China Tourism

China Tourism

Tourism in Hangzhou Recovers
Hangzhou, capital of East China's Zhejiang Province, is committed to becoming a modern international tourist city, a top tourism official said yesterday.
Despite the impact of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) in the first half of the year, the

Maglev Announces Service Expansion
Starting early next month, the Shanghai Maglev Line, the world's first magnetically levitated train in commercial use, will begin regular daily transportation, a Shanghai Maglev Transportation Development Co official told Shanghai Daily yesterday.
"We

Happy Life of China's First Island Owner
I have a bed on the island, describes Wang Shuchun, a picture of China's moneyed property class. "I can have meetings in Beijing in the morning and go fishing by my yacht on the sea in the afternoon." Departing from the shores of Shenzhen, in south China's Guangdong Province, a yacht is running full speed across big waves and in high winds. After 20 minutes, it arrives at Sanmen Island. Located in the east of Shenzhen City where Dapeng Bay and Daya Bay meet, Sanmen Island covers a

Saudi Arabia Lists Top 26 Terror Suspects
Saudi Arabia issued the names and photos of its 26 most wanted terrorist suspects and increased protection around Western housing compounds in the capital Saturday as the United States upgraded its security warning, restricting its diplomats' movements. The new US warning ordered embassy and consulate staff not to leave the heavily guarded diplomatic quarters in Riyadh and other cities, except for essential duties. The steps came days after the United States and Britain warned that

Overseas Travel Cost to Soar in Spring Festival
Prices of overseas travel are predicted to increase by 1,300 yuan (US$157) on average in the coming Spring Festival holiday, and travel itineraries with special features might be a hit, the Labor Post reported today. "Although the air-carriers haven't announced their airfares for the Spring Festival holiday, our overseas travel costs are predicted to increase by 1,300 yuan," said Wang Fang, manager with the outbound department of Jinjiang Tours Ltd. During the National Day holiday,

Macao's Tourism Likely to Approach Carrying Limit in 3 Years
Macao's tourism carrying capacity will approach its maximum limit in three to four years, according to an official survey disclosed on Friday. Entrusted by the Macao Secretariat for Social and Cultural Affairs, the Macao Institute of Tourism Study conducted the tourism evaluation program based on tourism industry statistics as well as perceptions of residents and tourists on the quality of life and traveling experiences in Macao while taken consideration of the city's environmental, socia

Premier Says China Supports UN Reforms
China supports reforms of the United Nations and will enhance its relations with the international body, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in New York Sunday. "We support UN reforms with the hope that through reforms, the United Nations could better bring into play its authority and role," Wen told reporters after his meeting with UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan. "We hope that through the reforms, the United Nations would be more representative of the interests of the people througho

China Not to Tolerate Splitting Taiwan from Motherland: Premier
Premier Wen Jiabao on Sunday warned the separatist forces within the Taiwan authorities not to attempt to split the island from its motherland, saying the Chinese government will never tolerate such a move. "We understand the aspiration of people in Taiwan for democracy. However, the essence of the problem now is that the separatist forces within the Taiwan authorities attempt to use democracy only as a cover to split Taiwan away from China. This is what we will never tolerate," Wen told

Trade, Taiwan to Be Highlighted in Talks
Premier Wen Jiabao headed for New York Sunday to start his four-day official visit to the United States. Wen's trip is of great significance, since it will be an important event in bilateral relations this year, Yang Jiechi, the Chinese ambassador to the US, said on the eve of the visit scheduled for December 7-10, the Agency reported. Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing talked on the phone with US Secretary of State Colin Powell on Friday evening. Powell said US President

Macao's Tourism Likely to Approach Carrying Limit in 3 Years
Macao's tourism carrying capacity will approach its maximum limit in three to four years, according to an official survey disclosed on Friday.
Entrusted by the Macao Secretariat for Social and Cultural Affairs, the Macao Institute of Tourism Study cond

Overseas Travel Cost to Soar in Spring Festival
Prices of overseas travel are predicted to increase by 1,300 yuan (US$157) on average in the coming Spring Festival holiday, and travel itineraries with special features might be a hit, the Labor Post reported today.
"Although the air-carriers haven't

'Invisible' View of Forbidden City
As the hub of political power during China's last two feudal dynasties, the Forbidden City epitomized the glory of the ancient empire.
It's both a sparkling gem of traditional Chinese architecture and an enduring testament to the culture of human histo

New Airport Extends Links to Panzhihua
An Airbus A320 landed at the Panzhihua Airport at 9:15 am on Saturday after a 70-minute flight from Chengdu, the provincial capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province.
Although relatively short, the journey was significant, said Party chief Zhang Ch

Premier Wen Meets Henry Kissinger
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held separate talks in New York Monday with former US Secretary of State Henry Kissinger, New Jersey State Governor James McGreevey and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg. Wen, who flew in on Sunday on a four-day official visit to the United States, told Kissinger that the China-US relations have forged ahead amid ups and downs since the icy relations between the two nations started to thaw more than 30 years ago. This came only as a result of the unremitting effo

Bangkok to Redevelop Famous Chinatown District
Bangkok's famous Chinatown district is set to take a new look as part of plans by the Bangkok Metropolitan Administration (BMA) to beautify the capital to promote tourism.
Phichai Chaophochapanich, director of the BMA Town Planning Office, was quoted b

Tibetan Performance Staged in Bangkok
China's Tibetan culture week troupe staged it's final, but most magnificent, performance in Thai capital, Bangkok on Monday.
Vice-Chairman of the Tibet Autonomous Region Pelma Trile delivered a speech before the performance. He said the exchange of cul

Shanghai Set for Subway Screens
Some subway stations in the city will soon be equipped with imported platform screen door systems to curb numerous accidents, according to a local construction company.
The first set of full screen systems, including 80 screen doors, have been outfitte

Japanese Youth Feast on Traditional Chinese Culture
A delegation of some 100 Japanese students have begun an exchange tour in China's capital city, aimed at getting a deeper understanding of China and the Chinese culture.
On Sunday, the delegation had a busy day visiting the exchange center of Chinese a

Spring Season to See Over 1.7 Billion Road Passengers
The Chinese Ministry of Communications forecast that over 1.7 billion passengers will travel by bus and coach during the coming spring season travel period. A ministry official said the figure was 3 percent more than that of last year. Starting from Jan. 7, 2004, the coming peak travel season in China will end on Feb. 15. During the period, about 26 million persons will be expected to travel by waterways, said the ministry. A total of 1.89 billion passengers are expected to

US President Holds Welcome Ceremony for Chinese Premier
US President George W. Bush held a 19-gun salute welcome ceremony Tuesday for visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao before the two leaders held talks at the White House. At about 9:50 a.m. local time, national anthems of China and the United States were played on the White House South Lawn while 19 salute guns were fired just several hundred meters away. Under a clear winter sky, Premier Wen walked down from the platform together with President Bush to review the guard of honor.
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China, US Gain from Peaceful Coexistence: Premier
Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in Washington Tuesday that both China and the United States have gained from peaceful coexistence, and lost from conflicts. He said that over the past 32 years since China and the United States renewed contact in 1972, the two countries have benefited tremendously from bilateral cooperation, despite twists and turns. At the time the Shanghai Communique was issued in 1972, trade between China and the United States was virtually zero and "now,

Spring Season to See Over 1.7 Billion Road Passengers
The Ministry of Communications forecast that over 1.7 billion passengers will travel by bus and coach during the coming spring season travel period. A ministry official said the figure was 3 percent more than that of last year. Starting from Jan. 7, 2004, the coming peak travel season in China will end on Feb. 15. During the period, about 26 million persons will be expected to travel by waterways, said the ministry. A total of 1.89 billion passengers are expected to travel b

Hotel Concerned Over Service Quality
Hilton International is cautiously expanding its business in China in a bid to guarantee customers can receive good services while keeping the chain of hotels profitable to the owners.
"Our consistent aim is making people feel confident to trust Hilton

Airline Sets Five New Enterprises
China Southern Airlines announced Tuesday the formation of five new subsidiary companies which will offer new consolidated operations and marketing management.
According to Yan Zhiqing, president of China Southern Air Holding Co (CSAH), the venture's p

Village Preserves Ancient Art Form
Athousand-year-old art form is not only alive, but thriving in Central China.
Beizhuang is a folk art form popular among the people of Zhenxidian Village, Songxian County in Central China's Henan Province. Passed down from generation to generati

Spring Season to See Over 1.7 Billion Road Passengers
The Ministry of Communications forecast that over 1.7 billion passengers will travel by bus and coach during the coming spring season travel period.
A ministry official said the figure was 3 percent more than that of last year. Starting from Jan

Sina to Acquire Online Travel Company
Sina Corporation announced recently that it has entered into a definitive agreement to acquire Fortune Trip, an online hotel booking company based in Shanghai. After the acquisition, Sina expects Fortune Trip to become a cornerstone of its expanded effort into E- Commerce. In the past five years, China has seen a rapid growth in its economy. Along with this growth, its travel industry has expanded dramatically experiencing a 12.9% compounded annual growth from 1998 through 2002. Ac

Online Travel Service Gets Boost
Chinese travelers will see cheaper and better travel services as major online travel service operators strive to promote their business with huge capital in hand. Ctrip.com, a Shanghai-based online hotel, air ticket and holiday service provider, said yesterday that it would use a significant sum of the proceeds -- from its initial public offering (IPO) on the NASDAQ stock market in New York on Tuesday via the Cayman Island-registered Ctrip.com International -- to greatly improve services.

HK Department of Health Confirms Imported Cholera Case
Hong Kong's Department of Health reminded the public to be on guard against cholera and food-borne infection Wednesday following the confirmation of an imported cholera case. A 24-year-old woman developed diarrhea in Thailand on Dec. 6. She sought medical treatment twice at Tuen Mun Hospital on Dec. 7 and 8, and was admitted to Tuen Mun Hospital on Dec. 9. She is now in stable condition. As she joined a tour to Thailand during the incubation period, the case is classified as import

Online Travel Service Gets Boost
Chinese travelers will see cheaper and better travel services as major online travel service operators strive to promote their business with huge capital in hand. Ctrip.com, a Shanghai-based online hotel, air ticket and holiday service provider, said yesterday that it would use a significant sum of the proceeds -- from its initial public offering (IPO) on the NASDAQ stock market in New York on Tuesday via the Cayman Island-registered Ctrip.com International -- to greatly improve services.

Forging a New Chapter in Sino-African Friendship and Cooperation
By Li Zhaoxing The Second Ministerial Meeting of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum will be held in December 2003 in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa. This is a significant event in the history of Sino-African friendship, as it carries forward the past and opens the way into the future. Sino-African friendship has a long history. Friendly contacts and exchanges between China and Africa date back to the second century BC In 762 Tang Dynasty explorer Du Huan traveled to Egypt, the

Guangdong Plans 6-day Visa-free Visit for Foreigners
Foreign tour groups visiting Hong Kong and Macao are expected to be granted six-day visa-free access to the Pearl River Delta beginning next year.
This was decided at the Guangdong-Macao Joint Conference on Tuesday. Guangdong will allow foreign

Ancient Chinese Papers Aim for "Memory of the World"
The northeastern China province of Liaoning hopes to contribute a set of six ancient official documents to the United Nations "Memory of the World" program.
The papers, still largely legible despite missing a few characters, were drafted in 714 AD, the

Clue Found to Uncover Gunpowder Invention
Chinese archeologists have found a large ancient saltpeter manufacturing base which they believe was used to manufacture gunpowder over 1,000 years ago.
A team of archaeologists discovered last month a network of caves at the Laojun Mountain in southwe

Rail Ferry to Carry Passengers Soon
The train ferry named "Guangdong-Hainan Rail 1," which links Hainan Island to mainland, will begin carrying autos and individual passengers in the upcoming spring peak transport period (Jan. 7 to Feb. 15, 2004). The program was recently approved by the Mi

All White on the Night
Are you dreaming of a white Christmas In China, there's one sure way to guarantee it: head north. Far north! Most of Heilongjiang Province is covered by thick snow from early November through to the following April. China's northeastern outpost boasts stunning, untouched natural scenery including lush Siberian pine forests, exotic wild animals, unpolluted rivers and a dreamlike snowscape. Despite the freezing temperatures, winter can be a good time to visit the provi

Clash of the Titans in Beijing
The Pharaohs' world versus the ancient Apennines Peninsula -- which are you most interested in It does not really matter at the moment as art lovers are able to enjoy two grand exhibitions entitled "Approaching the Pyramid" and "Dawn of Rome," which are being shown in Beijing. They feature the cultural relics of the two glorious civilizations -- ancient Egypt and the pre-Roman Etruscan. The former, which runs until January 5 at the National Museum of China, east of Tian'anmen Squa

On Horseback in Wuxi
Although having never ridden a horse on the open prairie, I fell in love with horses when watching the American movie, "Legend of the Fall". In that touching movie, the hero Tristan (played by Brad Pitt) often rode a horse, his long hair flying in the wind. Fascinated by Brad's appearance on horseback, I was eager to share the experience of galloping on a sturdy horse. So when my friends asked me to go riding with them, I agreed without hesitation. Disappointingly, it began to rain

Folk Opera Brings Old Hero to Life on Stage
Besides Peking Opera, known as the "national opera," China boasts more than 360 local styles of opera, of which about 50 enjoy great popularity.
Without exaggeration, a foreign visitor can enjoy at least one local opera wherever he travels. Spec

Sea World Carnival to Greet X'mas
A Christmas carnival will be held in the Sea World plaza and bar street at Shekou on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24.
The carnival is being organized by China Merchants Real Estate (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd. and Tian'an Honglong Industrial Development Co. Ltd.

Shangri-La to Open in Zhongshan
China's largest luxury hotel group will open its second hotel in Guangdong in January 2004.
Shangri-La Hotel, Zhongshan, the first five-star hotel in the city, is set in landscaped gardens close to the local government offices, 15 minutes from the Zhon

More Flights for Festival
Shenzhen Airlines and China Southern Airlines will both increase the number of flights during the traditional Chinese New Year period.
The two airlines are responsible for most of the passenger transport between Shenzhen and other Chinese cities.

Domestic Air Fares About to Climb
The nation's civil aviation authorities have allowed domestic airlines to raise economy fares for domestic routes starting on Monday to offset the impact of jet fuel price hikes. First-class and business fares should be set at 150 percent and 130 percent, respectively, of economy class prices, according to a notice released on Friday by the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC), the watchdog of the industry in China. Children and baby's fares will be set at 50 pe

Rejoicing in Yushu Meadow
Saikang Monastery lies at the foot of the holy Gadojuewu Mountain in Yushu Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Qinghai Province. It is site of the Living Buddha enthronement ceremony, when a reincarnated Living Buddha takes over from the previous incarnation

Domestic Air Fares About to Climb
The nation's civil aviation authorities have allowed domestic airlines to raise economy fares for domestic routes starting on Monday to offset the impact of jet fuel price hikes.
First-class and business fares should be set at 150 percent and 130 perce

Test of New Chinese Training Plane Successful
The first test flight of a new type of training plane, dubbed the Shanying (Mountain Eagle), proved successful Saturday. The test flight was carried out at the airport of the Shuangyang Aircraft Manufacturing Plant, in this capital of Guizhou Province. The aircraft, designed and manufactured completely in China, is to be used for training third-generation fighter plane pilots. In addition, the training plane can easily be turned into a fighter plane if necessary, according t

Israel Expects China to Do More in Mideast Peace Process
Israeli President Moshe Katsav has expressed hope that China would use its influence to make more contributions to the Mideast peace process. China "has very good relations with the Arab world. I hope China to contribute positively to the relations between Israel and Arab world," Katsav said. Katsav made the remarks during an interview with Chinese journalists at his presidential office in West Jerusalem last Monday before he leaves for China for an official visit on Saturday eveni

Museum Gets Green Accolades
Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan, southwest China's Sichuan Province, is the third tourism destination in China to be granted the Green Globe 21 certificate. Located in Canberra, Australia, Green Globe sets the global bench mark for certification of environmentally-friendly tourism sites. Certification is based on Agenda 21 -- principles for sustainable development endorsed by 182 countries and regions from around the globe during the United Nations Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992.

Airfares Rise by 3 Percent
Ticket prices for flights departing Shenzhen will rise by 3 percent starting Monday to offset the impact of jet fuel price hikes. The new policy followed an announcement by the national civil aviation authorities allowing airlines to raise the air fuel surcharge by 14 percent up from 11 percent. But the Shenzhen branch of China Southern Airlines said they would not change fares to Xiamen and Nanning and continue to provide discounts for group passengers. First-class and business fa

New Airport in Inner Mongolia Operational
A new airport has been put into use in Wuhai City, in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, north China, making this remote place more accessible to outsiders. The airport, which cost 145 million yuan (about US$17.46 million) to build, is part of the government's efforts to speedup the development in the poverty-stricken areas in the western part of the country. Hainan Airlines operates flights between Wuhai and Beijing on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. All the flights w

Domestic Air Fare to Be Raised
China's civil aviation authorities have allowed domestic airlines to raise economy fares for domestic routes starting Monday to offset the impact of jet fuel price hikes. First-class and business fares should be set at 150 percent and130 percent, respectively, of economy class prices, reported Saturday's China Daily, quoting a notice released by the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China, the watchdog of the industry in China. Children and baby's fares will be set at 50

Museum Gets Green Accolades
The Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan, southwest China's Sichuan Province, is the third tourism destination in China to be granted the Green Globe 21 certificate. Located in Canberra, Australia, Green Globe sets the global bench mark for certification of environmentally-friendly tourism sites. Certification is based on Agenda 21 - principles for sustainable development endorsed by 182 countries and regions from around the globe during the United Nations Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992.

Museum Gets Green Accolades
The Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan, southwest China's Sichuan Province, is the third tourism destination in China to be granted the Green Globe 21 certificate. Located in Canberra, Australia, Green Globe sets the global benchmark for certification of environmentally friendly tourism sites. Certification is based on Agenda 21 - principles for sustainable development endorsed by 182 countries and regions from around the globe during the United Nations Rio de Janeiro Earth Summit in 1992.

Museum Gets Green Accolades
Sanxingdui Museum in Guanghan, southwest China's Sichuan Province, is the third tourism destination in China to be granted the Green Globe 21 certificate.
Located in Canberra, Australia, Green Globe sets the global bench mark for certification of envir

Liaoning People Welcome Tours to Common People
More and more people have accepted going on a sightseeing tour. If the tourism expenditure is acceptable, people will be more delighted. At present, Liaoning Tourist Bureau has pushed forward a series of activities named "Liaoning common people's living t

New Airport in Inner Mongolia Operational
A new airport has been put into use in Wuhai City, in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, north China, making this remote place more accessible to outsiders.
The airport, which cost 145 million yuan (about US$17.46 million) to build, is part of the g

Villagers Demand Recognition as Terra-cotta Warriors' Discoverers
Three villagers in northwest China are claiming the right to be officially recognized as the discoverers of the famous terra-cotta warriors guarding the tomb of Emperor Qin Shihuang of the Qin Dynasty (221-206B.C.), according to local media.
The farmer

Two More Overseas Tourists Wounded at Accident Back Home
A Malaysian couple injured at a road accident during their travel in southwest China's Sichuan Province on Oct. 29 left China for home by air Monday afternoon. As of Monday, only one tourist from Malaysia had been in hospital for treatment in Chengdu, capital of the province. According to the Sichuan People's Hospital, the Malaysian who suffered from fracture has received surgery operation and now is recovering. A 42-member tour group was traveling to scenic spots in northwestern S

8 More African States Become Approved Destinations for Chinese Tourists
The Chinese government will grant eight more African countries the status of approved destination for outbound Chinese tourists, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said in Addis Ababa on Monday. Wen made the announcement at the opening ceremony of the Second Ministerial Conference of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum. The eight African countries are Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tunisia, Seychelles, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mauritius. "To step up our tourism cooperation with Africa, China

Calls to Curb Cross-border Human Trafficking
It's a sensitive topic local government officials and police are reluctant to discuss. Yet it's a reality no one in the border areas of southwestern China's Yunnan Province can deny. Evidence includes a newly built two-storey house that stands out among the rows of traditional black-roofed bamboo structures in Manlai Village of Menghai County in Xishuangbanna. The house was built with money Yu Lian (not her real name) saved during her four-year work stint in Malaysia along with that of he

Eight More African States Become Approved Destinations
The Chinese government will grant eight more African countries the status of approved destination for outbound Chinese tourists, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said Monday. Wen made the announcement at the opening ceremony of the Second Ministerial Conference of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in Addis Ababa. The eight African countries are Tanzania, Ethiopia, Kenya, Tunisia, Seychelles, Zambia, Zimbabwe and Mauritius. "To step up our tourism cooperation with Africa, China wi

China to Grant Some African Countries Tariff-free Treatment for Export
The Chinese government will grant some African countries tariff-free treatment for their exports to China, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing announced in Addis Ababa at the Second Ministerial Conference of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum on Monday. "China has decided to exempt import tariffs for certain commodities of these countries so as to facilitate their entry into the Chinese market. Negotiations to this end will begin in 2004," the Chinese foreign minister said. The me

Go Shopping in Hong Kong
An estimated 2 million tourists are expected to visit Hong Kong around the Christmas and New Year holidays. In addition to sightseeing, shopping is another inevitable activity.
Hong Kong¡¦s retail sectors have spared no effort in creating a festive atmo

China Tibet Culture Week Wraps up in Thailand
In Thailand, many lucky Thais have become much more knowledgeable about Tibetan culture. This comes as "China Tibet Culture Week" came to a close in the Thai capital city of Bangkok over the weekend.
The Chinese Ambassador to Thailand, Wang Tingai, sai

Civil Aviation Contributes to Development of Northeast Region
Liaoning plays an important role in the development of the old industrial base of the northeast region. As the window of Shenyang and Liaoning, Shenyang Taoxian International Airport implemented reform and enhanced comprehensive service ability of the air

Foreign Parents and Their Adopted Chinese Babies
Statistics show that foreign families have adopted more than 50,000 Chinese abandoned babies since the 1990s, and the number keeps rising. Foreign-related adoption not only helps release the burden of Chinese orphanages, but also gives family love to these children. The Lissicks and their two Chinese daughters In most cases, a couple decides to adopt a child because they are eager to have a baby but cannot have one of their own. But the situation in the Lissicks family is qu

Bamboo Forest Gets Eco-tour Rating
The Southern Sichuan Bamboo Sea (forest) in Yibin in southwest China's Sichuan Province yesterday was listed as a world-class bamboo reserve. It is also the fourth tourism destination in China to be granted the "Green Globe 21" certificate, according to Richard Hooper, managing director of Green Globe. Located in Canberra, Australia, Green Globe sets the global benchmark for certification of environmentally friendly tourism sites. Certification is based on Agenda 21 - which embodies the p

'China's Hawaii' Vies to Rival Phuket & Bali
Rising out of the South China Sea between Guangdong and Vietnam, the island of Hainan was for centuries dubbed the "land's end." Its isolation from the Chinese heartland made Hainan one of China's poorest and most backward regions - until 1989, it did not even own a single taxi. Since then, however, it has undergone a swift transformation that has vaulted its profile in the nation's consciousness. This process continues today as Hainan, now a province in its own right, seeks to leverage its boun

Civil Servants Get Pay Raise
The central government's recent decision to raise the basic salaries of public servants was a right choice to stimulate the country's consumption demand, economists say. China's public servants, who have complained of being poorly paid for a long time, will get a much fatter pay packet January 1, 2004. Their raises, ranging from 30 to 300 yuan (US$3.60-36) a month, will be retroactive from July 1 this year. This is the third time the government has raised the salaries of pub

Civil Servants Get Pay Raise
The central government's recent decision to raise the basic salaries of public servants was a right choice to stimulate the country's consumption demand, economists say. China's public servants, who have complained of being poorly paid for a long time, will get a much fatter pay packet January 1, 2004. Their raises, ranging from 30 to 300 yuan (US$3.60-36) a month, will be retroactive from July 1 this year. This is the third time the government has raised the salaries of pub

'China's Hawaii' Vies to Rival Phuket & Bali
Rising out of the South China Sea between Guangdong and Vietnam, the island of Hainan was for centuries dubbed the "land's end." Its isolation from the Chinese heartland made Hainan one of China's poorest and most backward regions - until 1989, it did not

New Year Food in Hot Demand
As Chinese New Year draws closer, it is becoming more and more difficult to reserve tables at hotels or restaurants in major cities across the country.
Tired of preparing and enjoying new year dinner at home, more and more Chinese are now getting used

6.78 Mln People Expected to Cross Land Checkpoints in
Coming Holidays
The Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region's (HKSAR) estimated that about 6.78 million people will cross the land boundary checkpoints to and from the Chinese mainland during the coming Christmas and New Year holidays, an in

Tour Costs Soar
People planning overseas tours during the Spring Festival are advised to sign up as soon as possible as prices for overseas tours will soar a record average of 40 percent.
The increase rate is 20 percent more than last year and the highest ever, accord

Lufthansa to Start Flights from Guangzhou to Munich
Lufthansa German Airlines announced Wednesday that Guangzhou will be its fourth Chinese destination from Feb.1, 2004, after Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Lufthansa will launch five weekly return flights between Guangzhou and Munich via Shanghai, bringing to 31 its number of flights from Chinese cities each week. Lufthansa's Airbus A340-300 aircraft will depart Guangzhou every day except Friday and Sunday at 20:35, arriving in Munich at 06:15 the next day. The return flight leave

CNTA, Visa Sign Global Tourism Promotion Agreement
The China National Tourist Administration (CNTA) and Visa International signed a five-year agreement here Wednesday to jointly promote tourism in China. From January 1, 2004, they will jointly promote tourism in China internationally, including travel to the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games. A leading corporate sponsor of the Olympics, Visa, together with the CNTA, will launch a series of marketing and promotional activities on China's attractions in return for a monopoly on payment serv

Saddam Hussein Facts
Here is a brief list of facts about former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein: Name: Saddam Hussein al-Tikriti Birth: April 28, 1937 near Tikrit, Iraq Parents: The son of peasants. Raised by both his widowed mother and her second husband and Hussein's uncle, Khairallah Talfah, an army officer Official family: Married to his first cousin, Sajida Khairallah Talfah, since 1963. Children: Two sons, Uday and Qusay (both deceased), and three daughters Unofficial family: Sec

Great Wall Rampart Ruined in Hebei Province
A survey team was stunned when they saw a 14-meter-long breach at an undeveloped section of the Great Wall in northern China's Hebei Province. The breach, along with two newly-repaired ramparts, is part of the planned Hongyu Villa project by Qian'an city and Qinglong Manchu Autonomous County of the province. The Great Wall at Hongyukou section dates back to the imperial Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The age-old big and solid bricks removed from the Great Wall rampart were put as

Lufthansa to Start Flights from Guangzhou to Munich
Lufthansa German Airlines announced Wednesday that Guangzhou will be its fourth Chinese destination from Feb.1, 2004, after Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong.
Lufthansa will launch five weekly return flights between Guangzhou and Munich via Shanghai, bri

China Invests in Tibetan Relics Protection
The Chinese government has earmarked more than US$40 million to fortify and preserve three major historical sites in Tibet. The money is being spent on the Potala Palace, the Norpu Lingka Palace and the Sakya Monastery.
The Potala Palace and the Norpu

CNTA, Visa Sign Global Tourism Promotion Agreement
The China National Tourist Administration (CNTA) and Visa International signed a five-year agreement here Wednesday to jointly promote tourism in China.
From January 1, 2004, they will jointly promote tourism in China internationally, including travel

Great Wall Rampart Ruined in Hebei Province
A survey team was stunned when they saw a 14-meter-long breach at an undeveloped section of the Great Wall in northern China's Hebei Province.
The breach, along with two newly-repaired ramparts, is part of the planned Hongyu Villa project by Qian'an ci

1 Million People Vote for Top 8 Scenic Spots
About 1 million people had lodged votes to choose the eight most popular scenic spots in Shenzhen by Dec.15 when the ballot ended.
The Shenzhen tourism bureau said the figure took into account paper ballots, Internet polls and mobile phone short messag

China to honour ancient navigator who came to India in 1405-07
China will launch a series of programmes to commemorate admiral Zheng He who commanded seven historic overseas voyages, including one to India about 600 years ago, the state media reported on Wednesday. The celebrations will run into 2005, and end with a grand memorial conference in July that year. A number of exhibitions, seminars, quiz contests, lectures and summer camps will be organised, Xinhua news agency reported in Beijing. The state-run China Central Television plans to shoot a do

Guangdong Plans 6-day Visa-free Visit for Foreigners
Foreign tour groups visiting Hong Kong and Macao are expected to be granted six-day visa-free access to the Pearl River Delta beginning next year. This was decided at the Guangdong-Macao Joint Conference on Tuesday. Guangdong will allow foreign tour groups of at least three people to visit the Pearl River Delta for up to six days without a visa, officials from the province told the conference in Macao. The foreign tourists must be from a country which has diplomatic ties wit

Beauty Pageant Benefits Sanya Tourism
The finals of Miss World 2003 has benefited the tourism of Sanya, a tropical resort city in China's Hainan Province. The city hosted a record high of 377,000 overnight tourists in Nov. 2003, up 25.58% year-on-year and 20.83% over October. Tourism income in the month totalled RMB 333 million yuan (USD 40 million), up 20.65% from the corresponding period last year.

Rail Ferry to Carry Passengers Soon
The train ferry named "Guangdong-Hainan Rail 1," which links Hainan Island to mainland, will begin carrying autos and individual passengers in the upcoming spring peak transport period (Jan. 7 to Feb. 15, 2004). The program was recently approved by the Ministry of Communications. With 630 seats in its passenger cabin, the train ferry is able to load thirty 55-ton vehicles. The service of "Guangdong-Hainan Rail 1" has been limited to handling freight trains since it was put into use

Spring season to see over 1.7 billion road passengers
The Ministry of Communications forecast that over 1.7 billion passengers will travel by bus and coach during the coming spring season travel period. A ministry official said the figure was 3 percent more than that of last year. Starting from Jan. 7, 2004, the coming peak travel season in China will end on Feb. 15. During the period, about 26 million persons will be expected to travel by waterways, said the ministry. A total of 1.89 billion passengers are expected to travel b

Ancient Egyptian Treasures Attract Visitors in Beijing
Some 1,000 visitors queued for tickets Friday morning, braving chilly weather in Beijing, China's capital, outside the National Museum where a collection of ancient Egyptian treasures was on show. The 143 Egyptian treasures items worth some US$260 million include the Bust of Akhnaten, the Statue of the Cobra Goddess, the Relief of Ramses II Smiting Enemies, and the Pyramidion of Ptahenia. The oldest item dates back 5,000 years and the most recent comes from the Ptolemy Dynasty, whi

Domestic Air Fares About to Climb
The nation's civil aviation authorities have allowed domestic airlines to raise economy fares for domestic routes starting on Monday to offset the impact of jet fuel price hikes. First-class and business fares should be set at 150 percent and 130 percent, respectively, of economy class prices, according to a notice released on Friday by the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC), the watchdog of the industry in China. Children and baby's fares will be set at 50 pe

Tibet hosts more tourists
Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, dubbed "the roof of the world," hosted 915,945 tourists inthe first 11 months of this year, up 8.3 percent over the same period of last year. Information from the regional statistics bureau said that Tibetearned a record 1.01 billion yuan (about 122.55 million US dollars)from tourism from January to November, up 6.5 percent. Overseas tourists made up 49,845, down by 61.6 percent, while domestic tourists totaled 866,100, a rise of 21 percen

Italian Police Uncover Massive Red Brigades Weapons Cache
A huge weapons cache containing around 100 kilograms (220 pounds) of explosives and 200 detonators has been uncovered during a raid on a house belonging to the Red Brigades, the country's most feared extremist movement, Italian police said. Documents and equipment described by investigators as of "major importance" were also discovered. Investigating magistrates Franco Ionta and Pietro Saviotta said the raid was decisive blow to the Red Brigades, adding they estimated they had disc

'One Country, Two Systems' Leads to Macao's Success
Macao's four-year practices of the Chinese principle of "one country, two systems" have proved that the policy guarantee is the mainstay of Macao's development, Macao's Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah said Saturday. Delivering a speech at a banquet held by the Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) government to mark the fourth anniversary of the establishment of the Macao SAR, Ho said that the Macao people experienced an extraordinary period of social and economic development over t

Adding to the New Year Sparkle
She was just one small young woman in an enormous crowd a dozen years ago when she, a foreign student pursuing an MBA degree in the US, first experienced the excitement of an "Apple Countdown" as the New Year began in New York's Times Square. And on the eve of the coming New Year as tens of thousands of Shanghainese stream into Shanghai's Times Square to enjoy splendid performances by pop stars and to share heart-felt feelings with their loved ones, while screaming at the top of their lun

HK's Victoria Harbor Decorated by Dazzling Lights
The Victoria Harbor of Hong Kong, famous for its night scenery, will become more attractive with dazzling lights as the Christmas, New Year and traditional Chinese Spring Festival are coming.
A preview of "A Symphony of Lights," a new tourism project,

Three " Golden Weeks " Planned for 2004
Chinese people will continue to enjoy three "Golden Week" holidays next year.
The three week-long holidays are scheduled for the Spring Festival in late January, the Labor Day in May, and the National Day in October. The golden week holidays wer

Ancient Tomb Findings Stun Archaeologists
The finding of ancient tombs which may take up a total area of 1 million square meters in southern Beijing has surprised many archaeologists.
Exploration of the first group of the graves, covering an area of around 200,000 square kilometers, has alread

Hometown Fame Fuels Tourism
Many local people in Shaoshan, Central China's Hunan Province, Mao's hometown, are beneficiaries of the charisma of Chairman Mao.
Su Miaogong, a native of Shaoshan and director of the Shaoshan Fengyuan Tourism Co Ltd, purchased 40-year operation rights

Grand Theater to Further Diversify Style of China's First Avenue
If all goes as planned, sometime next autumn, Beijing's Chang'an Avenue, an area of architectural history spanning 600 years, will herald an unusual egg-shaped French-designed Grand Theater, further adding to its diversity.
The talk surrounding the bui

More statistics confirm mainland importance to Hong Kong
SURGING mainland tourists will spend US$7.5 billion in Hong Kong next year, up a third on this year. That is a full two per cent of the territory's GDP, according to a study by the investment company CLSA. The company tips at least 12 million visitors to Hong Kong from the rest of China, a 20 per cent jump on this year. The startling figures are caused by relaxation of travel and foreign currency restrictions from September 1. The figures lead financial analysts to predict a real n

Pageants Make up for Loss in SARS Crisis
The tourism income of Sanya, a coastal resort city in Hainan Province, totaled 2.55 billion yuan (US$310 million) in the first 11 months of the year, 0.91 percent year-on-year increase. The tourist industry of Sanya suffered heavy losses due to the SARS outbreak in the mainland. But the beauty pageants staged in the city in the rest half of the year, especially the Miss World 2003, helped to make up for the loss. A chief with the local tourism administration estimates that the total touri

Let's go to China's biggest biological peacock garden
A peacock crossbred by green and blue peacocks strolls in the Yunnan Peacock Garden in the suburb of Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, Dec. 17. More than 1,100 peacocks of four kinds and 200 jungle fowls are bred in the garden, China's biggest biological one which was opened on Dec. 17.

New Year food in hot demand
As Chinese New Year draws closer, it is becoming more and more difficult to reserve tables at hotels or restaurants in major cities across the country. Tired of preparing and enjoying new year dinner at home, more and more Chinese are now getting used to eating outside. In Shanghai, many hotels in downtown areas were already fully booked-up two months before the Spring Festival in late January. This is despite the fact that the price of a ten-person dinner can be as high as

Dalian assesses star-level public toilets
Dalian, a tourist city in northeast China's Liaoning Province, is listening to the complaints of visitors, and establishing a star rating system for its public toilets. The unusual step was prompted by tourists complaining of the scarcity, poor quality and poor sanitation of public rest rooms, said Gao Qing, director of planning section of the local tourism department. City managers picked out 85 public rest rooms in tourism spots for the scheme, the first city in China to do so.

Tour costs soar in Shenzhen
People planning overseas tours during the Spring Festival are advised to sign up as soon as possible as prices for overseas tours will soar a record average of 40 percent in Shenzhen. The increase rate is 20 percent more than last year and the highest ever, according to travel agencies. However, travelers to European countries will be happy to learn that there will be no great increase in the cost. An 8-day tour to Germany will cost 9,800 yuan (US$1,180), only 800 yuan more than no

Great Wall Rampart Ruined in Hebei Province
A survey team was stunned when they saw a 14-meter-long breach at an undeveloped section of the Great Wall in northern China's Hebei Province. The breach, along with two newly-repaired ramparts, is part of the planned Hongyu Villa project by Qian'an city and Qinglong Manchu Autonomous County of the province. The Great Wall at Hongyukou section dates back to the imperial Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The age-old big and solid bricks removed from the Great Wall rampart were put as

Lufthansa to Start Flights from Guangzhou to Munich
Lufthansa German Airlines announced Wednesday that Guangzhou will be its fourth Chinese destination from Feb.1, 2004, after Beijing, Shanghai and Hong Kong. Lufthansa will launch five weekly return flights between Guangzhou and Munich via Shanghai, bringing to 31 its number of flights from Chinese cities each week. Lufthansa's Airbus A340-300 aircraft will depart Guangzhou every day except Friday and Sunday at 20:35, arriving in Munich at 06:15 the next day. The return flight leave

Accor plans China growth for Ibis
ACCOR Asia Pacific is planning to accelerate the growth of its Ibis brand in Asia to meet growing demand from budget-conscious business travellers. The company's Asia-Pacific managing director, Mr Michael Issenberg, said in Bangkok yesterday Accor would open an Ibis in Tianjin in January, in Chengdu towards the end of next year, and in Xingdao in 2005. The brand has been successfully established in Indonesia where we have eight Ibis properties and the time is now right for us to de

US Zoo Names Chinese Panda Cub "Mei Sheng"
The San Diego Zoo in the U.S. state of California has announced the name of its new panda cub. It is Mei Sheng, which means " Born in the United States." It can also mean "Beautiful Life" in Chinese. The head of the zoo's giant panda team says the four month old male panda serves as a symbol of continued advancement for giant panda conservation and research. Mei Sheng's name was selected by the China Conservation Wildlife Association. The cub's parents were len

Museums Free to Public in Zhejiang
The eastern province of Zhejiang has decided to offer free admission to its 105 State-run museums starting next year. The eastern province of Zhejiang has decided to offer free admission to its 105 State-run museums starting next year. The Zhejiang Provincial Museum, which ranked the first in the province in terms of collections and number of visitors, will be the first to be free to the public. All other State-run museums and memorial halls will stop charging entrance fees

Bamboo Carving in Qing and Ming Dynasties
Bamboo Carving, a traditional Chinese art form, emerged in the Ming dynasty. This article takes a look at this industry in Ming and Qing dynasties. Bamboo carving originated in the south China's Huizhou City, which is famous for its 'four carvings' - brick, stone, wood and bamboo carving. The bamboo carvings in particular embody local characteristics. However, all the articles have their distinctive character. The bamboo strips used to write on during the Warring States period were the fo

What spurs China
As a receiver, China is expected to overtake France as the world's most popular tourist destination in 2020. As a source, China is expected to be just as mighty. KEVIN SINCLAIR looks at the mechanics that will make all of this come true, not just hype. As China heads towards the Year of the Monkey, the nation's travel and tourism industries are planning intently for the Year of the Rat. The capital is being transformed largely on the basis of its role of host of the 2008 Olympics Games.

World Heritage Conference to Be Held in China
The imbalance of global distribution of world heritage sites will be discussed next June in the city of Suzhou in east China's Jiangsu Province. The imbalance of global distribution of world heritage sites will be discussed next June in the city of Suzhou in east China's Jiangsu Province. Participants from more than 100 countries will discuss and approve sites to be added to the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization world heritage list. It will be

Bamboo Forest Gets Eco-tour Rating
The Southern Sichuan Bamboo Sea (forest) in Yibin in southwest China's Sichuan Province yesterday was listed as a world-class bamboo reserve. It is also the fourth tourism destination in China to be granted the "Green Globe 21" certificate, according to Richard Hooper, managing director of Green Globe. Located in Canberra, Australia, Green Globe sets the global benchmark for certification of environmentally friendly tourism sites. Certification is based on Agenda 21 - which embodies the p

Ancient Cliff Paintings Found in Inner Mongolia
Chinese archeologists have found a group of cliff paintings in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region that they believe are more than 2,000 years old. The 100-odd paintings were found on rocks in a deep valley dubbed "ghost valley" in the Urad Middle Banner bordering Mongolia, according to North China News, a newspaper based in Hohhot, capital of the autonomous region. Some paintings feature images of animals -- cattle, sheep and dogs, and others tell how the ancient northe

HK Aims to Boost Tourism with Improved Service
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) officially launched the "Quality Tourism Services" Scheme (QTS Scheme) Enhancement Friday to further raise overall service standard and visitors' confidence, especially in the areas of dining and shopping in Hong Kong. Hong Kong's Financial Secretary Henry Tang said at a launching ceremony that the scheme will not only offer visitors better services and protection but also reinforce Hong Kong's international image and reputation for quality services.

Mainland and HK sign tourism agreement
The Chinese mainland and Hong Kong closer tourism cooperation agreement was signed here Friday, signifying closer tourism cooperation and exchange between the twosides. The documents were signed by the Director of the China NationalTourism Administration, He Guangwei, and Hong Kong's Secretary forEconomic Development and Labor, Stephen Ip. After the signing ceremony Ip said that the agreement marked a milestone in the development of the tourism industries for both the mainland and

China Invests in Tibetan Relics Protection
The Chinese government has earmarked more than US$40 million to fortify and preserve three major historical sites in Tibet. The money is being spent on the Potala Palace, the Norpu Lingka Palace and the Sakya Monastery. The Potala Palace and the Norpu Lingka Palace are the traditional winter and the summer residences of the Dalai Lama, the Buddha incarnate in Tibet. The Sakya Monastery is renowned for its many sutra manuscripts. But the passage of time and the changing environment

US Iraq Debt Envoy to Visit Asia
Special US presidential envoy on Iraq debt James Baker will visit Asia later this week to seek reduction of Iraq's 120 billion US dollar foreign debt, the White House announced Monday. "Special presidential envoy James Baker will travel to Japan, South Korea and China (on) Dec. 27th through 30th to discuss reduction of Iraq's official debt," spokesman Scott McClellan said at a news briefing. McClellan said that Baker, who is leaving on Dec. 27, will meet the leaders of the Japan an

Second 'Chinese Bridge' Language Competition Lowers the Curtain
The annual Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students, also known as "Chinese Bridge" Competition, which is sponsored by the China National Office for Teaching Chinese as a Foreign Language (NOCFL), has closed. The semi-final competition was held in Shanghai from December 15 to 16. All the contestants came to Beijing and 16 of them entered the final. The final competition was held on December 21 in Starlight Television Studio in Beijing . Eight linguistic e

World Heritage Grottoes Site to Be Upgraded
North China's Shanxi Province is investing 100 million yuan (US$12.09 million) to improve infrastructure and environment around the Yungang Grottoes, built more than 1,500 years ago.
The Yungang Grottoes were included in the World Heritage list in 2001

Porcelain Patent Pirates Pay Piper
Known as China's porcelain capital for its marvelous craftsmanship, Jingdezhen city is taking companies to court to safeguard its reputation and to protect its patents.
"Laws are the best weapons to protect Jingdezhen's intellectual property rights," s

Fifth Airshow China Scheduled in Nov. 2004
Yang Liwei, China's first astronaut, is expected to show up at the Fifth Airshow China, the organizing committee announced Monday.
The show will be held from November 1 to 7, 2004, in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province. Giant aviation and space companie

Nation Signs New Air Traffic Agreements with 12 Nations This Year
China signed new air traffic agreements with 12 nations in 2003, including Austria, Australia, the Netherlands, France and Japan.
China opened the fifth air traffic rights this year, which helped to reduce the high demand for exports in some cities, sa

Shenyang Well-prepared for Upcoming Lantern Show
It is Chinese tradition to enjoy lanterns displays during the Spring Festival. It is no exception this year. Recently it is learned from relative office that the preparation for the forthcoming lantern show now is underway.
This is Nanhu Park in Shenya

Three Gorges to Witness Travel Surge in Spring Festival Period
During the upcoming Spring Festival, about 680,000 passengers will travel by ship on China's longest river, the Yangtze River, according to resources with the Ministry of Communications Tuesday. The period will be the first travel surge for the Three Gorges after the permanent ship lock, the world's largest, was built. The increasing number of migrant workers going home will challenge the capacity of shipping companies along the river. According to the Yangtze River shipping

Dalian Anbo Hotspring-Ski Resort
Anbo Hot Springs Tourism and Vacation Zone gained its attraction by an newly launched outdoor skiing park recently. Anbo Hotspring-Ski Resort is located at Anbo Pulandian, 15km to Dalian. So Dalian residents can access to the natural skiing site and experience the fantabulous skiing adventure in their neighborhood. Anbo Hotspring-Ski Resort is the first outdoor skiing park in south Liaoning Province with 30 billion RMB funds by a Japanese enterprise. It takes over 100 mu and boasts

Market to Determine Airfares
China's civil aviation authority will allow competition in the air travel industry and gradually ease controls on airfares, a senior official said Tuesday. Yang Yuanyuan, director-general of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC), said it would open air routes to competition as part of reform measures in 2004. Yang was speaking at a national working conference on the civil aviation industry in Beijing. The CAAC has allowed certain discounts but airlines

Residential Buildings Among Mountains and Rivers
The encyclopedia defines that civilian residential houses refer to buildings for people to live in except palaces and government offices. In the Three Gorges area, few ancient civilian residences with cultural value have been left and most of them were bu

Luxury Cabs for City
Fifty Mercedes-Benz cabs will be added to the city's streets by the upcoming Lunar New Year, according to Shanghai's largest transportation operator.
Dazhong Transportation (Group) Co Ltd said there are no plans to raise fees for the luxury taxis. Curr

Key Problem in Protecting Terra-cotta Warriors Resolved
Chinese researchers said recently that they had found ways to preserve color of the terra-cotta warriors in the tomb of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor to unify China.
"The key problem in protecting the warriors was resolved, " said Wu Yongqi, curator

Air China to Open New Asian Flights
Air China plans to open new flights to Asia at the beginning of next year in order to meet growing demand.
As of January 9, Air China will launch flights from Chongqing via Shanghai to Nagoya. A Boeing 737-800 airplane will take off from Chongqing at 7

Shenyang Forest Park Ready for New Year
The snowy days of the southern China is coming, in order to meet the demand of the tourists, Shenyang National Forest Park, in northeastern China's Liaoning Province, has already made full preparations to welcome the ice and snow festival. In winter, the trees and mountains in Shenyang National Forest Park are beautiful with the decoration of the snow. It is learnt in the park, the working personnel are busy preparing for the ice and snow festival. As a branch site of the ice and snow festival,

Shenyang Well-prepared for Upcoming Lantern Show
It is Chinese tradition to enjoy lanterns displays during the Spring Festival. It is no exception this year. Recently it is learned from relative office that the preparation for the forthcoming lantern show now is underway. This is Nanhu Park in Shenyang, capital of northeastern China's Liaoning Province. In these two years citizens are used to enjoying lantern shows in Nanhu Park. This year it once again becomes one of the 5 sites for the 2nd Shenyang Spring Festival Lantern Show. At pre

Fifth Airshow China Scheduled in Nov. 2004
Yang Liwei, China's first astronaut, is expected to show up at the Fifth Airshow China, the organizing committee announced Monday. The show will be held from November 1 to 7, 2004, in Zhuhai, Guangdong Province. Giant aviation and space companies and institutions like Boeing, European Aeronautic, Defense and Space Company, and aircraft companies from Israel, Brazil and Russia will participate in the fair, according to the organizing committee. Aviation and space industry associatio

Porcelain Patent Pirates Pay Piper
Known as China's porcelain capital for its marvelous craftsmanship, Jingdezhen city is taking companies to court to safeguard its reputation and to protect its patents. "Laws are the best weapons to protect Jingdezhen's intellectual property rights," said Hong Kemin, presiding judge over intellectual property rights at the Jingdezhen City Intermediate People's Court in eastern Jiangxi Province. "It is undoubtedly a life-or-death war for Jingdezhen to revive its glory against patent infrin

World Heritage Grottoes Site to Be Upgraded
North China's Shanxi Province is investing 100 million yuan (US$12.09 million) to improve infrastructure and environment around the Yungang Grottoes, built more than 1,500 years ago. The Yungang Grottoes were included in the World Heritage list in 2001. The improvement project consists of three phases: construction and improvement of infrastructure; demolition and removal of unsightly buildings from scenic areas; and tree planting at the scenic site. The Yungang Grottoes, 16 kilome

Where the Silk Road meets the sea
Specialists conducting research on Silk Road sections passing through the provinces of Guangdong and Guangxi have discovered the place where the ancient land route connected to the ocean path. This is the first time research has been carried out on the subject of connections between land roads and sea paths. The study started in a county of Guangdong province, called Huaiji. Experts from Guangdong province first spent two years gathering material and doing preliminary investigation work.

Beijing sings Olympic tune
The 2008 Olympics may still be five years away, but China's capital city has already got the highly£­anticipated sports meeting off to a rolling start. In its latest announcement on Drc.22, the Beijing Olympics Organizing Committee unveiled the country's first seven Olympic songs. The performance opened with the song "A Rendezvous of Hearts". The first seven Olympic songs are the best from hundreds of tunes received by the Organizing Committee from April to late October. Over the past mont

Largest Mongol genealogy listed in ancient archive
The genealogy of a Mongol family related to the descendants of the great Mongol Emperor Genghis Khan has been included in China's list of ancient archives. The eight-meter-long document of Tulin Gujen's family lists 14 generations with over 1,900 Mongols, most of whom served as high-ranking officials, from 1635 to the early 1900s, said Zhao Yunpeng, deputy head of the Liaoning Provincial Archives. The genealogy, the largest ever found, is kept at the archives of Harqin Left Wing Mo

China Mulls Opening Aviation Market to Private Investors
The aviation industry regulator is considering further opening the country's potentially huge aviation sector to private investment. The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) will accelerate reforms to the regulation of domestic capital in the civil aviation industry, Yang Yuanyuan, CAAC director-general, said at a national work meeting on aviation. Yang said the country would further relax restrictions on issuing licenses for the management of domestic flights,

Nation Signs New Air Traffic Agreements with 12 Nations This Year
China signed new air traffic agreements with 12 nations in 2003, including Austria, Australia, the Netherlands, France and Japan. China opened the fifth air traffic rights this year, which helped to reduce the high demand for exports in some cities, said Yang Yuanyuan, director general of the Civil Aviation Administration of China. He said that China formally signed an aviation agreement for the first time with Iceland this year, and renewed agreements with Ethiopia and Nepal. Chin

Key problem in protecting terra-cotta warriors resolved
Chinese researchers said recently that they had found ways to preserve color of the terra-cotta warriors in the tomb of Qin Shihuang, the first emperor to unify China. "The key problem in protecting the warriors was resolved, " said Wu Yongqi, curator of the Qing Shihuang Terra-cotta Warriors and Chariots Museum. Dubbed one of the eight wonders in the world, and the most splendid archeological find of the 20th century, the Qin Shihuang tomb was accidentally discovered in 1974 by lo

Rules Make Overseas Trips More Convenient
Starting next year, reforms for entering and leaving China will help citizens travel abroad and allow foreigners to invest and travel more easily in China, public security officials said yesterday. For most Chinese, heading on trips abroad still sounds like an ordeal requiring them to go through complicated procedural red tape. However, the icy situation was broken two years ago when Beijing, Shanghai and some other big cities decided to issue passports if citizens apply for them.<

Christmas Holidays Popularity, Profit Grows
Last night on Christmas Eve, 36-year-old Australian Simon Pollock, a former journalist with Kyodo News in Beijing, said he felt nothing special. "I have noticed Christmas decorations on buildings, in shops windows and even on the heads of restaurant waitresses,'' he said. "However, it is just another day for me.'' As far as the non-Christian is concerned, Christmas is a good time for family reunion but has no significant meaning with his family far away back in Australia. As

Rules Make Overseas Trips More Convenient
Starting next year, reforms for entering and leaving China will help citizens travel abroad and allow foreigners to invest and travel more easily in China, public security officials said on Wednesday. For most Chinese, heading on trips abroad still sounds like an ordeal requiring them to go through complicated procedural red tape. However, the icy situation was broken two years ago when Beijing, Shanghai and some other big cities decided to issue passports if citizens apply for the

Air China Expects Full-year Profits
China's flag carrier Air China has reported a profit of 170 million yuan (US$20.48 million) in the first 11 months of the year. Industry insiders say it lays a solid foundation for the company to earn a full-year profit, though its business has been dented in this spring by the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome. The airline, which operates the most international flights among carriers on the Chinese mainland, is among the latest domestic firms trying for an initial public offe

Air China Expects Full-year Profits
China's flag carrier Air China has reported a profit of 170 million yuan (US$20.48 million) in the first 11 months of the year. Industry insiders say it lays a solid foundation for the company to earn a full-year profit, though its business has been dented in this spring by the outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome. The airline, which operates the most international flights among carriers on the Chinese mainland, is among the latest domestic firms trying for an initial public offe

Rules Make Overseas Trips More Convenient
Starting next year, new reforms for entering and leaving China will help citizens travel abroad and allow foreigners to more easily invest and travel in China, public security officials said Wednesday. For most Chinese, heading on trips abroad still sounds like an ordeal requiring them to go through complicated procedural red tape. However, the icy situation was broken two years ago when Beijing, Shanghai and some other big cities decided to issue passports if citizens requested th

Christmas Holidays' Popularity, Profit Grows
Last night on Christmas Eve, 36-year-old Australian Simon Pollock, a former journalist with Kyodo News in Beijing, said he felt nothing special. "I have noticed Christmas decorations on buildings, in shop windows and even on the heads of restaurant waitresses," he said. "However, it is just another day for me." As far as the non-Christian is concerned, Christmas is a good time for family reunion but has no significant meaning with his family far away back in Australia. Asked

Christmas Popularity Grows in Beijing
Last night on Christmas Eve, 36-year-old Australian Simon Pollock, a former journalist with Kyodo News in Beijing, said he felt nothing special. "I have noticed Christmas decorations on buildings, in shop windows and even on the heads of restaurant waitresses," he said. "However, it is just another day for me." As far as the non-Christian is concerned, Christmas is a good time for family reunion but has no significant meaning with his family far away back in Australia. Asked

Air China Expects Full-year Profits
China's flag carrier Air China has reported a profit of 170 million yuan (US$20.48 million) in the first 11 months of the year. Industry insiders say it lays a solid foundation for the company to earn a full-year profit, though its business has been dente

Lid to Come off Aviation Service Market
China will slowly pry open its aviation service market and air transport sector in the coming year, a senior official with the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) has revealed.
CAAC Director Yang Yuanyuan made the remark during thi

Relocation to Make Way for Great Wall
In an unusually large programme to protect the Great Wall and old buildings nearby, half the residents are to be moved out of Shanhaiguan, an ancient city located at the east end of the wall, the so-called head of the great dragon of architecture, one of

Christmas Holidays' Popularity, Profit Grows
Last night on Christmas Eve, 36-year-old Australian Simon Pollock, a former journalist with Kyodo News in Beijing, said he felt nothing special.
"I have noticed Christmas decorations on buildings, in shop windows and even on the heads of restaurant wai

Prehistoric Oriental 'Venus' Carved on Cliff Discovered
A figure of a pregnant woman carved into a cliff, known as a prehistoric oriental "Venus", the Goddess of love, has been discovered by Chinese archaeologists in Zhongwei county, northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The "Venus" has a plump figure, full breasts and a bulbous belly. The woman, standing straight with her legs together, has slender fingers but no facial features. The image was a typical reproduction of figures of naked women carved on stone by ancients in th

Luxury Cabs for City
Fifty Mercedes-Benz cabs will be added to the city's streets by the upcoming Lunar New Year, according to Shanghai's largest transportation operator. Dazhong Transportation (Group) Co Ltd said there are no plans to raise fees for the luxury taxis. Currently, Shanghai cabs charge 10 yuan (US$1.2) for the first three kilometers and two yuan for each additional kilometer. Local media have reported that the new cabs may charge passengers a premium, but industry officials denied that, c

Dalian Anbo Hotspring-Ski Resort
Anbo Hot Springs Tourism and Vacation Zone gained its attraction by an newly launched outdoor skiing park recently. Anbo Hotspring-Ski Resort is located at Anbo Pulandian, 15km to Dalian. So Dalian residents can access to the natural skiing site and experience the fantabulous skiing adventure in their neighborhood. Anbo Hotspring-Ski Resort is the first outdoor skiing park in south Liaoning Province with 30 billion RMB funds by a Japanese enterprise. It takes over 100 mu and boasts

Rui'an to Host Martial Art Gathering
The city of Rui'an in east China's Zhejiang Province will for the first time in its history host an international martial arts congress from Dec.25 to 27. According to Zhejiang Sports Bureau, some 1,000 martial arts lovers from China and over 50 from countries like France and Germany are participating in the event, which is titled "Zhejiang International Traditional Martial Arts Congress & Zhejiang Traditional Martial Arts Competition." Organizer says that the oldest participant of

10,000 pledge to protect wildlife
More than 10,000 residents of Kunming, capital of Southwest China's Yunnan Province, have signed their names on a streamer, pledging to protect wildlife and the environment, reports Chuncheng Evening News. Initiated by the provincial forest-preservation department, the campaign also saw 50 chefs taking an oath to refuse cooking animals or plants on the country's protected list. One more streamer, about 100 metres long, had to be added to the original - which was 50 metres long - be

Beijing kicks off construction of Olympic venues
Construction of the National Stadium and the National Swimming center, two of the main venues for the 2008 Olympic Games, started on Wednesday, launching a three-year building project for the games. With an investment of 3 billion yuan (US$360 million), the National Stadium, known as "bird's nest" because of its giant lattice-work structure of irregularly angled metal girders, will be the centerpiece of the 2008 Games. The 80,000-seat National Stadium, located in the south of the O

Three Gorges to Witness Travel Surge in Spring Festival Period
During the upcoming Spring Festival, about 680,000 passengers will travel by ship on China's longest river, the Yangtze River, according to resources with the Ministry of Communications Tuesday. The period will be the first travel surge for the Three Gorges after the permanent ship lock, the world's largest, was built. The increasing number of migrant workers going home will challenge the capacity of shipping companies along the river. According to the Yangtze River shipping

Market to Determine Airfares
China's civil aviation authority will allow competition in the air travel industry and gradually ease controls on airfares, a senior official said Tuesday. Yang Yuanyuan, director-general of the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC), said it would open air routes to competition as part of reform measures in 2004. Yang was speaking at a national working conference on the civil aviation industry in Beijing. The CAAC has allowed certain discounts but airlines

Air China to Open New Asian Flights
Air China plans to open new flights to Asia at the beginning of next year in order to meet growing demand. As of January 9, Air China will launch flights from Chongqing via Shanghai to Nagoya. A Boeing 737-800 airplane will take off from Chongqing at 7:30 every Tuesday, Friday and Sunday and reach Nagoya at 13:20. It will take off at 14:30 from Nagoya and return to Chongqing at 19:00. Also From January 9, Air China will open flights from Beijing via Xiamen to Jakarta. The Boeing 73

Three Gorges Tour to Bring 20 Billion Yuan Annually
The Three Gorges Dam Project will bring unprecedented tourist promotion and revenue though some of the famous tourist attractions will have to vanish inevitably, said Liu Deqian, professor at the Institute of Tourism of Beijing Union University and also the vice president of Beijing Tourism Association. Liu said that over 77 percent of famous scenic spots in the world are around water. But people now find it difficult to enjoy such fine scenery due to shortage of water and water pollution

Individual HK Tour Accessible to Guangdong Residents
All Guangdong residents will be eligible to visit Hong Kong as individuals by the middle of next year, Chinese-language media reported Wednesday. Huang Ziqiang, director-general of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office in Guangdong, told newspapers late Tuesday that the scheme would be extended to all of Guangdong in two batches over the next six months. "The rest of the province's 13 cities will be opened (to the individual travel scheme) in two batches," Huang said. The s

Jiuzhaigou Becomes a Winter Wonderland
The Fourth South China Ice and Snow Festival will be held in Jiuzhaigou, a famous scenic area in southwest China¡¦s Sichuan Province, from January to March.
The festival is aimed at promoting winter tourism in Sichuan, said Wang Rongxuan, deputy chief o

Individual HK Tour Accessible to Guangdong Residents
All Guangdong residents will be eligible to visit Hong Kong as individuals by the middle of next year, Chinese-language media reported Wednesday.
Huang Ziqiang, director-general of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office in Guangdong, told newspapers la

HK Revelers Celebrate Christmas at Victoria Harbor
With the counting down of three, two one, "and shouting of "Merry Christmas," more than 500,000 Hong Kong residents and tourists to Hong Kong gathered along the Victoria Harbor to celebrate the coming of Christmas Wednesday.
Another hundreds of thousan

Fireworks Ban Remains in Shanghai
Shanghai has announced regulations on firecrackers during the upcoming Spring Festival, with the time and region restrictions similar to that of last year.
Shanghai has announced regulations on firecrackers during the upcoming Spring Festival, with the

Newspaper Collection Exhibited in Pingyao
A Chinese farmer who is also an avid newspaper collector is helping his fellow farmers learn about the world with an exhibition of over 1 million newspapers he has collected since his youth. More than 1.1 million copies of 60,000 Chinese and foreign newspapers are shown in 11 sections of pre-New China, minorities, cultural revolution, overseas and Hong Kong-Macao-Taiwan. The exhibition was organized by 48-year-old farmer Miao Shiming, who has been collecting newspapers for 30 years

Christmas popularity, profit grows
Last night on Christmas Eve, 36-year-old Australian Simon Pollock, a former journalist with Kyodo News in Beijing, said he felt nothing special. "I have noticed Christmas decorations on buildings, in shops windows and even on the heads of restaurant waitresses,'' he said. "However, it is just another day for me.'' As far as the non-Christian is concerned, Christmas is a good time for family reunion but has no significant meaning with his family far away back in Australia. As

Relocation to make way for Great Wall
In an unusually large programme to protect the Great Wall and old buildings nearby, half the residents are to be moved out of Shanhaiguan, an ancient city located at the east end of the wall, the so-called head of the great dragon of architecture, one of China's prides. More than 1 billion yuan (US$120 million) have been earmarked for the relocation of the residents, said officials from the local government, which is determined to heavily finance Great Wall protection projects. A t

Rules make overseas trips easier
Starting next year, new reforms for entering and leaving China will help citizens travel abroad and allow foreigners to more easily invest and travel in China, public security officials said Wednesday. For most Chinese, heading on trips abroad still sounds like an ordeal requiring them to go through complicated procedural redtape. However, the icy situation was broken two years ago when Beijing, Shanghai and some other big cities decided to issue passports if citizens requested the

Major project to protect ancient capital
The municipal government of Zhengzhou City, capital of central China's Henan Province, will invest 500 million yuan (60.5 million US dollars) to preserve the historical site of Shang city, capital of ancient China's Shang Dynasty. Discovered in 1955, Shang City, dating back more than 3,600 years, was the biggest capital of the ancient Shang Dynasty, and it was the first city with both inner and outer city walls. The historical site, covering an area of 25 sq. km, was regarded as one of th

The Super Five-Star Hotel System in China
Next year, hotels may be reevaluated in accordance with new criteria, and higher grade "Platinum Five-star", a super five-star hotel grade, would be added, Zhang Rungang, an official from the Quality & Standardization Division of the China National Tourism Administration said on December 13. Zhang revealed the news at a workshop on the innovation and capital operation of China's hotel system, which was held in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province. A new version of "Sta

Home-made Unmanned Plane Takes Maiden Flight
A Chinese multi-function unmanned plane made its maiden flight Friday in the southwestern province of Guizhou. The flight was carried out at Shuangyang Airport in Anshun Cityin central Guizhou, 91 kilometers from the provincial capital Guiyang. The new generation unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) can be used for border patrol, disaster control and monitoring, remote sensing, meteorological surveying and geological prospecting, experts say. The plane was designed and manufactured

Hong Kong Keeps to Be a Hot Spot for Tourists
The ongoing Hong Kong Mega Showcase and Hong Kong Food Festival have drawn many tourists from China's mainland and overseas to Hong Kong. During the Christmas holiday, almost all of the hotels are full. Managers said this situation is expected to continue till the Lunar New Year which begins on Jan. 22. According to the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB), the tourists arrivals in October hit 1.7 million, the highest monthly arrival on record. This showed that Hong Kong has recovered from the

South China Finds One Suspected SARS Case
A man in Guangzhou City, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, was diagnosed as a suspected patient of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). An official of Guangdong provincial health department confirmed this to Agency Saturday afternoon. He said that the middle-aged man is receiving further medical check and group consultations. The suspected SARS case was confirmed by the Ministry of Health and a panel of medical specialists of the province at three o'clock Fri

South China Finds One Suspected SARS Case
A man in Guangzhou City, capital of south China's Guangdong Province, was diagnosed as a suspected patient of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). An official of Guangdong provincial health department confirmed this to Agency Saturday afternoon. He said that the middle-aged man is receiving further medical check and group consultations. The suspected SARS case was confirmed by the Ministry of Health and a panel of medical specialists of the province at three o'clock Fri

Hong Kong Keeps to Be a Hot Spot for Tourists
The ongoing Hong Kong Mega Showcase and Hong Kong Food Festival have drawn many tourists from China's mainland and overseas to Hong Kong. During the Christmas holiday, almost all of the hotels are full. Managers said this situation is expected to continue

Data Challenges Japanese Theory on Nanjing Population Size
December 13, 2003 is the 66th anniversary of Nanjing Massacre in which 300,000 Nanjing citizens were killed by invading Japanese soldiers. In recent years, right-wing Japanese scholars wrote many articles denying the fact, asserting that before the Japanese invasion there were only 200,000 citizens in Nanjing. Zhang Lianhong, professor of Nanjing Massacre Research Center in Nanjing Normal University, published an article in Beijing Daily, in which he used historical fact to show that the

Beijing Alert to Newly-found Suspected SARS Case
Beijing public health departments have responded quickly to the latest suspected SARS case found in south China's Guangdong Province and issued emergency measures to prevent the spread of the disease. All the hospitals in Beijing should strengthen monitoring and examinations for fever cases, especially those from Guangdong, officials with the Beijing Municipal Health Bureau said Saturday afternoon. Guo Jiyong, deputy director of the bureau, led a team to check the city's airports a

Attacks by Iraq Rebels Kill 13, Wound 172
In the biggest rebel attack since Saddam Hussein's capture, suicide bombers and assailants with mortars and grenade launchers blasted coalition military bases and the governor's office in the southern city of Karbala Saturday, killing 13 people and wounding at least 172. The victims included six coalition soldiers -- four Bulgarians and two Thais; six Iraqi police officers; and a civilian. At least 172 people, many of them civilians caught in the chaos, were wounded in three nearly

WHO Expert in China to Help SARS Probe
A World Health Organization expert arrived in Beijing on Monday to help China find out whether the first suspected SARS patient in the Chinese mainland in half a year has the killer virus. Another joint team of WHO and health ministry experts was to head to the southern province of Guangdong to aid testing on the 32-year-old television producer, whose temperature was normal and who appeared to be doing well, Beijing-based WHO spokesman Roy Wadia said. A Chinese Ministry of Health o

Children's Education Biggest Cost for Rural Families:Report
More than 40 percent of rural families in China will spend most of their net income on their children's education in the next three years, according to a survey by the China Consumers Association last Thursday. The report on rural consumption shows that apart daily necessities, education was a major burden. About 19 percent said agricultural production materials are the biggest expense. Housing was the main expense for 16 percent of those surveyed. Only 0.9 percent of rural

2003 in Retrospect: Ups and Downs of China's Tourism
For China's tourism, 2003 is definitely an impressive year. The ups and downs of tourism affected by the happenings of some major events of this year showed that tourism is a very vulnerable industry. Because of the Iraq war and SARS plague, China's tourism output had decreased to zero in a short time in the first half of the year. However, the industry recovered soon and eventually went through the hardest time, regaining its vigor and momentum. The suffering caused by the Iraq war and S

2003 in Retrospect: Ups and Downs of China's Tourism
For China's tourism, 2003 is definitely an impressive year. The ups and downs of tourism affected by the happenings of some major events of this year showed that tourism is a very vulnerable industry. Because of the Iraq war and SARS plague, China's touri

Official: Nation to Stay 'Mad Cow' Free
China's prevention and monitoring system against the deadly mad cow disease is likely to keep the country free of the disease, said an official from the Ministry of Agriculture (MOA) on Saturday.
Zhang Zhongqiu, deputy director of the ministry's Animal

4.1 Mln People Cross Boundary During Xmas Holiday
About 4.1 million people crossed the land boundary checkpoints to and from the mainland during the Christmas holiday, an increase of 5.8 percent over the same period last year, statistics from the Immigration Department showed Sunday.
During the period

World's Largest Giant Panda Park Opens
The world's largest park for giant pandas has opened in southwest China's Sichuan Province with an initial group of 20 animals.
Located at Bifengxia Base of the China Giant Panda Research Center (CGPRC), Ya'an City, the park will cover an area of 400 h

Suspected SARS case reported on Chinese mainland
China's Ministry of Health revealed on Saturday that the Southern Province of Guangdong has reported a suspected case of SARS. Further medical checks are being conducted on the patient to determine whether or not he is infected with the corona-virus. According to the Ministry, Guangdong health authorities have quarantined everyone who has been in contact with the 32-year-old patient. This is the first suspected SARS case found in Guangdong since the World Health Organization lifted their

China lacks professionals to restore unearthed relics
Due to a lack of professionals, China needs at least 2,000 years to restore about 20 million unearthed relics, sources said. Currently, China has less than 500 people who are capable of restoring relics, said Xu Taosheng, deputy curator of the pottery and porcelain museum of Jingdezhen city in east China's Jiangxi province. He said restoration of relics was arduous work, which required great labor, material resources and time. He said it took some 10 days to repair a one-mil

The Ancient Bell Museum with Its Unique Features
The Big Bell Temple Museum is a multi-functional museum specialized in the collection, preservation, exhibition, study and exploitation of ancient bells and catering to the people's growing cultural demands with its peculiar cultural charm. The different exhibitions display the evolution, designs and characteristics of ancient bells, enabling the visitors to understand the uses and making of ancient bells, the connections between man and bells, between bells and religions and between bells and s

Art Exhibition to Commemorate 110th Birth Anniversary of Mao Zedong
Today marks the 110th Anniversary of the birth of late Chinese leader Mao Zedong. In China, both governments and individuals have held various activities to commemorate this occasion. In Beijing, there is an ongoing art exhibition of the works of Wei Chuyu. He believes people's love for Mao Zedong, rather than disappearing, will become stronger as time passes. Wang Lei reports. Professor Wei Chuyu from the Beijing-based Renmin University designed the commemorative stamps for the centenary