Forecast for 2005, released Thursday, indicates a continued steady revival of the global business travel industry. Although the pace varies significantly by region and country, published air and hotel prices are expected to rise incrementally next year as business travel demand recovers, outpacing the growthof supply in several markets, it said. At the same time, increased competition - particularly in the airline sector in several region

China to Grow into World Second Largest Aviation Market
China is expected to require up to 2,300 aircraft in the next 20 years, a senior Boeing official said yesterday. These airplanes, worth about US$183 billion, will quadruple the country's current fleet to 2,801 by the end of 2023, said Randy Baseler, vice president of Boeing Commercial Airplanes responsible for marketing. But three months ago, Adam Brown, vice president of Airbus responsible for customer affairs, said China will need to acquire a total of no less than 1,316 mainline

Cathay Agrees to Buy 9.9% of Air China
Hong Kong's largest airline Cathay Pacific has agreed to buy a nearly 10 percent stake in Chinese mainland carrier Air China as part of a deal that promises a close partnership between them. In a statement issued Wednesday night, the two carriers said they would use the investment as a platform for exploring ways to further develop Hong Kong's Chek Lap Kok airport and Beijing Capital International Airport as gateways for air travel on the mainland. No sale price for the shares was

Indonesia appoints new tourism minister
MR Jero Wacik, a Balinese businessman and the president's election success team member from the Democratic Party, has been appointed by the new Indonesian prime minister, Mr Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono, to head the country's tourism industry. He will head the Department of Culture and Tourism, which had its status raised by the president from what was formerly known as the Ministry of Culture and Tourism. Mr Wacik, a mechanical engineer from Bandung Institute of Technology and also a

Questions Remain After Marathon Deaths
Accident replay Nearly 30,000 professional and amateur runners took part in the Beijing International Marathon on October 17. Liu Hongbin, a 20-year-old participant, collapsed 19 km into the race around 11 AM and was sent to Haidian Hospital, where he was pronounced dead after attempts to revive him failed. Another racer Hu Shouli, a 64-year-old male retiree, collapsed with only 100 meters to go at about 2 PM. Eleven other runners were sent to hospital for emergency t

Questions Remain After Marathon Deaths
Accident replay Nearly 30,000 professional and amateur runners took part in the Beijing International Marathon on October 17. Liu Hongbin, a 20-year-old participant, collapsed 19 km into the race around 11 AM and was sent to Haidian Hospital, where he was pronounced dead after attempts to revive him failed. Another racer Hu Shouli, a 64-year-old male retiree, collapsed with only 100 meters to go at about 2 PM. Eleven other runners were sent to hospital for emergency t

Snow Dragon Unleashed on Antarctic Trail
Scientists set out from Shanghai on Monday for China's 21st expedition to Antarctica, hoping to make it to the summit of Dome A, the highest point on the ice-covered continent A total of 146 people boarded the ship Xuelong, "Snow Dragon" in Chinese, at Shanghai's Minsheng Lu Dock to kick off the 150-day expedition. Their main goal is to climb the South Pole's highest icecap, said Wei Wenliang, a senior official with the Chinese Arctic and Antarctic Administration. Other rese

1st environment culture week of Beijing universities opens
The first environment culture week of Beijing-based universities opened here Sunday, with the aim of raising awareness of environmental protection among university students and the public at large. Over the course of the week, more than 30 universities will hold activities such as debates and photography contests featuring environmental education, sponsors said. "The Chinese, especially young people, have started paying more attention to environmental protection, indicating that th

Temple of Heaven under repair
Repair has started with the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest and its adjacent complex with the Temple of Heaven, or Tian Tan, a famous landmark in southern Beijing. An official with Beijing Municipal Cultural Heritage Bureau said that the repair project, which began Wednesday, was designed to restore the former glamor of the Temple of Heaven. The Temple of Heaven was built in 1417 in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The Emperor, called the "Son of Heaven," came twice a year to pray in

Qing royal paintings resurface
China is preparing an exhibition of lost art works from the royal family of the Qing Dynasty. The display of watercolors and calligraphy will be held at the beginning of next month in the northeastern city of Shenyang, CCTV reported Sunday. The works of art are some of China's most priceless. "Upper River during Qing Ming Festival" is the country's most famous silk scroll watercolor. It was painted in the Northern Song Dynasty by royal artist Zhang Zeduan. These paintings used to b

Airline Ascends with Airbus Deal
China Eastern Airlines yesterday received its first A321-200 aircraft, expanding its fleet for home and abroad flights. The aircraft, with 20 business-class seats, costs an average of US$68 million each. China Eastern has ordered four A321-200 aircraft from Airbus with the second to be delivered on October 28 and the other two in August and September of 2005, said Luo Chaogeng, newly-appointed general manager of China Eastern Airlines Co Ltd. The new plane will be used on Sh

More Public Toilets for Beijing Road
The Guangzhou environment and hygiene bureau and planning bureau would build 13 more public toilets on and near Beijing Road, Wednesday's Guangzhou Daily reported. In the recent holidays, people visiting Beijing Road complained about there being not enough toilets. "During the holiday week, 800,000 people on average visited Beijing Road each day. If a person stayed for two to three hours, he or she had to go to the toilet once," said Deng Yiqing, vice director of environment and hy

Foreign airlines cut prices
Following the price wars of domestic airlines, overseas air-carriers announced price reductions recently, the Shanghai Morning Post reported today. Australian Airlines announced yesterday three direct flights a week from Shanghai to Sydney and then to Melbourne as of December 2. The initial flight will cost only 4,888 yuan (US$589), with free round-trip air-tickets to Lisbon or the Gold Coast. Also yesterday, United Airlines announced non-stop direct flights from Shanghai to Chicag

In-flight mobile phone use to be banned
People caught using mobile phones on aircraft could be detained for up to five days, according to a draft law being reviewed by the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee. Violators could also be fined up to 2,000 yuan (US$244), according to the draft law on public order administration. The proposal, a draft amendment to the 17-year-old public security law, also imposes up to 15 days detention for peepers, eavesdroppers, and people who used hidden cameras in other peop

New Yorkers Appreciate Chinese Folk Music
New Yorkers had another chance to reflect on Chinese folk music on Saturday evening, with a stunning concert in the Lincoln Center. Sponsored by both the Chinese and American music communities in New York, the concert was a great success. New Yorkers had another chance to reflect on Chinese folk music on Saturday evening, with a stunning concert in the Lincoln Center. Sponsored by both the Chinese and American music communities in New York, the concert was a great success. The conc

The Former Residence of Guo Moruo
Eighteen Qianhai Xijie Street, a deep courtyard located near Beijing's Shicha Lake, is the former residence of Guo Moruo, an outstanding Chinese writer, poet, dramatist, historian, archaeologist and paleographer. The writer was born into a landlord's family in Leshan County, Sichuan Province, in 1892, as Guo Kaizhen. As a boy, he had access to a wide selection of literary works that sparked his lifelong interest in poetry and language. He went to Japan in 1914, first to study medicine and

Chinese Travelers Favor One-nation Europe Trips
More Chinese tourists are favoring in-depth tours of one European nation opposed to the trips combining 10 to 15 countries, which were popular when Europe opened to Chinese tours September 1. "Based on the demands of those customers, we promoted 'one nation trip' and hope it can influence the travel habit of potential Chinese people," said Sun Changwei, general manager of China Youth Travel Service (CYTS). He said, opposite to the 10-nations trip, the new route is more flexible and

Self-help Tour to Europe: Not a Long Way Off
Tourists to Europe must be happy to know that the day for them to travel on their own won't be that far, although only a part of the trip on their own currently. The China Travel Service Head Office offered a seven-day package tour to Paris as of December 12, priced at 9,800 yuan (US$1,180). Tourists will live in Paris for five nights, and during the last two days of their trip, they are allowed to either travel with the group or on their own. In Beijing, it is the first travel itinerary

Price Cuts Expected on Australian Tour
Price cuts of up to ten percent are likely to spark an Australian tour between November and December this year, the Shanghai Morning Post reported today. As the tour cost to Australia equals that of at least three or maybe five European countries, many travelers in Shanghai preferred to travel to Europe during the weeklong National Day holiday. In a bid to attract more travelers, the Australian tourism authority will invest 5.7 million Australian dollars (US$4.3 million) in its Chi

Taiwan Authorities' 'Peace Framework' Deceitful
The Chinese central government said the "peace framework" and "pattern of negotiation" put forward by the Taiwan authorities are deceitful. The spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, Zhang Mingqing, says Taiwan leader Chen Shui-bian's separatist activities have triggered tension across the Taiwan Straits and seriously endangered peace and stability in the region. The May 17 Statement issued by the central government stipulates if the Taiwan authorities acknow

Chinese travelers favor one-nation Europe trips
More Chinese tourists are favoring in-depth tours of one European nation opposed to the trips combining 10 to 15 countries, which were popular when Europe opened to Chinese tours September 1. "Based on the demands of those customers, we promoted 'one nation trip' and hope it can influence the travel habit of potential Chinese people," said Sun Changwei, general manager of China Youth Travel Service (CYTS). He said, opposite to the 10-nations trip, the new route is more flexible and

International Silk Road Conference opens in Xi'an
The 3rd International Silk Road Conference opened in Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province and starting point of the ancient "Silk Road," Tuesday with more than 500 delegates from 12 countries discussing the road's reconstruction. The three-day conference -- "Silk Road Rehabilitation and Road Infrastructure Construction" -- is co-sponsored by the Chinese Ministry of Communications, the International Road Federation (IRF)and the government of Shaanxi Province. With a

Shanghai Hosts Bullfights; No Animals Killed
China's first Spanish bullfights Saturday went well for the bulls -- none were killed in the ring. The fights, complete with Spanish matadors and fighting bulls imported from Mexico, drew several hundred curious spectators to a bullring inside a soccer stadium in Shanghai's northern suburbs. Bulls were taunted, pricked with skewers and stabbed with spears but then were ushered out of the ring before any death blows were delivered. will not be killed," said a broadcaster spea

Beijing Capital Airport Ready for the Ice n Snow
Beijing Capital International Airport is ready for the snow and ice of winter. The airport management says its 25 de-icing vehicles have been serviced and prepared for the blizzards. The airport has ample supplies of an environmentally friendly de-icing liquid.

Four more expressways to be completed
Four expressways from Yangjiang to Maoming, Guangzhou to Yunfu, Guangzhou to Qingyuan and Maoming to Zhanjiang have entered the final construction phase, which will enable all the cities in Guangdong to have expressway connections by the end of this year. It is expected that the new expressways will have an immediate and massive impact in reducing driving costs and dr