China Reservations

China Reservations

Huge Floods to Threaten Yangtze River Basin
Devastating floods are likely to threaten the whole Yangtze River basin during this coming summer's rainy season, flood-control officials warned on Friday. The officials based their conclusion on the high possibility of massive rainfall in the Yangtze's middle and lower reaches during this year's impending flood season, mainly due to the influence of El Nino. But they also expressed great confidence in the river's embankments, which were painstakingly fortified at a cost of billions of US dollar

Domestic Airlines Not Allowed to Invest Over 25 Pct in Airports
Domestic airlines companies will be allowed to invest no more than 25 percent in airports in line with a new regulation being formulated, said a source with the General Administration of Civil Administration of China (CAAC) Friday. China encourages and supports airports to draw investment from at home and overseas, including social and banking capital, in order to increase their profit-making capability, said Zhang Guanghui, an official with the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China.

Tourism Sector Totters in Shanghai
The impact of SARS is debilitating the tourism industry in Shanghai with travel agencies receiving far fewer tourists and a lot of cancellations, and hotels seeing more and more vacant rooms. Until April 27, local travel agencies had refunded money to 3,464 inbound groups involving 75,182 tourists and 279 outbound groups with 8,901 tourists after they canceled their tours, the Shanghai Tourism Administrative Commission said Friday at a news briefing. According to the commission, travel agencies

Shanghai Luxury Hotels Cut Room Rates
Luxury hotels in Shanghai are slashing room rates to counter the effects of SARS, which has been emptying rooms.
Many hotels started to offer cheaper rates over the recent May Day holiday, and may continue the promotion for the next few weeks, today's

Climbers Set out to Conquer Mount Qomolangma
To mark the 50th anniversary of the first successful ascent of Mount Qomolangma, climbers from all over the world started to climb the highest mountain in the world Sunday. More than 600 climbers are participating in this anniversary climb of Mount Qomolangma. The climbers come from 26 nations and regions including China, the United Kingdom, the United States, New Zealand and Japan. The Chinese team consists of more than 30 members and this morning, 17 of the Chinese climbers set off from their

Palestinians Drop Peace Plan Reservations
Palestinian leaders have put aside reservations to parts of the U.S.-developed plan for peace with Israel and are ready to get started on it, Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas said Sunday, heeding an appeal by Secretary of State Colin Powell. "We have accepted it as it is," Abbas said. "True, maybe we have some reservations. But in order to give a way for the peace process, we have dropped down all our reservations, and we said that we accept it as it is." While other Palestinian leaders accused Isra

FDI in Chinese Mainland to Hit US$60 Billion
Although severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) could cause the delay of an expected US$1 billion in China's total foreign investment in the second quarter, the foreign direct investment (FDI) figure for the year is still likely to hit US$60 billion, Chinese experts say. But they warn if SARS is still out of control in the third or even fourth quarter, the delayed foreign capital may not come and the epidemic will threaten another US$5 billion of FDI in the second half of the year. Many intern

New Caves Found in Ancient Buddhist Grottoes
Provincial cultural relics officials in Zhengzhou has reported the discovery of several new caves and niches under a highway in the renowned Longmen Grottoes in Luoyang City of central China's Henan Province. The provincial cultural relics protecti

Three Gorges reservoir completed ahead of schedule
Construction of the reservoir of the Three Gorges damming project has been completed more than two weeks ahead of its scheduled filling.
The Three Gorges Project Development Corporation (TGPDC) announced here Tuesday all preparatory work had been compl

WHO to revoke travel advisory against HK in weeks
With the number of Hong Kong's new atypical pneumonia cases falling to four on Sunday, the World Health Organization (WHO) is set to revoke its travel advisory against Hong Kong in weeks, a Hong Kong newspaper said Monday.
Such was reported by the Hong

Shanghai Peace Hotel Temporarily Closed
The Peace Hotel at the Bund in Shanghai, announced Tuesday to be temporarily closed. This hotel is famous for its location, Old Man Jazz band and Jewish tradition. It is one of the most known hotels in Shanghai and the whole China. Sources say some 16 del

China Understands Travel Restrictions on Nationals
China understands why some countries are imposing restrictive travel measures on its citizens to curb the spread of SARS, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue said here Tuesday. But Zhang added, "We believe all sides should treat Chinese citizens fairly as they go about their normal business." Zhang said severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) was an unexpected disaster, and it took time for countries to learn how to deal with it. "To prevent the further spread of SARS, some countries have

China Severely Condemns Terrorist Attacks
China is concerned over the bomb explosions both in Saudi Arabia and in Chechnya and China severely condemns those terrorist attacks, said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue on the regular press conference in Beijing Tuesday. As for its fight against SARS, China thanked the international community for supporting and aiding, and understands the travel restrictions on its nationals. Zhang also introduced China's position on DPRK nuclear issue, the Iraq issue and the Middle East issue

New Suzhou Museum Design On Display
The blueprint of a conceptual design for the new museum of Suzhou, a picturesque city in eastern China's Jiangsu Province, has recently been completed by Ieoh Ming Pei, an international master architect. The conceptual design for the museum, boasting a modern version of traditional Suzhou architecture, blends the design of the Residence of Prince Zhong of the Taiping Heavenly Kingdom and the Humble Administer's Garden (Zhuozheng Garden) into one, with a style reflecting architecture south of the

Clean-up Campaign Urged for Three Gorges Reservoir
China's environmental watchdog yesterday advised that a massive clean-up campaign be launched around the Three Gorges Reservoir before it begins storing water next month. The State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) requires that governments at various levels in the area clears all rubbish and floating debris before water storage begins on June 1. The Three Gorges Project, costing nearly 170 billion yuan (US$20.8 billion), began in 1992 and is earmarked for completion in 2009. In the

Taiwan-invite to WHO Opposed
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue stated Tuesday that China was firmly opposed to the request by a senior Japanese official to invite Taiwan to attend the World Health Organization (WHO) as an observer. Zhang said the WHO is a specialized agency of the United Nations and only sovereign states are entitled to become members and participate in its activities. Taiwan, as a province of China, is neither qualified to participate in WHO activities nor is there any legal basis for the is

Domestic airlines not allowed to invest over 25 percent in airports
Domestic airlines companies will be allowed to invest no more than 25 percent in airports in line with a new regulation being formulated, said a source with the General Administration of Civil Administration of China (CAAC) Friday.
China encourages and

Wuxi Investing US$100m To Build "Oriental Hollywood"
According to Wuxi Travel Bureau, Wuxi has made key breakthroughs on attracting investment for Taihu. Over US$100m will rush into a theme park on the bank of Taihu with international-advanced level in the current entertainment circle-Hollywood Movie & TV T

Transport Firms Feel SARS Impact
With SARS all but killing the domestic tourism industry, the number of passengers on planes, trains, busses and ships on the mainland has dropped significantly, said the National Bureau of Statistics. About 1.22 billion passengers used various forms of inter-city public transportation in April, down 6.9 percent from the same month last year. That decline comes after a 5.2 percent increase year-on-year during the first three months of this year. Industry experts say the significant decline is an

Clean SARS Record for Air China
Air China has adopted strict measures to prevent the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Since March 20, out of 2.6 million Air China passengers, there has been no reported case of flight-related SARS infection, and to date, none of

City Clarifies Rules for Travel
The local government yesterday clarified quarantine rules on travelers and local residents visiting or returning to Shanghai from areas hit hard by SARS.
Anyone arriving in the city from 11 affected areas will have to undergo quarantine to ensure they

Shanghai Officials Explain Rules of Travel
Shanghai officials further clarified Thursday that local residents, expatriates and people who have stayed in the city for six months or longer must undergo quarantine for two weeks at home or a designated place if they return to the city from any "SARS hard-hit region." Visitors arriving from these regions must allow the hotels they are staying in or the neighborhood committees responsible for their temporary residences to take their temperature twice a day, fill in a daily health record form,

Overseas Travel Industry Optimistic About HK
A survey indicates many travel advisers are willing to relax travel restrictions on Hong Kong tour if no new SARS cases are reported for ten consecutive days, the Hong Kong Hotels Association (HKHA) said Thursday. The industry specific survey was conducted among 100 experienced Hong Kong-based overseas travel advisers and decision makers from leading multinational companies and travel agents to understand the expectations of the traveling public, the HKHA said. According to the survey, some 41 p

Shanghai Officials Explain Rules of Travel
Shanghai officials further clarified Thursday that local residents, expatriates and people who have stayed in the city for six months or longer must undergo quarantine for two weeks at home or a designated place if they return to the city from any "SARS hard-hit region." Visitors arriving from these regions must allow the hotels they are staying in or the neighborhood committees responsible for their temporary residences to take their temperature twice a day, fill in a daily health record form,

Model Sisters
Although they share the same parents, the two girls greatly differ in character: One is quiet and elegant, and the other is more active and perky. However, they both have a stunning beauty that has attracted countless passersby, especially sharp-sighted scouts who immediately and excitedly hand over their name cards and act as if they have just discovered a new continent. Wang Yun, the elder one, is a model as well as a famous pop singer in Guangzhou. Wang Yiyi, the younger sister, is a professi

Suzhou and Her Classical Gardens
Suzhou City in Jiangsu Province is located on the Changjiang (Yangtze) River Delta. It ranks third in China in terms of the number of relics it possesses, the first being Beijing, and the second being Xi'an. It was in 514 B.C. during the Spring and Autumn Period (770 B.C.-476 B.C.) that King He Lu of the State of Wu sent Wu Zixu, a rebel general of the State of Chu, to build his capital here. Also known as Gusu because of Gusu Mountain in its southwest, Suzhou is world famous for its classical g

Dalian -- The Capital of Romance
Dalian City in Liaoning Province is located at the southernmost tip of the Liaodong Peninsula, with the Yellow Sea in the east and the Bohai Sea in the west. Neither hot in summer nor cold in winter, Dalian has an annual mean temperature of 10 degrees Celsius. One of the best tourist cities in China, Dalian has been honored many times. It has been named a Garden City and one of the World's Top 500 Cities of Excellent Environment by the United Nations; and it is the only holder of this UN honor i

Overseas Travel Industry Optimistic About HK
A survey indicates many travel advisers are willing to relax travel restrictions on Hong Kong tour if no new SARS cases are reported for ten consecutive days, the Hong Kong Hotels Association (HKHA) said Thursday.
The industry specific survey was condu

Passengers Must Register Health Condition Before Travel
China is requiring that all passengers fill out health questionnaires before initiating travel as part of efforts to contain the spread of SARS, said the Ministry of Communications Friday. The ministry said that all road and maritime passenger terminals and transportation companies must use the designated health form to record the health status of passengers. The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China and the Ministry of Railways had already adopted measures requiring passengers to ha

Passengers Must Register Health Condition Before Travel
China is requiring that all passengers fill out health questionnaires before initiating travel as part of efforts to contain the spread of SARS, said the Ministry of Communications Friday. The ministry said that all road and maritime passenger terminals and transportation companies must use the designated health form to record the health status of passengers. The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China and the Ministry of Railways had already adopted measures requiring passengers to ha

Passengers Must Register Health Condition Before Travel
China is requiring that all passengers fill out health questionnaires before initiating travel as part of efforts to contain the spread of SARS, said the Ministry of Communications in Beijing Friday. The ministry said that all road and maritime passenger terminals and transportation companies must use the designated health form to record the health status of passengers. The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China and the Ministry of Railways had already adopted measures requiring passe

Airlines Strive to Ward off SARS Shock
Chinese airlines are working to cut operational costs in the wake of the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), which is responsible for keeping passengers firmly on the ground. Official statistics show passenger numbers throughout t

Passengers Must Register Health Condition Before Travel
China is requiring that all passengers fill out health questionnaires before initiating travel as part of efforts to contain the spread of SARS, said the Ministry of Communications Friday.
The ministry said that all road and maritime passenger terminal

Israel Weighs Response to Suicide Bombers
A Hamas suicide attacker disguised as an observant Jew with a prayer shawl and skullcap killed seven Israeli bus passengers Sunday, a bombing that endangered a US-backed peace plan before it got off the ground. Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon indefinitely postponed a Washington trip seen as crucial for launching the "road map" plan, and instead convened his Cabinet to weigh a response to the bombing that also wounded 20 passengers. At a four-hour Cabinet meeting Sunday, several ministers ren

Old Traditions Alive in Guizhou
Wearing jeans or suits and living in apartment blocks, modern Chinese people are generally very different from the ones that the Venetian traveler Marco Polo saw more than seven centuries ago. But in the southwest of the country, a group of Chinese people still adhere to the cultures, clothing, language, customs, religions and architecture of 14th-century China. These people call themselves "Old Hans" and bear witness to the great westward migration that took place early in the Ming Dynasty (136

Hangzhou Opens All Museums Free to Public
Hangzhou Gardening Bureau announced yesterday that all 15 museums and memorial halls under administration of the bureau would be open to public free of charge all through the year as of May 18, the International Museum Day. Among the 15 museums are

A Tour of Tibet Museum
Tibet Museum opens to visitors free of charge in Lhasa, capital of southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region May 18, on the occasion of the International Museums Day.
Built in October, 1999 and with a area of 53,959 square metres, the museum stores abu

Mainland SARS Cases See Lowest Increase
The Chinese mainland Monday reported its lowest increase in the number of SARS cases in a month. Just 12 new cases of the deadly flu-like disease were reported in the 24 hours to 10 am yesterday, the smallest rise since April 16. Six of the confirmed cases had been suspected cases, according to the Ministry of Health. Seven of the newly confirmed cases were in Beijing, with four in North China's Hebei Province and one case in Central China's Hubei Province. There were also five deaths and 64 new

China's SARS Cases Continue to Fall Steadily: Experts

China continues to see a steady fall in the number of new severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) cases, medical experts said on Monday.
Since mid-April, SARS cases on China's mainland had surged and then dropped dramatically, said Rao Keqin, an epide

CAAC Cuts Charges for Overseas Carriers by 20 Percent
from May-July
The Civil Aviation Administration of China is to cut charges on overseas carriers using China's airports and routes by 20 percent from May to July.
CAAC sources say the fee cuts will not apply to domestic airlines as the central government has already

Museum of Bronze Relics Planned for South China
Ningxiang County in Hunan Province, reputed to be "the center of south China's bronze culture", plans to build China's first museum of bronze relics.
Sources with the county government said the museum would cover 20 hectares, and would be built in two

Return of "Quality Deposit" Helpful for Travel Agencies
Following a call by the National Tourism Administration on Monday, the Shanghai Tourism Administrative Commission yesterday unveiled a series of measures to bail out local travel agencies, hit hard by SARS outbreak. Among the measures announced was the temporary return of the "quality deposit" to local travel agencies, who can keep the money until December 31, 2004. This means agencies running inbound travel business can avail of 400,000 yuan (US$48,193) of funds; those allowed to do both inboun

A French Woman in Remote Mt. Damiao
Over the past four years, a French lady called Fangfang has helped 1,500 girls go back to school in the remote area of Mt. Damiao in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Before Fangfang helped establish 11 schools in this poverty-stricken area, these girls could barely continue their studies. Apart from opening these schools, she has also helped build a three-story building along the bank of the Danian River in Danian Town, and has since settled down in the region. Fangfang is not rich, yet she

Return of 'Quality Deposit' Helpful for Travel Agencies
Following a call by the National Tourism Administration on Monday, the Shanghai Tourism Administrative Commission yesterday unveiled a series of measures to bail out local travel agencies, hit hard by SARS outbreak. Among the measures announced was the temporary return of the "quality deposit" to local travel agencies, who can keep the money until December 31, 2004. This means agencies running inbound travel business can avail of 400,000 yuan (US$48,193) of funds; those allowed to do both inboun

Airlines Flying to HK Send Crew to Macao for Short Leave
Some foreign airline companies are considering making Macao a harbor for rest for crew members flying on flights to Hong Kong, while they have a short leave during flight intermission, according to the Macao Airport Friday. The administrative office of the airport confirmed that a Cathay-Pacific airliner rented by the British Airways landed at the airport Thursday night bringing the first group of some 20 crew members to take a short leave in China's Macao Special Administrative Region. Friday's

Iraq Issue Must Be Handled Under UN Charter
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Zhang Qiyue Thursday affirmed the Chinese government's stance that Iraq's reconstruction and other post-war issues have to be dealt with in accordance with the tenet and principles of the United Nations Charter. Zhang said the UN Security Council was deliberating the arrangements of post-war Iraq and that positive progress has been made on some specific issues. The Chinese side had adopted a constructive attitude in participating in the consultations, she sai

Swiss Air suspended flights to Beijing
Swiss Air has decided to suspend its service to Beijing.
The company said all scheduled flights to and from the Chinese capital were cancelled until the middle of August because of a drop in demand. Swiss said the seat load factor on these fligh

WHO Lifts Hong Kong ( & Guangdong) Travel Advisory
The World Health Organization lifted its SARS-related travel advisories Friday against Hong Kong and the Chinese province of Guangdong, saying the outbreaks are under control there. Researchers in Hong Kong, meanwhile, said they may have traced the diseas

WHO Welcomes Finding of SARS Virus' Links with Civet Cats
Experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) welcomed the finding announced by Hong Kong scientists of possible cause of SARS virus from civet cats as "important," according to news reaching from the organization Saturday. WHO said the new finding would help direct future research into the virus. Scientists have been researching on the possible links between wild animals and the killer virus since the disease broke out. Francois Meslin, a WHO expert on diseases acquired from animals, told re

WHO Lifts Restriction on Travel
The World Health Organization yesterday lifted its advisory against travel to Hong Kong and Guangdong Province, saying the epidemic was under control in the two areas. Guangdong, where the earliest SARS cases were reported, became the first place on China's mainland where the WHO ended such an advisory recommending against nonessential travel. The province reported 57 deaths and more than 1,500 cases of infection of the disease. "I am pleased to note that due to the efforts of the local and nati

WHO Lifts Restriction on Travel to Hong Kong, Guangdong
The World Health Organization yesterday lifted its advisory against travel to Hong Kong and Guangdong Province, saying the epidemic was under control in the two areas. Guangdong, where the earliest SARS cases were reported, became the first place on China's mainland where the WHO ended such an advisory recommending against nonessential travel. The province reported 57 deaths and more than 1,500 cases of infection of the disease. "I am pleased to note that due to the efforts of the local and nati

Beijing's Tourism Sector Slumping
Beijing's embattled tourism industry will lose around 40 billion yuan (US$4.8 billion) this year due to the deadly SARS virus, economic experts predicted Friday. They described the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) crisis as perhaps the most dramatic prolonged shutdown of the travel industry on record since 1989. According to a report by the China Centre for Economic Research (CCER) affiliated to Peking University, Beijing's tourism revenue from overseas visitors this year will slump by 6

WHO Lifts Restriction on Travel
The World Health Organization yesterday lifted its advisory against travel to Hong Kong and Guangdong Province, saying the epidemic was under control in the two areas. Guangdong, where the earliest SARS cases were reported, became the first place on China's mainland where the WHO ended such an advisory recommending against nonessential travel. The province reported 57 deaths and more than 1,500 cases of infection of the disease. "I am pleased to note that due to the efforts of the local and nati

WHO Lifts SARS Travel Alerts for China's HK, Guangdong
The UN health agency canceled its warning against travel to Hong Kong and the Chinese province of Guangdong, an advisory that was imposed because of the outbreak of SARS.
The World Health Organization said it took the move because the outbreaks are und

China Welcomes WHO's Lifting of Travel Advisory on Hong Kong, Guangdong
Tung Chee Hwa, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, welcomed Friday the World Health Organization's decision to lift its travel advisory against Hong Kong. Speaking at a press conference in Hong Kong, Tung expressed hearty thanks to all Hong Kong people who have made great efforts during the two-month struggle against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). He said Hong Kong will make more efforts toward having zero SARS infections and being removed from the WHO's li

Underground Water Sources Found in Southwest China
Considerable amounts of underground fresh water have been discovered in southwest China, which has been hit by severe fresh water shortages, the China Geological Survey said yesterday. The daily fresh-water needs of local people in an area of about 760,000 square kilometers have so far been solved, Li Xiaowei - a public-relations officer for the organization - said yesterday. The success should be attributed to a three-year special program carried out by the survey, the executor of the country's

25 Drown in Philippines Ferry Collision
Rescue teams searched past nightfall Sunday for any remaining survivors from a ferry that collided with a much larger boat at the mouth of Manila Bay and sank. At least 25 people drowned. Search teams rescued 203 people after the 11 a.m. accident but didn't know exactly how many more they were looking for. As is common in the Philippines, the M.V. San Nicolas had far more people on board than the 193 who appeared on the passenger and crew list. Details were sketchy, but survivors and witnesses s

Southwest Water Sources Found
Considerable amounts of underground fresh water have been discovered in Southwest China, which has been hit by severe fresh water shortages, the China Geological Survey said Sunday. The daily fresh-water needs of local people in an area of about 760,000 square kilometers have so far been solved, Li Xiaowei - a public-relations officer for the organization - said Sunday. The success should be attributed to a three-year special program carried out by the survey, the executor of the country's far-r

Businesses Get a Shot in the Arm
The World Health Organization's (WHO) recent removal of SARS travel warnings for Guangdong and Hong Kong has yielded immediate results for local businesses. And Friday's dismissal of the warnings has also had a positive impact on residents. Despite heavy rainfall at the weekend, many restaurants in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong Province, enjoyed brisk trade. According to the manager of the Baiyun Hotel's restaurant, the daily business volume jumped by about 80 percent on Saturday and Sunda

Caring for Patients until the End
For the medical staff at the People's Hospital of Peking University in Beijing, 49-year-old Ding Xiulan was their role model. "Ding left the hope of life for others and kept the danger of death to herself," said Sun Ningling, director with the Department of Hypertension and vice-director with the Department of Cardiology in People's Hospital of Peking University. Ding was one of Sun's closest colleagues as both were directors and they often came together for meetings. On May 13, Ding died in Dit

President Hu Starts Visit to Russia
Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Moscow on Monday afternoon for a three-day state visit to Russia, in his first overseas trip since China's new leadership took office in March. During his stay in Russia, Hu will exchange views with Russian President Vladimir Putin on cementing bilateral ties and important international issues. He is also expected to meet Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, Chairman of Federation Council (upper house) Sergei Mironov, as well as Chairman of State Duma (

HK Airport Authority Launches Operation SkyFit to Attract Visitors
The Hong Kong Airport Authority on Sunday launched "Operation SkyFit" which is aimed at stimulating traffic and attracting travelers back to Hong Kong. The new project came two days after WHO lifted travel advisory against Hong Kong. "We believe that severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is well under control in Hong Kong and we should do the right thing to speed up the pace of recovery," said the authority's Chairman Victor Fung. The authority will launch a global advertising campaign with i

Suspected Cases Previously Isolated
Most of the newly reported suspected cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in Beijing had been monitored by health authorities before they showed symptoms, senior health officials said.
"Of the new suspected cases each day, about 70-80 per

HK Airport Authority Launches Operation
SkyFit to Attract Visitors
The Hong Kong Airport Authority on Sunday launched "Operation SkyFit" which is aimed at stimulating traffic and attracting travelers back to Hong Kong.
The new project came two days after WHO lifted travel advisory against Hong Kong. "We believe that s

Relics of First Iron Foundry Along Yangtze River Found
Archeologists have found the first relics of an iron casting workshop along the Yangtze River, dating back to the Eastern Zhou Dynasty (770 BC-256 BC) and the Qin Dynasty (221 BC-207 BC). The relics were unearthed at a highway construction site in Yaojiawan in Qiantang village of Xishui county, in central China's Hubei Province. The soil layer with numerous red pottery pieces ranges between 150 and 250 centimeters in thickness, containing debris such as molds, red soil furnace walls, cinders, bu

Xinjiang: An Integral Part of China
The Information Office of the State Council yesterday issued a White Paper on the history and development of China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. The white paper, the first about Xinjiang issued by the Chinese Government, says all ethnic groups in Xinjiang have made historic achievements since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, thanks to their concerted and pioneering efforts. Xinjiang, situated in the border area of Northwest China and the hinterland of the Eurasian Co

China's Old Melting Pot
The Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, a multi-ethnic and multi-religious region since ancient times, has been an inalienable part of China for more than 2,000 years, says a white paper issued by the Information Office of the State Council yesterday. Xinjiang, with an area accounting for one-sixth of China's total territory, has 47 ethnic groups with a population totaling 19.25 million. The white paper says that in ancient times many tribes and ethnic groups lived in Xinjiang, which is situated i

Full House for Errenzhuan
It will be another busy night for Wei San. He has three shows to present from 5 pm to 12 pm in three different places. So do his other colleagues at the Great Peace Theatre, a renowned privately-run Errenzhuan troupe in Changchun, capital of northeast China's Jilin Province. During the past three years, Wei, together with his partners, have had to present 60 to 80 performances every month. "I never thought Errenzhuan could be so charming," Wei said. "It is really amazing." Errenzhuan is a popula

Volunteers Lend Timely Harvest Helping Hand
In China's rural areas, with the summer harvest period approaching, many farmers are facing a practical problem - shortage of laborers in the fields due to the impact on the movement of people because of SARS. Tong Dequ, a farmer living in Gaotun village in Central China's Henan Province, was becoming desperately worried about the wheat in his fields. All his children were working in Guangzhou and were not able to return home to lend a hand with the harvest. It was then that a group of volunteer

Indices Climb as Tourism Sector Gains
China's shares ended higher yesterday as punters invested in tourism firms such as China Travel as SARS fears waned, brokers said. The Shanghai composite index, grouping A and B shares, climbed 8.557 points, or 0.55 per cent, to close at 1,569.512 points, while the Shenzhen sub-index also gained 25.11, or 0.72 per cent to finish at 3503.37. Hard currency B shares in China International Travel Service Co topped the gainers in Shanghai with a rise of 4.39 per cent to US$0.69. It had fallen nearly

Guangdong Vows to Boost Tourism
Southern China's Guangdong Province has drawn up plans to boost its tourist industry by resuming traveling routes both within the province and to Hong Kong and Macao in the wake of the World Health Organization (WHO)'s decision to lift the travel advisory against it over the weekend, according to a news release Tuesday. The revival of consumer confidence in the context of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is the most important thing for tourism, said Zheng Tongyang, director of the Guangd

Records Reflect Changing Times
Looking over salary records kept by his family over the last half century is a pleasurable pastime for Zhang, a retiree of Shenyang's Peking Opera Theatre. Zhang noticed how his monthly salary increased significantly during the past decades, from 25 yuan (US$3) in 1961 to 103 yuan (US$12) in 1987 and finally to 1,000 yuan (US$120) in 1998, the year he retired. The records are part of the financial archives of Zhang's family. Like Zhang, 11,136 families in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's L

Chinese President Starts Visit to Russia
Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Moscow on Monday afternoon for a three-day state visit to Russia, in his first overseas trip since China's new leadership took office in March. During his stay in Russia, Hu will exchange views with Russian President Vladimir Putin on cementing bilateral ties and important international issues. He is also expected to meet Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Kasyanov, Chairman of Federation Council (upper house) Sergei Mironov, as well as Chairman of State Duma (

WHO Experts Visit Shanghai's Entry-Exit Ports
Two experts from the World Health Organization (WHO) on Tuesday visited two international airports and a railway station in Shanghai, China's biggest business hub, to learn about the city's SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) prevention work. The experts, who will make proposals to WHO regarding the lifting of travel warnings to China, studied quarantine and health declaration procedures and the treatment of passengers with a fever or cough in Shanghai. They were told that all passengers pa

Guangdong Vows to Boost Tourism
Southern China's Guangdong Province has drawn up plans to boost its tourist industry by resuming traveling routes both within the province and to Hong Kong and Macao in the wake of the World Health Organization (WHO)'s decision to lift the travel advisory against it over the weekend, according to a news release held in Guangzhou Tuesday. The revival of consumer confidence in the context of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is the most important thing for tourism, said Zheng Tongyang, dire

Guangdong Endeavours to Turn Tourism Sector Around
Guangdong Province, the nation's top tourism earner, is again leading China as it pushes to emerge from the devastating impact of the potentially deadly SARS virus. The World Health Organization (WHO) removed Guangdong's SARS travel warnings last week, making it possible for the province's tourism sector to bounce back. "It's time to break the stalemate in the province's travel industry," provincial Tourism Administration Chairman Zheng Tongyang said Tuesday. Business at travel agencies in Guang

Doctor Ding Cares for Patients Until the End
For the medical staff at the People's Hospital of Peking University in Beijing, 49-year-old Ding Xiulan was their role model. "Ding left the hope of life for others and kept the danger of death to herself," said Sun Ningling, director with the Department of Hypertension and vice-director with the Department of Cardiology in People's Hospital of Peking University. Ding was one of Sun's closest colleagues as both were directors and they often came together for meetings. On May 13, Ding died in Dit

Guangdong Vows to Boost Tourism
Southern China's Guangdong Province has drawn up plans to boost its tourist industry by resuming traveling routes both within the province and to Hong Kong and Macao in the wake of the World Health Organization (WHO)'s decision to lift the travel advisory against it over the weekend, according to a news release Tuesday. The revival of consumer confidence in the context of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is the most important thing for tourism, said Zheng Tongyang, director of the Guangd

Shanghai Enterprises Allowed to Go Abroad for Business Despite SARS
Three business teams from Shanghai (Group) Corporation for Foreign Economic & Technological Cooperation (SCFETC) were recently given permission to travel overseas for regular trade activities despite SARS, the company said Tuesday. According to Tang Xiaojie, president of SCFETC, one of the three teams will go to Vietnam for contracts in two thermal power stations and two hydropower plants. Another will leave for Guyana to sign an agreement over the construction of a cane-sugar plant. The third w

Guangdong Plans to Boost Tourism
Southern China's Guangdong Province has drawn up plans to boost its tourist industry by resuming traveling routes both within the province and to Hong Kong and Macao in the wake of the World Health Organization (WHO)'s decision to lift the travel advisory against it over the weekend, according to a news release held in Guangzhou Tuesday. The revival of consumer confidence in the context of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) is the most important thing for tourism, said Zheng Tongyang, dire

Shanghai's Enterprises Urged to Find Deals Abroad
Shanghai Party Secretary Chen Liangyu met with representatives from local trading companies yesterday to encourage them to travel abroad to find business deals and minimize the losses caused by SARS. "The 'going out' strategy is imperative during the current situation," Chen said. "Please tell foreign clients that SARS is under control in Shanghai." Thirteen local trading companies have organized 20 delegations to travel abroad in May or June to seek business deals, according to the Shanghai For

Guangdong Vows to Boost Tourism
Southern China's Guangdong Province has drawn up plans to boost its tourist industry by resuming traveling routes both within the province and to Hong Kong and Macao in the wake of the World Health Organization (WHO)'s decision to lift the travel advisory

Three Gorges Dam to be closed for storing water June 1
A photographer shoots at the Three Gorges Dam in Yichang in central China's Hubei Province May 21. The dam gates of the Three Gorges Hydropower Project on the Yangtze River will be closed for storing water behind the dam on June 1. By June 15, the

Macao to Launch Tourism Promotion Scheme
Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) will launch a series of tourism promotion in its major tourist source markets of China's mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan starting from June to retrieve its losses triggered by the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), said a senior tourist official here Wednesday. Joao Manuel Antunes, director of the Macao Tourist Office, announced at a press conference Wednesday that Macao has made a 30million-pataca (3.6 million US dollars) budget for th

Macao to Launch Tourism Pomotion Scheme
Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) will launch a series of tourism promotion in its major tourist source markets of China's mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan starting from June to retrieve its losses triggered by the outbreak of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), said a senior tourist official here Wednesday. Joao Manuel Antunes, director of the Macao Tourist Office, announced at a press conference Wednesday that Macao has made a 30million-pataca (3.6 million US dollars) budget for th

Macao to Launch Tourism Promotion Scheme
Macao Special Administrative Region ( SAR) will launch a series of tourism promotion projects in its major tourist source markets of China's mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan starting from June to retrieve its losses triggered by the outbreak of SARS. Joao Manuel Antunes, director of the Macao Tourist Office, announced at a press conference Wednesday that Macao has made a 30 million-pataca (US$3.6 million) budget for the tourist promotion scheme with some 11.5 million patacas (US$1.3 million) to be

C. China Province Hosting Tourism Souvenir Design Contest
Central China's Hubei Province, with numerous famous scenic spots, is calling for tourism souvenir designs from both home and abroad. The province boasts a large number of natural and cultural scenic spots such as the Three Gorges, the Shennongjia Nature Reserve, Wudang Mountain, the Yellow Crane Pavilion and the historical sites of the ancient Three Kingdoms (220-280). The provincial tourism administration has launched a design contest for tourism souvenirs from April to December this year, whi

Macao to Launch Tourism Promotion Scheme
Macao Special Administrative Region ( SAR) will launch a series of tourism promotion projects in its major tourist source markets of China's mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan starting from June to retrieve its losses triggered by the outbreak of SARS.
Joa

Foreigners Can Have More Options for Lodging in Beijing
People from overseas visiting Beijing, the national capital, now have more options for lodging instead of being restricted to government-designated hotels as in the past.
Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau announced Wednesday that expatriates can

Beijing Set to Boost Tourism
Beijing, the city most badly hit by SARS, has drawn up plans to boost its embattled tourist industry by promoting new travel products and calling for co-operation with foreign cities. Yu Changjiang, director of the Beijing Tourism Bureau, yesterday said the city would invite tourism officials from other Asian cities to participate in a conference in July, during which the guests will discuss how to share tourist resources across different regions and how to work together to reinvigorate the indu

Eight Measures Taken to Curb SARS
Vice Minister of Health Gao Qiang told a press conference in Beijing Friday that over the past number of months the Chinese government has taken the following eight measures to prevent the spread of the SARS epidemic in the country. These measures are: 1. Improving health legislation and managing SARS according to law. The Chinese government included SARS in the list of notifiable infectious diseases and SARS was managed according to the law of prevention and control of infectious diseases. The

Sharon to Ease Palestinian Travel Limits
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon told Palestinian Prime Minister Mahmoud Abbas on Thursday he would ease travel restrictions on Palestinians and free some prisoners, while insisting on a swift crackdown on violent groups in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. The meeting - the second between Sharon and Abbas in two weeks - was called to discuss disagreements over security and Palestinian statehood that could complicate a three-way summit next week in Jordan with President Bush. The meeting came aft

HK to Launch Publicity Campaign via Foreign Newspapers
The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government has decided to earmark 10 million HK dollars (US$1.28 million) for publicity campaign via over 20 newspapers in a number of countries as of Friday. Mike Rowse, director of InvestHK, was quoted by the South China Morning Post as saying Friday that the publicity campaign would kick off with advertisements in more than 20 international newspapers in Australia, Singapore, Japan, South Korea, Britain and France. He said the first wave of advertis

Consumerism Hits Colleges in China
When Chinese parents remit money to their children at colleges or universities, they mainly think of their expenses for food, but the children, like Zhang Chuan at Shandong Economics Institute, would say there are many things they love to buy. Each month, Zhang, a 21-year-old girl student of international trade, receives a sum of 400 yuan (nearly US$50) from her parents, but she says the amount can only cover her food and, if anything is left, books. However, mobile phone communication, weekend

Shanghai Clinches Foreign-funded Deals
Shanghai yesterday clinched 11 overseas-funded projects worth a total of US$1.42 billion. The deals came the day after World Health Organization experts commented that the city is safe to visit, following their three-day inspection of the city's port, railway station and two airports. The Shanghai Foreign Investment Commission said the newly signed projects will mainly go to the city's suburbs and cover the electronics, chemical and pharmaceutical industries. The United States-based Hanson Techn

Beijing Set to Boost Tourism
Beijing, the city most badly hit by SARS, has drawn up plans to boost its embattled tourist industry by promoting new travel products and calling for co-operation with foreign cities.
Yu Changjiang, director of the Beijing Tourism Bureau, yesterday sai

Hubei Province Hosting Tourism Souvenir Design Contest
Central China's Hubei Province, with numerous famous scenic spots, is calling for tourism souvenir designs from both home and abroad.
The province boasts a large number of natural and cultural scenic spots such as the Three Gorges, the Shennongjia Natu

Beijing to Lift Dwelling Restrictions on Foreigners
The national capital is planning to completely lift dwelling restrictions that have been imposed on foreigners in Beijing for more than half a century. By Oct. 1, all requirements on foreigners to stay in designated hotels will be eliminated. Forei

China's Inbound Will Rebound in the Fall
By LIU CHENXING
Although SARS was virtually paralyzing China's tourism industry in the outgoing month, China's inbound arrival is expected to strongly bounce back soon after the epidemic is over. The rebound is very likely to occur in September

Domestic Tours to Resume
After almost a whole month's suspension of business, travel agencies can at last see some light at the end of the tunnel. They expect business to return to normal, though the rebound to pre-SARS levels is not expected to come in the immediate future. The China National Tourism Administration announced yesterday that the country will resume domestic travel from June and inbound tour business from July. According to the administration, from June tourists can be encouraged to travel inside their ow

No More Gorges Boat Tracking
Standing at the stern of a powerboat, Chen Zongkun, 33, only half clothed, exerts all his strength to pole the boat up the torrential Madu River, arching his back like a full bow. The onrushing streams lap heavily against the sides of the boat and the precipitous cliffs along the turbulent river. The passengers on the boat, mainly tourists from overseas or elsewhere in China, hold their breath. Chen's three young and strong partners, also just wearing shorts, bend forward and pull the boat with

WHO Official Praises Beijing's SARS Work
World Health Organization (WHO) Representative in China Henk Bekedam on Friday praised the prevention and control work on SARS carried out by the Beijing municipal government. Bekedam said Beijing was a good example of how co-operation between the United Nations specialist agency and local government ought to be conducted. "The figures are clearly going down, and it proves that the measures by the government are successful,'' Bekedam told reporters on Friday. The number of new SARS cases in Beij

SARS Unites Expatriate and Chinese Communities in Beijing
It was a Saturday afternoon in early May. As Beijing's early summer grew hot and stuffy, many local people stayed at home, protecting themselves from SARS infection. But on the second floor of 21st Century Hotel, a group of people of all ages and races gathered in a meeting room to prepare packages, and create cards and posters. The care packages, which contain foods such as cookies, muffins, instant noodles, juice, candied fruits, books and greeting cards, were destined for SARS patients and ho

Chinese Hotels to Cast off SARS Shadow after June
China's hotel industry will gradually rid itself of the shadow of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) in the second half of 2003. Experts within the hotel industry from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou spoke during a videoconference on Friday. Beijing's tourism suffered the worst blow due to SARS. Room reservation cancellations began in April, turned serious at the end of April, and reached a peak in the beginning of May. Reservation rates began to bounce back at the end of May, said Xu Jinz

Tourism to HK, Macao to Resume
South China's Guangdong Province will resume organizing tourist groups to neighboring Hong Kong and Macao next month after a SARS-enforced break of five weeks. And Beijing is preparing. The province has also lifted a ban on local residents traveling to Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand, according to Zheng Tongyang, director of Guangdong Tourism Bureau. "It is the right time to resume travel to Hong Kong as the World Health Organization (WHO) withdrew its travel-limit advisory on both Guangdong an

Domestic Tours to Resume
After almost a whole month's suspension of business, travel agencies can at last see some light at the end of the tunnel. They expect business to return to normal, though the rebound to pre-SARS levels is not expected to come in the immediate future.
T

D-Day for Three Gorges
The Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River is set to start operations on schedule, a State Council expert group announced last week. On June 1, the dam gate will close and the reservoir will start to fill. Water levels are expected to reach 135 metres by J

Tourism Recovers in Guangzhou
A tourism promotion activity was held in Guangzhou Saturday morning, indicating that the tourism sector was recovering gradually in the capital of south China's Guangdong Province. More than 300 tourists formed the first traveling group, titled "Sunshine Action--Traveling in Guangzhou". They visited Guangzhou Oceanarium, Xiangjiang Wild Animals Park, Changlong Evening Animal World and other tourist spots. A total of 600 tourists will travel around Guangzhou on Saturday. Nearly 60 local travel ag

The Lifeline Express Brings Light to Cataract Victims
It's been six years since the Honorable Mrs. Fong Wong Kut-man, or Nellie, president of the business branch of PricewaterhouseCoopers in China, started her Lifeline Express campaign in Hong Kong in 1997. She now serves as the executive president of the Lifeline Express Committee. In 1999, the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region awarded Mrs. Fong Wong the Gold Bauhinia Star. At present, she is a member of the Hong Kong Executive Council and a member of the China People's Pol

About Travel to China
Hello, We are two Canadians traveling in southeast Asia since early February 2003 (before SARS hit Canada). We are currently in Vietnam and planning to visit Yunnan province in China. Is the border open for tourists in China Is there any threat of SARS in Yunnan Should we cancel our plans and go elsewhere We already have a Chinese visa and would arrive around the 5th of June 2003. Could you please help clarify this situation Thank you. Awaiting your reply, Niko Pantazis & Catherine Ruel ----

HK Welcomes First Batch of Guangdong Tourists After WHO Lifting Travel Advisory
Hong Kong welcomes 32 groups of Guangdong tourists Sunday, the first day that receives tourists arranged by travel agencies since WHO lifted its travel advisory against Hong Kong on May 23. Since WHO issued the travel advisory on April 2, travel agencies in the Chinese mainland and overseas suspended tour services to Hong Kong. All in smaller groups, over 1,000 Guangdong tourists are payingtheir long expected visits to Hong Kong. Zhu Hua, a tourist from Meizhou City of Guangdong Province, is joi

ASEAN Praises China's Anti-SARS Quarantine Work
Quarantine officials from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Monday visited Beijing's Capital International Airport and International Travel Health Care Center, giving high praise to China's work in checking the spread of SARS. "The measures taken in China's airports, hotels and many other public places are very comprehensive and I'm very confident that the Chinese people can win the battle against SARS," said Lock WaiHan, commissioner of the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority

On a Wing and a Lens
German fashion photographer Marten von Rauschenberg is no longer content snapping pretty pics for glossy mags. Yearning to be a "real" artist, he has found Shanghai to be an ideal muse, writes Wang Jie. Boredom is something everyone has to overcome. It could be at the office, at school, or even worse, boredom with life. Photographer Marten von Rauschenberg says his tedious daily routine in Germany was no longer enough. He wanted more from life. He chose Shanghai. And he hasn't looked back. Von R

Quality Tops Priorities of Three Gorges Project
Quality control is the top priority as the massive Three Gorges Project enters its final construction phase, project head Lu Youmei told China Daily yesterday. Lu, president of the China Three Gorges Project Corp (CTGCC), the developer and owner of the Three Gorges Project, said: "Although the first two phases of the project have been successfully completed, we will take stricter measures to ensure the smooth development of the project." Lu said quality control is the company's most important, y

Passage of permanent ship lock at Three Gorges
to be free of charge
Passage of the permanent ship lock at Three Gorges Project being built at the mid reaches of the Yangtze will be free of charge, said Cao Guangjing, deputy general manager of the China Yangtze River Three Gorges Project Development Corporation, Monday.

Macao braces for second-phase SARS control: official
The discharge of the only SARS patient has ended the first phase of SARS control work in Macao, said Chui Sai On, commander of Macao's SARS taskforce, Sunday night.
Chui said that the Macao Special Administrative Region has successfully achieved the ph

Southwest China's Province Sees Comeback of Tourism
The number of tourists to the famous scenic spots of southwest China's Sichuan Province have seen a sharp rise since June 1. More and more people were going out since the province has kept a "zero" report of new cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) for over 10 days, said Cui Zhiwei, deputy director of the provincial tourism bureau. Many tourist sites in the province welcomed a good number of visitors last weekend after the travel ban was lifted, Cui said. Dujiangyan Dam, an ancient

Facing Adversity and Misreporting
Editor's Note: Adriano Madaro, a researcher on China issues and an Italian journalist, arrived in Beijing from Venice on May 24 despite SARS warnings. He gave interviews to reporters, including our staff reporter LIU LI, yesterday and talked about his experiences in the capital. Before I came to Beijing, the western media had devoted a lot of attention to the SARS situation in China and especially in Beijing, with mostly negative things to say. I did not know the real situation in Beijing at tha

Unmanned Spacecraft Blasts off for Mars
An unmanned spacecraft built by the European Space Agency blasted off atop a Russian rocket Monday on a mission to Mars, where it will orbit the planet for nearly two years and search for signs of life. The Mars Express spacecraft was launched by a Soyuz FG booster rocket from the Russian-operated Baikonur cosmodrome in Kazakhstan at 1:45 p.m. EDT, according to the agency. The space vehicle, which cost US$350 million was initially put into Earth orbit, and about 90 minutes later was given the fi

Facing Adversity And Misreporting
Adriano Madaro, a researcher on China issues and an Italian journalist, arrived in Beijing from Venice on May 24 despite SARS warnings. He gave interviews to reporters, including our staff reporter LIU LI, Monday and talked about his experiences in the capital. Before I came to Beijing, the western media had devoted a lot of attention to the SARS situation in China and especially in Beijing, with mostly negative things to say. I did not know the real situation in Beijing at that time exactly. Ho

Mainland Reports No New SARS Cases for First Time
After months of pain and struggle generated by the SARS epidemic, the Chinese mainland on Monday saw the first substantive sign of progress -- no new daily SARS cases reported for the period from 10:00 am June 1 to 10:00 am June 2. It is the first time that the Chinese mainland has had no new cases to report since the health authorities began daily reporting on April 20. The same holds true for Beijing, the city worst hit by the SARS epidemic. The municipality reported no deaths for the one-day

Foreign Businessmen Back to China
A report by Singapore's English language newspaper, The Straits Times, says foreign businessmen are trickling back to China as the SARS epidemic eases. A clear indication of this is the slight increase in room occupancy at major business hotels in Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. The Beijing Hilton Hotel saw occupancy go up from a low of 10 per cent in April to about 15 per cent late last month, although this is still a far cry from the usual 70 to 80 per cent during this time of the year. Most

Beijing Sees First Foreign Tourist Group Since SARS Outbreak
Twenty-one Australian tourists visit at the Quanjude Roast Duck Restaurant in Beijing June 2, 2003. It is the first foreign tourist group visiting the Chinese capital since the outbreak of SARS in Beijing. They arrived at Beijing on May 30.

Macao Sees Comeback of Tourism
Macao has seen a comeback of tourism, as 427 tourists from Guangdong Province arrived the Special Administrative Region (SAR) in organized tours on Sunday, a senior Macao tourist official said Monday.
The tourists were the first groups from the mainlan

Lifting of HK Travel Alert Prompts Optimistic Outlook
Businesses affected by SARS in Hong Kong have seen improvements since the World Health Organization lifted its travel advisory, said a government survey Monday.
Government economist Tang Kwong-yiu told a Legislative Council Financial Affairs Panel that

Beijing Striving to Revive Tourism
Beijing City, badly hit by SARS, has developed a package of tourism promotion schemes now that the epidemic is on the ebb quickly.
The city plans to revive local tourism sector in collaboration with 20 other Asian cities, said Yu Changjiang, director o

China Guards Against Yellow Fever from Sudan
China's quarantine officials have been put on alert for the possible entry of yellow fever from Sudan. China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine declared Wednesday all quarantine departments shall take effective measures to guard against the disease. According to the World Health Organization, Sudan has reported 178 cases of yellow fever and 27 deaths from the illness in the southeastern Torrit County, a mortality rate of 15.2 percent. People from Torrit sh

Guangzhou Strives to Limit SARS Impact
Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, has been adopting active measures to eliminate the negative impact caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) on local economy, striving to keep losses at a minimum, said Mayor Zhang Guangning. Guangzhou has been one of the worst hit areas by SARS, but thanks to strenuous efforts made in the past months, the province has successfully brought SARS under control and has recorded no new SARS cases for a consecutive half month. The Worl

SARS-Symptom-Free Certificate Required for Leaving China
People leaving China shall first obtain a formal certificate to prove they do not have any symptoms of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), according to a regulation of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ). The quarantine authority made the regulation according to the relevant law on public health in a bid to prevent international spread of the disease. SARS cases have been found in over 30 countries and regions across the world and over 100 c

WHO Specifies Condition for Removing Travel Advice for Beijing
If Beijing does not have any new cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) for 20 days, it will not be regarded as part of the affected areas by the World Health Organization (WHO), according to Wednesday's China Daily. Henk Bekedam, WHO's representative in China, said the WHO has not considered lifting the travel advisory against Beijing since the capital is still reporting new SARS cases or suspected cases most days and many patients remain in hospital. "What we want to see is the leve

Virus Study to Prove Animal Link
Further studies are needed to ensure the coronavirus that has caused the SARS epidemic in human beings is 100 percent similar to that carried by animals, said an official from the World Health Organization (WHO) yesterday. WHO's global research network pools efforts from laboratories in various countries and is striving to find all possible sources of the virus, said Alan Schnur, team leader of communicable disease control under the WHO representative office in China. He made the remarks in an e

WHO states criteria for lifting travel advisory against Beijing
If Beijing does not have any new cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) for 20 days, it will not be regarded as part of the affected areas by the World Health Organization (WHO), according to Wednesday's China Daily.
Henk Bekedam, WHO's repr

SARS-symptom-free Certificate Required for Leaving China
People leaving China shall first obtain a formal certificate to prove they do not have any symptoms of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), according to a regulation of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ). The quarantine authority made the regulation according to the relevant law on public health in a bid to prevent international spread of the disease. SARS cases have been found in over 30 countries and regions across the world and over 100 c

End of Ban Lifts Transport Links
Transport bosses in South China's Guangdong Province Saturday said they would work for the recovery of the rail, road and air sectors now that the World Health Organization has lifted its travel warning. The organization lifted its warning against travel to the province on May 23 as the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) eased. The province's transport sector experienced dramatic reductions in passenger flow in the two months before the organization's warning was lifted. Chen Z

WHO States Criteria for Lifting Travel Advisory Against Beijing
If Beijing does not have any new cases of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) for 20 days, it will not be regarded as part of the affected areas by the World Health Organization (WHO), according to Wednesday's China Daily. Henk Bekedam, WHO's representative in China, said the WHO has not considered lifting the travel advisory against Beijing since the capital is still reporting new SARS cases or suspected cases most days and many patients remain in hospital. "What we want to see is the leve

WHO: Chinese Government at All Levels Have Taken Seriously SARS Threat
It was clear that the Chinese government at all levels have taken the threat of SARS very seriously, said the World Health Organization (WHO) in a press release. WHO has sent a delegation to Hebei, Henan, Guangxi and Anhui provinces during May 8 to 25. In the press release issued Wednesday on findings after provincial visits, the organization said that with the exception of Hebei Province, there seemed to be limited local transmissions of the SARS virus. "Henan, Guangxi and Anhui have had a smal

Guangdong Cracks Down on Illegal Wildlife Trading
Forestry law-enforcement officers in south China's Guangdong Province confiscated 30,335 head of wildlife in a province-wide special operation launched to protect wild animals and prevent transmission of diseases between human beings and animals. During the operation, dubbed "green sword," officers searched 991 markets and 6,617 hotels and restaurants, and inspected motor vehicles used for trafficking wildlife. Among the seized wildlife, 15 were classified as protected, and some of the confiscat

SARS-symptom-free Certificate Required for Leaving China
People leaving China shall first obtain a formal certificate to prove they do not have any symptoms of SARS, according to a regulation of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQSIQ). The quarantine authority made the regulation according to the relevant law on public health in a bid to prevent international spread of the disease. SARS cases have been found in over 30 countries and regions across the world and over 100 countries have taken restrictive meas

Transportation Sector to Emerge from SARS Shadow Soon: Official
The transportation sector in south China's Guangdong Province will soon step out of the shadow cast by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), said Chen Zichang, deputy head of the Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Communications. Guangdong has been one of the worst hit areas by SARS, but thanks to the implementation of a host of effective prevention measures, no cases have been found to be transmitted via the medium of transportation and no incidents of traffic blockade have taken place because

The Lifeline Express: Bringing Light to Cataract Victims
It's been six years since the Honorable Mrs. Fong Wong Kut-man, or Nellie, president of the business branch of PricewaterhouseCoopers in China, started her Lifeline Express campaign in Hong Kong in 1997. She now serves as the executive president of the Lifeline Express Committee. In 1999, the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region awarded Mrs. Fong Wong the Gold Bauhinia Star. At present, she is a member of the Hong Kong Executive Council and a member of the China People's Pol

Macao Sees Comeback of Tourism
Macao has seen a comeback of tourism, as 427 tourists from Guangdong Province arrived the Special Administrative Region (SAR) in organized tours on Sunday, a senior Macao tourist official said Monday. The tourists were the first groups from the mai

SARS-symptom-free Certificate Required for Leaving China
People leaving China shall first obtain a formal certificate to prove they do not have any symptoms of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), according to a regulation of the General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine (AQS

Air China Resumes Flights
Air China has begun to resume those flights that had been canceled because of the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak.
With the outbreak largely under control and traveling picking up again, Beijing Capital Airport serviced 119 flights an

Tung welcomes lifting of CDC travel advisory on HK
The decision by the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to lift the travel advisory on Hong Kong reinforces the world's confidence in Hong Kong's ability to control the virus and curb the further spread of the disease, said Chie

WHO Expert Claims "Good Collaboration" With Beijing Authorities
World Health Organization (WHO) had "good collaboration" with the Beijing authorities, said an WHO expert here Thursday. Daniel Chin, WHO medical officer, told a news briefing that it was also the goal of WHO to "lift any kind of restrictive travel recommendations from Beijing, as well as to the rest of China," adding that the decision should be made by WHO headquarters according to certain criteria. Henk Bekedam, WHO representative to China, said the organization will soon review travel advisor

Transportation Sector to Emerge from SARS Shadow Soon: Official
The transportation sector in south China's Guangdong Province will soon step out of the shadow cast by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), said Chen Zichang, deputy head of the Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Communications. Guangdong has been one of the worst hit areas by SARS, but thanks to the implementation of a host of effective prevention measures, no cases have been found to be transmitted via the medium of transportation and no incidents of traffic blockade have taken place because

Double Safety Guarantee for Traveling to HK Sets to Revive Economy
With the United States Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) lifting the travel advisory on Hong Kong Thursday, there is now double safety guarantee for doing business and holidaying here. Hong Kong's Secretary for Commerce, Industry and Technology Henry Tang's earlier made assertive remarks at the Legislative Council recently that Hong Kong would not easily give up in the battle to win businesses even in the midst of the battle against severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Hong K

The Faces of Riverside Dwellers
Pan Yujuan (left) and Pan Guijiao of the Yao ethnic group live in a village in Longsheng County, Guilin, the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Because their hometown is located in a remote mountainous area, the elder generations lived in paddy fields, and few of them ever came out of the mountains. These two girls, however, have been to Guilin, Nanning, and other large cities. After graduating from high school, they studied livestock farming through a correspondence school, and have adopted new

WHO: Cooperation 'Excellent'
World Health Organization (WHO) officials said Thursday at a news briefing that cooperation with Beijing was "excellent'' -- despite overseas reports that the WHO is failing to receive key SARS information from China. The reports were based on information from the organization's Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) in Manila, the Philippines. "I believe such (comments) from certain WHO officers (are made) because they do not have as much information as us,'' Henk Bekedam, the WHO's representat

WHO Says Local Co-operation 'Excellent'
World Health Organization (WHO) officials Thursday said co-operation with Beijing was "excellent'' -- despite overseas reports that the WHO is failing to receive key SARS information from China. The reports were based on information from the organization's Western Pacific Regional Office (WPRO) in Manila, the Philippines. "I believe such (comments) from certain WHO officers (are made) because they do not have as much information as us,'' Henk Bekedam, the WHO's representative in China, said Thur

People Gingerly Resumes Normal Life As SARS Recedes
The number of people wearing face masks in street has visibly dropped, traffic is growing and diners in restaurants are on rise. And there is even a poster inviting people to enroll for Latin dance classes. In Taiyuan, capital of north China's Shanxi province, it seems that life is returning to normal as the threat from severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic fades away. Similar changes are also being noticed in China's other regions formerly seriously affected by SARS, including Beiji

Three Gorges Dam Shiplock to be Inaugurated June 16
China Regal Cruises Ship Takes the Lead
The Three Gorges Dam Project is now shut down storing water. The water is arising at the speed of 4-5 meters a day. By June 15, it is going to reach the preset 135 meter above sea level, which is 65 meter more from water level on May 30, 2003.
On June

End of Ban Lifts Transport Links
Transport bosses in South China's Guangdong Province Saturday said they would work for the recovery of the rail, road and air sectors now that the World Health Organization has lifted its travel warning. The organization lifted its warning against travel

Beijing Spared Sandstorms This Year
Beijing was hit by SARS but spared by sandstorms. For the first time since 1997, the Chinese capital enjoyed a spring without sandstorms, allowing people to dispense with facemasks were it not for the flu-like epidemic. Li Huang, vice-director of the State Meteorological Administration, said: "The weather conditions -- sandstorm-free in spring -- in Beijing were also good for fighting SARS." Other areas in northern China also recorded their lowest number of dusty days in five years, Li said in B

Transportation Sector to Emerge from SARS Shadow Soon: Official
The transportation sector in south China's Guangdong Province will soon step out of the shadow cast by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), said Chen Zichang, deputy head of the Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Communications. Guangdong has been one of the worst hit areas by SARS, but thanks to the implementation of a host of effective prevention measures, no cases have been found to be transmitted via the medium of transportation and no incidents of traffic blockade have taken place because

Beijing's 7 percent SARS mortality rate lower than global
average of 13 percent
As of Friday, Beijing had reported 183 SARS-related deaths, resulting in a mortality rate of seven percent, said Han Demin, executive deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau.
The average global mortality rate of the highly contagious dis

Despite Absence of New SARS Cases, Expert Warns Against Letting Guard Down
Noted Chinese contagious disease expert Zeng Guang Saturday called for continued vigilance and effective anti-SARS efforts despite the decline or absence of new SARS cases in the past few days on China's mainland. Zeng Guang, an infectious disease expert with the Beijing-basedNational Center for Disease Prevention and Control, warned that a lack of vigilance could result in a dangerous situation. Last Monday, the Chinese mainland reported no new SARS cases. It was the most significant sign of pr

University Graduates Rethink Job ¨º -hunt
To gain admission to a prestigious university is the dream of all students who take part in the college entrance exam. But a university diploma does not guarantee a job in a good profession. The slumping job market this year is prompting many college graduates to rethink their job hunting strategy. Jiang Falin is a finance major from China's top college, Peking University. Like other seniors from that university, he has been looking for a job since late last year. He knows what he wants to do, b

Expert Urges Public to Remain Vigilant
Noted Chinese contagious disease expert Zeng Guang called on Saturday for continued vigilance and effective anti-SARS efforts despite the decline or absence of new SARS cases in the past few days on China's mainland. Zeng, an infectious disease expert with the Beijing-based National Center for Disease Prevention and Control, warned that a lack of vigilance could result in a dangerous situation. Zeng said the decline of SARS cases is the result of a series of rigorous measures taken by the Chines

Group Travelers from Mainland Doubled in Macao
Some 320 organized tours brought over 1,400 tourists from the Chinese mainland to Macao Sunday, which more than doubled the figure of the previous weekend, the tourism authority said Monday. Meanwhile, the customs witnessed the fast increase of passenger flow since the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) with a total of 170,000 passengers through the Land Checkpoint of Gongbei Sunday, which links the Macao Special Administrative Region with south China's Guangdong Province. The

Kunming World Expo Garden Luring Tourists
Girls in the Yi minority's costume dance in the Kunming World Expo Garden in Southwest China's Yunnan Province during a ceremony held Sunday to start a local tourism programme. More tourism programmes are expected to follow to lure visitors from home and

Tourist City in SW China Renamed to Strengthen Tourism
Lijiang Prefecture, a popular tourist spot in southwest China's Yunnan Province, changed its name to Lijiang City on Sunday, with the approval of the State Council, China's cabinet.
The move is aimed to boost the development of the local tourism indust

Dam Water Level to Hit 135 Meters Ahead of Schedule
The water level of the Three Gorges Reservoir will reach 135 meters at about 23:00 (Beijing Time) on June 10, five days ahead of schedule, officials said Sunday.
The abundant rainfall in the reservoir area since June 2 has contributed to the level reac

A Letter from President of
China International Travel Service (CITS) Head Office
Dear Fellow Counterparts and Friends,
Allow me, on behalf of CITS Head Office, to extend our heartfelt thanks for the confidence, friendship and support you, old friends of CITS, have shown and given us in time of difficulties when the Chinese people h

First Natural Museum Under Construction in Tibet
The construction of the first natural museum in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region has begun. The new museum, covering 3,500 square meters, is located on the hillside of the well-known Rishen Mountain in west Tibet's Linzhi. "Tibet is home to more than 9,600 kinds of wild animals and plants," said Chen Jiadong, the head of Linzhi Prefecture. Affected by warm and wet airflow from the Indian Ocean, Linzhi is covered by forest and inhabited by wild animals such as Bengali Tigers, leopards an

China's Busiest Port Resumes Normal Life
Life has returned to normal at Shenzhen, China's busiest port, since World Health Organization (WHO) lifted on May 23 an advisory against travel to Guangdong province and Hong Kong to curb the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). The Shenzhen Frontier Defense Headquarters for Re-entry and Entry said that from May 23 to June 6, the flow of travelers via the port of Shenzhen was 4.52 million, with a daily average of over 300,000 travelers. During the period, 3.02 million travelers p

Heather Angel: A Recorder of Nature
Located on Wangfujing, one of the busiest commercial streets in China, the Sun Dong An Market was crowded with a flood of shoppers. In an unusually quiet corner of the market, Heather Angel, an eminent nature photographer from Britain, was holding an exhibition of her work named Natural Visions. In silence, visitors appreciated her photos of rare and endangered animals. A world famous nature photographer, Heather Angel acted as the president of the Royal Photographic Society in the 1980s. She is

Water Level of Three Gorges Reservoir to Reach Target
The water level of the huge Three Gorges Reservoir will reach its target depth of 135 meters Tuesday night, five days ahead of schedule. Sources with the Three Gorges Project Development Corporation said the filling of the reservoir is progressing well despite the appearance of some debris. Sailing boats have been heavily affected by the debris, such as rubbish and tree branches floating in the reservoir. "Their speed has been greatly slowed down by the obstacles and sometimes, the safety of the

Group Travelers from Mainland Doubled in Macao
Some 320 organized tours brought over 1,400 tourists from the Chinese mainland to Macao Sunday, which more than doubled the figure of the previous weekend, the tourism authority said Monday.
Meanwhile, the customs witnessed the fast increase of passeng

Three Gorges Dam's Water Level to Reach Target Tonight
Workers work at the permanent ship locks of the Three Gorges Project on the Yangtze River in central China's Hubei Province Monday, June 9, 2003. The ship locks are ready to store water for navigation. The water level of the huge Three Gorges Reservoir wi

Travel Agencies Sign SARS Control Agreement
More than 30 travel agencies from across the country signed a SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) control agreement Tuesday afternoon in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, in the hope of rebuilding business. The travel companies agreed to make health and safety the top priority in their dealings with tourists. The Domestic SARS Control Agreement, the first of its kind in China's tourism industry, said travel agencies must strictly abideby emergency guidelines released b

First Chinese Firm to List in Canada
Hanfeng Group, a private firm based in Dalian, is about to become the first Chinese firm to list in Canada. Hanfeng expects to raise C$45 million (US$30.70 million) through its initial public offering (IPO) in Vancouver, on the Canadian Venture Exchange. The IPO will be launched this week. Hanfeng on Friday will issue 30 million shares at C$1.50 (US$1.02) per share. The Vancouver and Alberta stock exchanges merged in late 1999 to form the Vancouver-based Canadian Venture Exchange. Most of the 2,

WHO to Inspect Beijing for Current SARS Situation
A senior expert on infectious diseases from the World Health Organization (WHO) will start a two-day visit to Beijing Wednesday to investigate the current state of the SARS outbreak in the Chinese capital. His visit is to see whether it is appropriate to lift the WHO travel warning on Beijing. David Heymann, the WHO executive director for communicable diseases, will meet officials and experts from the Ministry of Health this morning. He will also meet WHO experts based in China, health ministry

ASEAN+3 Issue Action Plans on SARS
The health ministers from the 10-member ASEAN and China, Japan and South Korea issued a joint statement Tuesday evening after their meeting in Cambodia's northwest provincial city of Siem Reap, furthering the region's efforts to combat the spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). A framework action plan, adopted by the ministers, highlighted four priority areas such as guidelines for international travel; ASEAN SARS containment information network; capacity building for outbreak alert

Foreign Ministry Refutes 'Blocking' Claims
Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan yesterday refuted reports that the Chinese mainland has blocked Taiwan's efforts to get an early lifting of its SARS travel warning from the World Health Organization (WHO). "Such reports are groundless, irresponsible and so much as having ulterior motives and making mischief," Kong told a regular press briefing. "We sincerely hope that the WHO lifts its warning against travel to Taiwan as soon as possible according to its progress in controlling the severe a

WHO Top Communicable Disease Official on China Tour for SARS Control
Top World Health Organization (WHO) communicable disease official David Heymann arrived on Wednesday morning to work in cooperation with Chinese government SARS prevention authorities. During the two-day trip, Heymann, WHO's Executive Director on Communicable Diseases, is expected to confer with the Chinese Ministry of Health (MOH) about the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) outbreak in the country and discuss its future plans, said a WHO press release. Other members of the team, noted th

Foreign Ministry Refutes 'Blocking' Claims
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan Tuesday refuted reports that the Chinese mainland has blocked Taiwan's efforts to get an early lifting of its SARS travel warning from the World Health Organization (WHO). "Such reports are groundless, irresponsible and so much as having ulterior motives and making mischief," Kong told a regular press briefing held in Beijing. "We sincerely hope that the WHO lifts its warning against travel to Taiwan as soon as possible according to its progress in co

Travel Agencies Sign SARS Control Agreement
More than 30 travel agencies from across the country signed a SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) control agreement Tuesday afternoon in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, in the hope of rebuilding business. The travel companies agreed to make health and safety the top priority in their dealings with tourists. The Domestic SARS Control Agreement, the first of its kind in China's tourism industry, said travel agencies must strictly abide by emergency guidelines released

Signs of Recovery Shown for China's Tourism Industry
China's tourism industry, one of the country's economic sectors victimized by the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) disease, has begun to pick up since the beginning of June as the epidemic has been on decline and is disappearing. The National Tourism Administration (NTA) has decided to re-open the domestic tourism market gradually following the World Health Organization's (WHO) lifted its tourism advisory against Guangdong province on May 23. The NTA also decided steadily to resume the w

Signs of Recovery Shown for China's Tourism Industry
China's tourism industry, one of the country's economic sectors victimized by the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) disease, has begun to pick up since the beginning of June as the epidemic has been on decline and is disappearing. The Nation

Travel Agencies Sign SARS Control Agreement
More than 30 travel agencies from across the country signed a SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) control agreement Tuesday afternoon in Guangzhou, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, in the hope of rebuilding business.
The travel compani

HK International Airport Chosen as World's Best Airport
The Hong Kong International Airport was chosen as "the 2003 Airport of the Year", the third consecutive year for the airport to score the achievement, according to a survey results released Tuesday. The Skytrax Airport of the Year Survey, undertaken by Sk

Park Bids for UNESCO Listing
The Three Parallel Rivers National Park in southwest China's Yunnan Province has applied to join the United Nations World Heritage list. If the honor is bestowed, it will become the 29th Chinese property to have joined the World Heritage List. Sources with the Chinese National Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) confirmed yesterday the park will be the only Chinese candidate submitted to the 27th Session of the World Heritage Committee, sch

Guangdong Most Attractive to Foreign Investment: Official
South China's Guangdong Province would remain the country's most attractive destination for foreign investment despite SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome), Vice-Governor You Ningfeng said in Guangzhou Wednesday. He made the remarks during his information briefing with managers from the world's top 500 companies in the province. You said Guangdong enjoyed advantages in fields like its gross domestic product (GDP), manufacturing industry, market potential and its overall investment environmen

WHO: SARS Information Offered by China Complete
A senior World Health Organization (WHO) official told a press briefing in Beijing Thursday that SARS-related information offered by China was "informative and complete". The useful information on severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) offered by China during his two-day tour reflected China's efforts in controlling the disease, Dr. David Heymann, WHO executive director for communicable diseases, said at the joint press briefing hosted by the Chinese Ministry of Health and WHO. Five SARS-hit C

Amazing views of Three Gorges Reservoir after water storage

Water flows through water diversion holes of the Three Gorges Dam on the Yangtze River June 11, 2003. Some 10 water diversion holes were opened to release water.

Growth of China's Tourism Unavoidable: CNTA Director
China's tourism industry will overcome the difficulties caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) with the country's vast social, economic and cultural resources, said He Guangwei, director of the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA).

Beijing Receives 18,000 Overseas Tourist Arrivals in May
China's capital city Beijing received 18,000 tourists from abroad in May, a year-on-year drop of 93.9 percent, said the Statistics Bureau of Beijing Wednesday.
Among the 18,000 tourists from overseas, 15,000 were foreigners, down 94.1 percent from last

Ministry of Health Press Release on SARS
The Press Office under the Ministry of Health published Thursday afternoon a press release on the latest SARS situation on the Chinese mainland.
From 10:00 am June 11 to 10:00 am June 12, the Chinese mainland reported no new diagnosed SARS case, 67 pat

FDI Growth Slows in May: MOFCOM Statistics
Growth in China's use of foreign direct investments (FDI) slowed in May compared with the first four months of 2003 due to the mid-April SARS outbreak, according to the latest statistics from the Ministry of Commerce. But the actual inflow of FDI still grew 39.47 percent from the previous May to US$5.45 billion, although it was down from the first four months year-on-year growth rate of 51.03 percent. More obvious is the negative effect of SARS (sever acute respiratory syndrome) on China's contr

Blazing the Tea-horse Trail
Few people driving along the paved highway from Ya'an in southwestern Sichuan to Tibet notice a dirt road that forks off near a bridge 4 kilometers from the county seat of Tianquan. About three hours' drive southwest of the Sichuan capital Chengdu, the dirt road leads to a secluded village called Ganxipo, or Sweet Brook Slope. While today's travelers overlook Ganxipo, many in the past used the village as a stopover on the ancient tea-horse trade route. Heavily ladened porters used to trek throug

China Makes Paper with Ore Powder
Paper mills in China have succeeded in turning out high-quality paper with ultra-fine ore powder, which is being used to serve as a substitute for pulp wood. Southwestern Yunnan Province, the first region in China to experiment with the new source of material in paper-making, has turned out thousands of tons of paper with wollastonite as the base material. And paper mills in western Shaanxi and Sichuan provinces and Shandong Province in east China have also followed suit. With advanced grinding

Who Says SARS is Benign
Despite huge impact of SARS on industries like tourism, aviation, catering and retail, official statistics show that China registered a h