 China Travel |
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Opening up brings about prosperity in China
For 56-year-old Chen, an ordinary woman in west Beijing, the past two years have been a period full of jubilance: One daughter bought a 120-square-meter apartment, which is well above the average level for a Chinese family, and another got married to a German working in the Chinese capital. "I never thought of such things as marrying a foreigner and buying something with money borrowed from banks when I was young," Chen said. "I still feel like I'm dreaming." What has happened in C
163,000 deaf kids in China regain hearing ability
A total of 163,000 deaf children have managed to recover their hearing and speaking capacity thanks to a rehabilitation program China launched in 1988. According to information released by the China Disabled Persons' Federation, there are approximately 800,000 deaf kids under the age of seven and more than 30,000 newborns with impaired hearing ability. About 70 percent of them live in China's rural areas, according to the federation. The federation has made it a priority in
China to assist 120,000 victims of leprosy
China's non-governmental organization for the disabled has announced plans to offer rehabilitation to 120,000 victims of leprosy. A spokesperson for the China Disabled Persons' Federation said about 10,000 of those affected by the disease will undergo corrective surgery while equipment and other materials will be provided to the other 110,000. According to a nationwide survey conducted by the Ministry of Health, there are about 230,000 leprosy survivors in China, of whom 120,000 ar
Hakka music staged in Beijing
A symphonic poem, "Echo of the Earth Building," was staged recently in Zhongshan Concert Hall in Beijing by the Xiamen Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Zheng Xiaoying, one of China's leading woman musicians. The troupe was specially invited here to perform on Nov. 5 and 6 for delegates to the upcoming 16th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. "Echo of the Earth Building" was initiated by Zheng Xiaoying and composed by Liu Yuan, who has a doctorate from the China Ce
Boeing predicts steady growth for China's aviation market
Aviation giant Boeing released its 2002 China Current Market Outlook here recently, forecasting that China would become the second civil aviation market in the world in 20 years, next to the United States. China's air transport market is growing by 7.6 percent annually and its domestic air transport market will grow at an average annual rate of 9 percent, according to the report. About 1,550 new airplanes are likely to be added to China's carriers to serve domestic markets, includi
China to build huge ship to transport jumbo jet parts
China has announced plans to build a large-capacity ship to transport A380 aircraft parts, Airbus China President Guy McLeod announced here recently during the Zhuhai Airshow. "Suppliers worldwide have taken part in the development of the A380 program, and China, in particular, is making a very visible contribution. A Roll-On, Roll-Off vessel especially designed to meet Airbus' requirements will be built at Nanjing Jinling Shipyard next year," McLeod said. The ship, which will be 1
China-Brazil joint venture to produce new turbo-fan regional airliner
The China Aviation Industry Corporation II (AVIC II) plans to set up the country's first joint venture company with Embraer of Brazil to produce the new 30-50-seat turbo-fan regional airliner. The new company would be up and running in China by the end of this year and delivery of products to the first eager customer would follow a year later, AVIC II announced recently in Zhuhai, Guangdong province. The new company will assemble an aircraft proving to be the most popular regional
China tops world in tunnel development
China ranks first in the world both in the number of tunnels and the speed of development, Hu Xijie, vice-minister of communications, said here recently. Hu said at the International Seminar on Tunnel and Road Technology, which opened recently, China will pay more attention to road construction in the vast western region as it is carrying out the strategy to boost development in the west. "The main battlefield for road construction will gradually move to the west, which means road
BFA spokesman: Asian tourism cooperation promising
The tourism industry in Asia has entered a new era as countries and regions collectively develop the industry with complementary resources and markets, and environmental protection and cooperation, Boao Forum for Asia (BFA) spokesman Mabul Hossain said Sunday (Nov.17). "Indeed in many Asian countries and regions, tourism has already become a booming industry and made positive contributions to overall economic and social development," he said at a press conference for the BFA Tourism Confe
Global tourist professionals eyes Asia tourism forum
The upcoming Bo'ao Forum for Asia-Tourism Conference will provide a platform for the promotion of international tourist cooperation in Asia and beyond,said an official with the organizing committee here Sunday (Nov.17). More than 400 representatives from about 30 countries and regions have arrived in the city of Guilin, a renowned tourist destination in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, to attend the conference, due to open on Monday. The representatives include natio
Guilin to hold major Asian tourism forum
A Boao Forum for Asia Tourism Conference is soon to be held in Guilin, a major scenic tourist destination in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Yao Wang, executive director of the secretariat of the Boao Forum for Asia, said the conference, due to open on Nov.18, would be co-hosted by the Boao Forum for Asia, a renowned non-governmental, non-profit international organization based in Boao on the island province of Hainan, along with the China National Tourism Administration a
Dark British Tales Enlighten Chinese Fans
Sympathetic but never sentimental, comic but not frivolous, Theatre O from Britain has won worldwide acclaim with its sharp and inventive plays which mix mime, slapstick comedy, fantastic soundtracks and dance. Now the company will tour China with its 2000 production Three Dark Tales, jointly presented by the British Council and the China International Culture Exchange Center. Three Dark Tales is about the everyday oppressions that keep us down and wear us out; oppressions that we occasionally,
Short-distance tourism new industry focus in Asia-Pacific
Tourism professionals Monday told an on-going forum that short-distance tourism within the Asia-Pacific region will soon become the new focus for cooperation among Asian destinations. Some 500 political leaders and tourist professionals gathered in this famous tourist city in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, south China, for Boao Forum for Asia -- Tourism Conference,a major Asia-wide tourist forum. P. Ramanujam, secretary of the Sri Lankan Ministry of Tourism, said that Western travelers ha
Chongqing -- A Must-See Misty City
Chongqing, the nation's newest municipality, established in 1998, has been given the role of serving as a bridge between China's developed eastern coastal areas and the economically backward west regions. This has given the municipality a position of special importance among the leading cities of the country. But for the serious tourist, the city itself does not seem that exciting because there are not many famous travel sites to go other than the Three Gorges and Dazu Stone Sculptures, which ar
Asian Travel Industry Forum Opens in Guilin
Asian tourism leaders and professionals urged closer dialogue and cooperation to boost Asia's travel industry, at an international tourism forum in Guilin, a famous tourist attraction in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Asian countries and regions had attached greater importance to developing tourism in recent years as the industry's role in their economies grew, a senior Chinese official said at Monday's opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia - Tourism Conference. Chen Jinhu
Macau's Tourism Business Sees Double-digit Growth
Macau posted a double-digit growth in the number of tourist arrivals in the first ten months of the year, buoyed by a huge influx of China's inlanders. The Statistics and Census Services said Tuesday that tourist arrivals in the Special Administrative Region (SAR) jumped a year- on-year 10.6 percent to 9.46 million from January to October. Hong Kong remained the largest tourist source for Macau, bringing 4.31 million visitors to Macau, but the figure dipped a year-on-year 1.6 percent. China's in
Short-distance Tourism New Industry Focus in Asia-Pacific
Tourism professionals Monday told an on-going forum that short-distance tourism within the Asia-Pacific region will soon become the new focus for cooperation among Asian destinations. Some 500 political leaders and tourist professionals gathered in this famous tourist city in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, south China, for Boao Forum for Asia -- Tourism Conference, a major Asia-wide tourist forum. P. Ramanujam, secretary of the Sri Lankan Ministry of Tourism, said that Western travelers h
China's Tourism Benefits Asia
China's accession to the World Trade Organization has boosted the country's tourism, which is expected to rake in US$200 million this year, according to a top tourism official. Sun Gang, deputy head of the China National Tourism Administration, made these remarks yesterday on the sidelines of the three-day Boao Forum for Asian-tourism Conference, which began yesterday. In the first half of this year, the number of tourists in China increased by 10.8 per cent from the same period last year and fo
Long-lost Shoulder Drama Reappears
Shoulder Drama, a traditional popular folk art that vanished for more than two decades, has now reappeared in its birthplace, Shaxian county in east China's Fujian Province. When night screen falls, locals gathered and flock to lanes and streets to watch theatrical performances by children standing on the shoulders of adults. According to local records, the drama style was created during the last years of the imperial Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) by a folk artist named Lian Xigou at the Shanxian cou
Mt Jiuhua to Have Giant Copper Statue of Bodhisattva
A 99-meter-high copper statue of Bodhisattva will be erected at Mt Jiuhua, one of China's four major Buddhist shrines, in east China's Anhui Province. The design by Tianjin University has been approved by Buddhist experts and relevant authorities. The statue will stand at the foot of Mt Jiuhua. Thanks to its precise angle, the statue would feature a religious aura at the spring and autumn equinox, said the designer Wang Qiheng, a professor at Tianjin University. The archetype for the Bodhisattva
Chinese Tourism Standardization Effective
Standardization in China's tourism industry is contributing to the promotion of tourism, said Sun Gang, deputy director of the China National Tourism Administration, Monday in Guilin. At the Boao Forum for Asia -- Tourism Conference currently underway in the scenic city of Guilin, Sun said China has drafted and issued 17 tourism-related standards. China first issued the standards for star-rated hotels in 1987,marking the start of tourism standardization. In 1999, China issued a quality control m
Sanya Emerging as a Tourist Magnet
Sanya is located in the southern section of the Hainan islands, the southern most province of China, which was called the end of the earth' in ancient times when political dissidents and delegated officials were exiled there. Though its administrative history dates back to the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD), Sanya was a deserted coastal place in the minds many Chinese inlanders for the following thousands of years. This negative image has dramatically changed today, particularly over the past few y
Great Wall Section at Jiumenkou Now in World Cultural Heritage List
A section of the Great Wall at Jiumenkou built on a riverbed in northeastern Liaoning Province, has been listed as part of the world cultural heritage on Monday by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The 1,704-meter Jiumenkou wall section running from north to south, located within the area of Xintaizi Village of Suizhong County in Liaoning Province, won the approval by the UNESCO on Monday. As it traverses through a 100-meter wide river, the wall secti
China's top universities to enroll Tibetan postgraduates
Eight prestigious universities across China are to enroll a total of 120 postgraduates from government departments in Tibet per year for the next five years in an effort to improve the professional skills of Tibetan officials. The applicants must be university graduates who have worked in a government department or institution for at least three years. They must agree to return to Tibet after graduation. They will be enrolled after sitting a specially-prepared entrance examination
China to enroll 270,000 graduate students next year
The Ministry of Education announced recently that China will enroll about 270,000 students in master's or doctoral degree programs next year, approximately 35 percent more than this year. Next year's growing numbers of college and university graduates will be the first large wave since China enlarged enrollment in 1999, and more students are expected to apply for graduate study, sources with the ministry said. Entrance exams will also be altered for better selection of high-caliber
Shenzhen is home to 18,723 overseas businesses
Shenzhen City in south China's Guangdong province is home to 18,723 overseas financed businesses with a total registered capital of 25.65 billion US dollars. The number of overseas businesses registered in the city in the first nine months of the year was 2,222. By September, 29.6 billion US dollars of overseas capital had flowed into the city and 190 high-tech multinationals had chosen Shenzhen as a base for production, research and development, which has in turned promoted develo
Chongqing railcar contract signed
Hitachi and two Japanese companies were awarded recently the right to provide Hitachi technology and key equipment for 84 railcars for the light rail system in Chongqing Municipality, southwest China. According to a contract signed here recently, the Japanese companies will cooperate with Changchun Railcar Co. to produce the railcars worth 10 billion yen (about 81 million US dollars). Huang Qifan, vice-mayor of Chongqing, said the railcars will be used in the initial phase of a lig
World-famous aviation manufacturers fast entering China
The fast-growing Chinese aviation market has caught the attention of foreign manufacturers, whose eagerness to enter China was seen at the Zhuhai Airshow, which ended recently. Global aviation giants Boeing and Airbus took part in the four-day airshow for the fourth time. Airbus announced its plan to use the Nanjing Shipyard, which builds colossal vessels, to transport parts for building its largest airplane, the A380. It also signed contracts with Chinese partners to further enhance coop
1,500-year-old temple celebrates founding anniversary
The 1,500-year-old Nanhua (South China) Temple was enveloped by incense and Buddhist chants recently as thousands of Buddhist believers from all over the world inundated the temple to mark its founding anniversary. One of the most important Buddhist temples in China, the Nanhua Temple was set up in Shaoguan City, south China's Guangdong Province, 1,500 years ago. One of China's most revered monks, Huineng, the founder of Zen Buddhism, began his monkhood in the temple in 670, which
Yellow River water channeled to drought-ridden Tianjin
Yellow River water Sunday (Nov.10) poured into Tianjin, the largest coastal city in north China suffering serious water shortage due to a six-year dry spell. Water shortage remains though the city with a population of several million has adopted water-saving methods and raised the price for water to help reduce daily consumption from 2.2 million cubic meters to 1.51 million cubic meters. The Yellow River water diversion, the seventh since 1972, is an emergency measure approved by t
Three Gorges Project to harness Yangtze River
The Three Gorges Hydro-Power Project, upon completion in 2009, will serve as the backbone of China's flood-control bulwark in its efforts to harness the Yangtze, the country's longest river. The river's eastward flow comes to a natural fall of over 100 meters in the area of the Three Gorges, located in central China's Hubei Province. Ji Xuebing, a famous Chinese hydrologist, explained that the Three Gorges reservoir, built at the pass of the geographic fall, will effectively contai
New train routes to ease travel via Three Gorges
Four trains linking Yichang with Shanghai and Guangzhou have been added to facilitate increased traffic through the Three Gorges Dam area recently. Travelers cruising the Yangtze via the Three Gorges Dam area are now forced to resort to land transportation since a man-made canal, the sole channel built for passage of ships during the second phase of the Three Gorges Project, was fully closed on Nov.6. Navigation on the canal was stopped on Oct. 31. As only a temporary ship lock is
Revolutionary bases draw holidaymakers
When Zeng Guangqing traveled from his home in the developed southern province of Guangdong for a sightseeing tour of east China's Jiangxi Province, he wanted a better understanding of the Chinese revolution in the 1930s. "I've learned a lot about how the Chinese Communist Party (CPC) fought tenaciously for the benefits of the people," said Zeng Guangqing, 66. "We should cherish the prosperity and stability we enjoy today." Zeng is one of the thousands of people visiting Jinggangsha
Guilin protects "most beautiful landscape under heaven"
Residents of Guilin, a renowned scenic area in south China, are proud of their breathtaking landscapes -- but fear for the future as the tourism industry takes hold. China's major tourist destination in Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region attracted a record one million overseas tourists and 10 million domestic visitors in 2001. But local people are hoping that the Boao Forum for Asia Tourism Comference, from November 18 to 20, will provide some initiatives for a sustainable tourism in
Garuda Indonesian Airways launches new flight between Shanghai and Jakarta
The Garuda Indonesian Airways launched a new flight service Tuesday linking Shanghai and Jakarta, via Singapore. The flights operate between the cities on Tuesdays and Thursdays, using A300 aircraft.
Rail-ferry line to link island province and mainland
Hainan, China's second biggest island after Taiwan, will be connected with the mainland for the first time in history by a rail-ferry line, due to go into operation on December 28. The new means of transportation will greatly boost the development of Hainan, China's biggest special economic zone and only tropical province, said Du Huirong, deputy general manager of the Guangdong-Hainan Railway Construction Co., Ltd. For more than 1,100 years, the tropical island, considered as a ba
China's first world culture exhibition center under construction in Quanzhou
Construction of China's first world culture exhibition center began recently in the coastal city of Quanzhou in Fujian province, southeast China. The exhibition center is being created for the United Nations Year for Cultural Heritage organized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization in 2002 to draw attention to cultural heritage as a means for peace and reconciliation, as well as development. The center will be used to showcase cultural heritage fro
Lotus Blossoms in Shen's Painting
Artist Shen Weifeng from Yangzhou in East China's Jiangsu Province often describes lotus flowers as the best media that can fully express his character, desires and feelings. Born in 1965, Shen began to take an interest in painting and calligraphy as a child. He later studied at the Jiangsu Traditional Chinese Painting Institute. Traditional Chinese painting worships nature. Mountains, rivers, animals, flowers and birds are the most common motifs of the art. For hundreds of years, generation aft
China to Work with Other Asian Countries on New Tourism Ventures
China will work with other Asian nations on such new regional tourism developments as cross-border travel, and tours in the Mekong River and along the Silk Road across the Eurasian Continent, says its tourism chief He Guangwei. China hoped to achieve a prosperous Asian tourism industry through its cooperation and exchange of information with other countries and regions, He, director of the National Tourism Administration, told an Asian tourism ministers meeting Tuesday during the Bo'ao Forum for
China plans to curb desertification by 2010
China plans to bring its growing land desertification under control by 2010 through massive restoration of vegetation across the country, an official of the Desertification Prevention Center of the State Forestry Administration (SFA) said recently. Deputy director of the center, Luo Bing, said China has launched three major programs to curb desertification, one of the most serious environmental problems facing the increasingly sandy country. Luo made the remarks at a seminar held o
China unveils plan to curb sulfur dioxide, acid rain
The Chinese government recently approved a plan to cut sulfur dioxide emission by 2005 in areas troubled by the polluting gas and acid rain. Jointly compiled by the State Environmental Protection Administration and related departments, the plan involves 96.7 billion yuan (11.7 billion US dollars) of investment. By 2005, the plan aims to cut the amount of sulfur dioxide emission by one fifth from the level of 2000 in the four municipalities of Chongqing, Beijing, Shanghai and Tianji
Echoes of Hakka earth castles to be heard in US
A symphony combining vivid Chinese folk songs and Western classical music to portray the history of an immigrant group of people will be performed in the US state of Connecticut in mid November. Prof. Zheng Xiaoying, a world-renowned symphony director as well as China's top female conductor, is scheduled to leave recently for the United States at the invitation of Wesleyan University to lead the university's orchestra in performing the "Echoes of Hakka earth castles." Meanwhile, th
Tomb of ancient poet Du Fu to be restored
The tomb of Du Fu, a celebrated poet from the Tang Dynasty (618-907), is scheduled to be restored to its original form. Du Fu, renowned for his lyrical poetry expressing the misery of the people of his time, died of disease in 768 and was buried in Xiaotian Village of Pingjiang County in central China's Hunan Province. Tong Shengping, director of the Construction Office of the Du Fu Tomb in Pingjiang, said that the "comprehensive" restoration is scheduled to begin soon. He declined
Mud statue of ancient monk found in NW China
A mud statue of an ancient monk, originally believed to be that of a Tibetan god, was discovered by Chinese scholars in Xianrenya Grotto in Tianshui, northwest China's Gansu Province. The monk, called Sizhoudashi in Chinese, was once widely worshipped as a god among Chinese civilians from the late Tang Dynasty (618-907) to the beginning of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). The long-time belief that the statue, set in a Lama pavilion, was a Tibetan god, was set right when scholars unvei
NE China Great Wall restored with World Bank loans
Jiumenkou Great Wall, the only section of China's mighty wall built over water, has been carefully restored in northeast Liaoning Province. To restore the Jiumenkou section, China for the first time made use of loans from the World Bank available for the repair of cultural relics. From 1998 to 2000, the northern part of the section was repaired at the cost of 200,000 US dollars. The project included rebuilding water gates, battlements and the wall body. Previously, the Jiume
Guangzhou to develop rail network
South China's Guangzhou city, capital of Guangdong Province, will input 40-50 billion yuan (4.81-6.02 billion US dollars) into developing urban rail traffic in the next five years, according to city authorities. Experts believe the rail construction will help prop up the economy in the city, as well as in the Zhujiang (Pearl River) Delta. The city has called for public opinion on its proposed rail programs, which focus not only on urban areas, but also on connections with nearby ci
China's digital Dunhuang website launched
By logging onto http:idp.nlc.gov.cn, the Chinese digital Dunhuang website that officially opened Monday (Nov.11), Chinese viewers can scan the huge collections of ancient Buddhist Dunhuang documents held by the National Library of China (NLC) and the British Library (BL). The Dunhuang Library Cave in northwest China was accidentally found by a Taoist priest when he was clearing sand from the No. 16 grotto on June 22, 1900. The cave, sealed for 850 years, holds more than 50,000 relics dati
New edition of world's largest municipal encyclopedia published in Beijing
The latest edition of the Encyclopedia of Beijing, the world's largest municipal encyclopedia, was published recently in Beijing. Compiled by more than 3,000 people over a period of 5 years, the new edition consists of 20 volumes with more than 17 million words and over 10,000 items and illustrations. "It is unprecedented as a regional encyclopedia," Jin Changzheng, deputy editor-in-chief of the Encyclopedia of China, said in a press release recently. Launched by the Beijing
Ten billion yuan in credit for highway construction in NW China province
China's State Development Bank (SDB) has issued a credit line of 10 billion yuan (about 1.2 billion US dollars) to the Communications Department of Gansu province to accelerate highway construction in the region. According to the province's development plan, a total of 41. 2 billion yuan (about 4.96 billion US dollars) will be spent between 2001 and 2005 to expand the highway infrastructure by 3,283 kilometers to reach a total of 42,627 kilometers. Construction of a highway network
Short-distance tourism new industry focus in Asia-Pacific
Tourism professionals Monday told an on-going forum that short-distance tourism within the Asia-Pacific region will soon become the new focus for cooperation among Asian destinations. Some 500 political leaders and tourist professionals gathered in this famous tourist city of Guilin in the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, south China, for Boao Forum for Asia --Tourism Conference, a major Asia-wide tourist forum. P. Ramanujam, secretary of the Sri Lankan Ministry of Tourism, said t
Chinese tourism standardization effective: official
Standardization in China's tourism industry is contributing to the promotion of tourism, said Sun Gang, vice chairman of the China National Tourism Administration, here on Monday. At the Boao Forum for Asia -- Tourism Conference currently underway in the scenic city of Guilin, Sun said China has drafted and issued 17 tourism-related standards. China first issued the standards for star-rated hotels in 1987,marking the start of tourism standardization. In 1999, China issued a quality
Development of tourism must be sustainable: UNEP official
The development of tourism should be carried out in a sustainable manner to provide sufficient opportunities for future growth, said a senior United Nations official here Monday. Nirmal Andrews, regional director for Asia and the Pacific of the UN Environment Program (UNEP), said tourist host countries, in the course of developing the tourism industry, should ensure that local cultural traditions, the ecological environment and bio-diversity remain unharmed. "Otherwise there will b
Asian travel industry forum opens in Guilin
Asian tourism leaders and professionals urged closer dialogue and cooperation to boost Asia's travel industry, at an international tourism forum in Guilin, a famous tourist attraction in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Asian countries and regions had attached greater importance to developing tourism in recent years as the industry's role in their economies grew, a senior Chinese official said at Monday's opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia - Tourism Conference.
China Aims to Become World's Leading Tourist Destination
China, already the world's fifth most popular tourist destination, plans to be the global leader by 2020. Sun Gang, deputy-director of the China National Tourism Administration, made the remarks here to Asian tourism industry professionals in the Boao Forum for Asia -- Tourism Conference, which just concluded in this scenic tourist spot in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region "China's current ranking in world tourism demonstrates its status as a major tourism destination," Sun said
Int'l Visa Cards Accepted in Chinese Mainland
Visa International, the world's largest payment company, announced a deal yesterday with the operators of China's official bankcard payment network to allow holders of overseas issued credit and debit cards to pay with plastic at stores around the country. The alliance reflects Visa's motivation to increase its presence in China, which industry insiders said has the potential to become the world's largest travel destination by 2020 up from fifth position last year. "We estimate that China's fore
Tibet Attracts More Inland China Tourists
More and more tourists from inland China traveled to Tibet Autonomous Region this year, bringing a soaring tourism income to the region. Figures from the local tourism bureau show that, by the end of October, 8.4 million visitors traveled to Tibet this year, up 24.5percent over the same period last year. Some 7.1 million were frominland China and 1.3 million from overseas, up 28.8 percent and 4.6 percent respectively. These primarily inland tourists have brought a boon to local tourism with an i
History Rewritten by Latest Mural Find
Colorful murals on walls inside six ancient royal tombs have been discovered by Chinese archaeologists in southwest China. They said the cliff tombs date back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (AD25-220). The tombs are located on a mountain cliff in Zhongjiang County, Sichuan Province. The third tomb, described as the most valuable by Chinese archaeologists, looks like a luxury hotel with a 13-metre-long entrance, a 20x1.8 meter coffin chamber, rear chambers, a coffin platform and a niche. The murals -
Visa Cards to Work Across Mainland
Visa International, the world's largest payment company, announced a deal yesterday with the operators of China's official bankcard payment network to allow holders of overseas issued credit and debit cards to pay with plastic at stores around the country. The alliance reflects Visa's motivation to increase its presence in China, which industry insiders said has the potential to become the world's largest travel desti-nation by 2020 up from fifth position last year. "We estimate that China's for
China Aims to Be World's Leading Tourist Destination
China, already the world's fifth most popular tourist destination, plans to be the global leader by 2020. Sun Gang, deputy-director of the China National Tourism Administration, made the remarks here to Asian tourism industry professionals in the Boao Forum for Asia -- Tourism Conference, which just concluded in this scenic tourist spot in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region "China's current ranking in world tourism demonstrates its status as a major tourism destination," Sun said
Japan Gives 280 Million Yen for Chinese Cultural Heritage Project
The Japanese government has granted 280 million Yen (about US$2.3 million) to China for the initial funding of a cultural heritage protection project. Long Yongtu, vice minister of China's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Cooperation (MOFTEC) and Japanese Ambassador to China Koreshige Anami signed an agreement on the conservation project in Beijing on Thursday. The sum will be used for the preservation and restoration of the ruins and gardens of Hanyuan Hall, once an integral part of Damin
Taipei's Refusal Dashes Hopes
Taipei's lack of sincerity and insistence on clinging to a political ideology could dash the hopes of setting up direct charter flights across the Taiwan Straits in time for next year's Spring Festival holidays, said a senior government source. The source with the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) said Taiwan's rejection last week of the call for direct flights to and from the mainland, has cast a shadow over the plan's future development. "We have to say that the possibil
Leisurely Strolling down Age-old Lane
In the Xijie (West) Street, a time-weathered lane in the ancient, lovely town of Yangshuo in south China, a wrist watch seems to be a gadget you would least need. Time means nothing for leisure seekers from almost every corner of the world traveling to this enchanting town, approximately 50 kilometers from Guilin, a world-renowned scenic resort in southern Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. It is almost midnight. Noushin Riazi is still nibbling her roasted corn cob beside a snack stall in Xijie S
More Int'l Hotels Eye Chinese Market
A growing number of luxury world-class international hotel chains are arriving in Beijing as the business travel market continues its boom. The Beijing Best Western hotel is set to open soon, and the Park Hyatt, a luxury brand in the Hyatt Group will follow soon. Ritz Carlton has already chosen a site downtown for its first hotel in Beijing. Whether it be in eastern coastal cities like Shanghai metropolis and Ningbo, or southwestern cities such as Chongqing and Chengdu, business people have a wi
More Int'l Hotels Eye Chinese Market
A growing number of luxury world-class international hotel chains are arriving in Beijing as the business travel market continues its boom. The Beijing Best Western hotel is set to open soon, and the Park Hyatt, a luxury brand in the Hyatt Group will follow soon. Ritz Carlton has already chosen a site downtown for its first hotel in Beijing. Whether it is in eastern coastal cities like Shanghai metropolis and Ningbo, or southwestern cities such as Chongqing and Chengdu, business people have a wi
Backgrounder: World Congress of Accountants, the Olympics of the accounting world
The 16th World Congress of Accountants, the first ever to be held on Chinese territory, is hosted by the Hong Kong Society of Accountants and will run from November 19 to 21 in Hong Kong, with Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji officiating the opening ceremony. The World Congress of Accountants, considered the Olympics of the accounting profession worldwide, has been held every five years since the inaugural congress was held in the United States in 1904. The congress is organized under th
PM to accountants: Cherish integrity of profession
Premier Zhu Rongji said Tuesday that the Chinese Government attaches great importance to the development of the accounting profession, and have made unremitting efforts to build the nation's accounting system, create auditing rules and train professionals in the field. Zhu, speaking at the opening ceremony of the four-day 16th World Congress of Accountants, said the accounting profession is playing an increasing role in production management, business operations, investment risks and deve
16th World Congress of Accountants opens in Hong Kong
The 16th World Congress of Accountants, with the theme on "Knowledge-based Economy and the Accountant," opened Tuesday morning at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition center. Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji officiated the opening ceremony attended by over 5,000 people from approximately 100 countries and regions around the world, and delivered a speech. When the premier entered into the great hall, he was welcomed by a standing ovation. Peter Wong, chairman of the Organizing Committe
World Congress of Accountants to discuss hot topics
The 16th World Congress of Accountants, to open Tuesday, will discuss hot topics on the accounting profession including the convergence of standards, ethics, independence and corporate governance. At a news briefing held Monday, President of the Hong Kong Society of Accountants (HKSA) Alvin Wong said this congress is special "because in the wake of the numerous corporate failures in America, this has become a watershed year for the accounting profession around the world." "This is
Ancient pottery workshops unearthed in central China
Pottery workshops of the Han Kingdom, contemporaneous with Dongzhou Dynasty (770 - 256 BC), have been unearthed after being buried for 2,250 years in Xinzheng City, central China's Henan Province. The workshops, consisting of groups of well-preserved kilns and buildings, were found in an area of 200 meters wide and 250 meters long in the east of the ancient Zhenghan City in Xinzheng, according to the province's archeological authority. A well-developed pottery drainage network, bel
China's largest ski center opens to skiers
Yabuli Ski Center, in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, is now open to the public. The center opened a month ahead of schedule due to four early snowfalls in the period since Oct. 27. The ski center, located 195 kilometers north of Harbin, the provincial capital, boasts a 3,000 meter-long ski run, the largest of its kind in the country. It is also the largest ski training center and the venue for the annual China International Ski Festival and the annual meeting of the China
Hong Kong named world's freest economy for 9th year
Hong Kong has retained the top spot as the world's freest economy, closely edging out Singapore, according to the Heritage Foundation and the Wall Street Journal's annual "Index of Economic Freedom" published recently. This is the ninth year that Hong Kong has been named as the world's freest economy. A spokesman of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) said the government was pleased that Hong Kong topped the league of economic freedom in the world for the ninth consec
Roundup: Tourism, glittering star in Macao's economy
Just like drivers showing their speed in the Macao Grand Prix auto races that ended here Sunday (Nov.18), tourism and gaming industry of the Special Administrative Region (SAR) is growing on a fast track. The number of tourist arrivals in the small city hit a record of more than 10 million last year, and the figure for this year is anticipated to be at least 11 million in line with estimates from local officials and industry insiders. Launched by the Macao Government Tourist Office
Going abroad easier for Chinese
In times past, business people in China had to wait for overseas business to come to them and most people could only dream of traveling to distant countries. But things have changed in this increasingly open and market-oriented country. "We used to have to wait for customers to call us, due to tedious formalities for traveling abroad for business opportunities," said Liu Junquan, general manager of Mark Cheung based in Zhongshan city, south China's Guangdong Province. "Now it is much easi
Asia plans platform for regional tourism cooperation
Asia's tourism industry professionals intend setting up a platform to boost regional cooperation and achieve common economic growth and a prosperous tourism sector across the vast continent. The 500 honorable participants from more than 30 countries and regions who gathered in the prestigious scenic city of Guilin in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, at the Bo'ao Forum for Asia - Tourism Conference discussed prospects and policies for Asian tourism and adopted the Guilin Dec
Tourism development creates job opportunities
Experts attending the Bo'ao Forum for Asia-Tourism Conference agree that further development of the tourism industry could create more job opportunities and alleviate poverty. Kerstin Leitner, the resident representative of the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in China, said Tuesday that, according to a theoretical assumption, every time 10 domestic tourists and three overseas tourist arrivals in a tourist destination, one job post is created there. China is in the midst o
China's tourism benefits Asia: tourism official
China's accession to the World Trade Organization has boosted the country's tourism, which is expected to rake in US$200 million this year, according to a top tourism official. Sun Gang, vice chairman of the China National Tourism Administration, made these remarks Monday on the sidelines of the three-day Boao Forum for Asian-tourism Conference, which began Monday. In the first half of this year, the number of tourists in China increased by 10.8 per cent from the same period last y
China to work with other Asian countries on new tourism ventures
China will work with other Asian nations on such new regional tourism developments as cross-border travel, and tours in the Mekong River and along the Silk Road across the Eurasian Continent, says its tourism chief He Guangwei. China hoped to achieve a prosperous Asian tourism industry through its cooperation and exchange of information with other countries and regions, He, chairman of the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA), told an Asian tourism ministers meeting Tuesday during
Bo'ao Forum for Asia-- Tourism Conference adopts Guilin Declaration
The two-day Bo'ao Forum for Asia (BFA) -- Tourism conference ended Tuesday in Guilin in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, with a Guilin Declaration adopted by all 500 participants. In the declaration, participants agreed on four topics including Asian regional tourism cooperation and development, new tourist products development, sustainable tourism growth, and the socio-economic contribution of the tourism sector. The declaration underlined that participants viewed t
Moon Trip to Fill Void in Space History
China will send a manned craft into space before 2005 and preparations for the mission to the moon exploration are under way, a senior space official said yesterday in Beijing. China successfully launched unmanned spaceships "Shenzhou" in 1999 and this ye
More Options for Chinese Tourists
As Spring Festival golden week draws near, Beijing residents are considering some new overseas destinations being promoted at the Beijing International Tourism Consultation Exhibition, which opened Friday. Chinese tourists may now visit Sri Lanka, South Africa, Malta, Viet Nam and Egypt. "This exhibition is helping me consider more thoroughly before deciding on a winter holiday in one of the 27 appointed foreign tourist destination countries," said Wang Yan, a 33-year-old Beijing resident. Organ
More Options for Chinese Tourists
As Spring Festival golden week draws near, Beijing residents are considering some new overseas destinations being promoted at the Beijing International Tourism Consultation Exhibition, which opened Friday. Chinese tourists may now visit Sri Lanka, South Africa, Malta, Viet Nam and Egypt. "This exhibition is helping me consider more thoroughly before deciding on a winter holiday in one of the 27 appointed foreign tourist destination countries," said Wang Yan, a 33-year-old Beijing resident. Organ
Mogao Grottoes in Yu Prose
The Mogao grottos in Gansu province in northwest China is on the list of UNESCO world cultural heritages. A complex network of caves, the Mogao grottos are also known as the Caves of a Thousand Buddhas. Over the years, countless articles have been written on the marvelous arts and culture featured in the grottos, but famous scholar Yu Qiuyu's prose work is somewhat unique. In his eyes, the Mogao grottos are a clue to discovering China's ancient history. Yu Qiuyu, a renowned contemporary Chinese
Chinese Folk Songs Find Favor Among Foreign Artists
Chinese folk songs are well-loved by many of the foreign artists performing at the ongoing 2002 Nanning International Folk Song Festival in south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Lavinia Craciunescu, a middle-aged singer from Romania, said she got to know a Chinese folk song when she was very young, and several years ago, she learned two more. "For me, both newly created Chinese folk songs and old ones are pleasant to listen to," said the Romanian singer. Ken Kennet, who is leading an A
Nation Increases Patrols of Alien Bugs
The State Forestry Administration (SFA) has strengthened monitoring measures to bring damages caused by foreign insects under control. The economic, social and ecological losses brought by several non-indigenous critters cost about 56 billion yuan (US$6.7 billion) each year in China, experts said. In the past several years, foreign bugs have been introduced in large numbers and have spread across the Chinese mainland. The pinewood nematode, also called "xianchong" in Chinese, was initially intro
Nation Increases Patrols of Alien Bugs
The State Forestry Administration (SFA) has strengthened monitoring measures to bring damages caused by foreign insects under control. The economic, social and ecological losses brought by several non-indigenous critters cost about 56 billion yuan (US$6.7 billion) each year in China, experts said. In the past several years, foreign bugs have been introduced in large numbers and have spread across the Chinese mainland. The pinewood nematode, also called "xianchong" in Chinese, was initially intro
Wang Bomin, Fine Art Historian, Honored
Over 200 Chinese and foreign guests gathered Sunday to celebrate the 80th birthday and the 60th anniversary of the formation of the art circle of Wang Bomin, a noted Chinese fine art historian. The celebration took place in Hangzhou, the provincial capital of Zhejiang Province, in east China, and the participants included artists, educators and scholars. Wang, a tenured professor and doctoral tutor at the Chinese Academy of Fine Art, is known for his research in the fields of poetry, calligraphy
SFA Increases Patrols of Alien Bugs
The State Forestry Administration (SFA) has strengthened monitoring measures to bring damages caused by foreign insects under control. The economic, social and ecological losses brought by several non-indigenous critters cost about 56 billion yuan (US$6.7 billion) each year in China, experts said. In the past several years, foreign bugs have been introduced in large numbers and have spread across the Chinese mainland. The pinewood nematode, also called "xianchong" in Chinese, was initially intro
Dinosaur Site to Become Theme Park
A site known for its dinosaur relics will soon be home to a theme park for the prehistoric creatures in the Tongguling area of Maoming city, south China's Guangdong Province. The area is made up of several hills and has yielded many dinosaur egg and bone fragment fossils. Tongguling is also covered with unusual red sandstone stratums belonging to the late Cretaceous period when dinosaurs thrived. Some scientists believe the stratums may still contain complete dinosaur skeletons. The theme park,
Renovation of ancient irrigation system draws curious tourists
The ongoing renovation of the 2,250-year-old Dujiangyan irrigation system is drawing many curious tourists, said Liu Shihong, director of the Dujiangyan Scenic Zone Administration, recently. Many of them are eager to observe the process of the famous dam's restoration to its "original form." On Nov.13 when the renovation work began, some 6,000 tourists visited the site, the official said. To protect the ancient site from being damaged by modern machinery, traditional methods are be
China cleans up world's oldest irrigation scheme
China recently began renovating the more than 2,250-year-old Dujiangyan irrigation system in southwest China's Sichuan Province, at a cost of 30 million yuan (3.6 million US dollars). Water flow in the inner canal, the "heart" of the irrigation system, was successfully blocked at 10:50 a.m. on Nov.13, forcing the current to turn and run into the system's outer canal. The renovation project, due to be completed in 42 days, would focus on dredging silt deposited in the inner canal, a
China to renovate ancient irrigation system
China recently will begin renovating the 2,250-year-old Dujiangyan irrigation system in southwest China's Sichuan Province, at a cost of 30 million yuan (3.6 million US dollars). "The inner canal of the irrigation system is 10 years old and filled with silt," said Peng Shuming, director of the Administrative Bureau of the Dujiangyan irrigation system. "The water supply facilities along the canal are also in need of upgrading." The water supply for irrigation, industrial purposes an
Shenzhen to improve port, airport infrastructure
Large-scale transformation of the seaport and airport is in full swing in Shenzhen, a booming business center in south China. Total investment from the local government will amount to 30 billion yuan (3.62 billion US dollars) during the 2001-2005 period,an official said recently. Under the 10th five-year plan, the city will spend 15.65 billion yuan (1.89 billion US dollars) in refurbishing port facilities and constructing 10 new container berths with a combined handling capacity of
East China city has new open harbor
The Daxie Harbor Area of Ningbo, an open coastal city in east China's Zhejiang Province, has gained the go-ahead from the State Council, the country's cabinet, to open up to the outside world. Situated in the eastern port of Ningbo, the Daxie Harbor Area is across the sea from Shanghai, east China's largest city, and borders an international deepwater shipping lane. Considered an unusually well-endowed natural deepwater harbor, Daxie is blessed with a 10.7 km deepwater coastline th
Tianjin to improve infrastructure and environment with World Bank loans
North China's Tianjin Municipality plans to use 2.95 billion yuan (about 349 million US dollars) in World Bank (WB) loans for infrastructure and environmental projects. They include projects to build or upgrade roads, improve the city's sewer network, and to establish a technology research program on issues regarding urban development and environmental protection. A World Bank delegation is currently in the city to evaluate the proposed projects. The bank and the city government ar
Over 100 billion yuan invested in research and development
Statistics from an official report show that over 100 billion yuan (about 13 billion US dollars) was spent on scientific research and development (R&D) in China last year. A report on China's scientific and technological expenditure, jointly released recently by the National Statistics Bureau, the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ministry of Finance, says that expenditure on R&D was 104.3 billion yuan, 14.7 billion yuan more than the previous year and equaling 1.1 percent of Chi
Ancient pottery workshops unearthed in central China
Pottery workshops of the Han Kingdom, contemporaneous with Dongzhou Dynasty (770 - 256 BC), have been unearthed after being buried for 2,250 years in Xinzheng City, central China's Henan Province. The workshops, consisting of groups of well-preserved kilns and buildings, were found in an area of 200 meters wide and 250 meters long in the east of the ancient Zhenghan City in Xinzheng, according to the province's archeological authority. A well-developed pottery drainage network, bel
Tomb depicting murals found in southwest China
Chinese archaeologists have found colorful murals on walls inside six cliff tombs dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty (25-220 A.D.). The tombs are located on a mountain cliff in Zhongjiang County of southwest China's Sichuan Province. The third tomb, described as the most valuable by Chinese archaeologists, looks like a luxury hotel with a 13-meter-long entry way, a 20 by 1.8 meter coffin chamber, rear chambers, a coffin platform and a niche. The murals, painted in vivid
Nation to close scenic spot to protect World Heritage site
Tourists will be denied access to the Huanglong (Yellow Dragon) scenic spot in southwest China's Sichuan Province from December 1 to March 31, Huanglong scenic spot management committee said on Nov.20. Included in the World Heritage list of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), Huanglong is the only world heritage site in China to close its tourism area during the winter. Located in northwest Sichuan, Huanglong is famous for its beautiful la
16th World Congress of Accountants ends in HK
The 16th World Congress of Accountants ended in Hong Kong on Nov.21 after discussion of nearly 90 topics ranging from hot issues like the integrity and ethics of the accounting profession, to the impact of the knowledge-based economy on the profession. Federick Ma, secretary for financial services and the treasury of Hong Kong, said at the closing ceremony that the participants will bring home refreshing and stimulating ideas from the congress. Ma's opinion was echoed by Richard Wa
China's accounting business to be more open: official
Entering into China's accounting services market becomes easier along with China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Feng Shuping, assistant minister of China's Ministry of Finance, said here recently. China will honor its WTO commitments in relation to accounting services, the Chinese official promised at the China Forum of the 16th World Congress of Accountants. The commitments include allowing foreigners who have obtained CPA (certified public account) licenses fr
News Analysis: China aims to become world's leading tourist destination
China, already the world's fifth most popular tourist destination, plans to be the global leader by 2020. Sun Gang, vice chairman of the China National Tourism Administration, made the remarks here to Asian tourism industry professionals in the Boao Forum for Asia -- Tourism Conference, which just concluded in this scenic tourist spot in southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region "China's current ranking in world tourism demonstrates its status as a major tourism destinatio
Nations to tap Asian tourism market
China will develop much closer ties in the tourism industry with all Asian nations, He Guangyuan, chairman of the China National Tourism Administration, said recently. The co-operation will focus on developing the tourism market, spin-off products and communications as well as improving safety in the industry, He said. He made these remarks came at the ministerial-level round-table meeting held on the final day of the three-day Boao Forum for Asia-Tourism Conference (BFA). S
Pictures of Yimeng Mountains
Though it has no big stars, Pictures of Yimeng Mountains, a traditional Chinese dance presented by the Ji'nan Song and Dance Theatre, is nevertheless a feast for the eyes, ears and heart. The show, to be staged at the Cultural Palace of Nationalities in Beijing tonight and tomorrow, features the lifestyle, culture and costumes of the people of the Yimeng Mountains in east China's Shandong Province. "The show represents the Yimeng people's life on the stage very vividly," said Liu Qiong, dance cr
HK uses satellite to track endangered green turtle
Satellite tracking is used to trace the migratory route and feeding ground of a green turtle by the Agriculture, Fisheries and Conservation Department (AFCD) of Hong Kong for the conservation of this highly endangered species. "This is the first time Hong Kong applied this technique to trace a green turtle," AFCD Nature Conservation Officer Simon ChanKin-fung said at a media briefing recently on the conservation work and breeding result of green turtles in Hong Kong this year. "Gre
Hong Kong to enhance its role as China's gateway to world
A senior financial official said recently that Hong Kong will further enhance its role as China's international gateway and be a major international financial center in Asia and regional financial services hub in the future. Sharing his vision for the development of Hong Kong's financial market at a joint chambers of commerce luncheon, Frederick Ma, secretary for financial services and the treasury of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, said he saw great potential for the develop
Hong Kong's Ocean Park awarded elite membership
Ocean Park Hong Kong said recently that it had been awarded a five-year accreditation by the American Zoo and Aquarium Association (AZA), becoming the first Asian animal facility included in this non-profit elite group. The 25-year-old Ocean Park was granted the membership of the largest zoo and aquarium organization in the world last month, along with one zoo and two aquariums of the United States, increasing the number of AZA's members to 208. Accreditation of zoos and aquariums
Wild rice reserve put under state protection
An 11-hectare reserve containing what experts described as the world's northernmost wild rice has been put under state protection in Jiangxi Province, east China, local officials said. They said wild rice was found on 0.3 hectares of the reserve in Dongxiang County, which has been guarded by a special task force. Experts said the wild rice can stand cold weather of up to about minus 10 degrees centigrade. It is of great significance for scientists to study the origin and evolution
China builds first wetland museum at Yellow River Delta
China is speeding up construction of the country's first wetland museum in east China's Shandong Province in an effort to protect the ecosystem of the Yellow River Delta. The museum, located in Dongying City near the estuary of the river, is expected to open to visitors in July 2003. Its construction began in July this year. The main hall is already complete, and at a cost of 10 million yuan (1.2 million US dollars), it will have a total of four halls which combine exhibition with educati
Fuel cell buses to appear in China in 2008
Buses driven by fuel cell engines will be put into use in China in 2008 when the country hosts the Olympic Games, a scientist with the bus research project said. Zhang Huamin, a professor with the fuel cell engineering center under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said the country's first 50-kw fuel-cell engine for use on urban buses has been created in the center, located in Dalian, a coastal city in northeast China's Liaoning Province. The engine's technical specifications are qu
China's 1st transoceanic train ferryboat reaches destination
Yuehaitie No.1, China's first transoceanic train ferryboat, arrived in the Qiongzhou Straits on Sunday (Nov.24), where it will operate as a transportation link between railways in Guangdong and Hainan provinces. The ferryboat left the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai on Thursday, traversing the Taiwan Straits en route to its destination. The country's first transoceanic train ferry is scheduled to commence operation on December 28, according to official sources. The ferryboat,
Nanjing massacre memorial to add footprints of witnesses
A memorial in honor of the 300,000 Chinese massacred here by invading Japanese troops will see the addition of the bronze footprints of 222 witnesses to the tragedy. A spokesperson for the Nanjing Memorial in honor of compatriots slaughtered in the capital of Jiangsu province, east China, said the footprints will be cast on bronze blocks. The move is designed to caution later generations not to forget history, said the spokesperson. The bronze blocks, to form a pavement 40 m
China to expand its helicopter manufacturing industry
China Aviation Industry Corporation II (AVIC II), a major helicopter producer and research institute, will intensify research and strengthen international cooperation over the next ten years in order to promote the country's helicopter manufacturing industry, a senior executive said recently. "China has the capability to produce and to conduct research on helicopters. In addition, China has huge market potential and strong economic performance. We are very optimistic about the future of h
Two ancient capitals to merge
As the implementation of a new urban planning project, Xianyang and Xi'an, two historic cities in northwest China's Shaanxi Province, are scheduled to merge to form one city in 2007. Xi'an, the capital of Shaanxi Province, with a history of more than 3,100 years, was the capital of 13 feudal dynasties, including those in the period of great prosperity such as the Han Dynasty (206 B.C.-220 A.D.) and the Tang Dynasty (6l8 A.D.- 907 A.D.). Built more than 2,350 years ago, Xianyang, 20
Foreigners come for Christmas in China
Santa Claus is coming to China this year in a seemingly successful promotion to attract more foreign tourists to the country for Christmas. While Westerners enjoy mulled wine and mistletoe in China, many Chinese are looking to spend their traditional Spring Festival holiday abroad -- particularly where the weather is warm. In recent years, the numbers of both inbound and outbound travelers had risen as the development of trade and services brought in foreigners, while the buoyant e
China striving to boost tourism training for Tibet
Nearly 30 administrators from Tibet's tourist industry attended a seminar in Beijing on Nov.23 on developing tourism in the region. Representative from different areas in Tibet discussed such topics as trends in China's tourism industry, and the special nature of Tibetan tourism. They also visited scenic destinations in Beijing, Tianjin and adjacent Hebei province. The 10-day seminar is an example of China's drive to develop its western regions by encouraging tourism and its effort
Ancient Brewery Discovered
Brewing spirits, long a good business in China, is even older than previously thought, after archaeologists unearthed the ruins of an ancient distillery dating back approximately 800 years. Discovered in June in Lidu Town of Jinxian County, east China's Jiangxi Province, this is the oldest distilled spirit brewery ever discovered in China, said Huang Jinglue, an expert with the State Administration of Cultural Heritage. The Lidu brewery dates back to the Yuan Dynasty (1271-1368), while the brewe
Cultural Heritage Preservation a Success in China
But as to why the Chinese mainland has succeeded in achieving brilliant archeological findings in the past decade, it's because the past 13 years have been the years of stable development in a comprehensive way. Director of the Shaanxi Provincial Cultural Heritage Bureau Zhang Tinghao made such remarks in an exclusive interview with Xinhua Tuesday when asked how China managed to achieve the impressive archeological findings that are the very essence of the exhibition titled: "War and Peace -- Tr
Xinjiang creates oases in the desert
Manmade forests have been planted on 580,000 hectares in the past five years, forming many oases across the arid Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous region of northwest China. To date, 90 percent of the 3.3 million hectares of farmland in Xinjiang are lined with forest belts. The rate of land covered by forest in Xinjiang has risen from 1.03 percent 20 years ago to the current 1.92 percent. Aksu Prefecture, an area frequented by sandstorms, has organized 26 tree-planting campaigns since 1986
Water pollution controls at Dianchi Lake pay off
The deterioration in the water quality at Dianchi Lake, the famous highland freshwater lake in southwest China's Yunnan Province, has basically been curbed, thanks to sustainable pollution control efforts over the past seven years. Dianchi Lake is 40 km long and eight km wide with a water storage of 1.5 billion cubic meters. It is the major source of water for industrial and agricultural use in Kunming, capital of Yunnan, and also plays a key role in balancing the city's environment.
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Hainan increases its "green space"
The island province of Hainan, in south China, has launched a three-year program aimed at increasing the per capita green space in its urban areas. According to the plan drawn up by the provincial construction bureau, the program aims to increase the per capita green space by 0.2 sq m annually. The plan also requires that all cities in the province build at least one 10,000-square-meter park or green square and that all counties build a 5,000-square-meter park, grassland area or am
New environmentally-safe drug to kill mice at Three Gorges
As the last of the measures to rid the Three Gorges dam area of mice, workers began recently to spread 120 tons of a deadly drug throughout demolished areas and newly-built resettlements. According to medical workers, the drug, containing ingredients known to have a curing effect on human heart disease, will "put mice to sleep" and would therefore have no negative impact on the environment. Next June, the water level in the dam of the world's largest hydro-power project is expected
Int'l Students' Day marked in Chinese school for the first time
More than 2,000 Beijing middle school students arranged thousands of paper cranes on a blackboard to form the message "Peace, Democracy and Freedom" in commemoration of International Students' Day. On Nov. 17, 63 years ago, nine anti-Nazi students in Czechoslovakia were killed by German invaders, who then proceeded to shut down every university in the country. Since then, the day has been commemorated as the International Students' Day. The activity arose spontaneously from among s
Forest protection on Yangtze's upper reaches paying off
The ecological environment along the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, China's longest, has greatly improved following a campaign to protect its natural forest. Since 1999, lumbering has been banned in the three Tibetan counties of Markam, Jomda and Gonjo, located on the upper reaches of the Yangtze, leading 129 tree-fellers to become tree planters. The regional government of Tibet has closed down 18 timber processing plants and three timber trading markets. It also called off th
Conservation efforts reduce silt accumulation in ancient irrigation system
Environmental protection efforts by Sichuan Province in southwest China pay off, and the ancient Dujiangyan irrigation system will soon require dredging and maintenance only once every 20-30 years, instead of once a year. Li Junzhu, a senior engineer in charge of the dam's maintenance, said recently it will no longer be necessary to block the inner canal to dredge and remove silt on an annual basis due to the marked reduction in silt accumulation. The Dujiangyan irrigation system t
Qinghai-Tibet Railway brings Tibet "closer"
Baima Zhoima, a 58-year-old Tibetan woman said with a smile she could make a pilgrimage in Tibet every year "when the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is built." She and her family live in a warm, three-roomed stone house on the 4,500-meter-high Xiacang Mountain near the Tuotuo River in northwest China's Qinghai Province. A sweet smell from a pot of boiling buttered tea permeates her living room, and the stove's blazing fire cozily warms the people seated around. Baima Zhoima plays wit
No longer Everest: Westerners urged to recognize original name of world's highest peak
Though the Chinese marked the location of Mount Qomolangma. the world's highest peak, on their map more than 280 years ago, Westerners today continue to refer to the peak as Mount Everest, rather than Tibetans' Goddess Qomolangma, the peak's original name. It is time, say scholars and Tibetans, for the world to rectify the error made by British colonialists over a century ago. "In an era when colonialism has long been past, it is high time for the Western world to respect us Tibeta
South China island city expects continued tourism boom
The number of visitors to Sanya City, one of China's most popular tourist destinations on the southern tip of Hainan Island Province, is expected to double to 6 million annually by 2010. By then, overseas tourists will make up 35 to 40 percent of the total and the tourism sector will contribute 70 percent to the city's gross domestic product (GDP), said a local tourism official. Sanya has grown from a small fishing village into a 20-sq-km city abounding in natural tourism resources
Chief Secretary launches Hong Kong tourism promotion in Tokyo
Hong Kong Chief Secretary for Administration Donald Tsang on Nov.24 launched a month-long tourism promotion in Tokyo highlighting the best of Hong Kong's food, film and music. Tsang officiated at the launch of 'Hong Kong New Wave', an exhibition sponsored by the Hong Kong Tourism Board. Hong Kong and Japan have been a fascination for each other, Tsang said. One of the main things that appeals to Japanese visitors is Hong Kong's fusion of Eastern and Western cultures, "but our moder
Indonesian airlines eyes Shanghai for boost after Bali
National carrier Garuda Indonesia opened a Jakarta-Shanghai route recently, hoping the lucrative Chinese market would offset a plunge in passenger numbers from Australia and Europe following last month's deadly blasts in Bali. Garuda began serving the twice weekly Shanghai route last Monday. The flight, with a stopover in Singapore, takes about 7.5 hours. "China is a lucrative market," Garuda's vice president for marketing and development Irman Imawan was quoted by the Jakarta Post
Ancient cities to re-emerge in Xinjiang
The ancient cities of Gaochang and Jiaohe are to be rebuilt near Turpan City in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, according to a seminar on tourist industrial development recently held here. "Unlike such tourist cities as Shanghai and Dalian, Turpan has a few scenic spots like the Grape Valley and the ruins of Gaochang and Jiaohe," said Zhong Pengrong, director of the Beijing Eyeshot Consulting Center, at the seminar. "Therefore, more should be built to attract tourists.
Construction of Airport Road to World Heritage Site Underway
Construction of a 91-km highway leading to the new Jiuzhai-Huanglong Airport being built on the site of the Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong scenic zones in southwest China's Sichuan Province is underway, with the completion date of August 2003 for both the airport and the highway. The cost of the project is estimated at 300 million yuan (36 million US dollars). Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong are famous for their clean lakes, natural forests and beautiful landscapes, and up to 1.2 million Chinese and overseas
Shopping Tour to Hong Kong Popular in City
A growing number of Shanghai fashion-goers are signing up for package shopping tours to Hong Kong, the number this year is predicted to increase by up to 30 percent from a year before, the Shanghai Morning Post reported today. Since Monday more local fashion buffs have signed up for the package tours to Hong Kong to catch up with the seasons first round of sales there, usually starting on December 15. Though not all the brands will be sold at reduced prices on December 15, discounted clothes in
Shopping Tour to Hong Kong Popular in Shanghai
A growing number of Shanghai fashion-goers are signing up for package shopping tours to Hong Kong, the number this year is predicted to increase by up to 30 percent from a year before, the Shanghai Morning Post reported today. Since Monday more local fashion buffs have signed up for the package tours to Hong Kong to catch up with the seasons first round of sales there, usually starting on December 15. Though not all the brands will be sold at reduced prices on December 15, discounted clothes in
The Real Tibet
The purest air and the bluest sky in the world. This is what I first saw in Tibet when I went there some 20 years ago.
Under the blinding sunshine were men wrapped up in sheep hides. With chest and arms exposed to the air, they chatted merrily with gir
NE China Great Wall restored with World Bank loans
Jiumenkou Great Wall, the only section of China's mighty wall built over water, has been carefully restored in northeast Liaoning Province. To restore the Jiumenkou section, China for the first time made use of loans from the World Bank available for the repair of cultural relics. From 1998 to 2000, the northern part of the section was repaired at the cost of 200,000 US dollars. The project included rebuilding water gates, battlements and the wall body. Previously, the Jiume
Great Wall section at Jiumenkou now 1isted as UNESCO world cultural heritage site in northeast China
A section of the Great Wall at Jiumenkou built on a riverbed in northeastern Liaoning province, has been listed as part of the world cultural heritage on Monday by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The 1,704-meter Jiumenkou wall section running from north to south, located within the area of Xintaizi village of Suizhong county in Liaoning province, won the approval by the UNESCO on Nov.18. As it traverses through a 100-meter wide river,
China's search and rescue capacity improves: experts
China's cities have greatly improved their search and rescue capacities during natural disasters or emergencies, experts say. The appraisal came from an annual meeting of International Search and Rescue Advisory Group of the United Nations, which opened here recently to discuss search and rescue in the Asia-Pacific region. China had been seriously plagued by natural disasters, according to experts at the meeting, but the country was paying greater attention to disaster prevention,
Ancient letters auctioned for record 9.9 million yuan
A collection of letters written by important Chinese personalities during the Ming Dynasty has been sold for 9.9 million yuan (1.19 million US dollars) at an auction hosted by China Guardian Auction Co., Ltd., China's leading auctioneer. The sale, reportedly made to a Chinese collector, was a record for rare ancient Chinese documents sold at auction. The collection, which consists of more than 600 epistolary writings penned by over 400 noted personalities during the Ming Dynasty (1
Fossils of pterodactyl dinosaur found in NE China
Fossils from a newly-discovered species of pterodactyl dinosaur have been discovered in Chaoyang County in northeast China's Liaoning Province. The fossils, named Sinopterus dongi, have been confirmed as belonging to the Tapejaridae species by scientists with the Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology of the Chinese Academy of Sciences. The fossils are believed to date back about 110 million years in the Cretaceous Period. The newly-discovered fossils in Chaoyan
Over 600 rare inscribed bones unearthed in central China
Chinese archeologists have unearthed 628 inscribed animal bones and tortoise shells bearing inscriptions that are expected to help further the study of the primitive stages of Chinese writing. Of the 628 bones found within the southern Xiaotun Village area of the Yin Ruins, capital of the Shang Dynasty (16th Century B.C. -11th Century B.C.) in central Henan Province's Anyang City, 228 bear inscriptions and the remaining 400 do not. The 228 inscribed pieces, of which 105 are tortois
China in bid to save rare fish species
China has built a special breeding zone at Bosten Lake for the big-headed highland carp, a fish species on the verge of extinction. Setting up the zone at the lake in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region cost 4 million yuan (481,927 US dollars), which will be shared by the central government and the Xinjiang regional government. The large carnivorous carp eats other kinds of fish. It grows fast and enjoys a long lifespan but lives only in rivers in desert areas. China
Coastal city protects uninhabited isles
The Xiamen city government has passed a law to protect uninhabited islands and reefs along its coast in Fujian Province, east China. The local law, called Provisions on the Administration of Protection and Utilization of Uninhabited Islands of Xiamen City, comes into force on Jan. 1, 2003. Xiamen has 13 isles each covering 500 square meters or more, with no permanent residents, and 58 reefs, which serve as a natural defense for the coastal city. The isles and reefs, though w
Manzhouli -- China's top inland port of entry
The city of Manzhouli in Inner Mongolia is still China's top inland port of entry in terms of imports and exports, trade volume and the amount of tax paid to the state, a position it has held in recent years. The city on the Sino-Russian border had handled 8.2 million tons of imports and exports, generated trade worth 882 million US dollars and paid 1.3 billion yuan in taxes to the state in January-September period of this year, ranking first among China's ports of entry, said Wang Zhigua
Shanghai, where the world comes together
Against a backdrop of rapid economic growth and increasing cultural diversity, Shanghai offers visitors a heady cocktail: equal parts vigor and splendor mixed with a dash of internationalism. It's a mix which is proving irresistible to those wanting to showcase their wares to the world. An international tourism fair, an industrial exposition, an art festival and tennis tournament as well the country's first Internet conference are competing for center stage in the coastal city.
Zhengzhou-Seoul charter flight service due
A charter flight service between Zhengzhou, capital of central China's Henan Province and Seoul, capital of the Republic of Korea, is scheduled to start on December 22. Sources with the Henan Civil Aviation Administration say the service, launched by China Southern Airlines, will operate each Thursday and Sunday starting from January next year, using a Boeing 737-300. The airliner will take off from Xinzheng Airport in Zhengzhou at 16:30, arriving at Seoul at 18:00 Among its 548 fl
China's thriving tourism tipped to boost credit card business
China's thriving tourism will boost its credit card business, Xiong Anping, general manager of Visa International China, said here Wednesday. How to spend safely and conveniently has become a common concern for international tourists in China, he said. Compared with cash, credit cards have become the first choice for inbound travelers in terms of convenience and safety. If credit cards are more widely accepted, there will be more transactions and greater consumption, he said. To wi
Eight Industries May Have Glorious Future
According to experts, the industries with greatest potential in the Chinese market are: Household electrical appliances: With the steady economic growth, the purchase of cameras, computers and DVDs has increased an average 10 percent a year. Sales of household electrical appliances are expected to achieve a 10-35 percent investment return. Automobiles: The domestic auto industry will adjust its development in the next 10 years. Related industries with high profit potential include components and
Kenya Attacks Probed for Al-Qaida Link
With Israeli and American authorities casting suspicion on al-Qaida or its allies, Kenyan authorities investigating the twin assaults on Israeli targets there focused quickly on foreign suspects, reporting Friday they had arrested six Pakistanis, four Somalis, an American and a Spaniard. Al-Qaida carried out almost simultaneous bombings to the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1998 that killed 231 people - including 12 Americans - and injured about 5,000. Police spokesman King'ori Mwangi s
Beijing Elder Paints Three Gorges Scroll
An enthusiastic elderly painter from Beijing went to the Three Gorges twice, once in 1994 and again 1997, to make sketches of the landscape. During the past five years he drew hundreds of scenes of the 193-kilometer-long Three Gorges, creating a 228-meter-long, 1.4-meter-high scroll painting. Li Yushan, 64, is a healthy vigorous old man. He spread out part of the scroll painting to show off his work, "Look, this is Baidi City. This is Shennu (Goddess) Peak. This is Shuzhuangtai (a famous scene l
Beijing Elder Paints Three Gorges Scroll
An enthusiastic elderly painter from Beijing went to the Three Gorges twice, once in 1994 and again 1997, to make sketches of the landscape. During the past five years he drew hundreds of scenes of the 193-kilometer-long Three Gorges, creating a 228-meter-long, 1.4-meter-high scroll painting. Li Yushan, 64, is a healthy vigorous old man. He spread out part of the scroll painting to show off his work, "Look, this is Baidi City. This is Shennu (Goddess) Peak. This is Shuzhuangtai (a famous scene l
Locals in Beeline for H.K. Tours
Even though Christmas is still a month away, the city's travel agencies are seeing an unexpected early rush for reservations on Hong Kong trips, with local shopping enthusiasts hoping to cash in on the huge discounts available in the island city during the festive season. According to a survey by Shanghai Daily among major travel agencies, the number of locals inquiring about this month's package tours to Hong Kong increased by 20 percent, while seats on trips departing several days before Chris
Young Chinese Teachers to Visit Japan
Eighty young teachers from Chinese elementary and high schools will leave Sunday on a three-week visit to Japan. Sponsored by two Sino-Japanese youth exchange projects, the delegation comprises 20 teachers who teach Japanese, and 60 who teach other subjects. They will visit Tokyo and Okinawa and live with young Japanese people, according to the sponsor, the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA), which held a send-off banquet for the delegation in Beijing Saturday. "It's a rare chance for
Macao supports construction of HK-Macao-Zhuhai bridge: chief executive
Chief Executive of the Macao Special Administration Region (SAR) Edmund Ho Hau Wah said here recently that his government holds an "active" attitude towards the construction of a cross-sea bridge linking Hong Kong, Macao and Zhuhai in south China. "We support all transport networks and basic facilities that benefit Hong Kong, Macao and the Pearl River delta," he said when answering inquiries from local legislators about his policy address for 2003. But he added, "it is not the righ
Guangdong, Hong Kong and Macao establish cultural collaboration
Officials of south China's Guangdong Province, Hong Kong and Macao recently signed an agreed minute at the end of the Greater Pearl River Delta Cultural Summit in Hong Kong to establish a foundation for cultural collaboration. The three places also shared views and information on cultural facilities, cultural development and exchange during the summit, which was organized by the secretary for home affairs of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR), Patrick Ho. The direc
Tea culture performer training begins in Shanghai
Shanghai, the largest city in China, will train its first batch of certified senior tea culture performers over the upcoming three years in a bid to promote tea culture development. According to an official with the Municipal Labor and Social Security Bureau, two training courses with 50 students each will be run each year during the three-year period. On completion of the courses, the trainees will receive a diploma. Trainees should have an ardent love for tea culture and b
Expo on Richard Nixon's China visit opens in Beijing
A free exhibition named "Journeys to Peace and Cooperation" opened at the Museum of Chinese History in Beijing recently, to mark the 30th anniversary of former US President Richard Nixon's "ice-breaking" China visit in 1972. The show was jointly organized by the Chinese Ministry of Culture, the State Administration of Cultural Heritage of China, and the Richard Nixon Library and Birthplace Foundation. The Reader's Digest Foundation sponsored the exhibition. According to the organiz
China's top awards for historical research favor economic works
Historical works on the Chinese economy were the biggest winners in the second Guo Moruo Chinese History Awards given here recently. China's top recognition for historical research, the awards were granted to 21 outstanding works on the occasion of the 110th birthday of Guo Moruo, one of China's most celebrated contemporary poets, writers and historians. Among the award winners, up to eight books focused on the Chinese economy, including the first-place winner, "The Modern Economic
Tibet attracts more inland China tourists
More and more tourists from inland China traveled to Tibet Autonomous Region this year, bringing a soaring tourism income to the region. Figures from the local tourism bureau show that, by the end of October, 8.4 million visitors traveled to Tibet this year, up 24.5 percent over the same period last year. Some 7.1 million were from inland China and 1.3 million from overseas, up 28.8 percent and 4.6 percent respectively. These primarily inland tourists have brought a boon to local t
WWF kicks off environmental protection project on island near Shanghai
The World Wide Fund for Nature has started a three-year environmental protection project on the eastern shoal of Chongming Island, some 40 kilometers north of Shanghai. The WWF will carry out a number of missions to help local communities maintain life-form diversity and sustainable development under close cooperation with the local government and schools. Chongming Island is located where the Yangtze River enters the sea and its eastern shoal is an ideal resting place for thousand
Construction of airport road to world heritage site underway
Construction of a 91-km highway leading to the new Jiuzhai-Huanglong Airport being built on the site of the Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong scenic zones in southwest China's Sichuan Province is underway, with the completion date of August 2003 for both the airport and the highway. The cost of the project is estimated at 300 million yuan (36 million US dollars). Jiuzhaigou and Huanglong are famous for their clean lakes, natural forests and beautiful landscapes, and up to 1.2 million Chines
Qinghai-Tibet Railway earthquake resistant, experts say
Though being built across a plateau where earthquakes frequently occur, the Qinghai-Tibet railway underway in western China should resist violent tremors thanks to preventive measures being taken, experts say. Known as the "highest" railway of its kind worldwide, the 1100-km line is being built on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau at an altitude of over 4000 meters, linking Golmud, a major city in Qinghai Province and Lhasa, capital of the Tibet Autonomous Region. "Since last year we have
Growing numbers of international hotel chains opening shops in China
A growing number of luxury world-class international hotel chains are arriving in Beijing as the business travel market continues its boom. The Beijing Best Western hotel is set to open soon, and the Park Hyatt, a luxury brand in the Hyatt Group will follow soon. Ritz Carlton has already chosen a site downtown for its first hotel in Beijing. Whether it be in eastern coastal cities like Shanghai metropolis and Ningbo, or southwestern cities such as Chongqing and Chengdu, business pe
Better transport for 2008 Olympics
China's capital Beijing has vowed to build a safer, faster and more environment friendly transport network for the 2008 Olympic Games. In 2008, an average 30 million people would be traveling in Beijing each day, including 18 million in the city proper, said officials attending the third Asia-Pacific congress of the International Union of Public Transport (UITP). Beijing's public transport system would carry 8.5 to 9 million of these passengers, said Zheng Shusen, general manager o
First infoDev Symposium to be held in Asia
China's southwestern municipality of Chongqing is to be the first Asian venue for the infoDev Symposium, an international forum on information, knowledge, trade and development. During the formal meeting, to be held on December 9 and 10, administrative officials and experts from domestic and international information businesses will discuss and exchange ideas on seven topics, including China and the World Trade Organization, information technology and poverty alleviation, and e-commerce.<
Ten Baby Pandas
Reports from the China Panda Breeding Technology Committee tell the stories of 10 new cubs. Their successful births this year were the result of advances in artificial breeding methods. And their numbers include a giant panda born in Japan. Committee Director, Zhang Anju gave details of the 10 baby giant pandas. In the spring of this year, the Chinese Wolong Research Center for Giant Panda Protection was home to nine giant pandas of childbearing age. The center adopted a technique for procreatio
International Hotels Throng Beijing
A growing number of world-class international hotel chains are arriving in Beijing as the business travel market continues its boom. The Beijing Best Western Hotel is set to open soon, and the Park Hyatt, a luxury brand from the Hyatt Group, will follow suit. Ritz Carlton has already chosen a downtown site for its first hotel in Beijing. Whether it is in eastern coastal cities like Shanghai and Ningbo, or southwestern cities such as Chongqing and Chengdu, business people have a wide-ranging choi
World Hotels Throng Beijing
A growing number of world-class international hotel chains are arriving in Beijing as the business travel market continues its boom. The Beijing Best Western Hotel is set to open soon, and the Park Hyatt, a luxury brand from the Hyatt Group, will follow suit. Ritz Carlton has already chosen a downtown site for its first hotel in Beijing. Whether it be in eastern coastal cities like Shanghai and Ningbo, or southwestern cities such as Chongqing and Chengdu, business people have a wide-ranging choi
Rebel Legend to Become TV Treat
The Xi'an Film Group will shoot a 100-part TV series about the legend of Li Zicheng, leader of a peasant uprising. The series will be adapted from the historical novel Li Zicheng by Yao Xueyin (1901-99), which comprised five volumes. The group has bought the rights to adapt the novel into scripts for both a film and TV serial from Yao's son, Yao Haitian. It paid 1 million yuan (US$120,000) for the rights, according to sources. Yao started to write the novel in the early 1960s after being labeled
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