Chinese Travel

Chinese Travel

Sino-Japanese Team Treks Across Taklamakan
On January 23, a Sino-Japanese expedition set out on camelback and foot on an attempt to cross the Taklamakan Desert from west to east along the 39th parallel. As the crow flies, the trip is 846 kilometers; on foot it was closer to 1,500. The trek took 73 days, with supplies being replenished four times. The team comprised 29 members. The 14 from Japan included 11 elderly adventurers and three reporters from NHK TV. The oldest trekker in the group was 78 and the youngest, 54. The Chinese

World's Oldest Irrigation Facility Marks 2,260th Anniversary
A grand water discharging ceremony was held on Sunday to celebrate the 2,260th anniversary of the completion of Dujiangyan, the oldest irrigation facility in the world, located in southwest China's Sichuan Province.The celebration, attended by over 10

Photos of Beijing's Lost Buildings to Exhibit
Beijingers will have a chance to see hundreds of buildings destroyed in the last century at a photo exhibition. Beijingers will have a chance to see hundreds of buildings destroyed in the last century at a photo exhibition in Jiangshan Park on Saturday. More than 200 exhibition boards will be set up to show the pictures, which will include the Old Summer Palace, or the Yuan Ming Yuan in Chinese. A foreigner took the photo on the day it was destroyed by the British and French troops

China's Oldest Star Observatory Applys for World Cultural Heritage
China's Dengfeng observatory, the country's oldest, is applying to be listed as World Cultural Heritage. The observatory in central China's Henan province is also one of the oldest chronometer buildings in the world. It boasts a history of 730-years and was built with a 30-metre-long sundial.

China Hopes US Stops Fingerprinting Visa Applicants
China hopes the United States will stop fingerprinting Chinese visa applicants, said Foreign Ministry Spokesman Kong Quan in Beijing on Thursday. Kong made the remark at a press conference when answering questions about the US decision on March 22 to collect the fingerprints of Chinese people who apply for a US visa. According to the US embassy, this practice was targeted at most visa applicants from the Middle East, Asia and Latin America, and excluded Canada and 27 countries in E

European Tours Unlikely for May
People itching to go sightseeing in Europe during the "Golden Week" of the May Day holiday, may have their travel plans dampened by the fact that tour companies still don't have the green light to organize the trips to European countries other than Germany, Malta, Hungary and Croatia. The National Tourism Administration approved destination status agreements with 13 European countries earlier this year to simplify the application process for tourism visas. However, May Day holiday

Air Asia to Set Foot in Macao
The Macao International Airport will introduce its first allied Asia carrier, Malaysia's Air Asia to join its league by the end of May, the airport said Friday. Under a cooperation agreement with the airport, Air Asia will launch two flight routes linking Macao with Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok by the end of May. There will be one daily shuttle-flight on each of the two air lines at the initial stage of operation. The flight number will begradually added based on market feedback.

Airbus Says Giants Will Fly to China
Seven airlines would fly the super jumbo Airbus A380 to China, the giant plane's makers said yesterday. Airbus SAS, the French-based company, said it will start to assemble the A380 next month.
"Airlines that have placed orders for our A380 planes are prepared to use some of them to fly Chinese services. About seven carriers will fly A380 passenger planes and freighters to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou and Hong Kong," the company said in an e-mailed press release. Flights served

Accor continues to eye China growth
Accor will be opening 10 new hotels in China this year, boosting its portfolio in the country to 23 properties. Accor Asia-Pacific chairman, Mr David Baffsky, told a trade media lunch in Hong Kong the opportunities in China were greater than anywhere else on earth. He said about eight per cent of 2003 revenue of US$8.5 billion came from the 210 hotels the company has in Asia-Pacific. Mr Baffsky also tipped continued growth in Japan and India, as well as China. Pointing out t

Greater consumer spending in leisure activities as tourism becomes a pillar industry in China
Research and Markets announces the addition of this new report entitled "Theme Parks in China - A Market Analysis" to its offerings. As China's consumer market expands, so the government and private companies are looking to exploit areas of potential opportunity in the theme and amusement park industry. At least 24 of China's 31 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions have made tourism one of their pillar industries, encouraging greater consumer spending in leisure activities.

New Beijing travel show in 2005
BITTM, the Beijing International Travel & Tourism Market, is a new travel show slated for launch from April 20-23, 2005, to tap the burgeoning Chinese travel and tourism market. Ms Stanislava Blagoeva-Duschell, the former head of ITE Travel Exhibitions and former director of MITT (Moscow International Travel and Tourism), is organising BITTM as chief executive officer of Rising Star Exhibitions. Ms Blagoeva-Duschell said to TTG Daily News : Having in mind that China is such a popul

Local tourism industry to take reforms this year
Tourism firms in Shanghai will make reforms this year by transferring from state assets monopoly to diversified ownership, with more than 85 percent of tourism companies expected to have mixed ownership, according to a local tourism work conference yesterday. To date, half of the local hotel enterprises are wholly state-owned, and plus those with state-owned capitals holding controlling shares, the total amount of state capitals account for 70 percent of the assets in hotel industry.
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Macao's Gaming Industry Sees Profit Hike
Tycoon Stanley Ho Hung Sun's Macao Gaming Co. Ltd (SJM), which owns all of currently operating casinos in Macao, reported 3.3 billion patacas (US$412 million) in net profits last year, an increase of 50 percent on 2002. Ho revealed on Wednesday that the Macao Jockey Club, which he also chairs, made a modest net profit of 42 million patacas (US$5 million) last year. The club is engaging in a "good neighborhood agreement" with the Hong Kong Jockey Club, which would enable Hong Kong and Maca

Macao Registers Record Number of Tourist Arrivals in 2003
Despite the rampant severe accute respiration syndrome (SARS) situation in the first half of 2003, Macao registered a record number of tourist arrivals last year, hitting 11.89 million, up 3 percent over the previous year. Due to Mainland's facilitated individual travel (FIT) policy on Hong Kong and Macao-bounded tours that came into effect in late July of 2003, the total number of tourists of traveling group declined 27 percent as compared with 2002. According to a news release is

Confucius' Hometown Restores Ancient City Wall
Qufu City, in east China's Shandong Province, has started a major construction project to restore a city wall built in the Ming Dynasty, more than six hundred years ago. The city is the birthplace of Confucius, a great thinker and educator in Chinese history.
The project aims to restore the 5,300-meter long wall and a tower. Upon completion, people on the wall will get a bird's-eye view of major attractions in the city, including the Confucius Temple, Confucius Mansion and Confu

Shanghai Announces Airline Service Standards to Public
Shanghai Airlines Co announced all its service standards to the public yesterday, which will allow passengers have a clear idea of how they will be served as well as how to make complaints. The company is the first carrier in China to make public promises about its service. All other airlines on the Chinese mainland should publish their service standards later this year and be subject to passengers' supervision, said officials with the Civil Aviation Administration of China yesterd

Shanghai-London air route operational
Travelers between Shanghai, an east China metropolis, and London will have more choices as a regular direct flight between the two cities became operational on Apr 1. This is the second air route linking Shanghai with Europe that is operated by China Eastern Airlines, following the Shanghai-Paris flight. Airbus A340-600s and A340-300s of China Eastern Airlines will fly the air route on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays, sources with the company said. Planes will leave at 03:3

First China service for PB Air
PB Air is planning its first ever scheduled service linking Thailand with China and hopes to add additional routes in 2005. Starting in November the airline will introduce a daily service from Bangkok to Shantau, a major city about 400 kilometres south of Beijing, using a Boeing 737 configured with about 140 seats. PB Air president, Captain Jothin Pamon-Montri, said as many as 80 per cent of the Thai-Chinese living in Thailand originated from this city and most of them want to visi

Joint Travel Service Launched Across Taiwan Straits
Beginning Thursday, Xiamen Airlines, based in east China's Fujian Province, will join hands with Taiwan's Foshing Airlines to launch a seamless transport service, by air, sea and land, across the Taiwan Straits, believed to be the most convenient connection to date across the straits. This new service was announced by Xiamen Airlines and Taiwan's Foshing Airlines at a joint press conference at the Jinyan Hotel in Xiamen on Wednesday. Though the mainland has long been making efforts

HK Avenue of Stars to open on April 27
The Avenue of Stars is set to become Hong Kong's next major tourist attraction when it opens on April 27. Complementing the Tsim Sha Tsui waterfront, the avenue will feature pavement plaques commemorating Hong Kong movie personalities, past and present. Outlining the local film industry's 100-year history, it also features a welcoming video, sculptures and souvenir kiosks. Special lighting will make the atmosphere even more enchanting at night. Tourism Board Executive Direct

Lijiang River Faces Threats
The 437-kilometer-long Lijiang River, a branch of the Pearl River, runs from the Mao'er Mountains north of Guilin through Yangshuo and Pinle to Wuzhou, where it joins the Xijiang River. A trip along the Lijiang is one of the highlights of a holiday in China. From Guilin to Yangshuo, the river meanders through 83 kilometers of beautiful countryside, with bamboo forests, dense reed-beds and spectacular rock formations. But the water in the Lijiang has been unusually low since Novembe

Migratory Birds Collide with Air China Plane
An Air China Plane on a scheduled flight from Wenzhou to Beijing ran into a group of migratory birds when it was 10 kilometers away from its destination. When the news was relayed to the Beijing International Airport, it implemented an emergency plan including the police, fire-fighting units and first-aid units. Fortunately, the birds did not collide with the windshield, and the plane was not badly damaged. The plane landed on time and safely with its 89 passengers and 8-mem

Taiwan a Hot Spot to Take Bridal Photos
Taiwan has become the destination of choice for newlyweds to take bridal photos, attracting a large number of tourists from Hong Kong and Japan, reports China News Service. Couples choose to have their photo taken in Taiwan because of their low cost -- usually half the price couples pay in Japan and Hong Kong -- and high quality. Some tour groups go straight to the bridal photo studios upon their arrival. Many photo studios have a staff capable of communicating in Japanese, Cantone

Imperial palace over 2,000 years old unearthed in Xi'an
After six months' excavation, archaeologists claim that the imperial palace site they discoveredlast October in Xi'an, capital of west China's Shaanxi Province is of great significance to the study of the imperial palaces of the Western Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-24). The unearthed ruins of the imperial palace, covering an area of 2,000 square meters, is located in a northern suburb of Xi'an, once the capital of the Western Han Dynasty and known as Chang'an then. And it lies in the northwester

Two Historic Sites Apply for World Heritage
The mausoleum of a Ming Dynasty emperor and China's oldest observatory are applying to be on UNESCO's list of World Cultural Heritage Sites. Both are located in Central China's Henan Province. Dating back 390 years and covering 27 hectares, the mausoleum of Emperor Lujian is famous for its fine stone carvings on grandiose tomb buildings. It is the largest Ming imperial tomb so far found in China and well preserved. The Dengfeng Star Observatory was built in 1276 in the early

Chongqing City Taps Tourism Around Three Gorges
The biggest overseas group is to visit the area around the Three Gorges Reservoir since the SARS outbreak last year has just finished its tour. The trip also marks the maiden voyage of the Victoria Katarina, the largest vessel designed by the only Western-managed cruise line sailing the Yangtze River. More than 250 American visitors have just finished their week long tour to the areas around the Three Gorges Reservoir. They were sailing on the Victoria Katarina, the first of three new sis

Tourism and Food Expo to Kick Off in Guilin
The 2004 China Tourism and Food Expo will soon kick off in the city of Guilin, in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Running from May 8 to 15, the expo will display local famous dishes, snacks and desserts. Moreover, Guilin's scenic spots will be introduced to visitors and some objects d'art are expected to be sold. The subtropical city of Guilin enjoys the reputation of having the country's most beautiful scenery.

Chinese People Offer Sacrifices to Huangdi
Thousands participated in a sacrificial ceremony on Sunday at Huangdi's Tomb, the first emperor of China, in the north-western province of Shaanxi. Sunday is China's traditional Qingming Festival, a celebration that pays tribute to deceased ancestors and the arrival of spring. The ceremony is the location's largest to date and displayed new and traditional kinds of sacrifice as well as imperial dances and music. Sacrificial implements previously used by emperors figured prom

China Travel Service sole agent for Olympics' tickets
China Travel Service Hong Kong is the sole agency granted by the China Olympic Committee to sell over 3000 Athens Olympic Games Tickets in China, said the agency's head of outbound department, Mr Guo Ming. The 2004 Olympic Games in Athens is a notable event to the travel industry in China. The Sport Communication Center of China's General Administration of Sport has set up an unprecedented reception center for the 2004 Olympic Games. It has entrusted local travel agents to market the Olym

Preparations for May Day Holiday Begin
Preparations are being made across China to ready the country for its upcoming weeklong May Day holiday. Security checks are being carried out around the country, and will be completed before April 20th. They aim to prevent disruptive activities and accidents during the golden week. Governments at all levels are being urged to promote the tourism market and deal with illegal tourist operators.

Japan to waive visa fee for Chinese, ASEAN students
Japan will waive the visa commission charge for some short-term student visitors from China and ASEAN nations, the Foreign Ministry said Monday. The policy, which came into effect the same day, is designed to promote youth exchange between Japan and other Asian countries, the ministry said. Based on the regulation, primary and secondary students from China for school excursions and sightseeing university students from Association of Southeast Asian Nations members will be exempted

Valuair eyes Thailand as base for China, India expansion
Singapore-based Valuair said it hopes to use Thailand as a springboard to expand into China and India after its inaugural flight into the Thai capital on April 23. ¡°Over the next couple of months, we hope to be able to use Thailand as a base for future expansion of our airlines routes into China and India,¡± executive director of Valuair Jimmy Lau was quoted saying in Bangkok. ¡°For us Singapore is the main base but Bangkok would be the spring board for future expansions.¡± Val

MAS debuts Kota Kinabalu-Shanghai service
Malaysia Airlines has launched twice-weekly flights between Shanghai and Kota Kinabalu, boosting access to the east Malaysian state of Sabah. MAS flight MH394 departs Kota Kinabalu every Wednesday and Friday at 10.30 to reach Shanghai at 14.45. The return flight MH 395 leaves Shanghai at 17.00 local time, arriving Kota Kinabalu at 21.20 the same day. A two class configured Boeing 737-400 aircraft with 16 Business and 128 Economy Class seats will be used on this service.

Beijing to Stage American Bullfighting
American bullfighting will be entertaining the public in Beijing later this month. The bullring will be Asia's biggest one with an area of 20 thousand square meters.
American bullfighting will be entertaining the public in Beijing later this month.

Aviation Sector to Get Aid from US
China plans to open its aviation market wider to the outside world and is looking for more partnership opportunities with foreign counterparts, a senior official with General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) said yesterday.
Li Jun, CAAC

Ancient Hun Capital Bids for World Cultural Site
Shaanxi Province is preparing to apply for world cultural and natural heritage listing for its Tongwancheng Town, the world's only ruins of ancient Huns, ancient Chinese nomadic tribe which fought across northern China, central Asia and Europe.
"The ru

Silkroad on the Sea Exhibition Opens in Paris
An exhibition titled Guangzhou and the Silk Road on the Sea has opened at the China Culture Center in Paris. It is an important part of the China-France Culture Year activities.
It is an important part of the China-France Culture Year activities.

Beijing to Charge Tolls at Crowded Street Section
Beijing's municipal transportation bureau is taking energetic steps to combat traffic congestion.
With the rapidly increasing number of motor vehicles in recent years Beijing's municipal transportation bureau is taking energetic steps to combat traffic

Renovation on Yellow Emperor's Mausoleum Completes
A 12-year renovation of the Mausoleum of Huangdi (the Yellow Emperor), a legendary ruler of the Chinese nation, has been basically completed. Located on Qiaoshan Hill in Huangling County, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, the mausoleum is a popular place for people of Chinese origin from various parts of the world to worship their ancestors. To cater to the growing needs of worshippers from home and abroad, the Shaanxi provincial government launched the renovation project in 1992

3. Ancient Hun capital registered for world cultural site
Shaanxi Province is preparing to apply for world cultural and natural heritage listing for its Tongwancheng Town, the world's only ruins of ancient Huns, ancient Chinese nomadic tribe which fought across northern China, central Asia and Europe. "The ruined town will give important clues to the study of the Huns who disappeared nearly 1,000 years ago," said Zhang Tinghao, director of the Shaanxi Cultural Relics Bureau. The 1,600-year-old ruined town is in Jingbian County of northwes

China's Int'l Arts and Entertainment Group founded
China's International Arts and Entertainment Group has been established in Beijing, and is the first large state-owned cultural enterprise to be approved by the State Council. The group fuses the China Performing Arts Agency and the China International Exhibition Center with the hope providing a wider variety of cultural activities and information to the general public. As the country's cultural business leader, the group will continue to serve as the main official channel of cultu

Miss Int'l works as tour guide in Beijing
Miss Wang Shan who was crowned Best National Costume Award in last years' Miss International contest has showed foreign visitors around the Temple of Heaven Park in Beijing. The nineteen-year old Miss International speaking fluently English and wearing Chinese traditional dress has introduced China's places of interest, historic sites and folk customs to the foreign tourists. Wang Shan has worked as a volunteer on Sunday in order to promote the host of this years' Miss Internationa

Chinese tourists unable to visit Europe for May Day
Chinese tourists will be disappointed to hear that they'll not be able to visit Europe for the upcoming May Day holidays. The China National Tourism Administration say it's still not ready to issue the go-ahead for launching such tours. But, local travel agencies says, if they're allowed to, they won't be able to prepare new services in such a short timeframe. Many Chinese travel agencies had been preparing to launch tour routes to Europe during the May Day holidays, after China signed me

Hong Kong reports February 2004 visitor arrival figures
A strong performance from all three long-haul markets helped lift visitor arrivals in February 2004 to 1,454,486, a 3.3% growth on the equivalent figure for 2003, the Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) said. The best result came from Europe, Africa & the Middle East, which saw a 17.0% growth in arrivals to 104,082, while there were also encouraging performances from Australia, New Zealand & South Pacific (+12.8%) and The Americas (+9.2%). Contributing to this growth was the fact that the Luna

From Russia with love
Aeroflot Russian Airlines is to increase frequencies from Hong Kong to Moscow to six times weekly for the summer peak season, following a codeshare agreement with Cathay Pacific.
Aeroflot general manager Hong Kong, South China, Macau and the Philippines, Mr Alexey Sumchenko, said he expects load factors of up to 90 per cent. More Russians are travelling to Asia, especially southern China, Hong Kong, Macau and Taiwan. They also consider Hong Kong as the Asian hub when travelling onto Au

A Mission for the 'Princess of Peacock'
She carefully wipes her lipstick with a piece of tissue and takes a sip of water. It is a very simple movement but Yang Liping gives it a fluidity that makes it look like a dance move. "People limit the definition of dance. Dance is everywhere. Sitting here is a gesture and writing is a movement." If anyone else said the same thing you would laugh and forget about it. When Yang says it, however, you are convinced by her every movement and gesture. Each one is natural,

Oldest Grapevine Discovered in Turpan
Archaeologists claim that they have discovered a grapevine dating back 2,500 years during the excavation of the Yanghai Tombs in Shanshan County, northwestern Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. "This is the oldest grape object ever discovered in Turpan Prefecture. This discovery will advance the grape cultivation history of the Turpan region," said Zhang Yuzhong, deputy directorof the local archaeological institute. The grape object, similar to today's grapevine, is 1.15 meters long

Tulip Festival to Be Held in Qinghai
The city of Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province, will hold a tulip festival, presenting the world with over four million tulip plants and a strong ethnic flavor, said Cui Qingshan, vice director of the provincial tourism bureau. The festival will be held on May 1-6, Cui said, and it will be Qinghai's eighth time to sponsor such an activity since 1993. Tulips, scenic spots of the province as well as ethnic performances and local snacks will be displayed at the fest

Rafters to Challenge the Mekong
A much more mature and wiser group says it is ready to challenge the Lancang River next year. It will be the first time rafters have challenged the length of the river.
Lancang River is the Chinese name for the Mekong, which is nearly 5,000 kilometers

Partial Easing of Visa Policy for US Citizens
Shanghai, Hainan and the Pearl River Delta region in Guangdong are partially exempt from a new mainland visa policy for U.S. passport holders, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed.
American passport holders who stay 48 hours in Shanghai in tra

Tulip Festival to Be Held in Qinghai
The city of Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province, will hold a tulip festival, presenting the world with over four million tulip plants and a strong ethnic flavor, said Cui Qingshan, vice director of the provincial tourism bureau.
The f

HK Signs Air Services Agreement with Kuwait
Hong Kong Secretary for Economic Development and Labor Stephen Ip signed Wednesday an Air Services Agreement on behalf of the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) with the government of the State of Kuwait in Kuwait.
Accord

China, US to Promote Air Safety
Chinese and American aviation administrative departments and aviation enterprises vowed to promote building safer sky, according to the ongoing China-US Aviation Symposium.
"Although the aviation safety record in the United States is satisfying, we sti

Beijing to Stage American Bullfighting
American bullfighting will be entertaining the public in Beijing later this month. The bullring will be Asia's biggest one with an area of 20 thousand square meters. Located in the southeastern suburb of Daxing, the bullring will be Asia's biggest one with an area of 20 thousand square meters. A group of performers from America is to arrive in Beijing on April 15th and five members have already begun training at Daxing. In addition to American bullfighting, the group will ri

Four Chinese Sites Get World Heritage Certificate
A ceremony was held Monday afternoon in Beijing's Great Hall of the People to confer World Heritage Certificates on four Chinese sites listed on the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) World Heritage List. The China National Commission of UNESCO, the Ministry of Construction and the State Administration of Cultural Relics cosponsored the ceremony. The four sites honored were the Three Parallel Rivers in southwest China's Yunnan Province; the Yu

Railway Thoroughfare Connecting Hainan, Guangdong Completed
The railway built along the west coastline of the island province of Hainan on Tuesday passed assessment by a panel consisting of over 60 specialists from the Chinese Ministry of Railways, Hainan and Guangdong provinces. That put an end to construction of the railway thoroughfare connecting Guangdong Province and Hainan Province, which are separated by the Qiongzhou Strait. Guangdong-Hainan railway thoroughfare consists of a 139-km railroad from Zhanjiang to Hai'an on Leizhou Penin

Carlson Wagonlit Travel and China Air service extend joint venture to Shanghai and Guangzhou
Carlson Wagonlit Travel (CWT) announced its joint venture with China Air Service (CAS) has opened offices in Shanghai and Guangzhou, further strengthening its position as China`s leading corporate travel management company (TMC). The new branch offices in Shanghai and Guangzhou will employ approximately 60 people, generate volume in excess of US$30 million and provide professional corporate travel products and services to such companies as BP and General Electric (GE). According to

Tulip festival to be held in Qinghai
The city of Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province, will hold a tulip festival, presenting the world with over four million tulip plants and a strong ethnic flavor, said Cui Qingshan, vice director of the provincial tourism bureau. The festival will be held on May 1-6, Cui said, and it will be Qinghai's eighth time to sponsor such a activity since 1993.
Tulips, scenic spots of the province as well as ethnic performances and local snacks will be displayed at the festival.

Silkroad on the Sea Exhibition Opens in Paris
An exhibition titled Guangzhou and the Silk Road on the Sea has opened at the China Culture Center in Paris. It is an important part of the China-France Culture Year activities. It is an important part of the China-France Culture Year activities. The exhibition includes pictures, paintings and reproductions of cultural relics from Guangzhou, the capital of southern China's Guangdong Province and one of the country' oldest seaports. The display shows the rich cultural heritag

Cathay stalled on Shanghai route
Cathay Pacific's hopes of starting new services to Shanghai seem to have run into extreme turbulence with China Eastern Airlines publicly speaking out against giving the rival carrier the right to fly the route. China Eastern president, Mr Ye Yigan, has been quoted in local Shanghai media saying the company did not want Cathay adding the city to its network and he thought it unlikely Cathay would get the rights this year. The Civil Aeronautics Administration of China (CAAC) has yet

Digital TV Sets to Be Installed on Beijing Buses
Beijing bus commuters will soon enjoy a variety of TV programs, staving off boredom on the road, thanks to the municipal transportation bureau's decision to install wireless digital televisions on buses starting next month. By June 1,000 buses covering 48 public transport lines will have televisions. Each bus will install two liquid-crystal displays. When the vehicles' speed is less than 120 kilometers per hour, riders can enjoy high definition TV. Given that commuters spend

Aviation Sector to Get Aid from US
China plans to open its aviation market wider to the outside world and is looking for more partnership opportunities with foreign counterparts, a senior official with General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) said yesterday. Li Jun, CAAC's deputy-director, made those remarks while delivering a speech at China-US Aviation Symposium, which opened in Beijing yesterday. A Memorandum of Understanding on the China/US Aviation Cooperation Programme (ACP) was signed by CAAC

Domestic tour prices to rise
Prices for domestic tours during the seven-day May Day holiday are expected to be 10 to 30 percent higher than normal. Major travel agencies in Guangdong have already started vying for tourists. There will be no remarkable price differences compared with last year's May holidays, but the prices will definitely be lower than this year's Spring Festival, the agencies say. Most domestic itineraries are priced around 2,000 yuan (US$240) to 3,000 yuan. Tours to natural bea

ROK Bars Citizens from Iraq Travel After Kidnapping
The Republic of Korea (ROK) barred its civilians on Friday from visiting Iraq after seven South Korean missionaries were kidnapped and then released amid worsening violence a year after the fall of Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein. The spokesman for the presidential Blue House said the government was also evacuating non-essential staff from its Baghdad embassy. Separately, acting President Goh Kun ordered boosted security at diplomatic missions in the Gulf region. "The government strong

A Mission for the "Princess of Peacock"
She carefully wipes her lipstick with a piece of tissue and takes a sip of water. It is a very simple movement but Yang Liping gives it a fluidity that makes it look like a dance move. "People limit the definition of dance. Dance is everywhere. Sitting here is a gesture and writing is a movement." If anyone else said the same thing you would laugh and forget about it. When Yang says it, however, you are convinced by her every movement and gesture. Each one is natural,

Ancient Plucked Stringed Instruments Found in Xinjiang
Archaeologists say that they have discovered three Konghous, an ancient plucked stringed instruments, during the excavation of the Yanghai Tombs in Shanshan County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region. "The three unearthed ancient musical instruments are well preserved and intact," said Zhang Yuzhong, deputy director of the local archaeological institute. "The three musical instruments may be even older than the two Konghous excavated in Zhaluguke tombs dating back 3

Gifted Speaker Sweeps Three Top Titles
A second-year student from Nanjing University transcended all competitors yesterday at the Ninth "21st Century and SFLEP Cup" National English Speaking Competition by sweeping the three top honors. Hong Ye, a 19-year-old English major, won the "21st Century and SFLEP Cup," "Most Promising Speaker" and "SFLEP Creativity Award." She will travel to London to compete in the International Public Speaking competition in May. "I didn't expect to win because all the other competitor

US Troops in Bloody Battles on Saddam Anniversary
US-led forces mark the first anniversary of Saddam Hussein's fall on Friday fighting fierce battles with Sunni and Shi'ite Muslim rebels as Iraq plunges into the bloodiest and most chaotic period of the occupation. On the eve of the anniversary of Baghdad's capture, 14 foreigners were reported kidnapped as new flashpoints flared across the country but seven -- all South Korean evangelical church pastors -- were later freed unharmed. A previously unknown Iraqi group said it was hold

Rebuttal to the Article 'World's Worst Dictators'
Editor's note: The following article was written by William M. Kupec, director of Syosset International Ltd., in response to a piece that appeared in the US weekly Parade Magazine. It is printed here courtesy of Mr. Kupec. I object vehemently to David Wallechinsky's inflammatory inclusion of President Hu Jintao of China as one of the world's worst dictators (Parade, February 22, 2004, "The World's 10 Worst Dictators"). This is a terrible affront to a dedicated leader who is guiding modern

Nonstop Trains to Hit the Road on April 18
China's railway network will start non-stop passenger train service on April 18 when the railway system gears up the speed for the 5th times.
The nonstop trains will have bars for passengers to relax. The new express train, to be marked with Z o

Beijing to Establish Olympic Traffic Control Center
Beijing will establish an Olympic traffic control center by 2006 in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games.
Beijing will establish an Olympic traffic control center by 2006 in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games. The center, located in Beijin

Beijing to Add Toll Free Road to the Airport
Construction work on East Jichang Road in Beijing has begun, and is due to be completed before October 1st.
The road will run along the east side of the Capital International Airport, stretching for 13 kilometers. It is expected to cost 120 mill

China, US to Promote Air Safety
Chinese and American aviation administrative departments and aviation enterprises vowed to promote building safer sky, according to the ongoing China-US Aviation Symposium. "Although the aviation safety record in the United States is satisfying, we still need to work in partnership with world industry to bring the accident rate even lower than it is today. In recent years, aviation safety in China has been greatly improved. China is the fastest growing nation in terms of aviation transpor

Lufthansa and Shanghai Airlines sign cooperation agreement
Lufthansa customers will in future benefit from a new, additional offer in China . Through a new partnership of the German airline with Shanghai Airlines, starting in May they can reach further destinations in China from Shanghai under Lufthansa flight numbers. That will produce advantages such as, for example, the collection of miles in the Miles & More programme. On 6th April, Zhou Chi, President of Shanghai Airlines, and Wolfgang Mayrhuber, Chairman and CEO of Deutsche Lufthansa AG, signed a

Railway transport speeds up
Some passenger trains in China will be able to run at speeds surpassing 160 km per hour beginning April 18 along a combined length of 7,700 km, and the top speed can be 200 km per hour in some sections, Vice-Minister of Railways Hu Yadong said Thursday. Hu said at a press conference on the country's large-scale railway acceleration that the average speed of passenger trains will reach 65.7 km per hour, up 4.3 km per hour. Freight trains will also run faster. Among the passenger tra

Save Chinese Ancient Libraries
Chinese historians have gathered in southern China's city of Ningbo to discuss ways to protect ancient libraries and the country's cultural heritage. Some ancient Chinese libraries have been around for more than 2,000 years, and they have helped to spread knowledge and information among the population since then. Libraries gained in popularity during the Ming and Qing Dynasties, and several thousand from these periods are still standing today. One of the best known called Tianyige,

HK Signs Air Services Agreement with Kuwait
Hong Kong Secretary for Economic Development and Labor Stephen Ip signed Wednesday an Air Services Agreement on behalf of the government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) with the government of the State of Kuwait in Kuwait. According to a government press release Wednesday, representing the government of the State of Kuwait at the signing ceremony was Al-Sabah, minister of telecommunications, minister of planning and state minister for administrative development.

Beijing to Add Toll Free Road to the Airport
Construction work on East Jichang Road in Beijing has begun, and is due to be completed before October 1st. The road will run along the east side of the Capital International Airport, stretching for 13 kilometers. It is expected to cost 120 million yuan or 15 million US dollars, to build. Upon completion, the road will be open to the public toll free.

China's super-luxe trains to debut
China is planning to launch more comfortable and faster trains in mid-April. The trains, currently under testing, can reach a top speed of 160-kilometer-per-hour. And the launch of the new trains is to meet the growing demands of China's new-round of increasing the speed and efficiency of rail travel in China. The train made its maiden trial trip from Beijing to central China's Hankou city on Wednesday.

European carrier spread wings to Asia
European airlines are increasing their capacity to Asia with China becoming a key focus in expectation of increased demand once the European Union becomes an approved destination for Chinese travellers from May. Major carriers like Air France and Lufthansa are boosting capacity and adding new routes; British Airways is studying new routes to China following bilateral aviation talks. Others like Austrian Airlines and Scandinavian Airlines are launching flights to China's commercial

Temple Blossoms for Spring
The annual Yulan Fragrance Festival is now underway at Dajue Temple, a Buddhist shrine outside Beijing which can boast more than 1,000 years of history. Dajue Temple is best known though for its Yulan trees, planted almost 300 years ago. [newsphoto/file] The flower festival runs until April 30 and focuses on the beautiful Yulan flower, part of the magnolia family, along with cultural events and various travel promotions. Dajue Temple is best known though for its Yulan trees,

Health Tourism Helps Get Well While Have Fun
Asia's cultural diversity, perfect beaches and fabulous cuisines mixed with a pinch of Oriental mysticism have long drawn tourists from around the world. Recently, many of the region's top tourist destinations have added a new ingredient into the mix: health tourism. "People have been traveling to faraway places in the quest for better health for millenniums, yet Asia's top tourist destinations are just rediscovering the potential of health tourism," said Raymond Yeung, an assistant resea

Temple Blossoms for Spring
The annual Yulan Fragrance Festival is now underway at Dajue Temple, a Buddhist shrine outside Beijing which can boast more than 1,000 years of history.
Dajue Temple is best known though for its Yulan trees, planted almost 300 years ago. [newsphoto/fil

Beijingers Enjoy Sizzling Spring
Beijingers have been forced to strip off their warm winter woollies and don cooler wear as the capital's climate shifts sharply into summer gear.
Thermometers have shot up to more than 28 C in the past two days, giving residents the impression that spr

Sino-German Aviation Deal Set for May 1
A long-awaited bilateral agreement between European aviation giant Deutsche Lufthansa AG (Lufthansa) and Shanghai Airlines Co Ltd (Shanghai Airlines) will come into force on May 1, giving both sides a better chance to further tap the growing Sino-German a

China Southern Buys 21 Airbus Aircraft
China Southern Airlines Co Ltd agreed on Friday to buy 21 Airbus A320 aircraft from the giant France-based aircraft maker.
The airline, one of the nation's top three, will buy 15 A320 aeroplanes and six A319 aeroplanes from the firm for a category pric

Health Tourism Helps Get Well While Have Fun
Asia's cultural diversity, perfect beaches and fabulous cuisines mixed with a pinch of Oriental mysticism have long drawn tourists from around the world. Recently, many of the region's top tourist destinations have added a new ingredient into the mix: hea

China, Iceland Sign Tourism MOU
China and Iceland signed in Beijing Monday the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on visa and related issues for group Chinese tourists to travel to Iceland. Experts cited the signing of MOU as a crucial measure to enlarge Chinese citizens' group travel to European destinations, which will further promote bilateral exchanges of people's visits and also signifies that China is becoming increasingly open in outbound tourism market. The exact date for Chinese travel agencies to allow o

Shanghai To Build More Hotels
Shanghai municipal authorities are inviting domestic and overseas investors to build more hotels.
There are already 340 hotels in the city, of which 20 are five-star rated and 30 are four-star rated. However, the ever-increasing number of tourists requ

556,000 People Enter HK During Holidays
More than 556,000 people entered Hong Kong through various control points in the first two days of the Easter Holidays and about 67,000 were from the Chinese mainland.
According to Hong Kong's Immigration Department, 315,087 people came into Hong Kong

Sino-German Aviation Deal Set for May 1
A long-awaited bilateral agreement between European aviation giant Deutsche Lufthansa AG (Lufthansa) and Shanghai Airlines Co Ltd (Shanghai Airlines) will come into force on May 1, giving both sides a better chance to further tap the growing Sino-German aviation market. According to the deal, the German carrier and its Chinese counterpart Shanghai Airlines - a fast-growing regional carrier based in the nation's economic hub - will operate some of their routes in code-sharing and will also

Guangzhou to Add Safety Barriers between Platforms, Subway Track
Guangzhou has announced it will install safety barriers on platforms along its main subway route this year to keep passengers from falling off the platform. The project, the first to be launched in an operative subway system in China, involves some 18 million US dollars. The barrier, transparent and computer controlled, will remain shut until a train stops at the station and will then slide open for passengers to get on and off. Installation of the barriers is due to start i

Lushan Mountain to Open For Free
Lushan Mountain will open for free to visitors including elderly people above 70, children under 14 and the disabled. The new practice will come into effect on May 1st. As a world renowned scenic spot, Lushan Mountain was placed on a list of world heritages by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 1996 and was named a world geological park this year.

Guangdong to hold carnival in October
A carnival for overseas Chinese will be held in the southern Jiangmen city this October. Organizers say all Chinese people living abroad are welcome to take part in the event. Local officials predict this year's carnival will be the largest of its kind. The event will consist of a parade, a forum, as well as a tourism festival. Jiangmen is located to the south of the Pearl river delta and lays claim to being the birthplace of a tenth of the world's overseas Chinese. Since the year

New ferry services across Taiwan Straits start
A new direct transportation link has been established between the Chinese Mainland and Taiwan Province. Passenger ferry services started operating Saturday between Zhangzhou City and the Jinmen islands. It's the first time in 50 years. Thirty local entrepreneurs from the Chinese Mainland city of Zhangzhou took advantage of the ferry's maiden voyage. They are travelling to the other side of the Taiwan Straits to promote their businesses. The delegation is planning a trade fair on the Jinme

Temple Gets Needed Overhaul
With an investment of nearly 300 million yuan (US$36 million), the repair project of the Successive Emperors Temple in Beijing was completed yesterday.
The temple will open to the public by the end of this month with the entry fee expected to be 20 yuan (US$2.4), the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics said. A global Chinese gathering to offer sacrifices to ancestors will be held on Sunday there. Initially constructed in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), it is China's only r

Boeing flies high in China
US aviation giant Boeing hopes its Chinese suppliers will be among its global partners and work together with it on future development, a top Boeing China executive said yesterday. "We place great hope in Xi'an Aircraft Industry Group Co Ltd (XAC) becoming one of our global partners, besides its role as an excellent parts provider," said David Wang, Boeing vice-president and president of its China operation. Speaking yesterday in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province

Partial easing of visa policy for US citizens
Shanghai, Hainan and the Pearl River Delta region in Guangdong are partially exempt from a new mainland visa policy for U.S. passport holders, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has confirmed. American passport holders who stay 48 hours in Shanghai in transit or who take part in Guangdong's six-day "convenient tours" or Hainan's 15-day tours, would not need to arrive with a visa, the South China Morning Post reported Wednesday. Travelers in transit who remain in mainland airports will

Beijing rail link is upgraded
In order to better compete with airline, operators of the lucrative Shanghai-Beijing railway will offer faster trips, more frequent trains and a frequent-rider bonus plan starting this month. As of April 18, nonstop train rides between Shanghai and the capital will only take 12 hours, two hours less than current trips, according to the Shanghai Railway Administration. Nonstop trains will leave the city for Beijing every seven minutes between 7pm and 7:28pm every day, the administra

Beijing Drops Plans for Luxury Toilets
Beiing's municipal government has announced a new rule to stop the construction of luxury toilets in the Chinese capital. The new rule lays out detailed standards for construction materials and facilities. Toilets offering only mirrors, drying machines and basins are being encouraged.

China Southern Air signs deal to buy 21 Airbus planes
China Southern Airlines Co Ltd (SHA 600029; HK 1055; ADR ZNH), China's largest carrier, said it has signed a deal to buy 21 planes from the European consortium Airbus Industrie at a cost of at least 1.17 bln usd. China Southern will buy 15 A320-200 aircraft for between 57.6 mln and 61.6 mln usd each and six A319-100 aircraft for between 50.6 mln and 61.2 mln usd each. The purchase will be financed through bank loans, the carrier said in a statement. Deliveries will be made in 2005

Some 360,000 Hongkongers make holiday tours
More than 360,000 people left Hong Kong Friday for the four-day Easter holiday, according to figures from the Immigration Department of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region government. The Chinese mainland remains the most popular destination for Hong Kong holiday makers, with more than 180,000 people having crossed Lo Wu Control Point to the mainland by land by 5 p.m. Friday, said the China Daily Hong Kong Edition. To cope with the traveling boom, the department had opened all 76

Jiangxi preserves ancient city wall
An ancient city wall dating to the Song Dynasty (960-1279) has been listed for preservation by the municipal government of Ganzhou, east China's Jiangxi Province. Han Zhenfei, curator of the Ganzhou Museum, said the wall measures 3,664 meters long, with intact moat, battlements, tower and cannon buttress. Tens of thousands of wall bricks were inscribed with 521 types of messages and articles. Ganzhou had spent around 20 million yuan (about 2.4 million US dollars) in restoring the o

Beijing to Establish Olympic Traffic Control Center
Beijing will establish an Olympic traffic control center by 2006 in preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games. The center, located in Beijing's Xicheng District, will not only serve the 2008 Olympics but also function as the city's traffic management center after the event. Construction will begin later this year and the center will provide real-time information on traffic using video links and satellite orientation systems.

Sino-German Aviation Deal Set for May 1
A long-awaited bilateral agreement between European aviation giant Deutsche Lufthansa AG (Lufthansa) and Shanghai Airlines Co Ltd (Shanghai Airlines) will come into force on May 1, giving both sides a better chance to further tap the growing Sino-German aviation market. According to the deal, the German carrier and its Chinese counterpart Shanghai Airlines - a fast-growing regional carrier based in the nation's economic hub - will operate some of their routes in code-sharing and will also

China, Iceland Sign Tourism MOU
China and Iceland signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) in Beijing on Monday on visa and travel matters for Chinese group tours to Iceland. Experts cited the MOU as a crucial measure to expand group travel to European destinations for Chinese citizens, further promoting bilateral exchanges and signifying that China was becoming increasingly open in the outbound tourism market. The exact date for Chinese travel agencies to allow organized tour groups to travel to Europe is yet

Dai Life
Subtropical Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province is home to 13 ethnic minorities, including the Dai, Hani, Blang, Yi and Aini, all of whom go about their daily business clad in colorful folk costumes. Xishuangbanna resembles a real-life Xanadu, far removed from temporal life. Of the ethnic minorities living here, Dai people have the longest history. Dai Bamboo Dwellings Dai bamboo houses form part of a two-story horticultural backdrop of jadeite bamboo, banana and coconut trees, cacti an

Memory of Dynamic Yunnan
The elegant figure and the grace of the peacock has been the inspiration for many dancers. But Yang Liping, famous for her vivid imitation of this beautiful creature in her dance The Spirit of the Bird, is universally regarded as the "Peacock Princess" in China. She has performed on stage for dozens of years. But Yang Liping will forever remain the beautiful young spirit in the eyes of most people. A native of the Bai ethnic group of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture in the southwestern

China, Iceland Sign Tourism MOU
China and Iceland signed here Monday the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on visa and related issues for group Chinese tourists to travel to Iceland. Experts cited the signing of MOU as a crucial measure to enlarge Chinese citizens' group travel to European destinations, which will further promote bilateral exchanges of people's visits and also signifies that China is becoming increasingly open in outbound tourism market. The exact date for Chinese travel agencies to allow organiz

China, Iceland Sign Tourism MOU
China and Iceland signed here Monday the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on visa and related issues for group Chinese tourists to travel to Iceland.
Experts cited the signing of MOU as a crucial measure to enlarge Chinese citizens' group travel to Eu

Shanghai Maglev Track is Sinking
The track of the Shanghai Maglev Line is sinking, according to Shanghai Maglev Transport Development Company.
"We have been aware of the sinking of our maglev track, though very slightly," Xia Guozhong, an official in charge of the company's media sect

New System to Ease Beijing's Traffic Congestion
The Beijing Communications Committee has completed the capital communication development program, which will be implemented this year.
The Beijing Communications Committee based the program on studies of the municipality's traffic situation in past yea

More Cultural Sites to Admit Children Free
China will open more public cultural facilities to youngsters free of charge. Many of the museums and libraries involved have also designated special staff to supervise the quality of the exhibitions and activities on offer.
The Wuhu City Library in An

Chinese Cultural Week Ends in Mongolia
Chinese Cultural Week came to a close in Ulan Bator on Tuesday, giving the Mongolian audience a fresh view of the Chinese culture.
Various activities were staged during the cultural week, including performances of Chinese acrobatics, singing and dancin

First Cholera Cases Reported in Guangzhou
Two cases of cholera have been confirmed in south China's city of Guangzhou. These are the first cases of cholera that have emerged in the provinicial capital of Guangdong, which was the worst hit SARS region last year. The two patients caught the disease while on an overseas holiday and are now isolated for treatment. Other visitors in the same tour group are reportedly all free of the disease. Symptoms of cholera include diarrhoea and abdominal pain.

Expatriate in Court over Visa Scam; 51 Involved
A 58-year-old Malaysian has become the first expatriate to face trial after allegedly organizing the departure of dozens of Chinese workers on tourism visas from Nantong in East China's Jiangsu Province, the Nanjing-based Modern Express reported. Siaw Min Kee arranged the travel visas of 51 men from Nantong, who were actually going to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to work, the Nantong People's Procuratorate alleged. But no decision was made late last week after the first hearing a

Expatriate in Court over Visa Scam in China
A 58-year-old Malaysian has become the first expatriate to face trial after allegedly organizing the departure of dozens of Chinese workers on tourism visas from Nantong in East China's Jiangsu Province, the Nanjing-based Modern Express reported. Siaw Min Kee arranged the travel visas of 51 men from Nantong, who were actually going to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) to work, the Nantong People's Procuratorate alleged. But no decision was made late last week after the first hearing a

US Troops Besiege Najaf for Rebel Cleric
US troops massed outside the holy Shi'ite city of Najaf Tuesday, ready for a possible move against rebel cleric Moqtada al-Sadr and his militia despite the risk enraged Iraqis would see this as defiling their shrines. Armed groups opposed to the occupation freed some foreign hostages -- five Ukrainians and three Russians -- but made new demands for others. Gunmen paraded four Italians and demanded Rome pull its troops out of Iraq. A French journalist joined the list of those held captive.

Temple Blossoms for Spring
The annual Yulan Fragrance Festival is now underway at Dajue Temple, a Buddhist shrine outside Beijing which can boast more than 1,000 years of history. The flower festival runs until April 30 and focuses on the beautiful Yulan flower, part of the magnolia family, along with cultural events and various travel promotions. Dajue Temple is best known though for its Yulan trees, planted almost 300 years ago. There are many flowers and trees in the courtyards, the finest being th

Kidnapped Chinese Free, to Be Home Soon
After 36 hours as international hostages, the seven Chinese nationals abducted in Iraq were released and handed over to Chinese diplomats early Tuesday morning, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said. Two of the seven hostages were injured in a traffic accident while the rest are in good condition, Kong said Tuesday. The group will be sent back home, according to the Chinese diplomatic team in Iraq now working to re-establish the Chinese Embassy in Baghdad. The Iraqi kidnappers

Trekking Mt. Taibai
Mt. Taibai is well known among outdoor sports enthusiasts in China. The mountain stands nearly 4,000 meters above sea level and serves as a boundary line between China's North and South. The climate is unique: here it snows in June. A 150-kilometer trekking trail makes the mountain one of the best routes for intermediate trekking in the country. Basic facts of Mt. Taibai The Qinling Mountain Range in the south of Shaanxi Province serves as a boundary line between North and South Ch

Kidnapped Chinese to Be Home Soon
After 36 hours as international hostages, the seven Chinese nationals abducted in Iraq were released and handed over to Chinese diplomats early Tuesday morning, Foreign Ministry spokesman Kong Quan said at a news briefing. Two of the seven hostages were injured in a traffic accident while the rest are in good condition, Kong said Tuesday. The group will be sent back home, according to the Chinese diplomatic team in Iraq now working to re-establish the Chinese Embassy in Baghdad. Th

HK International Airport Best in the World
Hong Kong Airport has won the 2004 Airport of the Year Award, and other Asian airports dominated the survey honors as the world's best.
This is the fourth consecutive year the airport has scooped this major accolade. The survey, named Skytrax Ai

Beijing Bans Ads in Tian'anmen Square
Beijing is expected to continue a ban on advertising at Tian'anmen Square and areas along Chang'an Avenue, but will not make pan handling at subway stations illegal.
The municipal government says the ban will become official as it has been written into

Airport Prices Still Too High
Despite recent attempts by local authorities to cut prices of goods and services at the Pudong International Airport, many travelers say it still costs far too much to grab a quick bowl of noodles or a drink before their flight.
Vendors at the airport,

Lufthansa Inks Deal with Shanghai Airlines
German carrier Lufthansa has signed a deal with Shanghai Airlines.
The agreement will be effective from May 1st, giving both sides a better chance to further tap the growing Sino-German aviation market. Presidents of both airlines say Lufthansa'

For Aviation Safety, Turn Off Your Phone!
A flight attendant from China Southern Airlines Hainan Company rang up Hainan Daily on Tuesday, hoping to warn people of the danger of using mobile phones when they travel by air. She said she once found 5 passengers on a plane turn on their mobile phones during the one-hour journey. Some of them even did it during take-off or landing. They simply ignored the warning from the crew. Let's look inside and see why you should heed those pretakeoff instructions to turn off your personal

More Young Chinese People Have Wills Notarized
To make one's will is thought to be something done in one's old age. However, as learned from Harbin Notarization Office in Heilongjiang Province in northeast China now it is nothing rare to see young people have their wills notarized. Young testament clients are mostly those who've been caught by some diseases, or concerned about their safety as they often have to travel a long distance on business and they are open-minded, said Mr. Hong, an official at the Notarization Office. So

No Matter by Air or by Train, Travelers Benefit
With the Labor Day holiday week approaching, travelers are gearing up for holiday trips.
And many will benefit from a move across the nation to accelerate the country's railway networks. Others will be grateful for the postponement of an expecte

Beijing Tourism Players Form Alliance
China Beijing Quanjude Group and Beijing New Yansha Group, two major tourism commercial service companies in the Chinese capital, merged at the weekend to become the Beijing Tourism Group.
The 1.17 billion yuan (US$140.9 million) equity belonging to Qu

Tibet Protects Ancient Buddhist Scriptures
Tibet Protects Ancient Buddhist Scriptures
The Tibet Autonomous Region has worked out a plan to beef up the protection of rare Buddhist scriptures written on pattra leaves. A special group will also conduct a thorough survey of the collection of

Space Trip for Ordinary Folk in Beijing
Traveling in space is no longer a remote dream for ordinary folk. The world first space amusement park will help you to experience being an astronaut.
The 7,400 square meter space amusement park, costing US$5.2 million, opened Sunday at the Beijing Exh

China to Become the Largest Tour Destination
The World Tourism Organization notes China will become the most popular tour destination in the world by the end of 2020, surpassing countries like France, Spain and the United States.
Currently, China is the most popular tourist destination in Asia.

Take a Sightseeing and Rafting Tour
This trip will take you to Guangzhou, Zhaoqing, Deqing and other places in Guangdong Province. Zhaoqing is a beautiful city built in a mountain. Famous for its Dinghu Mountain, Zhaoqing is a popular tourist city. Zhaoqing also offers fabulous scenery with mountains and lakes beautifully integrated into a picturesque view. Deqing is well known for Sanyuan Tower, which was built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1654). Local people have a tradition of climbing the tower to make wishes

Nankun Mountain: Natural Beauty
Nankun Mountain, situated 150 kilometers from Shenzhen, is one of the best-preserved forest areas in Guangdong Province. Ninety-seven percent of the area is covered by lush vegetation. It is called the Oasis Cancer. The area is famed for its natural scenery and tranquility and an ideal place for city dwellers to get away from the daily grind. Getting around This scenic area is centered in Nankun Town. Traveling west, you will see the well-known Snake Pine, Guanyin (Goddess o

New Space Station Crew Blasts off Safely
A US-Russian mission blasted off for the International Space Station Monday, soaring into a perfectly blue sky above Russia's Baikonur cosmodrome. The Soyuz TMA-4 craft carrying a US astronaut, Russian and Dutch space explorers took off at 03:18 GMT, trailing orange flames and leaving only a white puff behind. It is expected to dock with the 16-nation station tomorrow. It is the third manned mission since the halt of the US shuttle program. American Michael Fincke, Russian G

Pilgrimage to the Sun
A-sun Wu is from the countryside around Ilan in Taiwan, an adventurer whose travels have taken him to more than 90 countries and he happens to be an artist as well. Wu's Chinese name is Wu Hsuan-sun. The 62-year artist is holding his first exhibition on the mainland, although he has already been widely exhibited in Taiwan, Japan and Europe. His collection "Sunshine, Jungle and Desert" includes paintings, sculptures and installations from his past 40 years of art experience. It is a

Prince of Magic to Cast Spell on Beijing
David Copperfield arrived in Beijing on Sunday well before the first performance of his April 20th to 25th China tour. The illusionist appeared at a news conference to promote his upcoming Tuesday night spectacle. But the American magic-man did not jump on the table as he did last year to show his superior conjuring tricks, and instead posed calmly for photographs. The magician's upcoming performance is said to be more exciting than last year's, and will include flying and lasers.<

Tourist Arrivals in China Rise in March
China's tourist arrivals in March increased close to 9 percent over the same period last year, when China's tourism suffered from SARS.
The March arrivals were also an increase of nearly 2 percent over the same period in 2002. Of 16 major touris

Summer Comes Early in Beijing
With people sporting sleeveless shirts, parasols shading Beijing's bounty of beautiful ladies, and ice cream and pop selling faster than it has time to cool, summer seems to have arrived in the Chinese capital, with temperatures reaching 32 degrees Celsiu

Beijing Tourism Players Form Alliance
China Beijing Quanjude Group and Beijing New Yansha Group, two major tourism commercial service companies in the Chinese capital, merged at the weekend to become the Beijing Tourism Group.
The 1.17 billion yuan (US$140.9 million) equity belonging to Qu

New Resident Permit to Taiwan in Use on Chinese Mainland
Residents on the Chinese mainland wishing to travel to Taiwan began to use a new version of permit as from Monday.
The new type of permit is valid for five years. It bears a plastic-coated photo and personal information printed with a laser printer com

Airfares Soar as May Day Holiday Approaches
Prices of most domestic flights begin rising by up to 25 percent Tuesday, pushing prices for domestic tours for the May Day holiday up by about one third, the Daily Sunshine reported.
Airfares for group travelers for some routes will remain unchanged u

Wildlife parks struggle with too little income
Wildlife parks across China are now under great pressure as officials and experts fear increasing competition and shrinking tourists will further overshadow the industry's future.
Ending their transient boom and prosperity after their establishment, wildlife parks in China, mostly privately run, are now struggling due to indiscriminate construction. Market analysts say it is difficult for China's wildlife parks to repay their investment as most of them invested over 100 million yuan (a

Suzhou Strives to Protect Ancient City
Suzhou, known as the "Oriental Venice" in east China's Jiangsu Province, has made painstaking efforts to preserve the city's unique ancient features. As part of the 28th Session of the World Heritage Committee, which was scheduled from June 28 to July 7 in Suzhou, a world heritage exhibition will be held in the city from June 26 to July 15.
Suzhou Mayor Yang Weize said that the ancient city of Suzhou, covering 14 square km, has established its own character over the past centuries.

30% of Mainland Tourists to Macao Individual Travelers
Some one third of tourists from the Chinese mainland to Macao in the first quarter came under the so-called facilitated individual travel (FIT) scheme, according to figures released by the Macao Statistics and Census Bureau on Friday. The bureau said that among 2.18 million visitor arrivals in the first quarter, 58.4 percent were recorded from the mainland, 30.7 percent of whom were individual travelers. Macao logged 1.3 million visitor arrivals in March, an increase of 36 percent

Disney's Centenary Show on Ice in Bejing
Disney's 100th Anniversary Magical Road Show on Ice will be staged at the Capital Gymnasium in Beijing in late July. To promote the ice show slated for July 20th to 25th, organisers invited the lovely Mikey and Minnie to entertain Chinese kids at a press conference on Thursday. Founded in 1904, Walt Disney has produced a cast of popular cartoon characters including Donald Duck, Mickey, Minnie, Pluto, Daisy, Goofy, and Snow White.

600-year Anniversary of Mutianyu Great Wall Kicks off in Beijing
A series of commemorative activities have kicked off to celebrate the 600th anniversary of the Mutianyu Great Wall in Beijing. The activities will last one year and are expected to be the largest and grandest ever. Visitors can enjoy splendid performances on Mutianyu and sign their names in the hundred-meter memo volume. Built in the year 1404 during the Ming Dynasty, Mutianyu Great Wall is the heart of the ancient Great Wall, winding through green mountains covered with tre

Prices to rise in time for major holiday
Travel agents are concerned at plans to increase ticket prices on flights from Shanghai by about 10 per cent. According to reports in local Shanghainese newspaper, increases on outbound flights are expected to rise next week. The increase follows new regulations that allow airlines to sell tickets at 25 per cent more than their face value. The move has upset travellers planning domestic holidays during upcoming May Day break.

Airport dumps fever scanners
Fever scanners were removed from the local Hongqiao Airport yesterday in response to a recent document issued by the central government that allows the country's railway stations and airports to remove them, said officials with the Shanghai Airport Authority, which operates the two airports in Shanghai. Scanners installed at Pudong International Airport will also be removed in a few days but those in the area of international flights will be kept. Shanghai Railway Station is keepin

Reading Teahouse Revives in Beijing
The Reading Teahouse has revived in Beijing since it disappeared two decades ago. Lian Lifang, renowned professional storyteller, runs this first private reading teahouse in Beijing, where old Beijingers get together to enjoy wonderful performances and recall the old times. Storytelling is a traditional Chinese folk art popular in north China, and can be traced back to the early Qing Dynasty. The storytelling language is based on the northern dialect.

Air China to Increase 1,000 Flights on May holiday
Air China will arrange an extra 1,000 charter flights during the seven-day Labor Day holiday. International charter flights will mainly be focused on routes to the Maldives, Singapore, Phuket in Thailand, and Pinang in Malaysia. Domestic charter flights will cover such cities as Hangzhou, Qingdao, Yantai, Haikou, Sanya and Guilin. Experts predicted flights to Lhasa and Jiuzhaigou would also be popular during the holiday. All are favorite tourist destinations.

Restoration of Grotto in Full Swing
With Chinese and foreign scientists working in close coordination, protection work on the No. 85 grotto of the world-renowned Mogao Grottoes near Dunhuang in northwestern Gansu Province will be completed in the first half of next year, officials said yesterday. The cooperation between the Dunhuang Research Institute and the United States-based Getty Conservation Institute (GCI) for preserving the Mogao Grottoes was launched in 1989 under an agreement signed by the State Bureau of Cultural

Aviation Price Hike May Sour Travel Mood
With the Labor Day holiday week approaching, domestic air carriers are raising air ticket prices to profit from tourism's peak season. It is reported that some air carriers will initiate a price hike on popular routes by 10 to 25 per cent from April 20. And after May 10, airfares will be raised all around by up to 25 per cent. Although aviation authorities have not officially confirmed the news, major domestic air carriers have already released details of the new pricing. The price

Shanghai standardizes overseas business tours
Shanghai will issue regulations to put a lid on illegal overseas business tours of investigation, said the spokesman with the Shanghai Tourism Administrative Commission yesterday. The regulations will differentiate business tours of investigation from general overseas tours by stipulating the contents and purposes of business tours in detail. The contents of business tours should be relevant to the industries that applicants are belonging to, and the applicants must display the official i

China to Budget Millions of US Dollars for Culture Preserve
China will budget 20 million yuan or 2.4 million US dollars to protect national and folk culture this year. The central government will use a special fund to implement the cultural preservation program, including planning, general survey and training. Local governments are urged to set up cultural protection lists and work to attract involvement from all walks of life. Started last year, China's cultural preservation project has achieved sizable progress nationwide.

ASEAN launches joint tourism program
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) has launched a joint program aimed at boosting intra-ASEAN tourism, getting ASEAN residents to visit more than one of the member countries for their holidays, according to the Thai News Agency Sunday. The ASEAN Tourism Association said that the so-called "ASEAN Hip-Hop Pass," which will run until March 31, 2005, is a promotional program offering competitive prices for intra-regionaltravel by citizens of the ASEAN-member countries.

DIY Tours for More Cities
Nine cities will be added to the list for individual residents to make trips to Hong Kong and Macao from July, the Ministry of Public Security announced Tuesday, the Web site of China News Service reported. The nine newcomers are Fuzhou's urban area, the cities of Xiamen and Quanzhou in Fujian Province, Nanjing, Suzhou and Wuxi in Jiangsu Province, Hangzhou, Ningbo and Taizhou in Zhejiang Province. Residents of Beijing, Shanghai and 19 Guangdong cities including Shenzhen are alread

SAR-bound Tourists Get a Grilling
A senior provincial public security official yesterday said the exit and entry departments would stick to its applicant interview system in granting travel documents to local residents visiting the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions (SARs). Luo Juan, deputy director-general of the Guangdong Provincial Bureau of Public Security, said yesterday police and officials from exit and entry departments under her bureau will question all the applicants who appear at counters.

Urban Travelers Flock to Ethnic Spots
May day holidays give Chinese the perfect annual opportunity to get out and enjoy the outdoors. This year, city dwellers are increasingly looking for something different for their vacation. China boasts 55 ethnic groups. Now, China's urbanites are beginning to take an interest in the scenic areas where ethnic groups make up the majority. The spots boast a different lifestyle and a beautiful natural environment. With travelers more and more prone to leave the chaos of big Chinese ci

Urban Travellers Flock to Ethnic Spots
May day holidays give Chinese the perfect annual opportunity to get out and enjoy the outdoors. This year, city dwellers are increasingly looking for something different for their vacation. China boasts 55 ethnic groups. Now, China's urbanites are beginning to take an interest in the scenic areas where ethnic groups make up the majority. The spots boast a different lifestyle and a beautiful natural environment. With travelers more and more prone to leave the chaos of big Chinese ci

HKTB Welcomes Further Expansion of Individual Visit Scheme
Hong Kong Tourism Board (HKTB) has warmly welcomed the extension of the Individual Visit Scheme for mainland residents to the entire Guangdong Province with effect from May 1 and nine cities in Fujian, Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces with effect from July

SAR-bound Tourists Get a Grilling
A senior provincial public security official yesterday said the exit and entry departments would stick to its applicant interview system in granting travel documents to local residents visiting the Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions (SARs)

Urban Travelers Flock to Ethnic Spots
May day holidays give Chinese the perfect annual opportunity to get out and enjoy the outdoors. This year, city dwellers are increasingly looking for something different for their vacation.
China boasts 55 ethnic groups. Now, China's urbanites are begi

Airfares Reduced to Attract Passengers
With the fifth acceleration of China's railway network on April 18th, people have been enjoying high-quality services. Meanwhile, a new round competition between civil aviation and railway departments also kicked off.
According to related department of

Boao Forum for Asia Boosts Hainan Tourism
Located at China's southern tip, Hainan Province is considered to be a most suitable place to hold all types of conferences, where information can be fully exchanged and people can also relax. It was all because of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) that Hainan earned this reputation, said Wu Wenxue, director of the Hainan Tourism Administration. Statistics show that the successful hosting of BFA in 2001 has won the province nearly 2,000 hosting opportunities of various conferences in t

Macao to Embrace 'Historical Travel Season'
Macao is expecting a "historical travel season" as the Chinese mainland's week-long "Labor's Day" vacation will bring about a travel spree to the special administrative region. All major Macao newspapers Wednesday painted the rosy picture after the mainland's facilitated individual travel (FIT) scheme was extended to seven other cities in south China's Guangdong Province on Tuesday. Up to now, the FIT scheme considered as the central government's policy stimulus on Macao's tourism

HK Expects Millions More Chinese Tourists
Hong Kong can expect millions more tourists from the mainland this year as China extends its travel scheme to visitors from nine more cities. A total of 43 million residents of Nanjing, Suzhou, Wuxi, Hangzhou, Ningbo, Taizhou, Fuzhou, Xiamen and Quanzhou will be eligible to travel to Hong Kong from July 1. Then 150 million people from 32 mainland cities will be eligible to visit Hong Kong. Hong Kong is confident of coping with the upsurge in visitors and is planning to exten

Security to Enhance in Tian'anmen Square
Beijing's municipal government has worked out a new regulation to increase security in the Tiananmen Square area.
According to the regulation, which went into effect on Tuesday, an emergency plan will be instituted in the case of unexpected incidents.<

Cultural Revolution Museum Being Built
China's first museum dedicated to the Cultural Revolution is to open later this year in Dayi County of southeast China's Sichuan Province.
The exhibits will bring back vivid memories of those unusual times. They will include over 100 leftist scu

Better Tourism Info Is Needed in Shanghai
More detailed forecasts about accommodation, transport and tourism facilities should be provided one week prior to and during the weeklong Labor Day holiday, the Shanghai Tourism Administrative Commission said yesterday.
"The aim of forecasting and rel

Chinese, Czech Presidents Hold Talks
Chinese President Hu Jintao on Thursday held talks with Vaclav Klaus, president of the Czech Republic, exchanging views on bilateral ties and other issues of common concern. Hu highly evaluated the China-Czech friendly cooperation ties. He said the Czech Republic is one of the earliest countries to forge diplomatic ties with the new China after it was founded in 1949. Recent years has seen their relations develop smoothly based on mutual respect, non-interference in each other's in

Student's Money: Easy Come, Easy Go
For Xiao Yi, a senior at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, the annual commodity export fair in Guangzhou offers numerous money-earning opportunities. A Spanish major, she will attend for the entire eight days as an interpreter just as she did last year. "Each day I could earn more than 500 yuan (US$60)," she said, an amount nearly equaling the officially set minimum monthly wage for a full-time Chinese worker. Besides working at the fair, Xiao takes other part-time jobs, lik

Portugal Welcomes Chinese Tourists: Official
Portugal is eager to greet thousands of Chinese visitors, which will not only demonstrate China's increasing national strength in the world's tourism industry, but also indicate an exciting changes between the west-east relations, said visiting Luis Correia da Silva, secretary of state of tourism of Portugal. He said Portugal has 11 World Cultural Heritage sites, which are attractive for Chinese people who also enjoy long history. Portugal also has tasty Porto wine, delicious food, a long

Special Tourist Train to Guilin
A special tourist train will begin running between Shenzhen and Guilin on April 30. It will be the first time a regular tourist train has originated in Shenzhen since the establishment of the Shenzhen Railway Station more than 20 years ago. Trains will run in both directions each day, departing Shenzhen at 3:10 pm and arriving in Guilin at 7:28 am the following day. Trains will depart Guilin at 8 pm arriving in Shenzhen at 11 am the next day. Guilin is a famous scenic city i

University Students Say Money's Easy Come, Easy Go
For Xiao Yi, a senior at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, the annual commodity export fair in Guangzhou offers numerous money-earning opportunities. A Spanish major, she will attend the entire eight days as an interpreter just as she did last year. "Each day I could earn more than 500 yuan (US$60)," she said, an amount nearly equaling the officially set minimum monthly wage for a full-time Chinese worker. Besides working at the fair, Xiao takes other part-time jobs, like tu

Fare Rise Cuts Air Travel
The recent 10 percent rise in domestic air fares has cut May holiday plane bookings at least 30 percent, travel agents said yesterday. But tickets to spots like Yunnan Province's Kunming, a beautiful city that leads to other popular destinations like Lijiang and Dali, are almost sold out for April 30, May 1 and May 2. Flights to the southern resorts of Hainan and Guilin are also filling fast, but north-bound flights have plenty of seats. Carriers operating out of Shanghai ra

Weifang Kite Festival Flying Again
The Weifang International Kite Festival has once again kicked off in the renowned "Kite Town" in east China's Shandong Province. This is the 21st edition of the annual festival in Weifang. More than one thousand participants from home and abroad are taking part in the two-day festivities, competing for the title of "Kite King". There are over ten thousand kinds of kites at the event, with some in the shape of centipedes, butterflies, and cartoon characters, to name just a fe

Necropolis Comes to Life
The 13 imperial tombs of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), or Shisanling, (literally the 13 Tombs) was awarded the certificate of world culture heritage by UNESCO recently, six months after it was officially inscribed into the World Heritage List. As one of the most popular travel destinations in Beijing, the Ming Tombs is the sixth Beijing attraction to be inscribed into the list. The other five are The Great Wall, the Imperial Palace of the Ming and Qing Dynasties (The Forbidden City), the

Boao Forum for Asia Boosts Hainan Tourism
Located at China's southern tip, Hainan Province is considered to be a most suitable place to hold all types of conferences, where information can be fully exchanged and people can also relax.
It was all because of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) that Ha

Student's Money: Easy Come, Easy Go
For Xiao Yi, a senior at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies, the annual commodity export fair in Guangzhou offers numerous money-earning opportunities. A Spanish major, she will attend for the entire eight days as an interpreter just as she did last year. "Each day I could earn more than 500 yuan (US$60)," she said, an amount nearly equaling the officially set minimum monthly wage for a full-time Chinese worker. Besides working at the fair, Xiao takes other part-time jobs, lik

Full Text of Hu Jintao's Speech at BFA Annual Conference 2004
Following is the full text ofthe keynote speech Chinese President Hu Jintao delivered at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia 2004 annual conference Saturday: China's Development Is an Opportunity for Asia Speech by President Hu Jintao of China at the Opening Ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia 2004 Annual Conference. Boao, 24 April 2004/4/23 Honorable Guests, Friends, Ladies and gentlemen, It gives me great pleasure to attend the Boao Forum for Asia

Chinese President Confident of Asia's Future
Chinese President Hu Jintao Saturday expressed "much confidence in Asia's future" in his keynote speech at the opening session of the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) 2004 Annual Conference held in the southern China province of Hainan. He said that in the past few years, with the support of the fellow Asian countries and the larger international community, the BFA has developed steadily, playing an increasingly prominent role in regional cooperation and demonstrating to the rest of the world th

China Promises Opportunities for Neighbors
China on Saturday expounded its commitment to Asian cooperation and economic integration and suggested that its neighbors seize the opportunities arising from the country's rapid economic growth. "China's development cannot be achieved in isolation of Asia, and Asia's prosperity also needs China," said Chinese President Hu Jintao while addressing the annual conference of an influential international forum on Asian development, which opened in China's southernmost island province of Hainan

SARS Surveillance Tightened Ahead of Holiday
China heightened surveillance of passengers for SARS on Saturday ahead of a week-long holiday starting May 1, when millions are on the move, after the first reported death from the virus since a major outbreak last year. The Health Ministry reported no new case after confirming China's first two in months on Friday. Both women were in stable condition with normal temperatures, it said. Government departments issued a circular asking the country's transport sector and ports to stren

As Asia Seeks Common Prosperity, China Promises Opportunities for Neighbors
China Saturday expounded its commitment to Asian cooperation and economic integration and suggested its neighbors seize the opportunities arising from its rapid economic growth. "China's development cannot be achieved in isolation of Asia, and Asia's prosperity also needs China," said Chinese President Hu Jintao while addressing the annual conference of an international forum on Asian development, which opened in China's southernmost island province of Hainan Saturday morning. More

Youth Become a Dream Market
In China's current box-office-leading film Lian Ai Zhong De Bao Bei (Baober in Love) main character Liu Zhi is bored with modern, materialistic life. He confesses his antipathy to this video camera while he waits for the girl with whom he wants to fall passionately in love. Baober finds his video tape and the man she's been searching for. Baober and Liu have grown up in a city transformed by bulldozers and cranes. This massive cultural earthquake has shattered Babao's spiritual world. Dis

Rail Blast Aid Flows into DPRK
The international community is rallying to help the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) deal with the aftermath of a disastrous train accident. The blasts occurred at 12:10 pm on Thursday because of sparks caused by an electrical pole knocked down during a collision between a railroad car containing oil and two carriages loaded with ammonium nitrate fertilizer during the shunting of wagons in Ryongchon, North Pyong'an Province, said Jang Song-gun, a senior official in charge of r

Five Star Hotels in Beijing Reduce Golden Week Price
Peak travel times in China are at the best of times crowded and expensive, but during this year's national May Day Holiday there will be some relief for weary travelers. In Beijing, some five star hotels will reduce prices during the coming golden week in anticipation of more business and happier customers. Hotels like the China World Hotel, Kerry Center Hotel and Shangri-la will offer a sixty percent discount from April 30th to May 9th and extend the check out time. Insider

Liaoning to Initiate Manchus' Roots-finding Tour
As the birthplace of Qing Dynasty, Liaoning is the native place of the Manchus. Liaoyang Province and Fushun and Shenyang cities will jointly initiate a special tour item -- roots-finding tour of the Manchus. The item will be formally initiated on April 29th. It includes a one-day tour in Shenyang and a two-day tour to the emperors' mausoleums in Fushun, Shenyang, and Liaoyang. Visitors can learn about the development of the former Qing Dynasty as well as the Manchu c

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