Chinese Tourism

Chinese Tourism

The best place to watch birds -- the Mangrove Nature Resort
The Mangrove Nature Resort originated as a dream: to bring the natural environment to the city by developing a wildlife sanctuary where the animals could roam free. It has tunred out to be one of the area's most popular public beaches. The clear waters here offer an ideal place to cool off on hot summer days. The protected waters, lawn and shaded grounds are great for going on walks, whatever the season. You don't need to travel far to be rewarded with one of the most unspoiled beaches in

Chinese artists making world's longest painting
About a dozen Chinese painters have began working on a 206-meter-long oil painting, believed to be the longest in the world, depicting the entire history of the Mongolian people. The painting portrays a historical period of 206 years, from the birth of Genghis Khan, who founded ancient Mongolia and whose grandson Kublai Khan established the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), to the downfall of the dynasty. When the painting is completed, the artists will apply for a listing in the Guinness

Hainan Airlines confirms Boeing orders
China's regional carrier Hainan Airlines confirmed Friday its order for three Boeing 737-800s worth more than US$200 million at catalogue prices. The aircraft would be delivered in July, August and September of 2005, Hainan Airlines said, adding had obtained a 1.1 billion yuan (US$133 million) loan agreement to finance the orders. The airline did not disclose the actual payment, but analysts said the size of discounts depended on factors like relationship and negotiations. T

Zhengzhou named 8th ancient city
The 3,600-year-old city of Zhengzhou, capital city of Central China's Henan province, has been added to China's list of ancient cities, bringing the number to eight. Zhengzhou, capital city of Central China's Henan province, has been added to China's list of ancient cities, bringing the number to eight. The other seven cities are Xi'an, Beijing, Nanjing, Luoyang, Kaifeng, and Anyang in Henan; and Hangzhou, capital of the southeastern Zhejiang province. The 3600-year-old city

Islands Brought Closer by Culture, Tours and Mazu Belief
Jinmen and Matsu, two islands of Taiwan, are only 18 and 36 sea miles respectively from Xiamen and Fuzhou of mainland's Fujian Province, They have long been considered two important points for both the mainland and Taiwan on the Chinese map. About 100 miles from Taiwan Island, Matsu lies even closer from mainland's Mawei, a port in Fuzhou. So in some places in Matsu Island, it is said that Fuzhou's cellphone service can work well without roaming. However, due to the tough relations

Mount Huangshan
Mount Huangshan, towering between Taiping and Shexian counties in Anhui Province, is one of the most famous scenic spots in China, and perhaps the world. With a circumference of 250 kilometers, it consists of 72 distinct peaks, the highest being Lotus Flower (Lianhua) Peak (1,800 meters). Mount Huangshan is every scenic mountain rolled up in one -- it is as lofty as Mount Taishan, as precipitous as Mount Huashan and as charming as Mount Emei. It can be blanketed in clouds like Mount Hengs

Maluan Mountain, One of Shenzhen's Best-kept Secrets
Maluan Mountain is not the most famous mountain in the Shenzhen area, even among the city's long-term residents. However, it is extremely popular among avid hikers because it's easy, safe, beautiful and varied with clear streams, lush woods, Chinese plum blossoms and one of the area's largest waterfalls. The mountain's paths aren't surfaced, yet the climb is not strenuous, as the summit is only half the height of Shenzhen's highest peak, Wutong Mountain. Lan Chou Gu, a veter

Rongbaozhai Artwork to Go Under Hammer
Rongbaozhai, one of the oldest art dealers in China, will present an important part of its huge and mysterious collection of Chinese paintings and calligraphy at its autumn auction this December. This year also marks the dealer's 110th birthday. Pre-auction viewings are to be given around China starting tomorrow. Established more than 300 years ago, the Beijing-based art dealer was first known as "Songzhuzhai" (House of Pines and Bamboo). It changed its name to "Rongbaozhai" (House of Glo

UN Council Embraces Ivory Coast Sanctions Deadline
UN Security Council members reached broad agreement on Tuesday on a resolution that would give Ivory Coast's government and rebels until Dec. 1 to implement a peace deal or face UN sanctions, diplomats said. France compromised on its initial draft resolution -- which would have immediately imposed an arms embargo and other measures -- and agreed to allow a second council vote before sanctions could kick in after China, Pakistan and Russia objected to immediate sanctions, the diplomats sai

AU Considers Peacekeepers for Cote d'Ivoire
The African Union (AU) is considering the deployment of peacekeepers to Cote d'Ivoire after days of violence in the world's largest cocoa producer, South African President Thabo Mbeki's spokesman said Wednesday. Bheki Khumalo, who travelled with Mbeki on an African Union-mandated peace mission to the former French colony, said Mbeki spoke to the Ivorian Government, the Nigerian Government, French President Jacques Chirac and senior AU officials. "I'm aware that the AU has made prov

Private Airport Takes Flight
Wang Xuewen fondly remembers the day two years ago when his airport was checked out and approved by relevant government authorities. "At that moment, all pressures and hardships involved in the process were relieved," he said. In August 2003, the Ministry of Commerce ratified Wang's application and he became the first private airport owner in China's aviation industry. Wang Xuewen, 58, said he made his dream come true after a decade of relentless efforts. Wang still has one

Malaysia Courts Chinese Tourists
Malaysia has changed the length of its tourist visa from 14 days to 30 days in an attempt to attract more Chinese tourists. The tourist visa and business visas will be the same duration and cost the same.
Chinese tourists can apply for a visa directly from the Malaysian embassy.

Thailand launches Happiness on Earth
THE Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) has formally introduced the theme of its new promotional campaign, Thailand: Happiness on Earth (See TTG Daily News August 23, 2004 'Amazing Thailand to End'). TAT governor, Ms Jutamas Siriwan, said the goal of the campaign, which replaces the four-year-old Amazing Thailand campaign, was to highlight the quality of the country's products and services. "We will be placing emphasis on the happiness visitors can experience from Thailand's friend

AF shws off new first, business class products
Air France has introduced to the Singapore its new I'Espace Premiere (First Class) and I'Espace Affaires (Business Class) products which were rolled out last year worldwide. The new offering will be available on Air France's Singapore-Paris route from November 1. The new First Class cabin features eight instead of 12 seats, giving an extra 50 percent more personal space and a real bed with mattress. The enhanced Business Class has a "lie-flat" bed which inclines to 180 degre

Confucian Temple to Undergo Revamp
The Confucian Temple and the adjacent Imperial College in downtown Beijing, both with a history of more than 700 years, will undergo the most complete repairs in more than half a century. Two Beijing-based construction companies have won bids on the projects and the restoration will start later this year when the detailed plans are worked out. According to the Beijing Cultural Relics Bureau, the projects will focus on restoring the original appearance of the two ancient compounds l

Pudong Airport Upgrade Its Navigation System
The Pudong International Airport plans to upgrade its navigation system to allow flights to land and take off in bad weather, such as dense fog, the Shanghai Airport Authority said yesterday. The airport is currently installing and testing new navigation facilities, which will be assessed by national aviation authorities next month. If the system is approved, it will be put into use and enable planes to land even if the visibility is below 350 meters, a visibility level that calls

Tourism industry robust in northern Thailand
Despite tourism setback in southernThailand due to constant violence, business in the north remains robust with the arrival of the peak holiday season, tourism operators in the north have said. Most tourists to the north come from Europe or other Asian countries while those to the south are mainly from Malaysia, Singapore and Indonesia, Boonlert Pelera, president of the Chiang Mai Tourism Business Association was quoted by the Bangkok Post newspaper as saying on Tuesday. Official f

Thai Airways granted Cambodian airport service contract
Thai Airways has received a five-year license to provide aircraft maintenance services at Phnom Penh and Siem Reap International Airports, a local newspaper reported on Tuesday. Granted by the French-owned Societe Concessionaire de l'Aerport(SCA), the Thai Airways International Co. will provide services such as routine technical inspections of planes, maintenance and provision of spare parts, said the Cambodia Daily. The agreement will help the airports cater to carriers serving me

Figures of Vietnamese Tourists to China Soar
The number of Vietnamese visitors going to China via the border gate of Mong Cai in northern Quang Ninh province in the first 10 months of this year surged 268 percent on-year to 76,410. The number of local people entering the foreign country via border gates in other northern provinces, especially Lang Son, for tourism and business purposes is also rising, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said on Thursday. The sharp increase was mainly attributed to less inexpensive

Indonesia to Open Visa Service in Guangzhou
Indonesian plans to issue visas from its consulate in Guangzhou to try to boost tourists from China. "One of the crucial decisions is the opening of an immigration service in Guangzhou, as we only had it in Beijing previously. "We will assign immigration officials after the Idul Fitri festival to begin the visa service," Jero Wacik, Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik, was quoted by Bisnis Indonesia as saying. The Muslim holiday will fall on Nov. 14 and 15. He said th

Mount Jiuhua -- 'Land of Buddhas and Incense'
Rising in Qingyang County of Anhui Province, Mount Jiuhua consists of ninety-nine peaks, among the most magnificent being Heavenly Terrace (Tiantai), Lotus Flower (Lianhua), Sky Pillar (Tianzhu), and Ten Kings (Shiwang). The area around the mountain is secluded -- a quiet landscape of streams, cascades, crags, caves, pines, and bamboos. Tang Dynasty and culminated in the Ming and Qing dynasties, when with over three hundred temples and monasteries enveloped in coiling incense smoke, Mount

Train to Hainan to Run Next Thursday
The first Yuehai train from Guangzhou to Haikou across the Qiongzhou Straits will begin running next Thursday. The train will depart Guangzhou in the evening arriving in Haikou, the capital of Hainan Province, the next morning via Sanshui, Zhaoqing, Maoming and Zhanjiang. Trains between Guangzhou and Zhanjiang and east Maoming will be cancelled. The new service has created a lot of interest with travel industry sources believing group train travel would be more competitive i

1.8m Tourists to Macao in First 3 Quarters
A total of 1.8 million tourists who traveled in groups visited Macao in the first three quarters, marking a 74.5 percent increase as compared with the same period of last year. Figures released by the Macao Statistic and Census Bureau Thursday suggested that the number of travelers from Macao's three major source markets including China's mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan was all on rise. The number of group tourists from Taiwan to Macao recorded an increase of 133.7 percent over the

Mistress Yue-Sai of All Trades
Yue-Sai Kan's success as one of China's leading business women parallels her career as one of the country's top television journalists. "There is no typical day in my life," Yue-Sai Kan mused in her lofty 500-square-meter Shanghai apartment at the end of last week in which she entertained former Spice Girl Victoria Beckham and supermodel Naomi Campbell. In her life, so many things are going on in so many areas. She has helped raise funds for ORBIS International, a non-profit sight-

Figures of Vietnamese tourists to China soar
The number of Vietnamese visitors going to China via the border gate of Mong Cai in northern Quang Ninh province in the first 10 months of this year surged 268 percent on-year to 76,410. The number of local people entering the foreign country via border gates in other northern provinces, especially Lang Son, for tourism and business purposes is also rising, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism said on Thursday. The sharp increase was mainly attributed to less inexpensive

1.8m tourists to Macao in first 3 quarters
A total of 1.8 million tourists who traveled in groups visited Macao in the first three quarters, marking a 74.5 percent increase as compared with the same period of last year. Figures released by the Macao Statistic and Census Bureau Thursday suggested that the number of travelers from Macao's three major source markets including China's mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan was all on rise. The number of group tourists from Taiwan to Macao recorded an increase of 133.7 percent over the

Car parking to be regulated
Guangzhou is to standardize the operations of parking lot operators and curb illegal parking along roadsides. A two-month campaign, which will run until the end of the year, will coincide with the implementation of new parking fees from November 15. Operators who refuse to adopt the new parking fees or use parking lots to conduct other businesses such as food or clothing markets, will be the main target of the campaign. The authorities also called on enterprises and institut

Beijing non-star hotels beckon foreign investors
Beijing tourism authorities plan to issue a package of projects for overseas investors who may want a piece of the Olympic pie. One of the eye-catching prospects is a project to upgrade the facilities and services of the city's 4,000-plus non-star hotels to meet the inflow of tourists during the 2008 Olympic Games, said Wen Ziji, vice-director of the Beijing Tourism Bureau. The city estimates 4.4 million foreign tourists and 100 million Chinese travelers will visit Beijing that yea

Beijing Prepares Olympic Tourism
Beijing has decided to make 2005 as an official pre-Olympic travel year in preparation for 2008. The theme of the activity centers around Chinese culture, and a number of scenic spots -- including part of Zhongnanhai which has since 1949 been home to the Communist Party's most powerful members -- will be opened to the public. In the meantime, the capital will do what it can to boost tourism by setting up a more convenient visa policy system and start a promotion campaign this comin

German Travel Firm Cuts Its Loss on Tours
A German tourism company has stopped receiving Chinese tourists traveling in economy groups as of this month to avoid possible loss. CAISSA Touristic (Group) AG, one of a number of European companies catering to Chinese tourists, said it had suspended cooperation with local agencies on the "10 countries in 15 days" package. It is currently priced at around 13,000 yuan (US$1,566). The rise of the euro against the US dollar is a major reason forcing the company to stop the offer, acc

Train to Hainan to run next Thursday
The first Yuehai train from Guangzhou to Haikou across the Qiongzhou Straits will begin running next Thursday. The train will depart Guangzhou in the evening arriving in Haikou, the capital of Hainan Province, the next morning via Sanshui, Zhaoqing, Maoming and Zhanjiang. Trains between Guangzhou and Zhanjiang and East Maoming will be cancelled. The new service has created a lot of interest with travel industry sources believing group train travel would be more competitive i

Adjustments to timetables for 20 trains
A total of 20 trains departing Shenzhen or Guangzhou had timetables changed Thursday. The 20 trains include five short-distance trains between Shenzhen and Guangzhou and another 15 long-distance trains to Beijing, Zhengzhou, Yueyang, Changsha, Huaihua and Jiujiang from Shenzhen, as well as trains to Shangrao, Kunming, Xiamen, Jiujiang, Yingtan, and Bengbu from Guangzhou. The five trains from Shenzhen to Guangzhou affected are trains T781, N651, N652, N655 and N656. The Tangtouxia s

Senior CPC Leader Calls for Promoting Advanced Culture
A senior leader of the Communist Party of China (CPC) called for paying more efforts to develop advanced socialist culture. Li Changchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, made the remarks in his inspection tour to north China's Hebei province. Li also urged officials at different levels to enhance the work on ethic education for the young people. During the tour, Li visited certain relics marking China's major events in

Pakistan PM to Discuss Kashmir Issue with India
Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz said Sunday he will discuss all outstanding issues, including the territorial dispute over Kashmir, with his Indian counterpart during a visit to New Delhi next week. Aziz is to leave for India on November 23 as chairman of the South Asian Association for Regional Co-operation, or SAARC. He also is to visit Sri Lanka and the Maldives to discuss regional and international issues. "I am anxiously waiting to travel to India and other SAARC countri

Transport Network to Be Enhanced for Tianjin
North China's Tianjin Municipality is planning to enhance its transport network to other cities and especially to Beijing, according to its mayor, Dai Xianglong. A railway costing some US$14.3 billion will be completed and in use by 2007. This will reduce travel time between Beijing and Tianjin to just thirty minutes, instead of the current seventy minutes. New expressways will also be built between the two cities. Currently there is only one expressway linking Beijing and Tianjin.

Beijing Games' High-tech to Benefit All
In a world now so overshadowed by the looming threat of terrorism, China has put security as a priority on its agenda for the 2008 Olympic Games. Safety expert Ma Xin said the country is working hard to establish a security system for the game with the help of cutting-edge technology. He said the minister of public security will act as commander to guarantee security. A face-recognition system will be widely used to identify participants and support staff, said Ma, who is employed

New Railway to Link Key Cities
The much-anticipated Shenzhen-Xiamen railway, scheduled to be completed in 2010, will help form an economic sphere with Shenzhen, Hong Kong, Xiamen and Zhangzhou as the key cities, media reports said. The 30 billion yuan (US$3.6 billion) rail link will also bring closer together China's two most developed regions: the Pearl River Delta area and the Yangtze River Delta area, according to the reports. A section of the 12,000km passenger railway network ratified by the State Council,

Frescos Found in Fujian
Dozens of color frescos from the time of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties have been found in Hua'an County of Fujian Province. Specialists say they epitomize traditional folk painting around the upper reaches of Jiulong River. The frescos were discovered in Nanshan Palace, a protected cultural relic site, as local archeologists cleaned its walls and ceilings in preparation for seeking national-level Cultural Relic Protection status. Elaborate scenes from famous s

Indonesia to process visas in Guangzhou
THE Indonesian Consulate General in Guangzhou will open later this month to help process travellers' visa applications. The decision was made after a ministerial meeting between Minister of Foreign Affairs Hassan Wirajuda, Minister of Law and Human Rights Hamid Awaluddin and Minister of Culture and Tourism Jero Wacik yesterday. Minister Wacik said: "The immigration officials will take their post after the Lebaran (Muslim's end-of-fast) Holidays and start serving visa applicants." H

Malaysian agents cement ties with Liaoning trade
THE Malaysia Chinese Tourism Association (MCTA) has inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with three tourism organisations from the Liaoning province to pave the way for more tourist arrivals between Malaysia and China. The deal was signed with the Tourism Administration of Shenyang City, Anshan Tourism Bureau and Yingkou Tourism Bureau on Tuesday. Another MoU was also signed between two travel agents from China and two from Malaysia, namely Yangtze Cruise & Tour and Taikar Holidays (

Cathay offers Singapore-Beijing option
CATHAY Pacific is offering a special Singapore-Beijing promotional air fare, via Hong Kong, when the airline increases from thrice weekly to daily, flights between its homebase and the Chinese capital on December 1. The S$499 (US$294) air fare is for travel between January 1 and March 31, 2005 and bookings start from December 27 and end on February 28. The air fare allows passengers a stopover in Hong Kong on the return journey. Cathay Singapore country manager, Ms Olivia Wong said

Feel China in Argentina
100 pieces of ancient bronze items from China are on display in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina, until November 22nd. The exhibition is part of a cultural program themed 'Feel China' in Argentina, and coincides with Chinese President Hu Jintao's upcoming visit to the South American country. A Large-scale Yunnan dance show titled 'Searching for Shangri-La' is another major activity appearing in the city, and will been performed from November 16th to 21st. In addition, TV p

Transport Network to Be Enhanced for Tianjin
North China's Tianjin Municipality is planning to enhance its transport network to other cities and especially to Beijing, according to its mayor, Dai Xianglong. A railway costing some US$14.3 billion will be completed and in use by 2007. This will reduce travel time between Beijing and Tianjin to just thirty minutes, instead of the current seventy minutes. New expressways will also be built between the two cities. Currently there is only one expressway linking Beijing and Tianjin.

Wushu Festival Opens in Foshan
The 2004 Foshan Martial Arts Festival opened on Saturday in Southern China's Foshan, Guangdong Province. The nine-day event will feature Chinese Dancing Lion Performances, Kungfu competitions, Kungfu forums and many other events. The festival is expected to attract people from all over the world who are in love with Chinese Martial Arts. Foshan city's Shunde is the hometown of Chinese Kungfu legend Bruce Lee. Foshan is considered China's first "City of Martial Arts".

HK to hold first-ever outdoor Book Festival
Hong Kong's first-ever outdoor Book Festival 04 will start on Nov. 16 and bring to Hong Kong the largest scale "red white blue-themed" public art installation, announced the organizer of the festival here Monday. Themed "City Reading," Book Festival 04 is offering a series of events and activities in celebration of creative reading experiences, including mini-concerts, art/culture workshops for families and students, book launches, school tours, partner detours and tie-in events. B

Air Zimbabwe to Open Weekly Flights Between Beijing, Harare
Air Zimbabwe is slated to launch weekly flights between Beijing and Harare transferring via Singapore on November 24, the first air links between China and Zimbabwe. The flight, a Boeing 767-200, will take off from Harare every Tuesday and Saturday and arrives at Beijing at 15:30 the same day. Then it leaves Beijing at 20:00 every Wednesday and Sunday. Total flying time is around 14 hours. Zimbabwe was approved to be tourism destination for Chinese tourists in June and Chinese trav

Half-breed Panthers Born in Zhengzhou
A golden jaguar in a zoo in Zhengzhou, central China's Henan Province, is now the mother of five half-breed panthers. The baby animals' father is a leopard in the zoo. The couple has had 17 offspring since they were kept together in 1996. Expert says that it's rare to see a panther give birth to five babies at once.

Macao Receives Record Number of Visitors
China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) received a record 13.69 million visitors in the first 10 months of this year, up 44 percent year-on-year. According to the latest statistics released by the Macao Statistics and Census Bureau, the number of visitors from the Chinese mainland amounted to 7.8 million during the period, accounting for 57 percent of Macao's total number of visitors. The number also showed a year-on-year increase of 78 percent. With land coverage of mere

Dali Promotes Culture and Tourism
A Delegation headed by government officials from Dali was in south Chinaa s Shenzhen City Wednesday to promote tourism and the Dali culture, kicking off a nation-wide promotional tour. Recently awarded by CCTV as one of the 10 most amazing cities in China, Dali city in the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Yunnan Province is renowned for its history, multi-ethnic culture and picturesque scenery. Selecting Shenzhen to start the national promotion, the Dali governme

Agencies Hesitate over Brazilian Tours
Travel agencies are taking a wait-and-see attitude to the newly opened overseas tourism destination, Brazil, worrying the high cost of around 30,000 yuan (US$3,628) may hold back domestic travelers. Brazil has officially opened to individual Chinese tourists from yesterday, as the National Tourism Administration officially signed a tourism memo of understanding with Brazilian tourism authority to grant it China's overseas destination status, the Beijing Times reported. Citing the c

Overseas Resorts Eye City Travelers
Deluxe foreign resorts are increasing their marketing efforts in Shanghai as incomes here increase and local travelers become more sophisticated in their tastes. Tourism malaysia is among the travel groups that have launched new campaigns in the city. The agency is now touting tours to some of the country's priciest destinations, such as Pangkor Laut Island and the Tanjong Jara Resort. The shanghai business foray was the first for the Malaysians, who in the past have focused mainly

Hotels Urged to Save Energy
Beijing is asking its star-rated hotels to once more take power-saving measures as part of the city's efforts to host a "Green Olympics" in 2008. On Monday, the Beijing Organizing Committee for the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG) distributed power-saving handouts to the 70 hotels that will be designated accommodation suppliers during the Games, urging them to raise room temperatures by one degree during summer and lower it by the same amount in winter. Research shows that if the tempera

Tourism Malaysia joins MAS to harvest UAE market
SPURRED by increasing tourist arrivals from the United Arab Emirates (UAE) this summer where 13,280 of its nationals visited Malaysia in August this year, Tourism Malaysia and Malaysia Airlines (MAS) have reportedly launched a joint campaign to attract more tourists from the UAE for the coming holiday season. Its August figures surpassed the 12,515 arrival figures from Saudi Arabia into Malaysia. Tourism Malaysia regional director, Mr Syed Muhadzir Jamullulail said the Saudi tourists had

Norway predicts Asians to top tourist arrivals
Norway is witnessing a surge in Asian arrivals with double-digit growth of 70 percent this year from January to September. Per Holte, director of tourism, Innovation Norway, a new organisation that took over the tourism helm from the Norwegian Tourist Board, predicts that Asians will form the top inbound market in five years. As such, Norway is stepping up its promotional efforts in the region with the focus on China, Japan, South Korea, Singapore and Malaysia. This would en

Air Zimbabwe to Open Weekly Flights Between Beijing, Harare
Air Zimbabwe is slated to launch weekly flights between Beijing and Harare transferring via Singapore on November 24, the first air links between China and Zimbabwe. The flight, a Boeing 767-200, will take off from Harare every Tuesday and Saturday and arrives at Beijing at 15:30 the same day. Then it leaves Beijing at 20:00 every Wednesday and Sunday. Total flying time is around 14 hours. Zimbabwe was approved to be tourism destination for Chinese tourists in June and Chinese trav

Law in the Making to Protect Nature Reserves
China is drafting law on protected areas of nature reserves and to submit to the National People's Congress (NPC), China's top legislature, in 2006, said an official Tuesday. It is crucial to strengthen and improve the institution for areas of nature reserves, said Mao Rubai, director with the Environment and Resource Protection Committee of NPC, at the on-going International Workshop on Cooperative Management of Nature Reserves. Currently a host of problems exist with the legal st

Swiss calling on Chinese
SWISS tourism officials from Lake Geneva & Matterhorn Region (LGMR) will kick off a 10-day sales call to Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Shanghai, Beijing and Taipei tomorrow. Switzerland Tourism director Hong Kong and South China, Ms Casey Liu, said Switzerland enjoyed a good reputation in China and had recently become a Approved Destination Status (ADS) in September. "Cities such as Zurich and Geneva are hot picks. With the relaxed visa arrangement, we see more Chinese venturing into small

Asian tours regain strength
Difficulty in organizing tours to Europe has made local travel agencies turn to Asian tours, the Shanghai Morning Post reported today. Skiing in Hokkaido, Japan and shopping in Hong Kong and Singapore at the year-end have generated strong local popularity. The four-day tour to Hokkaido, priced at 7,880 yuan (US$949), was promoted in the city more than two months ahead of its 2005 snow festival. Considering the price hikes in air-tickets and local reception fees, charges for the Hok

Oriental Pearl TV Tower marks 10th anniversary
Tao Yan, held a certificate naming her the 25 millionth visitor to the Oriental Pearl TV Tower yesterday. Today marks the 10th anniversary of the tower. The tower, one of the city's famous landmarks, has become the world's most profitable TV power, with annual incomes exceeding those of The Eiffel Tower. With a brand value of 5.148 billion yuan (US$6.2 billion), the tower was evaluated 96th of the 500 most valuable Chinese brands and one of the top 20 influential Chinese brands in the wor

China, 15 Other Countries Consider NASA Exploration
China and 15 other countries have joined NASA officials this week to consider how they might cooperate with US plans for human exploration of the moon and Mars. The three-day Washington workshop was concluded this Thursday and was the first in a series of meetings sponsored by the US space agency. China has its own space program and but is not among the countries participating in the International Space Station. The invitation of the Chinese delegation was particularly encou

Sun Yat-sen Mausoleum
Dr.Sun Yat-sen's Mausoleum, situated in Mount Zijin (also called Mount Zhongshan) in the eastern suburb of Nanjing. It has a circumference of over 31square kilometers and its highest peak is 448 meters above sea level. It is a well-known revolution memorial and scenic area by its magnificent mountain, dense woods, and countless historic sites. The mausoleum is firstly built in 1926 and Dr.Sun's remains was buried here on June 1,1929. The south-facing mausoleum with open spac

Xuanwu Lake
Xuanwu Lake is in the northeast portion of Nanjing City near the railway station. The lake covers an area of 444 hectares with a coastline of 15 kilometers in circumferences. According to the legend, in the Southern Dynasty a black dragon was seen in the lake. Chinese Daoists believed that the black dragon was a water god appeared appearing as the uniform of a turtle and snake, called Xuanwu. Hence the lake was called Xuwu Lake. Another legend said stated that when Sun Quan,

Fewer, but Better, Visits to Mount Zijin
A new plan for Mount Zijina s tourist areas and facilities was approved by Jiangsua s Bureau of Construction on November 8. The approved layout aims to rebuild facilities at Mount Zijin (also called Mount Zhongshan) to reflect the citya s culture and history. Located in an eastern suburb of Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province, Mount Zijin hosts the countrya s biggest observatory and the mausoleum of Dr. Sun Yat-Sen, the first democratic leader of China. The tourist area wil

Aviation Industry Sets Safety Flight Record
Chinese flights has logged more than five million continuous hours of safety, the longest such streak in the nation's history. Wang Changshun, deputy head of China Administration of Civil Aviation, announced the record at the 57th Annual International Air Safety Seminar (IASS) 2004 opened Tuesday in Shanghai. The safety has been going since May 2002, Wang said. Wang said that between 1994 and 2003, China's air safety conditions improved remarkably, with an average accident o

Chinese Restaurants to Record US$88 bln Revenue
Chinese restaurant are expecting a good year after vital damage caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) epidemic last year and bird flu earlier this year. "Chinese catering industry was expected to record an annual revenue of 730 billion yuan (US$88.27 billion) in 2004, up about 20 percent year on year," said a report issued by the Ministry of Commerce on Tuesday. In the January-October period, China's restaurant earned a total income of 596.7 billion yuan, up 22.3 p

China's top 10 "Quiet Cities" unveiled
According to the 2003 Urban Noise Environment Quality Report released by Environmental Monitoring Station under China Environmental Protection Administration, the top ten cities enjoying the considerably good environment from noise are Jinan, Yantai, Yinchuan, Xining, Hefei, Qinhuangdao, Ningbo, Urumqi, Shenyang and Guilin br>
The report is based on a careful monitoring conducted by China Environmental Monitoring Station over the road traffic environmental quality and the regional environment

China issues 1st set of stamps on family names
China issued its first set of stamps of the top 100 Chinese family names Thursday in Beijing. This set of special stamps features a red Chinese knot, which symbolizes unity and luck, in the center and a totem design of the surname. On each of the 128 stamps is printed a different family name. Based on the outcome of the 1982 government survey, the stamps include the 100 most frequently-used surnames in China. The remaining 28 stamps have the surnames of Chinese people's ancestors,

Shaolin monks leave for Brazil to perform Chinese kung fu
A martial arts group from Shaolin Temple in central China's Henan Province left Wednesday for Sao Paulo, Brazil. The group will perform Chinese kung fu for audiences in the country's largest city November 20 and 21, said Master Shi Yongxin, head of the delegation and abbot of Shaolin Temple. The 27-member group has prepared 26 programs for the Brazilian audience as part of the cultural exchange between the two countries, he said. This is the first time for the group to perfo

Discounts attract more low-income people to Arts Festival
The Shanghai News Daily says local residents can enjoy world-class art performances at the ongoing 6th Shanghai International Arts Festival at half-price. According to the report, more than 100 performances of over 60 shows will be staged during the annual arts event, which closes at the end of month. However, prices have led many residents to complain that tickets are unaffordable. The cheapest costs about 100 Yuan, or $12 dollars. The article says that to allow more low-in

Agencies attract senior travelers
A travel agency in Shanghai has created a tour service for seniors to boost its sales in the flat business season, the Shanghai Evening News reported. The first such trip, starting December 5, includes a whole month on Hainan Island for 3,950 yuan (US$478). The a fee covers all expenses for travel, hotels and dining during that period, according to Shanghai Laochenghuangmiao Travel Service, operator of the tour. Seniors can decide their own routes on the island, but have to pay add

Golden Weeks Losing Lustre Among People
China is considering scrapping two of its three annual "Golden Week" holidays and replacing them with flexible, paid annual leave for all workers. The public is increasingly fed up with mob scenes and price gouging that result when virtually the entire nation is sent on vacation at once. The two nationwide week-long holidays that may be scrapped are Labour Day and National Day. The third Golden Week is the Lunar New Year. Tourism officials in Hong Kong, where mainland arriva

Transportation Improves in China's West
Five years into its Western Development drive, China has greatly improved transportation facilities in its western regions with large investments in the construction of railways, roads and airports. So far, China has constructed 75,000 kilometers of highways and over 2,000 kilometers of railways and built or enlarged thirty airports in the west of the country. The improvement in transportation infrastructure has also boosted the development of tourism and the mineral industry, whil

Brazil, Argentina, Chile Approved as Tourist Destinations
Brazil, Argentina and Chile have been approved by the Chinese government as Chinese group tourist destinations, according to the latest news from China National Tourism Administration (CNTA). Cuba was approved as a Chinese travelers destination last year. With no direct flights between China and South America, package prices to the three nations will be quite high. The current price to Cuba within seven days cost more than 20,000 yuan (US$2000) in local travel agencies. Brazil's ra

Insurer Promotes Online Sales
The Peoples Insurance Company of China (PICC) Property and Casualty Co Ltd, China's largest insurer, excluding life insurers, is promoting online sales to reduce costs and improve its bottom line. Although Internet sales, enabled by its e-PICC platform launched two years ago, now account for less than 1 per cent of its total sales, the company expects the new channel's contribution to grow to 5 per cent as the market matures and clients become more familiar with online purchasing.

Airline Catering Firm Seeking Local Partners
LSG Sky Chefs, which claims 30 percent of the world's airline catering business, is seeking joint ventures at China's 30 busiest airports to expand its share of the robust Chinese market. The company, which is part of the Germany-based LSG Lufthansa Service Holdings AG, runs joint ventures in eight Chinese mainland cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu in western China's Sichuan Province, and Sanya in southern China's Hainan Province. Serving 120,000 meals a day and currentl

Airline Catering Firm Seeking Local Partners
LSG Sky Chefs, which claims 30 percent of the world's airline catering business, is seeking joint ventures at China's 30 busiest airports to expand its share of the robust Chinese market. The company, which is part of the Germany-based LSG Lufthansa Service Holdings AG, runs joint ventures in eight Chinese mainland cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu in western China's Sichuan Province, and Sanya in southern China's Hainan Province. Serving 120,000 meals a day and currentl

Shaolin Temple Turns Money-making Machine
Every morning as a new fleet of buses unloads tourists at the Shaolin temple, Li Yaojin thinks wistfully about the peaceful days two decades ago when he first arrived as a Buddhist novice. Shaolin, famous as the birthplace of China's martial arts, has emerged as a well-oiled money-making machine servicing hordes of tourists attracted to the scene of countless kung fu novels and movies. "Now there are just too many people here," he says, as the main temple courtyard fills with visit

Star hotels in Shenzhen get new plaques
The Shenzhen Municipal Tourism Bureau had issued new plaques for most of the 165 star-rated hotels in Shenzhen by Friday, the Daily Sunshine reported Saturday. Each plaque contains a background of the Great Wall, a slogan and the name of the authority issuing the plaque. The wording on the plaque has changed from the original "Foreign-related Tourist Hotel" to "China's Star Hotel." The authority issuing plaques is now known as the National Star Hotels Evaluation Committee instead o

Bangkok ranks best Asian city tourism destination
Bangkok and the northern capital of Chiang Mai have been ranked by a popular magazine the Conde Nast Traveler the 1st and 4th respectively best tourism destinations in Asia, the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) office in Los Angeles was quoted by the Thai News Agency as sayingSunday. The magazine has made a survey for the 17th consecutive year inits "Top 100 Best in the World 2004" in which frequent travelers were asked about their favorites cities, resorts, islands, hotels and luxury

Brazil, Argentina, Chile Approved as Tourist Destinations
Brazil, Argentina and Chile have been approved by the Chinese government as Chinese group tourist destinations, according to the latest news from China National Tourism Administration (CNTA). Cuba was approved as a Chinese travelers destination last year. With no direct flights between China and South America, package prices to the three nations will be quite high. The current price to Cuba within seven days cost more than 20,000 yuan (US$2000) in local travel agencies. Brazil's ra

Finnair Starts Direct Flights to Guangzhou
Finnish airline Finnair Oyj said Wednesday it will start direct flights from Helsinki to Guangzhou in September, adding to its routes to China and Japan. Finnair said it would offer three flights a week to the southern Chinese city. "Launching the Guangzhou route is a natural continuation of our Asian strategy. Finnair has been systematically moving the focus of its long-haul traffic to Asia since 2000," said Hannu Sundberg, Finnair's vice president for sales in Europe and Asia. "G

Shenzhen Emphasizes Cultural Development
This southern economic dynamo is increasing investment in its cultural sector. The young city, developed as the most successful special economic zone in China in only two decades, has long been regarded as a cultural desert where local residents, mostly immigrants, have little local heritage or city culture to enjoy, said Yin Changlong, director of the Shenzhen Culture Research Center. A recent government report shows that Shenzhen has the largest floating population and there is a

Beijing Trying to Handle Waste Environmentally Friendly
Beijing plans to invest 3.2 billion yuan (US$385.5 million) in constructing 15 garbage disposal projects during the 2004-2008 period, according to a senior municipal official. Based on the planned projects, Beijing will be able to dispose of 98 percent of its consumer wastes in an environmentally friendly way by 2008, when the city will host the Olympic Games, said Chen Wenzhan, head of the municipal administration committee. More than 80 percent of the investment will come from bu

Greener Shopping Bags Used in Pudong
All the three wet markets in Pudong's Gaodong Town will start using environmentally friendly plastic bags this Thursday, as part of a move enhancing market service and people's health in the region. The Pudong government will pay 20,000 yuan (US$2,410) for the first batch of new bags, while the subdistrict, vendors and local residents are expected to share the cost in the future. According to officials from the Pudong Office of Patriotic Health Campaign Commission, the government w

US carriers return to Vietnam
THREE decades after US carriers stopped flying into Ho Chi Minh City after the North triumphed in the civil war, United Airlines will lead the way back on December 10 with a new direct flight from Hong Kong. United will serve the route using Boeing 747-400 aircraft, and is optimistic about bookings over the coming Christmas and Chinese New Year holiday seasons, Hong Kong-based sales & marketing general manager, Mr Wyn Li, said. The flight will feature 14 United First Suite seats, 7

Taiwanese train of thought
TAIWAN is launching a luxury rail tour that its operators hope will put the island on the map for travellers looking for something different. Dubbed Star of Formosa, the new service - a project of the National Railway Administration which is being supported by several major tour operators - offers clients a choice of a three-day trip along the length of eastern Taiwan or a four-day round-island journey. The three-day trip costs NT$16,800 (US$502) while the four-day excursion is pri

Beijing Has About 1,000 'Non-obstacle' Toilets
Beijing now has nearly 1,000 "non-obstacle" public toilets, said Liang Guangsheng, deputy director of the Beijing Municipal Administration Committee (BMAC), Wednesday at the fourth World Toilet Summit (WTS) which opened today, citing such toilet as reflecting the city's civilization process. Non-obstacle toilets are defined as those that are accessible to the handicapped, pregnant women, people with young children and senior citizens. "The design of public toilets should cater more

Tourists Flocking in, Bringing Wealth
China's tourism industry enjoyed robust growth in the first 10 months of this year, according to statistics released by the National Tourism Administration. China received 89.79 million tourists on the mainland in the first 10 months of this year, up 20.34 percent year-on-year. That was an 11.09 percent increase over the same period over 2002. Among tourists, 13.84 million were from overseas countries, up 52.66 percent year-on-year; 55.03 million were Hong Kongers, up 14.68 percent

Shopping Trips Fashionable
Shopping trips to nearby Asian destinations are becoming more popular with the approach of Christmas and the New Year. According to Shanghai International Travel Service, many customers are already signing up for shopping groups to Hong Kong and Singapore, the most popular destinations for local shoppers. "Many brands will be on sale there, and sometimes the discounts can be 50 percent," said Zhao Dexiang, general manager of the company. He said the shopping tours are mature

Electric Bikes All the Rage in Hangzhou
Electric bikes are quickly becoming one of the main modes of transportation in Hangzhou, Zhejiang Province. The latest statistics show 230,000 electric bikes were registered between January and October this year, over and above the 110,000 registered last year. The figure is climbing by 12,000 each month, according to statistics from the Hangzhou Non-motorized Vehicles Administrative Office. "The past 11 months have seen the number of electric bikes registered more than a do

Tourists Flock Back to China
The tourism industry enjoyed robust growth in the first 10 months of this year, according to the National Tourism Administration. China received 89.79 million tourists to the mainland in the period. That is over 20 percent up on 2003, when SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) had a large negative impact, but also 11 percent up on 2002. Among them, 13.84 million were from overseas, up 53 percent year-on-year; 55.03 million were Hongkongers, up 15 percent; 17.83 million were from

Tourists bringing wealth to China
China's tourism industry enjoyed robust growth in the first 10 months this year, Beijing-based English newspaper China Daily reported Tuesday. According to statistics from the National Tourism Administration, China received 89.79 million tourists in the mainland areas in the first 10 months this year, up 20.34 percent year-on-year, an 11.09 percent increase over the same period in 2002. Among tourists, 13.84 million were from overseas countries, up 52.66 percent year-on-year; 55.03

Air China expands flights for winter, spring
Air China will operate an average of 3,760 flights every week in the upcoming winter and spring seasons, up 15.25 percent over the previous year. During the period, Air China will speed up building its flight network with Beijing as the hub, and increase flights to Europe, Japan and the Republic of Korea. It will add more flights to domestic capital cities and popular tourism destinations, such as to Hangzhou, Chengdu, Guiyang and Shenzhen. Air China southwest branch has opened new

Shangri-La to Build New Hotel
Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, one of Asia Pacific's leading luxury hotel groups, will build a new hotel in Shenzhen to be opened in 2007. Construction work started Friday near the Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center in Futian District, the city's new central business district. Designed by a Hong Kong-based company, the 200-meter-high hotel will have 596 guest rooms and 51 serviced apartments, with a minimum room size of 48 square meters. Hotel guests will be provided

Bus Stops Reshuffle for Metro
Shenzhen plans to center its public transport system on railways after the first phase of the Shenzhen Metro starts operating. The public transport system would be readjusted and bus stops rebuilt around Metro stations, to provide easy transit between Metro stations and buses, officials with the municipal urban planning bureau said Monday. Taxi ranks will also be included in the new areas designated for public transport. According to the plan, the bureau will gradually re-allocate

Shopping Trips Fashionable
Shopping trips to nearby Asian destinations are becoming more popular with the approach of Christmas and the New Year. According to Shanghai International Travel Service, many customers are already signing up for shopping groups to Hong Kong and Singapore, the most popular destinations for local shoppers. "Many brands will be on sale there, and sometimes the discounts can be 50 percent," said Zhao Dexiang, general manager of the company. He said the shopping tours are mature

Australia sees surge from China
ARRIVALS from North and South-east Asian markets into Australia have increased over the last nine months compared to the same period last year. China brought in the biggest growth - 16,400 in September, bringing the total for the nine months to 180,300, a 53 per cent increase. Japan recorded 58,000 visitors in September, bringing the total for the nine months to 520,200, an increase of 20 per cent. Korea, Malaysia and Thailand also registered increases of four, 12 and 11 per

India, Pakistan Agree to Press on with Peace Bid
India and Pakistan agreed on Tuesday to press on with a frayed peace process as Pakistani Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz began talks with leaders in New Delhi during a rare visit across the border. "Both sides felt the composite dialogue should continue to move forward," Indian foreign ministry spokesman Navtej Sarna told reporters after the first round of talks between Aziz and Indian Foreign Minister Natwar Singh. Aziz arrived in New Delhi in his capacity as the head of a South Asia

Iraq Conference to Back War on Insurgents
World leaders who gathered in Egypt for an international conference on Iraq focused on another Mideast issue early Tuesday -- the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. The so-called Quartet of sponsors of a peace plan known as the road map met for breakfast on the sidelines of the Iraq conference. Secretary of State Colin Powell, on one of his last trips in his post, attended the meeting a day after holding talks in Israel and the Palestinian territories. Powell

Romania Welcomes Chinese Tourists
The Romanian embassy in Beijing plans to issue tourist visa to Chinese citizens beginning in January, 2005, Romanian ambassador to China Viorel Isticioaia Budura announced in Beijing Tuesday. The move will carry out relevant tourism agreements signed between Romania and China in Bucharest, capital of Romania in June this year, Isticioaia said. During the state visit to Romania in June, Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Romanian counterpart, Ion Iliescu, signed a statement, pledgi

Air Crash Raises Safety Concerns
The crash of an airliner on Sunday in north China has underlined concerns over the safety of regional planes. Some passengers have started paying additional attention to the type of aircraft they are likely to fly in when purchasing tickets, according to a Beijing-based travel agent. In Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, ticket sellers say passengers preferred to fly in the Boeing 737, 747 or A 330 and 340 rather than smaller aircraft. Regional planes, which usually h

Crash Prompts Insurance Boom
Guangzhou-based Nanfang Daily reports the crash of a plane in northern China has lead to a mini boom in travel insurance. Statistics from the civil aviation department show that only 50 percent of airline passengers bought insurance before, and the figure hikes to 80 percent this week, China Radio International reported Thursday. Among the 53 victims on the plane in Baotou, only half had taken out insurance. Experts believe the air crash may help raise public awareness of sa

China Aims to Be No. 1 Destination
China aims to attract 210 million overseas visitors annually by 2020, more than double the current figure, a top tourism official said in Shanghai yesterday. By the same year, China will become the world's No. 1 tourism destination in terms of the number of inbound travelers, and the fourth-largest country for outbound tourists, according to a forecast by the World Tourism Organization. Revenue from the tourism sector, both from inbound and outbound travelers, is forecast to top US

Bureau Speeds up Disaster Rescues
Efforts of the Beihai Rescue Bureau to improve its capabilities have paid off. With more rescue ships and helicopters, the bureau is capable of covering a larger area of the Bohai Sea in a shorter time, said Hou Jinghua, director of the Beihai Rescue Bureau based in Yantai in east China's Shandong Province. The current average time to get to accident spots has been cut to 2 hours and 27 minutes from the former 4 hours and 41 minutes during the January-July period, when the bureau w

Tourism Business Booms with Big Market
As one of the fastest growing and most intriguing tourism destinations in the world, China is becoming a magnet for travel-related businesses. Nearly 2,900 such overseas and domestic enterprises gathered in Shanghai yesterday to attend the 2004 China International Travel Mart (CITM), a jump of 16 percent from 2002. The CITM shifts annually between Shanghai and Kunming. The mart has been held five times, three times in Shanghai and twice in Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province.

China's Tourism Speeds up Opening After WTO Entry
China's tourism speeds up after the nation joined the World Trade Organization (WTO), an official with the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) said in Beijing on Wednesday. Hotel industry in China is already opened in an all-round way, and almost all the well-known international hotel groups are already in China, said Shen Huirong, director of CNTA's International Department at the opening ceremony of China International Travel Mart (CITM). In July 2003, CNTA approved the

Date Set for HK Disney Park
Hong Kong Disneyland and the government of Hong Kong Special Administrative Region announced on Monday that the new theme park will open on September 12, 2005. "The announcement of the opening day for Hong Kong Disneyland marks a key milestone for the development of Hong Kong tourism and the economy as a whole," said Financial Secretary of Hong Kong Henry Tang. The opening will be a driving force for growth in tourism, and family tourism development in particular, noted Tang.

Romania Welcomes Chinese Tourists
The Romanian embassy in Beijing plans to issue tourist visa to Chinese citizens beginning in January, 2005, Romanian ambassador to China Viorel Isticioaia Budura announced in Beijing Tuesday. The move will carry out relevant tourism agreements signed between Romania and China in Bucharest, capital of Romania in June this year, Isticioaia said. During the state visit to Romania in June, Chinese President Hu Jintao and his Romanian counterpart, Ion Iliescu, signed a statement, pledgi

Fashion inspires Tourism Malaysia
TOURISM Malaysia plans to invigorate the local fashion industry and turn the country into Asia's shopping and fashion hub with a series of seminars on trend forecasting. The seminars would enable the players concerned to access the vital markets and generate brand names to compete in the global fashion arena, Tourism Minister Datuk Dr Leo Michael Toyad, said at the launch of Kuala Lumpur-Asia Fashion Week last night. "In the UK, the fashion industry is the third largest revenue ear

China's tourism speeds up opening after WTO entry
China's tourism sped up after the nation joined the World Trade Organization (WTO), an official with the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) here Wednesday. Hotel industry in China is already opened in an all-round way, and almost all the well-known international hotel groups are already in China, said Shen Huirong, director of CNTA's International Department at the opening ceremony of China International Travel Mart (CITM). In July 2003, CNTA approved the first applicatio

Overseas tourist destinations for Chinese reach 63
Chinese group tourists now can travel to 63 countries and regions worldwide, according to a tourist officials here Wednesday. Shen Huirong, a senior official with the China National TourismAdministration (CNTA), told an on-going travel fair that China hasbecome an emerging marketplace for both inbound and outbound tourism. Inbound tourists to China hit 89.79 million in the first ten months of this year, up 20.3 percent year-on-year while China's outbound travelers increased 49.8 pe

Vietnam hosts more foreign visitors
Vietnam is estimated to welcome over2.6 million international arrivals in the first 11 months of this year, a year-on-year surge of 23.9 percent, the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT) told Xinhua on Wednesday. China's mainland, the United States, and Japan were Vietnam'sbiggest tourism markets in the period, with the numbers of visitors rising by 19.1 percent to 715,000, some 27.7 percent to 247,000 and 29.8 percent to 244,000, respectively, the administration said.

Tourism business booms in China with big market
As one of the fastest growing and most intriguing tourism destinations in the world, China is becoming a magnet for travel-related businesses. Nearly 2,900 such overseas and domestic enterprises gathered in Shanghai Wednesday to attend the 2004 China International Travel Mart (CITM), a jump of 16 per cent from 2002. The CITM shifts between Shanghai and Kunming annually. The mart has been held five times, three times in Shanghai and twice in Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province.
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China aims to be No. 1 destination
China aims to attract 210 million overseas visitors annually by 2020, more than double the current figure, a top tourism official said in Shanghai yesterday. By the same year, China will become the world's No. 1 tourism destination in terms of the number of inbound travelers, and the fourth-largest country for outbound tourists, according to a forecast by the World Tourism Organization. Revenue from the tourism sector, both from inbound and outbound travelers, is forecast to top US

Qatar airline to link Myanmar early next year
The Qatar Airways, a Middle-East airline, will launch direct flight to Myanmar's capital of Yangon early next year to promote the regional air transportation, according to Thursday's The New Light of Myanmar. The airline will operate four weekly services between Doha and Yangon, while the Myanmar Airways International (MAI) will operate passenger transportation as a marketing carrier for the route of Yangon-Dohar-some European destinations under an air services agreement reached between Q

Ox Street Mosque
The Ox Street Mosque, located in the Guang' anmennei area in the southwestern section of the city, is the oldest and largest of the 80-odd mosques in Beijing. The Islamic faith was introduced into China during the Tang Dynasty and has followers among more than 10 Chinese ethnic groups, including the Huis, Uygurs, Ozbeks and Kazaks. When it was first built some thousand years ago, the architecture of the Ox Street Mosque was in pure Arabic style. During its many phases of reconstruc

Strong Euro to Slow Chinese Europe Travel
A strong euro since September has pushed travel agencies in China to the edge of raising price of travel packages to Europe. "Prices for European trips are very likely to rise at the beginning of next year, to at least 13,000 yuan (US$1,571.95)," said Dun Jidong with China Travel Service Group. The cheapest tour to Europe now costs 8,000 yuan (US$967.35), as it is in an off season after the October 1-7 Golden Week in China. The euro has been growing strong against the Chines

ASEAN Summit Pushes Co-op
Two areas of cooperation are expected to dominate the ASEAN Summit due in Vientiane, Laos on November 28-30, namely economic cooperation and its common fight against terror from within the region. Economic cooperation is truly the key to the cohesiveness and cooperation of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and a new impetus seems to be emerging, as ASEAN leaders pledge to increase economic, trade and investment links across ASEAN in the lead-up to the Vientiane Summit.

Strong Euro to Slow Chinese European Tours
The escalating strength of the euro has led travel agencies in China to give serious consideration to raising the price of travel packages to Europe. "Prices for European trips are very likely to rise at the beginning of next year, to at least 13,000 yuan (US$1,572)," said Dun Jidong of China Travel Service Group. The cheapest tour to Europe now costs 8,000 yuan (US$967), as it is the off-season following the October 1-7 "golden week" holiday. Chinese citizens can only trave

French Art to Star in the Chinese Connection
With "Designs from France" opening next Friday (Dec. 3) in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu Province, and "New Waves, a point of view on French contemporary art" scheduled to embrace local museum goers in Shanghai on January 15, the Center Pompidou is trying to expand its allure among fans of art and design across China. The acclaimed French national art and design institute in Paris, which has curated the shows, has every reason to enhance its presence in this country during the

Lufthansa Plots Strategy for More Market Share
German-based global aviation giant Deutsche Lufthansa AG (Lufthansa) is brewing a bold long-term business strategy to further tap into the fledgling but promising Chinese market, thanks to the new and more liberal Sino-German aviation pact, company executives said. "We will boost our flight capacity to China by 50 percent from now to 2007, because of the new market-opening deal between China and Germany," said Thierry Antinori, executive vice president marketing & Sales of Lufthansa.
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Lufthansa Plots Strategy for More Market Share
German-based global aviation giant Deutsche Lufthansa AG (Lufthansa) is brewing a bold long-term business strategy to further tap into the fledgling but promising Chinese market, thanks to the new and more liberal Sino-German aviation pact, company executives said. "We will boost our flight capacity to China by 50 percent from now to 2007, because of the new market-opening deal between China and Germany," Thierry Antinori, executive vice president marketing & Sales of Lufthansa, told Chin

Travel Exhibition Draws A Crowd
Nearly 10,000 agreements were signed during the China International Travel Mart 2004, which wrapped up yesterday in Shanghai. About 45,000 people visited the four-day fair, including 17,000 industry insiders. Some 2,900 exhibitors from 64 countries and regions participated into the fair, and 1,050 exhibitors from abroad set up 652 booths. This year's event set new records for the number and percentage of overseas exhibitors, said Shen Huirong, an official with the China National To

Traditional Dong Bridge to Be Restored
A 121-year-old bridge in the Dong ethnic style that was destroyed by flooding this July will be restored nearly to its original appearance, said an expert on cultural heritage restoration in Guiyang, the capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province, on Sunday. Located in Liping County, Miao-Dong Autonomous Prefecture, the bridge has been a prime destination for sightseers from around the world. Experts are now designing a detailed plan for repairs, which are expected to be finished by th

Travel Market Opens Ahead of Schedule
China has opened its travel agency market to foreign investors years ahead of the schedule it agreed with the World Trade Organization (WTO). The country promised to allow the establishment of foreign-controlled travel agencies from December 11, 2004, when it entered the WTO three years ago. And foreign investors will be permitted to set up wholly-funded companies by the end of 2007. But China has lifted the ban on foreign-invested travel service providers much earlier than

Acid Rain Controls Planned
Increasing discharges of nitric acid and sulfur dioxide are worsening China's acid rain, experts say. "The amazing growth of nitrates, resulting from a swift rise in automobiles and coal consumption plus overuse of fertilizers, is playing an increasing role in acid rain pollution," said Tang Dagang, director of Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences. The conclusion was drawn from a five-year Sino-Norwegian program to monitor acidification in southwestern China. I

Hong Kong Lives in the Lap of Luxury
Designer-clad women browse the new arrival racks of a French couturier store; well-heeled gents snap up suits from a US outfitter; and trendy youngsters fill a club-like European sports gear store. Hong Kongers of all ages fill this mall in search of the world's most prestigious -- and expensive -- labels. But contrary to appearances, this is not one of the glitzy emporia of the fashion-conscious downtown district. Nor is it in the rarefied atmosphere of the super-rich Peak neighbo

Strong euro likely to slow Chinese tourists' Europe travel
A strong euro since September has pushed travel agencies in China to the edge of raising price of travel packages to Europe. "Prices for European trips are very likely to rise at the beginning of next year, to at least 13,000 yuan (1,571.95 US dollars)," said Dun Jidong with China Travel Service Group. The cheapest tour to Europe now costs 8,000 yuan (967.35 US dollars), as it is in an off season after the Oct. 1-7 Golden Weekin China. The euro has been growing strong again

HK Winter Fest to Give Extra Spur to Visitor Arrivals
The Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) officially launched its Hong Kong Winter Fest on Friday in a bid to help turn the winter into another peak travel season. Hong Kong Winter Fest, which will run until Jan. 2, 2005, features a diversity of world-class performances and activities, and promises to offer visitors with memorable Christmas experience. HKTB Chairman Selina Chow said that since the introduction of the program two years ago, "we have successfully turned the winter period th

ASEAN Wants A Single Visa to Tourists
Officials with the Association of South East Asian Nations, or ASEAN, indicate that member nations must lower airline ticket prices and apply a universal visa policy to build a single market like the European Union. This is to stimulate the aviation industry and tourism, and to attract more tourists from the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong. As the region's pillar industry, tourism has earned nearly US$28 billion for the 10 ASEAN members, and they are planning to construct a single m

Damaged Ethnic-style Bridge to Be Restored
A storm-ravaged bridge in the Dong ethnic style is provided with advantages to resume its original appearance, said an expert on cultural heritage restoration in Guiyang on Sunday. The 121-year-old bridge, located in Liping County of Miao-Dong Autonomous Prefecture, southwest China's Guizhou province, has been a major destination for both Chinese and foreign tourists. It was severely damaged by river floods in July this year. Experts are now designing a detailed plan for the repair work,

Chinese visitors pump up Macau arrivals
MACAU has welcomed some 11.7 million arrivals to date in 2004, almost 45 per cent higher over last year, boosted by Chinese tourists, which continue to lead the growth in arrivals. Macau Government Tourist Office director, Mr Joan Manuel Costa Antunes, said the new casinos and resorts, which opened in 2004, and events such as the Macau Grand Prix were the main attractions. Growth, he said, was also facilitated by easing entry and the issuing of individual visas in July. He is confi

ASITA bullish on China
THE head of marketing and promotion for the Association of the Indonesian Tours & Travel Agencies, Mr Eddy Sunyoto, says Indonesia has set a target of one million Chinese tourists a year by 2007. Up to November, some 100,000 Chinese visitors have visited Indonesia, a 10 to 15 per cent increase over 2003, and Mr Sunyoto is confident the target can be achieved. In September, contestants of a top model competition in China went to Bali for a location shoot. "When the programme is aire

Air China plans 15 per cent capacity increase
AIR China is set to increase the number of flights it operates by 15 per cent, over the previous year, according to reports. During winter and spring, the airline, which hubs in Beijing, will operate an average of 3,760 flights each week. International destinations in Europe, Japan, and South Korea will see an increase in frequency of flights. The number of flights to domestic cities such as popular tourist destinations Hangzhou, Chengdu, Guiyang, and Shenzhen will also be increase

Pets enjoy travelling
The first tour group of people and pets in Guangzhou set off on Saturday. More than 100 tourists and their 42 pet dogs started their special journey at 8 am. People and pooches alike, the latter dressed in their Sunday best, were very excited on the bus. The tour agency had arranged some games and a dogs' fashion show, which the tourists and their dogs enjoyed immensely. This new pets tour is gaining popularity and more groups will be started next week.

Shanghai-HK airfares rise
Airfares between Shanghai and Hong Kong will rise as the island's two carriers plan to increase the fuel surcharge to compensate for increasing oil costs, today's Shanghai Morning Post reported. Starting December 1, passengers taking Cathy Pacific Airways' short-distance flights, including those on the Shanghai-Hong Kong and the Beijing-Hong Kong routes, will pay a surcharge of US$9.2, 14 percent up from the existing US$7, according to the company's spokesperson. Passengers on long

Southeast Asian tours rebound
Tours to Southeast Asian countries regained popularity, and as a result, price increases are expected, the Shanghai Morning Post reported today. As of next month, Thailand will be the first Southeast Asian nation to charge more for tourists, with the seven-day tour priced at 2,400 yuan (US$289), up ten percent from this month, according to the Shanghai Airlines Tours International Co Ltd. The 2,400-yuan tour price covers all the charges, however, and tour members are not required to make

More Money Budgeted for Qinghai-Tibet Railway
China Railway Ministry will invest another 5.5 billion yuan, or more than US$660 million, for the construction of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway. A total of 19.8 billion yuan (US$ 2.39 billion) had been earmarked for the 1,142 kilometer train line that will run from Golmud, in western Qinghai Province to Lhasa, the capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region, making it the longest railway at the highest elevation in the world. So far, nearly 740 kilometers of track has been laid since China

Another Coal Mine Blast, Another 13 Lives Lost
At least 13 miners are dead and another three missing after an early-morning coal mine gas explosion in Guizhou Province's Liupanshui City, in southwest China. The blast occurred at 1:30 AM Wednesday in the No. 2 pit, when 49 miners were working underground. Thirty-three people have so far been rescued, four of them injured. No report was available on the extent of their injuries. Two rescue teams from the Panjiang Coal and Electricity Corporation and Panxian County have bee

Rolls Royce Shows Off 100EX in HK
Rolls Royce's prototype 100EX Centenary Experimental Car is displayed in Hong Kong Tuesday. The display is to mark the company's 100th anniversary. The 100EX is the first Rolls Royce concept since the British automaker was taken over by Bayerische Motoren-Werke AG or BMW in 1998. The car's next stop is Shanghai, China. Meanwhile, BMW said earlier that it will make an armored model to cash in on growing fears among the world's wealthy motorists over terrorism Th

China Sends Its Footballers to Germany
China's beleaguered national football team is looking to Germany to improve its fortunes. After the humiliating exit from the 2006 World Cup qualifiers earlier this month, Chinese Football Association (CFA) officials are vowing to take action - and hope Germany can provide the inspiration to build a highly organized, diligent, mighty footballing force. A specially-assembled group, called the 2008-Star Team consisting of 27 young and promising Chinese football players, will undergo

Key Sites to Double Entry Fees
Some of Beijing's most famous tourist attractions may raise their admission costs. All 21 delegates at a hearing Tuesday agreed to proposals that the city's five world heritage sites -- including the Imperial Palace, also known as the Forbidden City, and the Great Wall -- increase ticket prices. "The price adjustments may help raise funds for heritage protection so that we can better implement the World Heritage Convention and preserve the sites' original appearance and landscapes,

Key Sites to Double Entry Fees
Some of Beijing's most famous tourist attractions may raise their admission costs. All 21 delegates at a hearing Tuesday agreed to proposals that the city's five world heritage sites -- including the Imperial Palace, also known as the Forbidden City, and the Great Wall -- increase ticket prices. "The price adjustments may help raise funds for heritage protection so that we can better implement the World Heritage Convention and preserve the sites' original appearance and landscapes,

Ferry Promotes Links Between Mainland, Island
The country's first ocean-going railway ferry will begin carrying passengers on Sunday, furthering economic ties between Hainan Island and the mainland, China Daily reported Thursday. The ferry will take passenger trains across the Qiongzhou Straits in southern China. It takes about 12 hours for trains to complete the journey from Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, and Haikou, the Hainan provincial capital. This includes the hour its takes for the railway ferry to cro

Enjoy Our Heritage If You Can Afford It
Visitors are expected to pay dearly when visiting the six UNESCO world cultural heritage sites in Beijing. The six the Summer Palace, the Forbidden City, the Badaling section of the Great Wall, the Temple of Heaven and two of the Thirteen Ming Tombs -- will likely hike their entrance fee after Tuesday's hearing. For example, in the busy season, the ticket price of the Forbidden City will be to chalk up from 60 yuan (US$7.23) to 100 yuan (US$12.05), entry to the Summer Palace will j

Bridge over Troubled Waters
The trunk of a 200-year-old banyan tree that stood on the banks of the Nanjiang River toppled as the flood waters roared down from the Leishan Mountain 3,700 meters above sea level. They crashed onto a cement bridge that crossed the river; a potent symbol of nature's force. Carrying a rope with him, Su Zhaohui, 43, tiptoed onto an ancient wooden covered bridge about 100 meters up stream from the modern cement bridge. He undertook his daring rescue mission dressed only in his underwear.

Medical Attraction for Expatriates in China
His first experience visiting a physician in a hospital in Pudong last year was unforgettable and unpleasant for Bill, an Australian working in Shanghai. The Chinese doctors seemed uninterested in my ailment, but curious about my life. "How long have you been in Shanghai What's your profession " Bill recalled. After the long enquiry ended, Bill was given a small plastic cup. "Taking a stool sample for testing" was the physician's only order. But the patient had been tortured by di

Tianjin Holds Fair to Lure HK Investors
North China's Tianjin Municipality seeks comprehensive cooperation with Hong Kong investors especially in the service sector, said Mayor Dai Xianglong at an investment promotion fair in Hong Kong yesterday. The fair presents 104 projects worth 150 billion yuan (US$18.1 billion), mainly covering the service sector to lure Hong Kong investors. The fair includes projects in the logistics, finance, intermediary agency, tourism, convention and exhibition industries that "Hong Kong and T

Ferry Promotes Links Between Mainland, Island
The country's first ocean-going railway ferry will begin carrying passengers on Sunday, furthering economic ties between Hainan Island and the mainland. The ferry will take passenger trains across the Qiongzhou Straits in southern China. It takes about 12 hours for trains to complete the journey from Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong Province, and Haikou, the Hainan provincial capital. This includes the hour its takes for the railway ferry to cross the Qiongzhou Straits.

Tourism Back in the Black in Shenzhen
Shenzhen tourism has turned around with a record 42.64 million tourists visiting the city from January to October this year, an increase of almost 25 percent over the same period last year. Tourist venues attracted 20.08 million people during the same period, an increase of almost 27 percent, the Shenzhen Special Zone Daily reported Wednesday, quoting the Shenzhen Municipal Tourism Bureau. The number of tourists visiting the city in January hit 5.136 million, of which 2.128 million

Travel Agencies Face New Regulations
New regulations issued by Beijing's Tourist Administration specify that travel agencies should provide contracts with tourists to specify schedules, service items, standard charges, shopping programs and other items on the agenda before extra fees are levied. According to the new regulations, if agencies misguide their clients by placing extra items on the itinerary or requesting more money, they could be fined between 1000 to 30,000 yuan, or in more serious instances, have their licenses

Travel Exhibition Draws A Crowd
Nearly 10,000 agreements were signed during the China International Travel Mart 2004, which wrapped up yesterday in Shanghai. About 45,000 people visited the four-day fair, including 17,000 industry insiders. Some 2,900 exhibitors from 64 countries and regions participated into the fair, and 1,050 exhibitors from abroad set up 652 booths. This year's event set new records for the number and percentage of overseas exhibitors, said Shen Huirong, an official with the China National To

Ticket Price For Imperial Palace To Rise
Ticket prices for six World Cultural Heritage Sites are set to rise. Ticket prices for six World Cultural Heritage Sites are set to rise. The six sites involved are the Imperial Palace, the Great Wall, the Summer Palace, the Temple of Heaven, and two of the tombs in The Ming Tombs complex. Up till now, entrance charges for the six sites were relatively low when compared with other tourist spots in China. According to the Beijing govenment this made maintaining and protecting

Malaysia Airlines eliminates luxury class
Starting next year, upgraded Boeing 777-200 jetliners with no First Class sections but expanded Business Class sections will travel between Shanghai and Malaysia, a Malaysia Airlines official said yesterday. As reported in the Youth Daily, Huang Shengfu, general manager with Malaysia Airlines' East China region, said the company is making adjustments to improve its fleet and service. Since October, the carrier has reported satisfactory business, particularly with the Economy Class.

One Ticket for Twelve BJ Tourist Parks
A source from the Beijing Development Planning Commission says starting January 1st next year, citizens can visit twelve tourist parks with just one annual ticket. The twelve parks include the Summer Palace, Temple of Heaven, Beihai Park and Fragrant Hills Park. The ticket is 200 RMB, with no limit on the number of visits in one year. Beijing had a similar annual ticket before, but it only applied to seniors and retired people. This move aims to ensure all citizens can enjoy the ci

Cold Wave Brings About Flurry Days
Fog continued to cover north China, northeast China, most regions of the southern areas of the Yangtze River and parts of southwest China yesterday. Twenty cars in a pile-up caused by heavy fog on the No.102 highway yesterday morning in northeast China's Liaoning Province. No one was injured in the accident. The fog might weaken or fade away today, with the coming of a cold wave that will bring snow and wind, according to forecast from the China Central Meteorological Observatory.<

Water Diversion Planned to Beat S. China Drought
South China's Guangdong Province may divert water from other southern and southwestern areas to help fight the extended drought and the salt tide currently plaguing the Pearl River Delta. Vice Governor Li Ronggen said at a conference in Guangzhou, the capital of Guangdong, that provincial water conservation departments are in talks with the Ministry of Water Resources and their counterparts in southwest China's Guizhou Province and south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Gu

Sixty-five Missing in Guizhou Landslide
Sixty-five people in southwest China's Guizhou Province are still missing after a landslide early on Friday. Twenty-five houses were destroyed, in which an estimated 108 people were sleeping when the tragedy took place at around 03:00 AM in the village of Zuojiaying, Nayong County. Thirty-one people fled the scene and 12 others were rescued later, leaving 65 still missing. Leading county officials have sent rescue workers to the village. Yang Guoshun, from the State Producti

Skyworth Suspects Released on Bail
Skyworth Digital Holdings' Chairman Stephen Wong Wang-sang and his brother Wong Pui-sing, the company's executive director, were released on bail Thursday while their case of alleged misappropriation of company funds was adjourned. The duo appeared in the Eastern Magistracy to face a joint charge of conspiring with a third person to steal nine cheques, totalling more than HK$48 million of company funds, from November 2000 to April 2003. No pleas were taken. At the request of the pr

65 Missing in Guizhou Landslide
About 65 people in southwest China's Guizhou Province are still missing after a landslide early on Friday. Twenty-five houses were destroyed, in which an estimated 108 people were sleeping when the tragedy took place at around 03:00 AM in the village of Zuojiaying, Nayong County. Thirty-one people fled the scene and 12 others were rescued later, leaving 65 still unaccounted for. Leading county officials have sent rescue workers to the village. Yang Guoshun, from the State Pr

Heavy Fog Blankets China
Beijing has been hidden in dense fog since Tuesday afternoon. Visibility was less than one kilometer Wednesday morning and the heaviest fog so far this winter resulted in the temporary closure of five of the city's eight expressways By Wednesday, most of northern and southwestern China, Liaoning Province in the northeast and the lower reaches of the Yangtze River were shrouded in mist, according to the Central Meteorological Station (CMS). A 217,000-square-kilometer mass of fog cov

Shanghai Upgrades Transport Links
The transportation system in Shanghai will be under a lot of pressure during the 2010 World Expo, but the municipal government is making every effort to improve its transportation service. It says, by 2010, the city's public transport will be able to take passengers from downtown, to Pujiang Expo Garden in Minghang District in less than an hour. The commuting time to nearby cities in the Yangtze Delta will be cut to around 3 hours to allow people to make day trips into the Expo.

New Railway Links Hainan Island and Guangdong
This railway is between Haikou City to south China's Guangzhou City, which crosses Qiongzhou Channel, will officially open on December 5. The train has nine stations and the whole trip takes about 12 hours, including a fifty-five minute ferry trip. The train departs at night and arrives the next morning. This train can carry 630 people include 42 crew. When this route opens, it will have lead to routes to other mainland cities.

New Air Route to Link NW China with Singapore
China Southern Airlines Company Ltd. announced in Xi'an Tuesday that a new air route linking Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, and Singapore via Guangzhou will be officially launched on Dec. 2 this year. With Boeing-757 and Airbus-320 in service, the new route will be the first international airline launched by China Southern Airlines connecting Xi'an with the outside world. Flights will be available every day. A plane is scheduled to leave Xi'an at 3:40 PM, and

Guangdong, HK Joining Hhands to Fight Pollution
Hong Kong and Guangdong Province will forge a closer partnership in the battle against air pollution, a government official said yesterday. Secretary for the Environment, Transport and Works Sarah Liao outlined the government measures to control air pollution and cooperative efforts with the Guangdong authorities to reduce pollutant emissions at a Legislative Council meeting. "Economic burdens and losses attributable to air pollution are often indirect, long-term and inconspicuous.

Indonesia eyes six million arrivals, US$6billion earnings
INDONESIA Department of Culture and Tourism has set a target of six million arrivals and an earning of US$6 billion in 2005. Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mr Jero Wacik, said: "We have earlier targeted 5.5 million arrivals, but I have decided to increase it to six million. We have to work hard to achieve it." He will be applying strategies to achieve the target. "First of all, we will eliminate the stumbling blocks, such as the immigration services, and to develop new markets, s

More money for China tourists to spend abroad
MAINLAND China visitors are permitted to take more cash overseas now, about RMB$6,000 and the equivalent of US$5,000 in other currencies. The decision to increase the maximum amount of renminbi allowed overseas was applauded by Hong Kong's tourism industry. Travel Industry Council of Hong Kong executive director Mr Joseph Tung said: "This positive move means they are bringing more money to spend in Hong Kong." He added credit cards were still not common for Chinese, though some mai

Italian President calls for Italy-China cultural exchanges
Visiting Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi Monday called upon more exchanges between Italy and China on language and culture. "I wish once again to encourage all of you, particularly the young people of China, to make the Italian language and culture a part of your lives, a bridge to bring us closer," Ciampi said. Facing over 100 Chinese scholars who are engaged in Italian language teaching and research, Ciampi said more and more Chinese show interest in learning Italian langu

HK welcomes 20 millionth tourist
A female tourist from The Netherlands has become the most lucky overseas tourist to Hong Kong in 2004 -- the 20 millionth tourist to Hong Kong who received a package of rewards. Barbara Wallerbosch, who arrived in Hong Kong at about 8:00 a.m. at Hong Kong International Airport Sunday was recognized by Hong Kong's Immigration Department as the 20 millionth tourist to Hong Kong in 2004. Hong Kong Tourist Development Board (HKTB) has offered her a 12-minute Helitours at night, week-lo

Photographer Captures Tibetans with Passion
For years, Beijing-based photographer Hong Xing has had an obsession with Tibetan people and culture. "My innate desire to travel far and escaping from my home has taken me in the journeys to unknown destinations. It has become part of my way of life, visiting the areas where Tibetan communities live," she said. And "Hong Xing," whose real name is Zhang Yonghong, has become a household name in Yushu Tibet Autonomous Prefecture, in northwest China's Qinghai Province. In her n

Yang Tries New Expression with Ink And Brush
When artist Yang Ermin held his solo exhibition of water ink paintings at Beijing's Yanhuang Gallery, he invited his father to travel from Hebei Province's Baoding to the gallery at the Asian Games Village. The 72-old mason, who is famous in his hometown for his vivid stone carvings, described his impression of paintings done by his son as "comfortable," even though some of the paintings deal with subjects seemingly alien to traditional Chinese ink paintings. Simple, yet enough to

Japanese Travel Agency Taps Water in Shanghai
The Nippon Travel Agency Co Ltd, the third largest tour agency of Japan, launched the first Japanese solely-owned tour operations in Shanghai, temporarily for employees from local Japanese-funded companies and Sino-Japan joint ventures, today's Laodong Daily reported. Although ordinary local citizens cannot sign up for the tour groups with the agency for the time being, workers from local Japanese-funded companies and joint ventures can join the group, said an industry analyst. Cur

Air China Prices Listing at Higher End
Air China, the country's biggest airline, raised US$1.07 billion after pricing its IPO near the top of its range, sources close to the deal said yesterday, amid strong demand for new Hong Kong listings. With oil prices retreating from record highs and the rising popularity of air travel as China grows wealthier, fund managers expect Air China shares to rise at least 5 percent when they start trading in Hong Kong and London on Wednesday. "Air China should go well," said Ding Yi, a f

Favorite Visa to Singapore for Chinese Cardholders
Cardholders in China holding Visa Platinum and Visa Gold will be granted two-year multiple journey visas to Singapore under the "Visa-for-Visa" program jointly launched by Visa International and Singapore Tourism Board (STB), reported by the website of China National Tourism Administration (CNTA). The program has started on December 1 and enables eligible Visa cardholders to purchase travel packages in addition to applying for a two-year multiple journey visa to Singapore at appointed tra

Cheap Airfares to Win Trust
Chinese air-carriers are offering hefty discounts this month to regain passenger trust, today's Beijing Daily reported. Generally, with the Christmas and Spring Festival approaching, air-ticket sales will be on the rise by the year end, and air-carriers will usually take back their discounted air tickets offered in November every year, and raise airfares in December. However, things have changed this year. Domestic airlines are offering 70 percent or more discounts to passen

Space Hero Receives Doctorate Degree
National space hero Yang Liwei is still undecided on whether to travel to space again but is prepared for future space missions. Yang said this Thursday at the Chinese University of Hong Kong after he was conferred an honorary doctorate of science, adding that space missions are a part of his work and he will do his best to fulfil his responsibility as an astronaut. "This is not only my personal honor, but a tribute to those who have contributed to our country's manned space travel

No Schedule for Chinese to Visit US
There is no exact schedule for Chinese citizens to tour the US, said a spokesman with the National Tourism Administration, dispelling media reports that Chinese people are expected to be able to visit the US no later than the end of next year, Shanghai Daily reported. "We have never said that the United States will be open to Chinese tourists next year," the spokesman stressed. The National Tourism Administration has actually signed a tourism memo with the US, but there are no time

Veteran Teacher Treks 300,000 km Collecting Fossils
A veteran teacher in China's westernmost Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region has trekked some 300,000 km -- equal to a distance of seven round-the-globe trips -- in 30 years to collect fossils. Xiang Zhongyuan, 60, is a retired nature science teacher in Qitai