China Travel

China Bracing for Peak Tourist Season in May
Many different areas across China, especially popular tourism sites, have been busy preparing for the forthcoming week-long peak tourist season starting May 1. Officials with the Ministry of Communications estimated that some 280 million people would travel around the country during the week-long holiday. Tourism officials in Beijing said that during May 1-7, more air flights and additional railway, subway and bus services will be available for tourists, while more parking lots will be opened at

CPC Anniversary Arouses Booming Revolutionary Tourism
An unprecedented number of Chinese tourists have flocked to old revolutionary bases across the country recently, stimulated by the upcoming 80th anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC) on July 1. The number of tourists to Xibaipo, Yan'an, Jinggangshan and many other historic revolutionary bases, desiring to recall the arduous and glorious history of the Party, has reached a peak in June. Statistics show that Xibaipo Village, Hebei Province, where a significant CPC confe

Heavy Rail Developed for High-Speed Trains
China has developed new heavy rails for high-speed trains that can travel up to 200 kilometers per hour. The new rail, developed by the Anshan Iron and Steel Complexes in northeast China, is now ready for mass production after passing the official test of the Ministry of Railway Wednesday. The new rail is reinforced with vanadium and rare earth, the Complexes sources said. China's railway authority has raised the speed limit of its trains several times in recent years to make the sector more com

Tianjin Prepares for Holiday Tourism Tide
Tianjin, the largest port city in northern China, pledged to provide high-quality services to tourists at scenic resorts in the upcoming National Day holiday, which begins October 1. A travel route list, published by a local government office in charge of tourism affairs, includes over 100 tours covering almost all of the scenic spots and sites of historical interest in the city. Government tourism administrations will supervise management and service of travel agencies to protect travelers' int

Buddhist Chants From the Mountain
When in Putuo Mountain, do as the Putuo pilgrims do. It's 4 a.m. The Putuo Mountain is still fast asleep. It's quiet, except for the soft swish of the tide running up the beach and the low chirps from the grass; it's dark, except for the sea lights afar and the dim street lights leading all the way to Fayu Temple near the 1,000-step beach. But for the Putuo pilgrims, the day has already begun. Most visitors to Putuo Mountain come to see its three famous shrines, Fayu, Huiji and Puji temples. The

China Ensures Eco-Protection along Railway to Tibet
China is utilizing its most advanced expertise to ensure that the planned Qinghai-Tibet railway, the first railway to link the Tibet Autonomous Region with the rest of China, will be ecologically friendly. Li Ning, vice-director of the No.1 Survey and Design Institute under the Ministry of Railways, which contracted the project design of the railway, told Xinhua that ecological protection deployment is proceeding in every section of the upcoming railway. The 1,118-km railway will extend from Gol

China Develops Heavy Rail for High-Speed Trains
China has developed new heavy rails for high-speed trains that can travel up to 200 kilometers per hour. The new rail, developed by the Anshan Iron and Steel Complexes in northeast China, is now ready for mass production after passing the official test of the Ministry of Railway Wednesday. The new rail is reinforced with vanadium and rare earth, the Complexes sources said. China's railway authority has raised the speed limit of its trains several times in recent years to make the sector more com

Eco-Protection Along Railway to Tibet Ensured
China is utilizing its most advanced expertise to ensure that the planned Qinghai-Tibet railway, the first railway to link the Tibet Autonomous Region with the rest of China, will be ecologically friendly. Li Ning, vice-director of the No.1 Survey and Design Institute under the Ministry of Railways, which contracted the project design of the railway, told Xinhua that ecological protection deployment is proceeding in every section of the upcoming railway. The 1,118-km railway will extend from Gol

Four More Countries Added for Chinese Overseas Travel
China has reached an agreement with Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Brunei that Chinese people can take overseas travel to these countries from June 10, according to the National Tourism Administration, the Beijing Youth Post reported today. Beginning June 10, Chinese people can take package tours to the four countries, while before they could only take border trips with frontier passports before, a spokesman with China Travel Agency said. They only can take their cars before, so some faraway pla

China Ready for Peak Tourist Season in May
Many different areas across China, especially popular tourism sites, have been busy preparing for the forthcoming week-long peak tourist season starting May 1. Officials with the Ministry of Communications estimated that some 280 million people would travel around the country during the week-long holiday. Tourism officials in Beijing said that during May 1-7, more air flights and additional railway, subway and bus services will be available for tourists, while more parking lots will be opened at

ICBC Beijing Branch to Refund European Sales Taxes for Chinese Tourists
The Beijing branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) will act as an agent for Sweden's Global Refund in offering sales-tax refund services for tourists. Sales tax rates in some European countries can be anywhere from 15 percent to 20 percent, but to encourage tourists to spend money, most countries have a refund system for tourists. With the rapid growth in China's overseas travel industry, Global Refund has teamed up with the ICBC to allow Chinese tourists to get their sales

Bids Ensure Equal Treatment for Land Developers
Shanghai government yesterday leveled the playing field for residential real estate developers by launching a public bidding system that allows overseas and domestic companies to compete for the same projects and on the same financial footing. Usage rights for five parcels will be set out for bids tomorrow - the first time mainland and overseas firms will receive equal treatment in the costs they pay for leasing government-owned land. While industry analysts aren't predicting any major changes i

Chinese Worker Makes Wooden Car
With some old teak doors and a chassis and engine, a Chinese auto worker has made a wooden Car after one and a half years' devotion. The wooden limousine, 4.2 meters long, 1.68 meters wide and 1.7 meters tall, is made according to the picture of a real Rolls- Royce produced in 1907. "People can drive it and travel around the globe," said Han Yanling, 43, who made the wooden car with his own hands. Han, whose father is a carpenter, is good at woodwork. Also an auto fan, he has been longing to hav

Four More Outbound Traveling Countries Open for Chinese Citizens
As is learned from the China National Tourism Administration, China has reached agreements with Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia and Brunei. Under these agreements, as of June 10, Chinese citizens may, by joining the outbound touring groups organized by a travel service, tour the above-mentioned four countries with official visas instead of the former "border cards". In addition, the said touring groups are also permitted to pass by Hong Kong and Macao. As reported, China Travel Service and China Sout

China to Improve Road Transportation
A national throughway passenger and goods transportation network will be established by the year 2010, according to the just finished national work conference on road transportation. In the next five years, transportation on the key roadways will be greatly improved, and vehicles will be able to travel 400 to 500 km within 12 hours and 1,000 km within 24 hours, said sources with the conference. The added value of road transportation will take a bigger shareof the country's gross domestic product

Xinjiang: Slackening Tourism After September 11 Attacks
November was once the peak time to tour the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, an emerging tourist destination in northwest China famous for its exotic scenery and mouth-watering fruits. But not this year. Affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the autonomous region's tourism has slackened off ahead of time, says Nayim Yazen, head of the regional tourism administration. Since the start of the U.S.-led military strikes in Afghanistan, most ports in the border region a

Three Featured Tours in Zhejiang Province
Yuyao in east Zhejiang Province has recently launched three featured tours: the "red" tour to Simingshan Mountain, the "green" tour to the bayberry woods, and the tour to ancient Hemudu Neolithic Ruins, according to the latest Beijing Review. Simingshan Mountain became the hub of revolutionary activity in east Zhejiang in the 1940s. It is home to former seats of the CPC East Zhejiang Committee and its headquarters of the East Zhejiang Guerrilla Detachment of the New Fourth Army Simingshan Mounta

Four Nations Added to Overseas Tourism List
Chinese travellers abroad will have four new countries to select as destinations beginning June 10. According to the China National Tourism Administration, China has reached agreements with Vietnam, Cambodia, Myanmar and the Sultanate of Brunei to permit travel within their borders by Chinese citizens in organized tours. China Travel Service and China Southern Airlines plan to organize the first trip to two of the new countries - an eight-day group tour in Vietnam and Cambodia, that will start o

Daegu Mayor Visits Main Press Center
Moon Hi Grab, mayor of Daegu City of the Republic of Korea, the host city of the 22nd Universiade, visited the Main Press Center of the 21st Universiade here this morning. He told the press that his team had come to learn Beijing's experience in organizing the Universiade. He said that Daegu is carefully preparing for the 2003 Unviersiade. The main stadium was finished last May and the Athletes?￥ Village will be finished in March or April next year. "We will collect the flame from the Changbai m

Travelers to Get Insurance
Travelers will get insurance bought by travel agents who arrange their trips, according to the new regulations China will enact from September, today's eastday.com reported. The one-year term liability insurance will cover deaths, medical expenses and losses of or damages to the luggage that occur during the tour. The minimum indemnity is 80,000 yuan (US$9,673) for each traveler on domestic tours, and 160,000 yuan on overseas routes. The ceiling for compensation for each single case and for a tr

Universiade Athletes Enjoy Their China Life
The 21st Universiade is enjoying global attention as sports delegates and fans from 168 countries and regions gathered in Beijing for the event. Chief among the attendees is Jacquez Roggue, the new president of the International Olympic Committee, who flew into Beijing on Monday to witness Beijing's hosting of the international multi-sports event, which he described as a very important competition. George Killian, president of the International University Sports Federation, which runs the Univer

Slackening Tourism After September 11
November was once the peak time to tour the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, an emerging tourist destination in northwest China famous for its exotic scenery and mouth-watering fruits. But not this year. Affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks on the United States, the autonomous region's tourism has slackened off ahead of time, said Nayim Yazen, head of the regional tourism administration. Since the start of the US-led strikes in Afghanistan, most ports in the border region are on alert

Taiwan Affairs Office Spokesman on Cross-Straits Ties
Zhang Mingqing, spokesman for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, answered reporters' questions concerning cross-Straits relations at the regular press conference held on October 31. Taiwan Airlines Can Apply for Flying through Sanya Flying Responsibility Zone In answering reporters' question concerning whether Taiwan air transport enterprises can fly through the Chinese mainland's navigation zone, Zhang said under the coordination of the international civil aviation organization, tr

Western Xia Mausoleums-Pyramids in the Orient
About 30 km west of Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, in the eastern foothills of the Helan mountain range, mounds made from the loess soil in different sizes rise up from a 50-square-km flatland. These are the mausoleums of the Western Xia kings, reputed to be the "Pyramids in the Orient". The cone-shaped earth mounds are the most direct relics on the ground that tell the history of the Western Xia Kingdom which disappeared nearly 800 years ago. In 1038, the Dangxiang tribe, under the le

XP Chinese Version Unveiled
Microsoft China unveiled its simplified Chinese version of Windows XP, the highly anticipated version of the Windows operating system, for the Chinese mainland market Friday in Beijing. The Chinese version boasts enhanced Internet and digital media capabilities, and the improvements that increase efficiency and provide both business and home users with an easy-to-use experience have been made, said Jack Gao, president of Microsoft China. By linking personal computers, devices and services togeth

Tourists Can Pack Bags for New Trips
Chinese citizens can now add Germany, Egypt and Malta - in addition to 17 countries and regions in the Asia Pacific area - to their wish list of tourist destinations, thanks to approval by the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA). Zhang Xiqin, vice-chairman of the administration, made the announcement Thursday in Kunming in Kunming yesterday. "We are considering the demand of several other countries who are trying to be selected as official outbound destinations for Chinese tourists," Zh

Yuanmingyuan Excavation Site Excites Visitors
Visitors to Beijing will be offered a rare treat this year at the Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) park ?§C the chance to visit an on-going excavation of the ruins known as Hanjingtang, one of the most important formal gardens in China that also served a Qing Dynasty political and cultural center. ?It is rare to see in the world today an excavation site that welcomes visitors,? said Jin Fengyi, a researcher with the Beijing Institute of Cultural Heritage. Jin said the public nature of the Yuanmi

ROK Expects to Boost Tourism Market in China
The Republic of Korea (ROK) hosted a promotion drive Tuesday in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province in east China to attract more Chinese to visit the country. Choi Jae-Geun, chief representative with the Beijing office of the Korea National Tourism Organization, said the World Cup next year jointly hosted by ROK and Japan is sure to serve as a new drawing card to the Chinese whose national soccer team has already qualified. He says 2002 is the 10th anniversary of the establishment of dip

A Kodak Moment in the West
Before deciding to come to China, Henri Petit, chairman and president of Eastman Kodak's Asia operations, made a three-day visit to Shanghai with his wife. In the Shanghai Museum, they were fascinated by an exhibition of traditional costumes from western China's ethnic groups. Petit recalls his strong interest in visiting those and other cultural and historical areas in China. Since assuming the top spot at Kodak in February, Petit made a trip to Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan Pro

Historic "Red Light District" Deemed Off Limits as Tourist Attraction
In Beijing, the area of Baishun, Yanzhi, Shaanxixiang and other five alleys was notorious as the city's "red light district" prior to 1949, when the People's Republic of China was founded. Located in and around the Dashilan area of Xuanwu District, the eight alleys once housed more than 2,000 brothels. The structure of each brothel varied, and all were different from ordinary houses occupied by residents. After 1949, some brothels were turned into hotels and others as residences. Recently, a tra

Sharon to Visit US Amid new Hope for Mideast Talks
Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon will make a delayed trip to the United States early next month, a diplomat said on Wednesday, as expectations grew of renewed US mediation in the Middle East peace process. "Sharon will be here the week of December 3," the diplomat told Reuters on condition of anonymity, adding that the Israeli leader would meet President George W. Bush. Sharon canceled plans to attend the UN General Assembly last week, where Secretary of State Colin Powell promised Middle Eas

Japanese Tourists Favor Shenzhen Travel
An increasing number of Japanese tourists have begun taking an interest in Shenzhen, a city adjacent to Hong Kong in the southern province of Guangdong. A number of Japanese travel agencies have recently sent representatives to Shenzhen to see the scenery and attractions for themselves as well as to collect tour information, sources with the local government say. Man-made scenic spots, such as the Window of the World, the China Folklore Culture Village, have caught the eye of these agencies, acc

Japanese Tourists Favor Shenzhen Travel
An increasing number of Japanese tourists have begun taking an interest in Shenzhen, a city adjacent to Hong Kong in the southern province of Guangdong. A number of Japanese travel agencies have recently sent representatives to Shenzhen to see the scenery and attractions forthemselves as well as to collect tour information, sources with the local government say. Man-made scenic spots, such as the Window of the World, the China Folklore Culture Village, have caught the eye of these agencies, acco

Measures Taken to Better Protect Wuyi Mountains
East China's Fujian Province is closing quarries and banning tree cutting to protect the UNESCO world heritage status of its Wuyi Mountains. Since 1999, when Wuyi Mountains were accepted as a cultural and natural heritage protection site by the United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Wuyi municipal government has shifted its focus on industrial and tourism development to environmental protection. The local government has recently put forward a scientific man

Protecting World Cultural Heritage
East China's Fujian province is closing quarries and banning tree cutting to protect the UNESCO world heritage status of its Wuyi Mountains. Since 1999, when Mount Wuyi was accepted as a cultural and natural heritage protection site by the United Nations Educational,Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Wuyi municipal government has shifted its focus on industrial and tourism development to environmental protection. The local government has recently put forward a scientific manageme

2,300-year-old City to Be Protected
An ancient city regarded as a strategic southwestern stronghold -- and a lovely place to visit --by emperors of several Chinese dynasties is scheduled for a high-priced renovation. The provincial government of southwest China's Sichuan province plans to spend about 300 million yuan (nearly US$ 37.5) on repairing and protecting the ancient city of Langzhong, located along the Jialing River, a branch of the Yangtze River. Since the mid-Warring States Period (BC475 - BC221), emperors of all dynasti

Beautiful Scenery Around Universities
Beijing's Tsinghua and Peking University are not only two of China's most prestigious universities but also good places for visiting. The two places have beautiful scenery, so does the nearby Old Summer Palace. The Old Summer Palace (Yuanmingyuan) Neighbouring Tsinghua University, the Old Summer Palace is located to the east of the Summer Palace. The construction of the imperial garden started in 1709 and was completed after more than 150 years. The spacious park consists of three main sections:

National Treasures to Be Exhibited in Taiwan
An array of ancient Chinese cultural relics presently stored in the Beijing-based Poly Art Museum will be displayed in Taipei from December 22 to March 21. Within a week, the national treasures, insured at US$ 58 million, will be transported to Taipei by air in two batches so as to avoid any possible damage. Exhibits include 35 stone sculptures of Buddha and Bodhisattva from the fifth century to the eighth century, 80 pieces or sets of bronze wares from the Shang Dynasty (16th century - 11th cen

Folk Arts-China Designated as China's Tourist Theme for 2002
China has chosen Folk Arts-China as the tourist theme for 2002, according to sources from the State Tourism Administration. Zhang Xiqin, vice-director of the administration, said that Chinese folk arts have an important tourist content, which have sprung up out of the country's abundant cultural resources, are popular with the people, and have attracted many foreign tourists. This tourism theme will continue to promote China's diversified cultures and customs with 100 large folk festivals to be

US Hopes Money Will Yield Bin Laden
The Pentagon hopes Afghans motivated by the Taliban's collapse and millions in US reward money will find Osama bin Laden's hide-out so US troops won't have to hunt cave-to-cave for him, US Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said Monday. US President Bush said gains by anti-Taliban forces gave him encouragement that the military was closing in on bin Laden. "The noose is beginning to narrow," Bush said. The US approach, at least for now, is to continue bombing suspected hide-outs while leaving

China to Open Tourism Market
China will gradually lift the limit on the overseas stakes in the domestic traveling agencies to open the tourism market, as it has committed in the World Trade Organization (WTO) talks, according to Sun Gang, vice director of the National Tourism Administration. Under the open-up schedule, China will allow the overseas sides to take controlling stakes in the joint invested traveling agencies by the end of next year. And by 2006, wholly owned foreign agencies will be allowed to operate in China.

State to Simplify Entry-exit Policies
A far-reaching overhaul of border administration is to be started following China's entry to the World Trade Organization (WTO) to cope with the expected deluge of tourists and businessmen. At the heart of the new drive is the simplification of entry and exit procedures for people seeking to invest or travel in the country. The change in policy was revealed Wednesday by Zhao Yongji, vice-minister of public security, who said officials were already facing mounting paperwork to cope with rising nu

Inhalation Anthrax Kills Connecticut Woman
A 94-year-old woman from a rural Connecticut town on Wednesday became the fifth person in the United States to die from inhalation anthrax in a baffling case that revived fears of bioterrorism following the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington. Ottilie Lundgren, who lived alone in the farming community of Oxford, died at 10:32 am EST (1532 GMT) five days after she was admitted to Griffin Hospital in nearby Derby, Connecticut, the hospital's president Patrick Charmel said. The latest c

19 Industries to Face Both Challenge and Opportunity After WTO Entry
China's accession to the WTO will bring important development opportunities for its economic construction, of course, it will also bring many challenges, but it should be said that opportunities would outdo challenges. Then, how do ordinary people look upon the Chinese market after WTO entry? What kind of products will be well received? What products will face grim challenges? What products will bring in more opportunities? What are enterprises expecting of the government? Recently, Beijing Yout

Foreign Photos About Old Beijing Exhibited
Scores of photos taken by a French traveler were exhibited Tuesday in Beijing, showing people a foreigner's perspective of the Chinese capital 100 years ago. Among the 81 photos on show in central Beijing, some 53 are black-and-white stereographs which visitors can view through special glasses. Hand-picked from the collection of the France-based Albert Kahn Museum, these pictures offer a broad look at Beijing's past including the structure of the ancient city proper, people's style of dress, tem

Sanskrit Sutras Deciphered on Historic Bell in Beijing
Sanskrit sutras on the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) Yongle Bell were for the first time deciphered on Monday in the Big Bell Temple. Distinguished scholar Ji Xianlin, accompanied by eight professors on Sanskrit studies from Beijing University, delivered a lecture on the Sanskrit Sutras of the bell on a visit to the temple. Ji, a famed orientalist in China, is one of the few scholars in the world who can read Sanskrit. Professor Zhang Baosheng, one of Ji?￥s earliest students in the study of Sanskrit,

Chinese Graduate Students Join South Pole Expedition
Two Ph.D. candidates and one graduate student from the elite China University of Science and Technology have set foot on the South Pole to join China's 18th expedition there. Zhu Renbin, Liu Xiaodong and Wang Jianjun boarded the expedition ship "Xuelong" (Snow Dragon) in Shanghai and traveled the Pacific, Indian and Great Southern oceans before arriving in Antarctica. They are scheduled to stay at the two polar research stations Great Wall and Zhongshan, and onboard of Xuelong ship for five mont

Congratulations Pour Into China?￥s Capital
Chinese Taipei Congratulates Beijing on Its Olympic Bid Victory The Olympic Committee of Chinese Taipei Friday congratulated Beijing for winning the right to host the 2008 Olympic Games. "We extend our congratulations and heartfelt good wishes to you after your good qualifications won the recognition of most members of the International Olympic Committee," said Huang Ta-chou, chairman of the Chinese Taipei Olympic Committee, in a message to the Chinese Olympic Committee.

Hong Kong Celebra

Nepal, China Sign Tourism Pact
Nepal and China signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on tourism Monday in Kathmandu to promote tourism cooperation between the two countries. According to the MOU, China will put Nepal on the list of outbound destinations for Chinese tourists while Nepal will authorize 67 Chinese travel agencies to bring Chinese tourists to Nepal. Speaking on the occasion, Nepali Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said with the signing of the MOU, "we have opened a new chapter in our age-old relations and r

Drop in Prices of Airline Tickets Anticipated
Chinese passengers are expected to see lower air ticket prices in the months ahead, sources close to industry watchdog General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) said on Monday. This is due to slumping aviation oil prices on international markets and central government efforts to breathe new life into the sluggish airline industry. China's sole aviation oil supplier - the China Aviation Oil Supply Corporation - announced on Saturday a cut in the aviation oil price per ton to 2,680

Travel Fear Affects Tourism in China
China will face some difficulty attracting overseas tourists largely because of people's fear of air travel after the September 11 US terrorist attacks,according to today's China Daily. Although many North American tour groups have already cancelled trips to China, the repercussions are expected to be minimal in the long term, China tourism industry officials said. In October, the number of foreign travellers dropped about 4.3 percent compared to the same month last year. But the total number of

Expense of Raising a Child Worries Young Chinese Couples
Many Chinese parents in big cities have gone through an expensive journey in raising their children. A survey conducted by the China Mainland Marketing Research Company shows that spending on children in big cities is excessive and that many young couples are afraid they cannot afford the cost, reports China Daily staff reporter Ou Shuyi. Are you ready to have children? Many young Chinese couples nowadays might hesitate before answering this question. They consider not only their desire to becom

Shenyang Attracts Visitors for Industrial Tourism
If you want to know more about China's fighter plane factories or learn about the country's modern IT companies, be sure to visit Shenyang. Tourists to this capital city of Northeast China's Liaoning Province will have this rare educational opportunity while also enjoying the city's historic sites and natural scenery. "We will take full advantage of the city's blessed industrial resources to develop industrial tourism, hoping to establish its name among the country's mushrooming tourism-oriented

Chinese Artists Learning Marketing Tools
A debt-ridden Chinese troupe of folk musicians has received offers to perform from seven foreign and domestic organizations at the third China Shanghai International Art Festival. DBA corporation of the United States, the 1988 Seoul Olympics sponsor, has shown great interest in the drum troupe from north China's Shanxi Province. Liao Huiling, in charge of the company's business in China, said, "Folk arts are commodities and worth investment." The troupe, which has been unable to pay its employee

Shenyang Hopes to Draw Visitors Through Industrial Tourism
If you want to know more about China's fighter plane factories or learn about the country's modern IT companies, be sure to visit Shenyang. Tourists to this capital city of Northeast China's Liaoning Province will have this rare educational opportunity while also enjoying the city's historic sites and natural scenery. "We will take full advantage of the city's blessed industrial resources to develop industrial tourism, hoping to establish its name among the country's mushrooming tourism-oriented

China Helps Its Neighbors Combat Drugs
China is helping neighboring countries replace opium poppy with other profitable plants to prevent an influx of narcotic drugs. The government of Yunnan Province in Southwest China has invested at least 300 million yuan (US$36 million) in the past decade in plants to replace opium poppy. At least 29,660 hectares of opium poppy land in Myanmar and Laos are no longer being used to plant opium poppy, according to the Yunnan public security department. The provincial government has instead provided

China's World Cup Debut Triggers "S.Korea Tour" Fever
Eager soccer fans can't sit still any longer as they learnt that the Chinese National Soccer Team will take part in the World Cup in South Korea next year. All in a sudden, the "South Korea Tour" offered by travel services in Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang Province, such as China Travel Service(Wenzhou) Ltd, China International Trave Service(Wenzhou) Ltd and China Youth Travel Service(Wenzhou) Ltd, attracted the public attention. According to a staff worker with China Travel Service, there were

The West is Catching up
Siemens executive Dieter Michell-Auli said the only disappointment in his life in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, is the lack of an international school for his son. "Fortunately, he is only two years old," said Dieter, general manager of the Xi'an-based Siemens Signalling Company. The German, in his 30s, had just returned to his eye-catching office after seeing off his Chinese colleague at the airport. "Other than that, you can find everything here you'd want as a foreigne

Northern Ireland Eyes Big Market
Northern Ireland company and trade officials are eager to tap the Chinese market now that it has joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) and has landed the 2008 Olympic Games. "I anticipate very fast growth in this area," said Reg Empey, the Northern Ireland minister for enterprise, trade and investment. He said he expected China to be one of the world's largest economies, second only to the United States, some day. The minister is on a 10-day visit to Hong Kong, Shanghai and Beijing along wit

Southwest Sea Gateway Opens
The end of November saw China complete the 14-year construction of an expressway that runs through southwestern provinces of Sichuan and Guizhou, and south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and ends at the sea area, being the first ever high-standard expressway of its kind open to traffic in west regions. The southwest sea gateway, being all high-grade road, runs at a full length of 1709 kilometers, including 59.4 percent expressway (1015 kilometers), 3.9 percent first-class highway and 3

Beijing Court Rules against Unfair Competition in Hutong Tours
A local travel agency has been ordered to pay 80,000 yuan (about 9,638 U.S. dollars) in compensation for taking advantage of a competitor in the city's popular hutong (back alleys) tours, according to a ruling by the Beijing No.1 Intermediate People's Court. The Beijing Sifang Botong Tourism Culture Co., Ltd, the defendant, was sued by the Beijing Hutong Culture Travel Co., Ltd, for illegally copying the "Hutong Tour" logo used on the plaintiff's tricycles and the cyclists' uniforms. Hutongs, or

Beijing Court Rules against Unfair Competition in Hutong Tours
A local travel agency has been ordered to pay 80,000 yuan (about US$ 9,638) in compensation for taking advantage of a competitor in the city's popular hutong (back alleys) tours, according to a ruling by the Beijing No.1 Intermediate People's Court. The Beijing Sifang Botong Tourism Culture Co., Ltd, the defendant, was sued by the Beijing Hutong Culture Travel Co., Ltd,for illegally copying the "Hutong Tour" logo used on the plaintiff's tricycles and the cyclists' uniforms. Triditional Culture A

Beijing Schools Repay US$9.31 Million in Random Charges
Beijing's primary and high schools have been ordered to repay up to 77.13 million yuan (US$9.31 million) in random fees charged to pupils, mainly said to be sponsorship. The fifty-five school officials involved were also sanctioned in the latest drive by the municipal government to cut back rising random fees charged by schools, city officials said Monday. Hefty school fees have become a headache to parents of school-aged children in the Chinese capital. The charges, ranging from thousands of yu

Four Natural Bridges Found in Guilin
Geologists recently discovered four splendid natural bridges on a 1-km patha world geological wonderin Xing'an County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region,according to latest issue of Beijing Review. The natural bridges are geological "artistic features" formed by the action of underground water. They can be found in many scenic spots where there are caves. Experts said the karst landform areas of Guangxi, Guizhou and Yunnan are the places to find natural bridges. Wei Haizhou, a hydrogeology engi

State Council Approved Four Rules & Regulations
Presided over by Premier Zhu Rongji, December 5 saw the 49th routine meeting of the State Council convened, at which were discussed and passed in principle the four rules and regulations. They are the "State Council on Revision of Administrative Resolutions (draft) of Travel Agencies", "Administrative Regulations (draft) on Foreign Investment in Communication and Information Enterprises", "Regulations (draft) Regarding International Ocean Shipping of the People's Republic of China" and "Administ

Beijing Court Rules Against Unfair Competition in Hutong Tours
A local travel agency has been ordered to pay 80,000 yuan (about US$ 9,638) in compensation for taking advantage of a competitor in the city's popular hutong (back alleys) tours, according to a ruling by the Beijing No.1 Intermediate People's Court. The Beijing Sifang Botong Tourism Culture Co., Ltd, the defendant, was sued by the Beijing Hutong Culture Travel Co., Ltd,for illegally copying the "Hutong Tour" logo used on the plaintiff's tricycles and the cyclists' uniforms. Hutongs, or back alle

Beijing Court Rules Against Unfair Competition in Hutong Tours
A local travel agency has been ordered to pay 80,000 yuan (US$9638) in compensation for taking advantage of a competitor in the city's popular hutong (back alleys) tours, according to a ruling by the Beijing No.1 Intermediate People's Court. The Beijing Sifang Botong Tourism Culture Co., Ltd, the defendant, was sued by the Beijing Hutong Culture Travel Co., Ltd,for illegally copying the "Hutong Tour" logo used on the plaintiff's tricycles and the cyclists' uniforms. Hutongs, or back alleys, are

Ancient East China city improves facilities
Residents in a 2,500-year-old city in east China will have a more comfortable life at the

end of an urban renewal program scheduled for completion early next year.

Suzhou in Jiangsu Province is known as a garden city and was mentioned by Marco Polo because of its unique oriental flavor. However many facilities in the old buildings are outdated.

The city government has launched a modernization program for local residents" living quarters while at the same time retaining the c

US$4.7 billion set for Three Gorges clean-up
The State Council approved this week a 10-year programme designed to reduce water pollution in the Three Gorges area and its upper reaches areas.

A budget of 39.22 billion yuan (US$4.7 billion) is planned for the project, according to sources with the State Environmental Protection Administration.

The Three Gorges Hydropower Plant on the Yangtze River will have a total installed capacity of 18.2 million kilowatts and will be able to generate 84.68 kilowatt hours of electricity at f

China's First Emperor Has Desire to Be Immortal: Archeologists
China has recently unearthed 13bronze cranes dating back 2,200 years ago near the pit of terracotta figures, with evidence showing China's first emperor Qinshihuang's desire to be immortal.

The cranes rest on cloud-like bronze boards in proportion to their sizes, coming from ancient tales about fairies. Among them are two red-crowned cranes flying to heaven by means of magic cloud, betraying the emperor's aspiration for immortality, said Liu Zhancheng, an expert from the Terracotta Warrio

China's largest shelterbelt project in new phase
China's efforts to build the world's largest shelterbelt has entered a new stage with focus placed on controlling desertification and soil erosion in the Loess Plateau.
When the project is completed in 2050, the ecological environment will be improved greatly in 40 percent of the country' s land area, the State Forestry Administration (SFA) said Monday.

The "Three-North" Shelterbelt Project has been carried out for 23 years in northeastern, northern and northwestern China, areas that a

Building of biggest flood control project for Huaihe River starts
The largest flood control project for the Huaihe River, one of the most flood-prone rivers in China" s history, started construction Sunday in Huoqiu County, Anhui Province in East China.

The Linhuaigang Project, one of 19 key parts of the Huaihe River management blueprint, is of vital importance to the river"s flood prevention and has been listed as one of the major projects in the national economic and social development plan.

The project will contribute greatly to flood control

China outlines major economic tasks in 2002
Increasing investment in fixed assets, enhancing development of the farming sector and creating more job opportunities are among the top priorities that the Chinese government has set for economic management next year.

Zeng Peiyan, minister in charge of the State Development Planning Commission (SDPC), told the annual national planning meeting which opened in Beijing on Sunday that the government plans to complete a group of construction projects, funded by issuing treasury bonds, by the

Seven per cent economic growth predicted for China next year
A senior official of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) recently voiced confidence in China"s future economic performance, saying the country will be able to have a 7 per cent economic growth rate next year despite the current global recession.

Qiu Xiaohua, deputy head of NBS, said at a symposium in Shanghai on the economy, that the international community has reached common consensus on the need to fight against terrorism and revive the economy, which will lead to the early invigora

Guangzhou to develop into a transportation hub
Guangzhou, the provincial capital of South China"s Guangdong will build itself into the largest transportation hub in southern China during the government"s Tenth Five-Year Plan period (2001-2005).

So far, Guangzhou has established a comprehensive roadway network complete with expressways, highways and ring roads totaling 2,887 kilometers, putting an end to the city"s infamous history of daily traffic jams.

In the next five years, Guangzhou will focus on the development of city rai

Overseas investment will be allowed into telecommunications sector
A barrier to overseas investment in Chinese telecommunications is to be eradicated with the abolition of two regulations, the Ministry of the Information Industry told China Daily.

The two regulations were issued in 1993 and 1995 and banned overseas investment in China"s telecoms carriers but they will be abolished on December 11, the ministry said.

The move is in line with China"s commitment to the World Trade Organization (WTO), said a ministry spokesman.

Detailed proposal

Taiwan replaces Hong Kong as biggest investor in Xiamen
Taiwan has replaced Hong Kong for the first time in history as the biggest investor in Xiamen in east China"s Fujian province.

According to the latest statistics released by the Overseas Investment Commission of Xiamen city government, Taiwanese investors injected a total of 232 million US dollars into 124 projects in the city during the first 10 months of this year.

The figure accounts for 23.9 percent of the overall increased contractual investment in the city during the period b

Shanghai to continue plan of building highest tower in the world
Shanghai Mayor Xu Kuangdi said in Paris on December 2 that China"s eastern metropolis of Shanghai will continue its plan of building highest tower in the world, noting that the city has full confidence and measures to safeguard the building"s safety.

Construction on the tower, to be input by Japanese investors, will go ahead as planned but on a slower pace due to Japan"s economic and financial difficulties, Xu noted.

He reiterated Shanghai will retain an economic growth rate of 10

Chinese animal products ready for world market
Chinese people ate as much beef as they had done before this year, regardless the danger of "mad cow disease" which has been sweeping the Europe and even hitting Japan.

Although home-made animal products remain strong in domestic consumers" confidence, they have long been confronted with difficulties as exports.

China produces about 60 million tons of meat every year, the largest output in the world, but only one percent is exported overseas, according to the Ministry of Agricultur

Beijing offers public convenience for disadvantaged groups
This Chinese capital has been striving hard to provide convenience to disadvantaged groups of people, including the handicapped and the old.

Monday"s "Beijing Daily" reported that the city has built 337- km-long roads for the blind, and constructed barrier-free road crossings at 2,500 places, some 40 overpasses with ramps and underground passages.

In many public places and urban neighborhoods, barriers have been removed for the aged and handicapped. In the meantime, a growing numbe

Jiangxi Province Completes Survey on Wildlife Resources
Some 64 species of wild animals and 55 strains of wild plants are under state protection in east China"s Jiangxi Province, a newly released survey said in Nanchang Monday.

Having passed state verification, this survey gave for the first time a clear-cut profile of local wildlife resources in Jiangxi.

After researching a total of 110 animals and 61 plants over the past five years, experts said that some of the wildlife resources of great scientific or cultural value were on the verg

Modernization: A Necessary Choice for Tibet
Chinese experts of Tibetology said here Wednesday that the Tibet Autonomous Region should strive to be in step with the modern world by the year 2050.

They were speaking at an ongoing symposium on Ways for Realizing Modernization in Tibet and other regions inhabited by Tibetans in the country. The symposium is being held in this capital of southwest China"s Sichuan Province.

Experts said that Tibet should take care to achieve rapid development while also preserving the unique chara

Tibet Expects New Upsurge in Development
Chinese analysts have said that southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region will have another upsurge in development as an increasing amount of money is poured into the area.

Analysts have based their predictions on a series of central government and local government policies benefiting other parts of China.

According to official sources, China"s other provinces, autonomous regions and municipalities as well as the central government will spend as much as 70 billion yuan (8.4 billion

Tibetan Women's Rights Well Protected
The rights of Tibetan women in all walks of life have well protected over the past five years. Statistics from the Tibetan Women Federation show that some 32.82 percent of cadres in the Tibet Autonomous Region are women at the end of 2000.

Illiteracy rate of Tibetan women in 2000 was 22.2 percentage points lower than that in 1995, as the strategy of revitalizing China through science and technology is implemented in Tibet.

With the help of Project Hope and Spring Bud Program, 85.6

China to increase demand in boosting economy
China will continue its policy of expanding domestic demand to better develop its national economy in 2002, according to the three-day Central Economic Working Conference, which concluded Thursday.

The conference said that expanding domestic demand is a strategic policy that China will adhere to for the long term, and it is imperative to further understand this policy, enrich its content and improve its effectiveness.

The conference pointed out that domestic demand expansion should

China southwest airlines to launch Chongqing-Tokyo flight
China Southwest Airlines (CSA) will launch a new air route between Tokyo and the southwest Chinese municipality of Chongqing in May next year.

This will be the fourth international air route opened for the municipality following the routes of Chongqing-Seoul, Chongqing- Nagoya and Chongqing-Bangkok.

This new air route is about 3,200 kilometers long. The Tokyo- bound flight will take four hours, and the return trip to Chongqing four hours and a half.

A new Boeing 737-800 will

Beijing opera festival opens
The third National Beijing Opera Festival opened Sunday in this capital of the eastern province of Jiangsu.

Li Ruihuan, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party, sent his message of congratulations to the festival.

In his message, Li, also chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People"s Political Consultative Conference, called Beijing Opera a treasure of the Chinese nation and a gem of the world art

South China city to spend more on urban works
Guangzhou, one of the major gates to the outside world in south China, will spend about 80 billion yuan (about 9.64 billion US dollars) on construction of urban infrastructure during the tenth five-year-plan period (2001- 2005).

A local official said their goal is to build Guangzhou, also capital of Guangdong Province, into a modern central city suitable for business development and offering conveniences for daily life.

According to the official, 29 major urban works will be built

Five ancient shipwrecks found in South China Sea
A 12-member archaeological team with the state research center of underwater archaeology recently discovered five ancient shipwrecks in the sea close to Dongshan county of southeast China"s Fujian province.

Lin Guo, the team leader said that judging from the number and age of the pottery items discovered in the ten-day search, one of the five shipwrecks was an international trade vessel navigating during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911).

Zhang Wei, director of the state research center

French multinational invests in Chinese three-star hotel market
ACCOR, a French-based hotel management group, signed an agreement in Beijing on Sunday with the Beijing Capital Tourism Group (BCTG) on setting up a hotel management company, which aims to provide management service to 50 three-star hotels in China by 2008.

Bearing the name of the world famous chain Mercure, the hotel network is expected to cover 16 provinces, autonomous regions and three municipalities.

With a total of 1,500 guest rooms, three hotels in Beijing will become the fir

Fund to protect immature forests
Beijing will spend an extra 10 million yuan (US$1.2 million) this year to help protect the city"s immature forests, governmental officials said Thursday.

In a move to improve Beijing"s ecological environment, Beijing has intensified its efforts to upgrade the city"s forest resources over the past two years, said Liu Zhihua, Beijing"s vice-mayor, in a session of the Standing Committee of the 11th Beijing Municipal People"s Congress Thursday.

The municipal government will increase in

Guangdong to Be Powered by Electricity from West China
Construction of nine power generation and transmission projects started Sunday in western China for providing electricity to Guangdong Province in the south.

These projects are part of China"s plan to turn the rich water and coal resources in the economically backward western region into electricity to support economic development in eastern and southern coastal areas.

The nine projects, which will cost 35.37 billion yuan (4.26 billion U.S. dollars), are meant for power consumption

Green wall to protect north
The State Forestry Administration (SFA) is scheduled to kick off on Monday the fourth phase of the world"s largest ecological project - China"s "Green Great Wall," the 4,480-kilometre belt of forest spanning the country"s drought and desert-prone northern areas.

A ceremony held in Beijing will mark the beginning of the fourth phase of the 23-year long project designed to intensify the fight against ever-increasing desertification caused by advancing sand dunes.

The "Green Great Wal

Prices of airline tickets set to nosedive
Chinese passengers are expected to see lower air ticket prices in the months ahead, sources close to industry watchdog General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) said Monday.

This is due to slumping aviation oil prices on international markets and central government efforts to breathe new life into the sluggish airline industry.

China"s sole aviation oil supplier -- the China Aviation Oil Supply Corporation -- announced last Saturday a cut in the aviation oil price pe

More foreigners to get permanent residence permits in China
China"s economically developed coastal province of Guangdong is considering to give more foreigners with senior management or technical expertise the permits to stay permanently in the country.

In an interview with reporters in Guangzhou, Cao Junming, head of Guangdong Provincial Administration for Foreign Experts Affairs, disclosed that his establishment, together with the provincial personnel bureau, have submitted a report about the subject for approval to the provincial government.

Experts call for protection of traditional chinese medicine
Experts at a national meeting on traditional Chinese medicine development reached a consensus Sunday that it is an urgent job to protect intellectual property rights of traditional Chinese medicine.

They also called for research into a patent application strategy, the establishment of a fund for international patents and active participation in making WTO rules for protecting the intellectual property rights of traditional Chinese medicine.

Hong Jing, a research fellow with the Sta

Chinese to Decide National Flower
Chinese are now trying to make decision on their national flower between the peony and Chinese plum blossom.

China Daily said on Monday that the selection is much harder than it would seem at first glance since both flowers are favored by a large group of people since long ago.

The debate can be dated back as far as 1982.

In 1994, the Chinese Flower Association launched a nationwide campaign to choose a national flower. The peony was submitted to the Standing Committee of th

China Reopens Temple to Commemorate Ancient Ancestor
China has reopened an ancient temple to commemorate Shun, one of the nation"s ancestors, who is believed to have been a tribal chief 5,000 years ago.

The 1,200 year old temple is located in Yuncheng County, north China"s Shanxi Province. It has been severely damaged by earthquakes, war, wind and rain.

Historians say that Shun was the idol of the Chinese nation, and his reign was a golden age. Even today he is still regarded asa person of high moral standing.

The local govern

Zone abolishes charges to lure investment
The Beijing Economic-Technological Development Area (BDA) will abolish charges on 97 items starting from next month in an effort to lure more investment.

Of the 111 items charged before, only 14 remain including fees for land use, water consumption and market management, The move means the annual income of BDA will drop by 11.7 million yuan (US$1.4 million) next year, Li Fengling, director of the BDA administrative committee said.

However, it will result in a sharp decrease of fina

More overseas tourists come to China
More than 73.34 million overseas tourists visited China during the first 10 months of this year, an increase of 5.66 percent on the same period last year, according to the latest figures released on Thursday in Beijing by the China National Tourism Administration.

The amount spent by the overseas tourists is estimated at US$14.8 billion, up 9.28 percent.

The number of tourists from the Republic of Korea, Thailand, Russia and Japan maintained a two-digit growth.

Tourism has b

CNTA Office in Nepal Opened
The opening ceremony of The office of China National Tourism administration (CNTA) in Kathmandu, The capital of Nepal,was held here on Nov. 26, 2001. More than 200 guests presented.

Speaking on the occasion, Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba said We have opened a new chapter in our age-old relations and restored our determination to continue the exemplary relationship between our two countries based on the five principles of peaceful co-existence since the establishment of the di

Nation Set to Tailor Laws to Suit WTO
China will shake up its economic laws and regulations, and work for a better legal environment in an effort to fulfil its commitments to the World Trade Organization (WTO).

The pledge was made by State Councillor Luo Gan at a two-day forum focusing on the challenges Chinese judges may face in the era after the nation gains official membership of the WTO.

He cautioned Chinese judges that they face a more complex situation.

"Judges should carefully study the WTO"s basic princi

China's WTO Entry Brings Challenges to Domestic Banks
Facing tougher competition after China's WTO accession, Chinese banks should learn from theirforeign counterparts how to overcome their weaknesses, Liu Mingkang, chairman and president of the Bank of China, said.

Liu said in an interview with Xinhua here that the Chinese banking sector has made remarkable progress in recent years with the number and scale of domestic banks expanding rapidly.

Currently, China has 104 commercial banks with total assets of 12.6 trillion yuan (about 1.

WTO departments begin work
The Department of World Trade Organization (WTO) Affairs and the Fair Trade Bureau of Import and Export began operation Monday.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation (MOFTEC) set up the two departments earlier this month in preparation for China"s entry into the WTO. The WTO department is divided into six offices staffed by four to eight people each.

The department stems from an office under MOFTEC"s Department of International Trade and Economic Affairs and has b

Simplifying exit-entry procedures: a vital step for China
China"s Public Security Ministry"s decision to simplify the exit-entry procedures won widespread applause in Beijing Thursday.

The Ministry of Public Security announced that before the year 2005, Chinese citizens in large and medium-sized cities who want to go abroad will be able to get a passport only by presenting their identity cards and household registration documents to the proper authorities.

This is one of six major reform measures announced Thursday afternoon at a national

Harbin Lures Tourists to Winter Wonderland
Harbin is using its rich winter resources of ice and snow to attract more tourists and
sports fans, even though just five years ago it rejected the title "ice city."

Harbin, capital of Northeast China"s Heilongjiang Province, has been working hard to prepare for the 18th China Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival, which will be held from December 22, 2001 to February 26, 2002, Shi Wenqing, Harbin"s vice-mayor, said at a press conference Thursday.

"We have developed a serie

Chinese Airlines Suffer US$240m Losses
The slump in the international aviation market in the wake of the September 11 terrorist attacks has caused China's civil aviation industry to lose more than 2 billion yuan (US$240 million) according to the General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC), the industry watchdog.

In a report to senior CAAC officials, Chen Xiaoning, director of the research institute under the administration, said the potential impact of the terrorist attacks may be more serious than the countable l

Malaysia Keen to Share China Tourism Market
Malaysia is seeking to attract more Chinese tourists to the Southeast Asian country by staging a series of tourism promotion exhibitions in cities in central and west China.

Last year, Malaysia received 430,000 Chinese visitors, while the numbers for its neighboring countries of Thailand and Singapore were 750,000 and 500,000, respectively, according to Ng Yen Yen, Malaysia"s deputy minister of culture, arts and tourism.

It indicated that Malaysia needs to do more work to tap China

Beijing Police Start Olympics Foreign Language Training
Biejing's police will be equipped with four foreign languages to help visitors to the 2008 Olympic Games, the city's police head Ma Zhenchuan said Wednesday.

He made the remark at a ceremony to donate 10,000 volumes of "Police English" to the police by the local Foreign Languages Press.

According to Ma, a seven-year foreign-language training program for Beijing police officers is part of the force"s preparation for the 2008 Olympic Games.

Police officers will be trained in E

Jobless Total Drops in 3rd Quarter
Job-seekers again outstripped the number of available jobs in the third quarter, virtually matching the situation in the first half of the year.

Figures released by the Ministry of Labour and Social Security showed there were a total of 1.207 million positions available in 62 major cities, accounting for 75 per cent of the job-seeking population.

This was a little better than the previous two seasons when the percentage dipped below 69 per cent.

But analysts warned that many

China Attracts French Investment
The Peugeot-Citroen Group is hopeful about the prospects for developing Chinese market, said Xavier Fels, vice-president of the French car group, Thursdayat the "Fair France-China 2001."

China"s high economic growth rate, its huge market scale and its entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO) have made it attractive to foreign car manufacturers, said Fels.

The five-day fair, sponsored by the French government and the Agency for the International Development of Enterprises of Fr

HK to Host World Travel Congress of ASTA in 2004? ?
Hong Kong won its bid to host the annual World Travel Congress of the American Society of Travel Agents (ASTA) in 2004, the Hong Kong Tourism Board(HKTB) announced Monday. Speaking at the contract signing ceremony, HKTB's Executive Director Clara Chong said, "ASTA's decision to choose Hong Kong is very important and timely for us, as it shows that the U.S. travel trade had long-term confidence in Hong Kong as a destination." Chong said that China's accession to the WTO and Beijing's successful b

New airways linking Yellow River Delta, major chinese cities
The recent landing of a Boeing 737 passenger plane at Dongying airport has marked the opening of the first airport in the Yellow River Delta region.

The airport is 13 km away from Dongying city in Shandong Province, east China.

With a capacity for handling 120,000 passengers, the airport will have flights to link the region and Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, Harbin, Tianjin, Korla of Xinjiang and some other cities in China.

The airport was built in 1985 but was not put into op

Civil airport for ethnic minority in N.China to be constructed
It is to break ground later this year in Wuhai of north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region to help boost the local economy.

The Wuhai airport is expected to fill the air transport vacuum in the western part of the region, upgrade local business environment and improve local people's living standards, officials from China's Civil Aviation Administration said Monday.

Covering a land area of 155.4 hectares and with a runway 2,300 meters long and 45 meters wide, the airport will

Beijing to Build More Public Toilets
Beijing is planning to build 200 public toilets in an 800-meter perimeter of its main streets and downtown areas.

The new government-sponsored toilets will be open to citizens free of charge.

Early this year, the capital has started renovating existing public toilets located in the ancient city's back alleys, or hutongs, since many of them were built half a century ago and werenot up to health standards.

However, that was not enough. According to a report in the Beijing Dail

Beijing Court Rules against Unfair Competition in Hutong Tours
A local travel agency has been ordered to pay 80,000 yuan (about 9,638 U.S. dollars) in compensation for taking advantage of a competitor in the city's popular hutong (back alleys) tours, according to a ruling by the Beijing No.1 Intermediate People's Court.

The Beijing Sifang Botong Tourism Culture Co., Ltd, the defendant, was sued by the Beijing Hutong Culture Travel Co., Ltd,for illegally copying the "Hutong Tour" logo used on the plaintiff's tricycles and the cyclists' uniforms.

Largest Manchurian Tiger Breeding Center Plans to Import Breeders
China's largest Manchurian Tigerbreeding center in the northeastern province of Heilongjiang plansto import breeder tigers from other parts of China or abroad to improve the genetic quality of the rare species.

The Hengdaohezi Felid Animals Raising and Breeding Center said it is going to take in 20 to 25 breeder tigers annually in the next five years, helping increase its tiger population to 500 by the year 2005, and 1,000 by 2010.

If these goals are met, about 10 percent of the ad

Wild Leopards Make Home in Beijing
To the surprise of zoologists in Beijing, a recent survey showed that ten wild leopards live with 13 million residents in the Chinese capital.

"Of course they are not wandering among the skyscrapers," said an associate professor in biology, "But it's true that big wild animals like leopards, boars and wolves have made their homes in the city."

Professor Gao Wu of the Capital Normal University said these animals roam in the wooded areas of Beijing's suburbs.

During the first

Beijing plans future of ancient relics
Beijing's municipal government is making long-term plans to further protect the rich cultural and historical heritage of the 3,000-year-old capital.

Sources at the Beijing Municipal Planning Commission and the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics said the city government is drawing up a long-term strategy to protect and repair the city's relics.

The strategy is to be published and put into effect early next year, according to the sources.

Planning commission officials

Chief Executive Highlights Good Prospect of Macao
China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR) will play host to visitors from all over the world with a new image and provide sound business opportunities for overseas investors, Chief Executive Edmund Ho Hau Wah said in Macao Wednesday.

At present, the advantages for Macao's development are much more than before, Ho said at the opening ceremony for an overseas Chinese gathering.

He cited that the SAR has now sound public security and stable social order; its public service sys

Chinese nature reserves praised
Four famous Chinese nature reserves were awarded "World Biosphere Reserve" status Wednesday, bringing the country's total to 21.

The accolade was given by the United Nations Education, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) at the Great Hall of the People.

Baishuijiang in Gansu Province, Gaoligong Mountain in Yunnan Province, Huanglong in Sichuan Province and Baotianman in Henan Province have now formally entered the World Network of Biosphere Reserves, internationally recog

Ancient Cliff Paintings in North China Protected
The Chinese government is outlining a plan to protect a group of 5,000-year-old cliff paintings in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The paintings in Wuhai, located in the western part of the region, feature spectacular scenes of sacrificial rituals and hunting, and were believed to be used in tributes to the Sun.

However, a few years ago local people set up quarries, lime kilns and coal mines close to the site. Their operation caused acid rain in the area threatening

Ancient tombs well protected in East China
The country's largest protection zone for ancient Han tombs in the eastern province of Jiangxi has been demarcated after a three-month survey.

The zone covers 119 tombs of the Han Dynasty (206 BC--220 AD), 40 of which were discovered in 1983. The biggest tomb at the site is about 18 meters high.

According to experts, the tombs are of great importance for the research of the south region of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River, one of the birthplaces of ancient Chinese civilizatio

Ruins of Ancient Imperial Palace Discovered in China
Chinese archeologists have discovered ruins of the imperial palace of the first emperor of the Southern Song Dynasty (1127-1179) in east China's Zhejiang Province.

The discovery was made when a construction team was widening roads in Hangzhou, capital city of Zhejiang Province.

Du Zhengxian, deputy director of Hangzhou Archeology Institute,said that the emperor spent his last 25 years after his abdicationin this palace.

Historians say archives record the palace as being spec

Tourism Propels Chinese Economy
Zhang Xianghong has just come back from Chengdu where she spent her annual vacation, and is now planning for a Spring Festival in Australia with her family. The Beijing University teacher is one of millions of Chinese travelers. A Finnish traveler in Lijiang, Yunnan province declared, " I had no idea how buoyant China's tourism industry is! People travel almost everywhere during the holidays." In 2001, China's flourishing tourism has provided great vitality to the growth of its economy. Statisti

Tourism Propels Chinese Economy
Zhang Xianghong has just come back from Chengdu where she spent her annual vacation, and is now planning for a Spring festival in Australia with her family. The Beijing University teacher is one of millions of Chinese travelers. A Finnish traveler in Lijiang, Yunnan province declared, " I had no idea how buoyant China's tourism industry is! People travel almost everywhere during the holidays." In 2001, China's flourishing tourism has provided great vitality to the growth of its economy. Statisti

Bin Laden and Omar on the run
The haven Osama bin Laden found in Taliban-ruled Afghanistan has collapsed and he and his one-time host, Mullah Mohammed Omar, are on the run. Not everything has progressed so rapidly in the three months since Sept. 11. At home, the pall the attacks cast over the economy threatens to darken the holiday season, and investigations into the attacks and into the deadly anthrax mailings that followed them remain inconclusive. Afghans face a massive refugee crisis that won't be solved anytime soon. TH

China to renovate world's tallest Buddha
This winter China will begin the second stage of the large scale renovation of the 1,280-year-old statue of Buddha in Leshan, a city in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

The renovation will cost 180 million yuan. The World Bank has lent US$2 million dollars. The remainder will be raised by the local government.

An official in charge of the project says 120 million yuan will be used on construction of a highway which commenced in September. Renovation of the platform where the sta

One Telephone for Two Persons in Beijing
A report from the Beijing Telecommunication in December shows that the number of the subscribers who are using fixed telephones now in Beijing has broken through 5 million.

This means that there is almost one telephone for two persons in Beijing city. Among the 5 million subscribers, 3.66 million are residential users.

Although suffering the influences of many kinds of factors such as the fee adjustment, Beijing Telecommunication has still realized an increase of 660 thousand of ne

Beijing remodels financial district
The Chinese capital has remodeled the design of its emerging financial district downtown, featuring a four-hectare green square and two 30-story, 116-meter- high skyscrapers, which will be tallest buildings in the city.

The new design was unveiled this week by the developer, Beijing Jinrongjie Holdings Co., Ltd., which is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.

American design firm SOM won the international bidding for the new plan.

The financial district, known to Beijingers

Beijing Welcomes International Service Companies: Mayor
International service companies are welcome to do business in Beijing after China's accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO), Beijing Mayor Liu Qi told visiting former U.S. Secretary of State Warren Christopher in Beijing Thursday.

Liu said that Beijing's economy has maintained a good momentum and foreign-funded companies have developed vigorously in recent years. This year alone has seen the establishment of over 700 foreign-funded organizations in the city.

Liu said compan

Foreign Residents in HK to Get Multiple-Entry Visas to Mainland
Tung Chee Hwa, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, announced in Hong Kong Saturday that the central government has agreed that foreign nationals who are Hong Kong permanent residents will be granted multiple-entry visas to the mainland for one to three years.

On each occasion, the individuals concerned will be allowed to stay for up to 30 days, said Tung when delivering a speech at the "Hong Kong Salutes the World" reception held at Government House Saturday.

Hong Kong to benefit from 24-hour border checkpoint clearance
The One Country, Two Systems Research Institute, the think tank of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR) government, Friday proposed a phased introduction of 24-hour clearance at all cross-border checkpoints, to meet the challenge of a new cross-border socio-economic relationship.

The institute made the proposal in a 153-page report to Tung Chee Hwa, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR).

Entitled "Modes of Cross-border Immigration Control

21 firms take casino gamble in Macao
A total of 21 companies will become tenders for new licenses of casinos in China's Macao Special Administrative Region (SAR).

The companies handed over their bidding papers to the SAR government Friday night. The authorities note that people can know who will manage Macao's casinos at the end of this year.

There will be a maximum of three operators of Macao's gambling business, which indicates that the 40-year monopoly of the Macao Tourism and Amusement Company (STDM) in the sector

China formally joins the WTO today
China Tuesday becomes a formal member of the World Trade Organization (WTO), the multilateral trade body's 143rd member.

The Ministry of Foreign Trade and Economic Co-operation (MOFTEC) said China will play an active role in the world trade body.

China is soon to send its ambassador to the WTO, as well as a delegation to Geneva -- headquarters of the WTO -- according to a statement issued by MOFTEC Monday.

The ministry vowed China will abide by WTO rules and carry out its co

GPS Technology Introduced into Beijing's Taxi Control System
Two taxi companies led their competitors here Saturday in introducing the global positioning system (GPS) technology to handle their taxi fleets.

The GPS network at the Municipal Taxi Network Control Center is designed with a capacity of 100,000 terminal users. It is so far the largest GPS application platform in China.

A huge electronic screen set up in the center, located in the southern part of Beijing, shows the location and operation data of hundreds of taxis which have GPS de

Beijing Strives to Protect Cultural Relics
Long-term plans are now being worked out to further protect Beijing's rich cultural and historical heritage, Friday's China Daily reports.

Local government departments plan to publish and start to carryout the strategy early next year, sources said.

The ambitious plan aims to cover the city's 25 cultural relic zones, including Zhonggulou, Nanchizi and Dashalan, which account for 37 percent of the 62.5 square kilometers of the old city areas constructed in the Ming (1368-1644) and Q

Foreign Journalists Interested in New Changes of Beijing
On November 29, Vice Mayor Wang Guangtao introduced, to more than 50 reporters from more than 30 foreign press organizations stationed in Beijing, the circumstances of developments of protecting Beijing, an ancient city. He also made a brief introduction of the developments of transforming the old and dangerous houses in Beijing.

Beijing is one of the most world-famous cultural ancient capitals. In the modernization construction courses of the city, it is very important to protect the his

Democracy Spreads Its 'Rustic' Wings
The year 2001 has seen grassroots democracy expanding from rural parts of China to urban areas, a move described by sociologists as a break-through in the country's political system. Li Baoku, vice-minister of civil affairs, said thousands of residents in several cities elected their community councils and leading council officials for the first time on the Chinese mainland in 2001. The cities include Shanghai, Nanjing, capital of eastern Jiangsu Province, Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang Province,

Public En Route to Setting Price
The public could soon have a say on the price of tickets to travel by public transport on highways during the coming Spring Festival, according to the State Development Planning Commission (SDPC). Public hearings will occur if provincial pricing authorities decide to float prices during the travel time peak. The commission, authorized to govern and regulate pricing, unveiled on Wednesday a circular, requiring provincial pricing authorities to organize public hearings before unveiling price chang

Consumer Price Index Down in November
China's consumer price index (CPI) dropped 0.3 percent in November from the same month of last year, official figures showed. According to figures released by the National Bureau of statistics (NBS) Thursday, the CPI dropped 0.6 percent in urban areas and increased 0.2 percent in rural areas in November. The NBS attributed the CPI fall mainly to drops in the prices of grain, fresh vegetables, meat and eggs in most areas of the country after Chinese National Day on October 1. NBS statistics showe

More Families to Reunite in Taiwan
Beijing Thursday welcomed Taipei's approval of a draft rule to grant permanent residency to more Chinese mainland spouses of Taiwanese and to do so more quickly. "We welcome any move that is conducive to the development of cross-Straits relations and strengthening the kinship among people on both sides," said an official with the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council who refused to be identified. The rule will go into effect on January 1. According to the rule, which was drafted in response

Amphibious plane flies tourists across Bohai Bay
An amphibious plane has recently begun to fly tourists between Yantai and Dalian cities across the Bohai Bay off north China.

The flights newly opened by Shandong Airlines takes off from Yantai in Shandong Province at 1:00 p.m. every day, and returns from Dalian in Liaoning Province at 3^The luxury plane, imported from the United States, is equipped with pontoons so that it can land on and take off from the sea, airline officials said.

It is also believed to be the first amphibious

China to build Yangtze River dolphin reserve
A plan to build a nature reserve for freshwater dolphins, including one of the rarest dolphins in the world, has passed technical evaluation.

According to the plan, put forward by the Zhenjiang municipal government and Jiangsu Provincial Marine and Fisheries Administration, the reserve will be located in the Zhenjiang section of the Yangtze River, the world's third-longest.

The reserve will cover 43.4 square kilometers. It will be built in an area where the water flows slowly and p

Gene bank to help save giant pandas – report
China will build its first genomic resource bank of endangered animal species to help save the giant pandas and other rare animals.

The gene bank, to be built in the Giant Panda Breeding and Research Base in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, will focus on keeping genetic materials of endangered animal species in cold storage, including sperm, eggs, cells, skin, hair and blood.

The work will be done with the cooperation of Chinese and American experts, Monday's

Well-preserved female mummy unearthed in China
A remarkably well-preserved female mummy wearing a gold crown and splendid silk clothes was found during work at a construction site in Jiangxi Province last week.

According to the local Institute of Archaeology, the tomb is 500 years old and belonged to a royal concubine of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

The 155-centimeter-tall mummy was discovered to have smooth skin after archaeologists removed eight layers of silk, three sheets of binding cloth, and ten garments, and untied 11 f

Acupuncture found successful against drug addiction
A senior Chinese scientist has developed a method to treat drug addiction by acupuncture.

Han Jisheng, academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences and professor at Beijing University, said electronic acupuncture may help drug addicts kick their habit.

Han first experimented with the therapy on heroin-injected mice and then applied it on humans in clinical testing. "It was effective on both species," he told a recent science and technology symposium.

An expert in neurolo

Chinese Banks Ready for Euro Business
Major Chinese commercial banks have got prepared for euro-related business, which will begin on January 1 when the single European currency makes its debut.

He Guangbei, vice-president of the Bank of China, said his bank is now capable of handling euro-related business after several months of preparation.

"The computer programmes have already been switched over to euros," he said.

The vice-president said his bank began the preparation work in August, mapping out a detailed t

Chinese Railway Has New Image
Traveling by train has become the first choice of the majority of Chinese as it is cheap,comfortable and quick with China increasing its train speed four times since 1997.

According to official statistics, the number of passengers has increased from 920 million in 1997 to 980 million last year and there have been a record number of long-distance passengers.

China's railway profits have increased by 83.8 billion yuan (10.13 billion U.S. dollars) in four years.

Li Lianlin, a 2

Tariff cut to boost foreign trade
China said it will cut the import tariffs to an average of 12 per cent in 2002 from the current 15.3 per cent to fulfil its World Trade Organization (WTO) commitments.

The country will cut import tariffs on industrial products to 11.6 per cent starting January 1, the Ministry of Finance said Tuesday when China officially became a WTO member.

The country will also cut import tariffs on farm products to 15.8 per cent, the ministry said, without giving the current level of duties.

WTO: It's official
China, the 143rd and newest member of the World Trade Organisation (WTO), pledged on Tuesday to play an active role in the global commerce club as its membership formally began.

The stroke of midnight marked the end of a 30-day waiting period for entry, which started when a WTO meeting last month in Qatar approved Chinese accession.

It brings to an end a process of often torturous negotiations which began 15 years ago, before the WTO -- which sets rules for global trade -- even exi

China Marks First Day in WTO With New Stamps, and More
China refrained from much pomps and shows to mark its formal entry into in the World Trade Organization (WTO) Tuesday after 15 years of marathon negotiations, but solid steps to address imminent challenges ahead continued.

Among the few official celebrations is a stamp issued by the State Post Bureau, depicting traditional ornamental columns erected in front of imperial palaces in ancient China, the WTO sign and the China World Trade Tower in Beijing, a symbol of China 's opening-up polic

HK Patriot Donates Books to Old Revolutionary Base
Shi Jingyi, president of a publishing company in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, recently donated 1,675 books to Jinggangshan, an old revolutionary base area in east China's Jiangxi Province which has drawn an increasing number of tourists in recent years. Shi, also a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, has donated over three million books to public libraries, schools and research institutes across China since 1978. To date, he

Minibuses Driven to Suburbs and New Quarters
From Saturday, minibuses in Beijing will not be allowed to travel within the Third-Ring Road, although 1,000 buses will be put into operation to make up for the inconvenience. Around 79 new minibus routes will be available from next January, and most of the new routes will make stops at the newly-built residential blocks outside of the Third-Ring Road and in the suburbs, according to Beijing Bureau of Transportation (BBT), quoted by Agency. The new routes have been designed by the municipal gove

More Shanghai People Tour Hong Kong, Macao
The dream to spend a weekend in Hong Kong or Macao has come true for many Shanghai people, because of the government's removal of restrictions on traveling. On December 1, China lifted the quota on travelers from its inland areas to Hong Kong and Macao, in an effort to facilitate their business activities and sightseeing tours. In preparation for the flood of Hong Kong-bound tourists, the Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines Co. has increased the number of its flights between Shanghai and Hong

Business in Blast-torn McDonald Store in Xi'an As Usual
Customers still swarm to the McDonald's chainstore in Xi'an, provincial capital of Shaanxi in Northwest China, on December 16 after an explosion rocked the store on Saturday evening, killing two and injuring 27 others. So far, business is as usual at the only McDonald store in the city as many thought the man-made blast would not dampen people's confidence in McDonald. Xi'an, the site of ancient capital for eleven dynasties in China's history, is known for its Terra Cotta Warriors, a world top-l

X'mas May Get Cold Shoulder
Shrewd domestic business people are sparing no efforts to promote the festival atmosphere and thus open wallets over the Christmas holiday, but a survey by Horizon Research indicates that Santa may get the cold shoulder in China. Some experts predict that traditional Western festivals such as Valentine's Day and Christmas will win more and more favor among Chinese citizens as the country accelerates its pace of internationalization after its accession to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Howev

Foreign Car Makers Eager to Enter Chinese Market
Prices on imported cars will be generally cut from 12 percent to 15 percent after tariff is cut starting on January 1 next year. This is beyond doubt a prime opportunity for imported cars to enter Chinese market. BMW and Benz have already carried out their strategies to get into China's market. On the second day after China's entry into the WTO, BMW opened its first exhibition hall in Guiyou Building in Beijing. Benz also exhibited its SL500 open wagon in Shanghai not long ago to show its sincer

Environment-Friendly Lifestyle Fashionable
Xu Jian is proud of having personally pioneered an environment-friendly lifestyle several years ago. When he was a freshman at Beijing Forestry University, Xu first began to pay attention to environmental issues, organizing and participating in many related activities. In 1997, he, together with several colleagues, launched a Disposable Chopsticks-Free Campus Campaign. He recalled, "The first time I took my own utensils to the dining hall, I knew I was a public laughingstock. But many of my peer

Southernmost Rimes in China Come on Time
Central China's evergreen Mount Heng was painted white by rimes after the winter's first frost in the subtropical area in the middle of December. Meteorologists say the rimes in the mountain come every December when the sudden drop in temperature freezes droplets of water into various shapes which hang from tree branches. Mount Heng is over 1,000 meters above sea level, and it and the Yellow Mountain in Anhui Province are the only two places south of the Yangtze River which have a hoar frost, a

Railways Expect 130 Million Passengers During Coming Spring Season
China's railway transportation's annual peak season, which sees tens of millions of people travel across the country to return home for the traditional Spring Festival, is expected to hit an all-time high 130 million passengers. The coming spring season for the railways will start on January 28 and end on March 8, according to the Ministry of Railways. The "Spring Season Transport", as it is usually called, includes floods of transient laborers and college students returning home during their wi

Dalian Captures Illegal Emigrants
Seventeen illegal emigrants were caught by the Dalian border police on Monday evening in northeast China's Liaoning Province. The illegal emigrants from Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning provinces gathered at a local village and tried to leave to go abroad, said Liu Baoping, an officer with the border police. Dalian is a city with a coastal line of 1,906 kilometres and is located near Japan and the Republic of Korea. Illegal organizations that smuggle people abroad have taken advantage of the loc

Old Buddhism, modern flavor in Tibet
During the latest festival for driving off evil spirits in Tibet, lama Ngawang of the Samye Temple tied slips of paper printed with Buddhist scripture to hydrogen balloons to sell to the never-ending stream of tourists from home and abroad.

Sales of balloons and other trinkets to earn money is not rare in today's Tibetan temples. In fact, most lamaseries are now fully commercialized.

Not only lay peddlers do business there, the temples themselves have opened shops for extra income.

Taiwan allows more family reunions
Beijing Thursday welcomed Taipei's approval of a draft rule to grant permanent residency to more Chinese mainland spouses of Taiwanese and to do so more quickly.

"We welcome any move that is conducive to the development of cross-Straits relations and strengthening the kinship among people on both sides,'' said an official with the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council who refused to be identified.

The rule will go into effect on January 1.

According to the rule, which w

Shenzhen to Need Mammoth Investment for Urban Rail Construction
Shenzhen will need 120 billion yuan of investment to extend its urban rail length by 365 km in the next 25 years, according to the government's urban planning report.

The report has just passed experts' appraisal by the city's urban planning commission.

The experts expect that Shenzhen will have 500,000 minibuses and cars by 2010, which will satiate the city's traffic capacity in rush hours. It is urgent to build an urban rail traffic system to ease the congestion, they said.

Committee set up for Olympic Games
The Beijing Organizing Committee of the 2008 Olympic Games (BOCOG) was established Thursday in the Great Hall of the People with a seven-year-long list of things to do.

"From now on, BOCOG will realize its potential in holding the most brilliant Olympics in history, with support from the people, national government and the International Olympic Committee (IOC),'' Beijing Mayor Liu Qi said in front of more than 300 guests, including sports stars, government officials and IOC envoys.

China Calls for Efforts to Promote Olympic Spirit for Peace, Development
China Tuesday called on the international community to stick to the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, promote the Olympic spirit for peace and development in the world.

The statement came as Shen Guofang, China's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, was taking the floor at the General Assembly on the issue of "building a peaceful and better world through sport and the Olympic ideal."

Today, mankind has already stepped into the 21st century, Shen said. "

Nanjing Massacre Exhibition to Open in San Francisco
The exhibition documenting the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese invaders during World War II will be jointly organized by the Memorial Hall of the Victims of the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese Invaders, which is based in Nanjing City, China, and the Chinese Holocaust Museum of San Francisco.

An exhibition documenting the Nanjing Massacre by Japanese invaders during World War II will open in San Francisco on Sunday, organizers announced Tuesday in San Francisco.

The exhibition and other a

China's Duty-Free Sector Expects Much from WTO Entry
Experts attending the National Duty-Free Conference Wednesday agreed that China's duty-free industry will develop more quickly after the country became a formal member of the World Trade Organization.

The duty-free products and consumers come from foreign countries. The thriving tourism industry will provide more opportunities for the duty-free industry, said Gai Zhixin, president of the China Duty-Free Group (CDFG).

According to statistics from the China National Tourism Administr

Government mulls putting travel prices in hands of public
The public could soon have a say on the price of tickets to travel by public transport on highways during the coming Spring Festival, according to the State Development Planning Commission (SDPC).

Public hearings will occur if provincial pricing authorities decide to float prices during the travel time peak.

The commission, authorized to govern and regulate pricing, unveiled on Wednesday a circular, requiring provincial pricing authorities to organize public hearings before unveili

Social Security Work Improves in China
China's social security work has been greatly improved in 2001, sources at a national conference on labor and social security being held here said Wednesday.

Statistics show that an average of six million laid-off workers from state-owned enterprises are provided with basic living expenses every month, while some 31 million retirees draw pensions amounting to 169.2 billion yuan, 97 percent of which are delivered through social channels.

Relevant departments have strengthened work o

Efforts redoubled to create 8 million jobs
China is to redouble its efforts to create more than 8 million new jobs next year to keep its urban unemployment rate at around 4.5 per cent, said Minister of Labour and Social Security Zhang Zuoji Wednesday in Shanghai.

However, the unemployment pressure next year will be bigger than this year. Ministry statistics state the country's registered unemployment rate in urban areas in the third quarter of the year was 3.4 per cent.

Ministry officials noted the country is to bear "more

Importance of policy on religion stressed
Officials at all levels have been urged by President Jiang Zemin to effectively implement the policy of "freedom for religious belief"and conduct religious work according to laws.

Religious work enjoys an important status in the country's affairs, said Jiang at a three-day national work conference on the subject, which ended Wednesday in Beijing.

Top Chinese leaders, including Li Peng, Zhu Rongji and Li Ruihuan, attended the meeting.
Under the new situation, the Party's leadersh

Dalian Captures Illegal Emigrants
Seventeen illegal emigrants were caught by the Dalian border police on Monday evening in Northeast China's Liaoning Province. The illegal emigrants from Heilongjiang, Jilin and Liaoning provinces gathered at a local village and tried to leave to go abroad, said Liu Baoping, an officer with the border police. Dalian is a city with a coastal line of 1,906 kilometers and is located near Japan and the Republic of Korea. Illegal organizations that smuggle people abroad have taken advantage of the loc

Railways on Track for Record 130 Million Travellers
The Ministry of Railways is preparing to transport a record number of people during next year's Spring Festival to celebrate the lunar New Year. About 130 million people are expected to travel by train for the festival, a traditional time for family reunions. The number is about 3 million more than the same period last year, said ministry sources. The lunar New Year falls on February 12 next year. The transport ministry has officially defined the 15 days before and 25 days after the lunar New Ye

Railways on Track for Record Travellers
The Ministry of Railways is preparing to transport a record number of people during next year's Spring Festival to celebrate the lunar New Year. About 130 million people are expected to travel by train for the festival, a traditional time for family reunions. The number is about 3 million more than the same period last year, said ministry sources. The lunar New Year falls on February 12 next year. The transport ministry has officially defined the 15 days before and 25 days after the lunar New Ye

Malaysia Eager to Tap China's Tourist Market
A Malaysian government-sponsored tourism promotion exhibition was held Tuesday in Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province. In recent years, Malaysia has been trying to attract more Chinese tourists. This year Malaysian tourism authorities are doing this through exhibitions in cities in central and west China. Statistics show that Malaysia received 190,000 Chinese visitors in 1999. Last year, the number increased to 400,000, more than double the 1999 figure, according to Ng Yen Yen,

Travel Agency Says "No" to Shopping Commissions
A Shanghai-based travel agency has pledged that it will stop unnecessary shopping excursions aimed at getting fat -- and illegal -- commissions for tour guides and drivers. Wang Zhenghua, general manager of Shanghai Chunqiu Travel Agency, said that the agency will pay higher salaries to tour guides and drivers to curb the temptation to take unwitting tourists to shops whose owners offer high commissions in return. If tourists want to go shopping on their own, tour guides should recommend local s

Argentina Declares State of Siege Amid Rioting
President Fernando De la Rua signed an order declaring a state of siege Wednesday, seizing special powers after a day of looting and violence engulfed recession-racked Argentina, a high-ranking government official said. De la Rua will address the nation Wednesday evening to explain why he was taking special steps to quell violence in the capital and in major cities across the country, the official told The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. The announcement followed an emergency Cabinet

Chinese Travel Agency Says No to Shopping Commissions
A Shanghai-based travel agency has pledged that it will stop unnecessary shopping excursions aimed at getting fat -- and illegal -- commissions for tour guides and drivers. Wang Zhenghua, general manager of Shanghai Chunqiu Travel Agency, said that the agency will pay higher salaries to tour guides and drivers to curb the temptation to take unwitting tourists to shops whose owners offer high commissions in return. If tourists want to go shopping on their own, tour guides should recommend local s

Guangzhou to invest US$1.8b in new subway
South China's metropolis of Guangzhou will invest 15.2 billion yuan (US$1.8 billion) in No.3 subway, the local municipal government said on Monday, adding the plan has been approved by expert groups from the cabinet's planning agency.

The budget submitted to the central government said every mile of the subway will cost 663 million yuan (US$79.9 million).

According to a report submitted to the State Development and Planning Commission for approval, the No.3 subway is expected to be

Paleolithic Age Ruins Found at Three Gorges
Chinese archeologists have found 44 ruins dating back to the Paleolithic age (at least 10,000 years ago) at the construction site of the Three Gorges Project, making the region a principal center for study of the period.

The Three Gorges Dam Area, covering Chongqing Municipality and Hubei Province, has long been considered a cradle of ancient Chinese culture and is the location of a large number of archeological discoveries.

The two million-year-old Wushan man, discovered in 1984,

Construction of China's first desert expressway makes progress
Construction of China's first desert expressway is well under way and scheduled to be completed in 2003.

The expressway stretches from Yulin City to Jingbian County in Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, cutting across the 10,000-square-kilometre Mu Us Desert, on the border of Shaanxi Province and the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region.

The 134-kilometre expressway has 17 bridges, 30 overpasses and 200 culverts, and will be built at a cost of 1.76 billion yuan (US$212 million). Trees

Shenyang to house world's largest emerald Buddha figure
The world's largest emerald Buddha figure will find a home in this capital of northeast China' s Liaoning Province, sources said.

The seven-ton Maitreya (Laughing) Buddha figure, which has received a certificate from the Shanghai Office of the Guinness Book of Records testifying that it is the biggest of its kind in the world, arrived here Saturday, and will be housed in the Cuihualou Jewelry Store, situated in the city's traditional downtown area.

It took a whole year for the coun

Key land port promotes tourism
A transformation project will be carried out at the Horgos entry port in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region to promote border trade based on cross-border tourism.

The 2-million-yuan project comprises a free market, a folk customs park and a processing center in addition to banks, hotels, shops and other service facilities.

Upon its completion, Horgos will be a port integrating with trade, industry and tourism, said Jia Yisheng, deputy director of the port's administ

Chinese national capital to build more museums
Beijing, the Chinese national capital city, will build 32 new museums over the next seven years.

The 2008 Beijing Olympic Games is the impetus behind the construction, said Mei Ninghua, head of Beijing Municipal Bureau of Cultural Relics.

City specialist Wang Xinwei said museums are important for showing the culture and history of a city and many famous cities in the world have large museums with rich contents.

According to Mei, the new museums will feature contemporary life

Work Starts on Controversial Theatre
The construction of China's controversial National Grand Theatre officially started recently after four years of preparation and is expected to take four years.

Some revisions have been made to the original plan to reduce costs and construction area.

The current estimated cost of the project is 2.688 billion yuan (US$325 million), substantially less than the original 3 billion yuan (US$362 million).

The reduction in cost comes mainly from the cancellation of the complex's th

Chinese Customs vows to improve openness of clearance process
China's General Administration of Customs (GAC) has publicized a set of basic standards to make the clearance service more open and transparent, GAC sources said on Friday.

According to the standards, Chinese customs at all levels should publicize charts and various responsibilities of service departments and customs officers in view at the clearance spot, along with the process and time limit of services, and the code of behavior to be followed by the staff.

A GAC official said th

Passengers to get say on ticket prices
Ordinary air passengers are to have their say over future changes in ticket prices by the Civil Aviation Administration of China (CAAC).

Under a new amendment to China's Price Law, a public hearing will be required when transport authorities adjust prices.

Representatives of consumers, transport experts, air carriers and officials will discuss the impact of price changes at the hearing before the pricing authorities decide on a solution,which should take into account the interests

Rare Ethnic Costumes, Ornaments to Be Exhibited in HK
To those who are fascinated with beautiful things and folk art, Hong Kong Heritage Museum's exhibition on traditional costumes and silver ornaments of China's ethnic minorities will be a not-to-be-missed event.

Entitled "Silver Art - Costumes of China's Ethnic Minorities," the exhibition features over 100 pieces of clothing and silver ornaments, including those of southern ethnic groups such as the Miao and the Zhuang, and those of northern ethnic groups such as the Mongol and the Uygur.<

More Shanghai people tour Hong Kong, Macao
The dream to spend a weekend in Hong Kong or Macao has come true for many Shanghai people, because of the government's removal of restrictions on traveling.

On December 1, China lifted the quota on travelers from its inland areas to Hong Kong and Macao, in an effort to facilitate their business activities and sightseeing tours.

In preparation for the flood of Hong Kong-bound tourists, the Shanghai-based China Eastern Airlines Co. has increased the number of its flights between Shan

Over 4 million people to cross HK-Mainland border during holiday
About 4.32 million people are estimated to cross the land boundary checkpoints to and from the Chinese Mainland during the forthcoming Christmas and New Year holiday, the Hong Kong Immigration Department said Tuesday.

It will be 8 percent higher as compared with the same period last year, the department said. It also estimated that the peak period would fall between the 13 days from December 21, 2001 to January 2, 2002.

A spokesman of the Immigration Department said the department

Chairman He held talks with Turkish Minister of Tourism
China and Turkey signed in Istanbul a memorandum of understanding on the plans of Chinese outbound tourists to Turkey on December 14,2001.

He Guangwei, chairman of China National tourism Administration, on Dec. 14 held talks in Istanbul with Turkish tourist minister Mustafa Tasa. Through consultation with each other on the plans of organizing Chinese outbound tourists to Turkey, an agreement was reached by the two sides based on the agreement of tourism cooperation signed in Beijing on Ma

Northwest Airlines Affirms Personnel Localization in China
Sources with American Northwest Airlines (NWA) said in Beijing that to promote personnel localization in China is important for their market strategy. John D. Watkins, vice-president and general manager of China, made these remarks after a successful year of code-sharing between Air China and NWA in nine domestic cities. Watkins said, NWA will continue business cooperation with China and will further encourage personnel localization. NWA is among the first foreign airline companies to hire Chine

American Northwest Airline Promotes Personnel Localization in China
Sources with American Northwest Airlines (NWA) said in Beijing that to promote personnel localization in China is important for their market strategy. John D. Watkins, vice-president and general manager of China,made these remarks after a successful year of code-sharing between Air China and NWA in nine domestic cities. Watkins said, NWA will continue business cooperation with Chinaand will further encourage personnel localization. NWA is among the first foreign airline companies to hire Chinese

Chinese Citizens Able to Travel to Turkey, South Africa
Sources with the China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) said Sunday that Turkey and South Africa have gained the Approved Destination Status (ADS). So far, the total number of ADS countries and regions surpasses20. At the moment, the CNTA and other related ministries are discussing detailed issues such as tourism visas, routes, and accommodation in these two nations before Chinese tourists are able to visit. "Chinese people can easily find familiar culture in South Africa. Chinese emigrati

China Increases Highway Length
Some 32,000 kilometers of new highway across China will be added to the country's total mileage this year.

The additional roadway brings the total highway length in China to 1.43 million kilometers.

China invested 260 billion yuan on communication infrastructure projects this year, an all-time high, said Minister of Communication Huang Zhendong.

The amount of investment for highway projects in western China increased by 23 percent in the first 11 months of this year compared

Yungang Grottoes added to world heritage list
Shanxi Province's Yungang Grottoes have been added to the United Nation's World Cultural Heritage list, becoming the 28th site in China to grace the list.

China ranks third, behind Spain and Italy, in number of World Heritage Sites.

The decision to list the Yungang Grottoes was made on December 13 at the 25th meeting of the World Cultural Heritage Committee under the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Located in the western suburbs of

Beijing subway IC payment system to charge by distance
Subways in the Chinese capital of Beijing will introduce intelligent cards (IC cards) and automatic ticket-checking systems in the near future in a bid to increase speed and convenience for passengers, a government official said on Thursday.

The IC cards will replace the current three-yuan (3.6 US cents) train ticket, which provides access to all of Beijing's 39 subway stops, the official said, noting that the new automatic fee system will charge passengers according to the distance they

Beijing to invest heavily on bus upgrades
Bejing plans to spend 12.8 billion yuan (US$1.54 bilion) in the next six years replacing old buses with spacious and environment-friendly ones to provide more convenience and comfort to passengers, Beijing Youth Daily reported on Tuesday.

The upgrading plan will be submitted to the municipal development and planning commission and the municipal bureau of communications for approval.

According the designed plan, a total of 14,000 new buses will be obtained, including 10,000 fueled w

World-class exhibit centre for Beijing
Beijing will capitalize on its unique advantages to further develop its position in the international conference and exhibition industry in the coming years.

Yu Changjiang, director of the Beijing Tourism Administration, said that Beijing, as an international metropolis and a city with rich historic and cultural resources, could be a productive and lucrative place for world organizers and sponsors to host conferences and exhibitions.

"Meanwhile, the 2008 Olympic Games will offer hu

Archeologists Find New Starting Point of "Silk Road On Sea"
Chinese archeologists said they have found evidence of a new starting point of ancient China's "silk road on the sea."

The newly recognized starting point, Ningbo, is a coastal city in east China's Zhejiang province. Beilun Port in Ningbo is one of the country's four largest deep water ports and has established connections with 518 ports in 84 countries and regions.

Shi Cunlong, an expert with the Water Carriage Research Center affiliated to the Ministry of Communications, said, Ni

Newly unearthed mummy to stimulate tourism in East China province
Tourism officials here are hoping that a female mummy unearthed recently will attract the same crowds of admirers she got during her lifetime 500 years ago.

The 1.55-meter-tall mummy could be the body of a royal concubine that lived during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), archeologists said.

Unearthed earlier this month on the campus of the Nanchang-based East China Jiaotong University, she was well preserved, wearing a gold crown and splendid silk clothes.

Excavations at the s

China's cities value sustainable development
With China's rapid urbanization over the last 20 years, sustainable urban development has become an urgent issue being given increasing attention by most Chinese cities.

According to domestic experts, in the 21st century, China's cities will be modernized to give citizens economic, social and environmental benefits, which must rely on the sustainable development of a city.

Chinese cities began their rapid growth in the late 1970s due to the reform and opening up policies, say the e

Railways on track for record festival
The Ministry of Railways is preparing to transport a record number of people during next year's spring festival to celebrate the lunar New Year.

About 130 million people are expected to travel by train for the festival, which is a traditional time for family reunions.

The number is about 3 million more than during the same period last year, said ministry sources.

The lunar New Year falls on February 12 next year.

The transport ministry have officially defined the 15 d

China Publishes Wildlife, Plant Protection List
The State Forestry Administration of China announced a new list of wildlife and plants under key state protection Tuesday.

Giant pandas, considered as one of the most endangered animal species in the world, with most of which roaming in the wild of west China's Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces, is placed at the top of the protection list.

Next come crested ibises, tigers, golden monkeys, Tibetan antelope and Yangtze alligators on the list.

The protection list also includ

Protection of the Eco-System a Priority in China
China announced Tuesday that protection of the eco-systems of forests, deserts and wetlands are priorities in the country's drive to protect its natural legacy during the next 50 years.

More nature reserves will be built and about one fifth of the country is to be turned into a haven for wildlife and plants.

An official with the State Forestry Administration said that 58 new nature reserves are to be set up, while work on the existing 72 nature reserves will be increased, so that t

Intn'l Symposium on Protection of Folk Culture Held
A symposium to promote the legal aspects of the protection of folk and traditional culture in China, and to strengthen international cooperation in the field was held here Tuesday.

The symposium was co-sponsored by the Ministry of Culture (MOC)of China, the Education, Science, Culture and Health Committee (ESCHC) of the National People's Congress (NPC) of China, and the State Administration of Cultural Heritage.

Vice minister of Culture Meng Xiaosi said at the opening ceremony that

Jordanian King Meets Chinese FM Over Ties, Mideast Situation
Jordanian King Abdullah Bin Hussein on Monday met with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan over further promoting bilateral ties and the latest development in the Middle East. During the meeting, Tang said China and Jordan had conducted effective and fruitful cooperation in political, economic and cultural fields and had been supporting and coordinating with each other on international issues since they established diplomatic ties over two decades ago. Tang said he believed the Sino-J

Indian Army Cancels Leave for Soldiers on Pakistan Border
The Indian army Monday cancelled all leave for soldiers stationed along the country's western border with Pakistan and even asked some of those on holiday to report back to work. "There is no question of issuing any leave to soldiers at a time like this when there is phenomenal troop mobilisation on the Pakistani side of our shared border," said a senior army commander who did not want to be named. "It is true that we have asked some soldiers on holiday to drop everything and rejoin their units

Chinese Urbanites Celebrate Christmas Featuring Eastern, Western Styles
Church in Guangzhou Christmas Eve in Beijing was frosty minus-10 degrees Celsius, but a queue stretching for 100 meters stood patiently outside a church, waiting for permission to get into the sanctuary. Sources with south China's Guangdong province said that in Dongshan Church, in the capital city Guangzhou, five choirs made up of 200 people sang Christmas carols in turns till 10 p.m. Monday. Close to 3,000 people came to the church, which was packed full with people standing in the aisles. Dra

Northeast China City Opens Major Museum
A major museum opened Thursday in Jinzhou, a coastal city in Liaoning Province, to exhibit ancient cultural relics and to show the customs and traditions of ethnic groups in northeast China.

Construction of the 15,000 square meter museum, began in April2000 and was completed in November this year, and includes 8,000 square meters of floor space. The display area for the collectionis divided into six different sections.

The museum has a collection of nearly 10,000 cultural relics an

5,500 Animals Cared to Be Healthy in Frigid Winter
As human beings were bored by the widespread flu in the capital's frigid winter, over 450 varieties of 5,500 animals in the Beijing Zoo, China's largest, still remained healthy, thanks for timely measures against coldness.

Sources from the zoo said the snake family is the most sensitive species to coldness. Therefore, the indoor temperature are always at 25 degrees Centigrade.

In the five snake showcases, 150 different varieties of vipers including green bamboo snakes, cobras and c

Renovation of Old Beijing City Wall Begins
The renovation project of Beijing's city wall built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) commenced Saturday.

This is one of two Ming Dynasty city walls in Beijing and the 1,600 meter section under repair stretches from Dongbianmen to Chongwenwen. It is badly damaged as it has not been repaired for many years.

Jia Qinglin, secretary of the Beijing Municipal Committee of the Communist Party of China, and Liu Qi, mayor of Beijing, have been to the city wall for spot checks on many occasion

Beijing to Restore Ritual of Beating Drum, Bell
The grand ritual of beating drum and bell at dusk and at dawn will be resumed on the last day of the year in this Chinese capital, since this imperial tradition in the Ming and Qing dynasties discontinued for more than a century.

At the time, the 25 huge drums made after the model of the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911) and the gigantic bronze bell founded in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644) will be beaten to greet the New Year.

According to historical records, both the drums and the bell were

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