Qingdao coasts to sail-city status
Oct. 22, 2007 - Life in Qingdao is leisurely - drinking beer, enjoying the local seafood and bathing in the sea. A day can be passed very pleasantly just wandering through this attractive coastal city. Long described as the "Oriental Switzerland" due to its abundance of European architecture, Qingdao is now transforming itself into the Olympic sailing city. (Click title for full story.)

Beijing airport provides express channel for tour groups Xinhua News Agency October 17, 2007
Tour groups leaving China from Beijing Capital International Airport can save time following the establishment of an express channel. The service is open to groups of 25 passengers or more and is designed to reduce the time from checkout to boarding gate to three minutes. Each of the group passengers will need to fill out an application form in advance and the passenger service center staff will help the group make preparations and go through all necessary procedures. The application form is available in the airport and on the homepage of Beijing Capital International Airport, and passengers can also apply by telephone, fax or email.

Man, 76, walking from Lanzhou to HK
He has been on the road for 11 years; his hiking adventures have taken him three times to Lop Nor, known as the "Sea of Death" in northwest Xinjiang and Danggula Mountains in Tibet. Now the 76-year-old Li Dong is taking a short break in Shenzhen before he heads for the final destination in his latest journey, a 3,200-kilometer hiking trip from Lanzhou in Gansu Province to Hong Kong.

Xinjiang to build world's largest national park Oct. 14, 2007

Air China to launch direct route linking Beijing, Athens
Xinhua Oct 14, 2007 - Air China will launch a direct route linking Beijing and Athens via a stopover in Dubai on November 28, which is also the first direct flight between China and Greece. The flight No. CA943 will depart from Beijing at 8:40 p.m. on Wednesdays and Sundays, and arrive in Dubai at 1:10 a.m. After one and half an hour's stop, the aircraft will continue its journey to Athens, arriving at 5:50 a.m. The flight No. CA944 will take off at 9:30 a.m. on Mondays and Thursdays and reach Beijing at 5:20 a.m. the next morning. This route came as cooperation between the two countries is becoming more frequent on sports, culture and tourism in the run-up to the Olympics, Air China sources said.

China to readjust holidays Oct. 9, 2007
The morning at the Summer Palace - photo by MYLH on Oct. 9, 2007
Forbidden City resorts to e-ticketing to cap visitors Oct. 9, 2007
China's southern province of Hainan plans to open non-stop flight routes to Russian cities of New Siberia, Vladivostok and Habarovsk by the end of the year as the scenic island is attracting an increasing number of Russian tourists. Oct. 5, 2007

Beijing sees 300,000 tourists on first day of National Day holiday Oct. 2, 2007 American Airlines to launch Chicago-Beijing route, Oct. 2, 2007 American Airlines said on Monday that it was awarded by the U.S. government the tentative right to begin service between Chicago O'Hare International Airport and Beijing, China, beginning in March 2009.

US Approves 6 New Flight Routes to China Sep. 27, 2007
Complaint Call Number for Tourists During October Long Holiday Sep. 28, 2007
China's lunar satellite launch open to tourists Sep. 26, 2007

Mooncakes acquire networking flavor
Sep. 24, 2007 - Mooncakes, a traditional delicacy gifted to families and friends during the Mid-Autumn Festival, have become an important ingredient in maintaining business and work relations. With the festival falling tomorrow, the reception areas of almost every office building are overflowing with boxes of mooncakes.The traditional festival has become a Chinese Christmas of sorts, topping other occasions for giving or receiving gifts.

Fresh brew at Starbucks site in Forbidden City
Sept. 23, 2007- A new cafe has opened in Beijing's world-famous Forbidden City where Starbucks once had a controversial outlet that was shut down amid media criticism two months ago, the Beijing Daily reported on Friday. "There is an essential difference between the new shop and the former one. It's owned by the Forbidden City museum," Li Wenru, the deputy curator of the Palace Museum in the Forbidden City, told the newspaper. The new shop bears the name Forbidden City Cafe.

Huangshan Aims for More Overseas Tourists
Sep. 15, 2007 - Huangshan, a scenic city in east China famous for its imposing Huangshan Mountain, has announced a project to expand its air terminal with 40 million yuan, aiming to attract more tourists via charter flights.

Two Bodies of Russian Tourists Found
September 15, 2007 - 1Urumqi - Rescuers have found two bodies of the six Russian canoeists who had been missing in Northwest China's Xinjiang since.

Beijing Studios Now Open for Tours
China Daily via Beijing Weekend September 4, 2007 - Feiteng Film Base - the location of more than 100 film and TV drama shoots over the past ten years -- is now open to tourists. Established in 1997, the shooting base has been used for popular TV series and films by Taiwan, Hong Kong and Chinese mainland film producers. Many of the productions made here are well-known to the Chinese audience.

Rare Barbie dolls to tour 7 Chinese cities
Sept.5, 2007 Xinhua - A yearlong itinerant show featuring 1,000 precious Barbie dolls since their creation in 1959 will be kicked off next January to cover seven Chinese cities including Shanghai and Beijing, an organizer said here on Wednesday.

Mount Qomolangma receives 25,000 visitors in first six months
Aug. 31, 2007 -Mount Qomolangma, the world's tallest peak, received 25,000 visitors in the first six months of this year, said tourism authorities in southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region.

Offical tells tourists Tibet is open in winter
A leading tourism official in Tibet says he wants to change the perception that Tibet is "closed" to tourists in winter so more visitors can see the region's attractions in off-season.(Click title for full report.)

Emirates Airline to Double Flights to Shanghai
Xinhua News, August 24, 2007 - The Dubai-based Emirates Airline will launch an addition daily flight linking Dubai and Shanghai from Feb. 1, 2008, Emirates News Agency reported on Thursday. The airline's second daily flight to Shanghai will be served by the wide-bodied Airbus A340-300s with 267 seats in a three-class configuration, offering 13 tons of cargo capacity. On Tuesdays, the service will be operated by an Airbus A330-200 with 237 seats.

China National Tourist Office opens in India
Aug. 21, 2007 - China National Tourism Administration (CNTA) and Indian Tourism and Culture Ministry jointly hosted the inauguration of the China National Tourist Office opening in New Delhi Monday night. It is the official Chinese tourist office affiliated to CNTA with a responsibility to promote China as a tourist destination in the growing Indian outbound travel market. (Click title of this news for full report from Chinaview.cn)

The winning families of the "Olympic Families Tour Beijing" contest tour the Forbidden City in Beijing.

Tibetan Kangba Art Festival
July 27, 2007 - A man wears a mask during the Tibetan Kangba Art Festival in Yushu county, northwest China's Qinghai province July 25, 2007. The five-day art festival provides visitors with folk performances, costume displays and horse racings, local media reported. (Click the title of this news for photo and report.)

Body of Renowned US Climber Found in Sichuan
Xinhua News, July 23, 2007 - The body of Christine Boskoff, a renowned US climber, has been found on a remote mountain in southwest China's Sichuan Province, said local mountaineering association official on Monday. Chinese rescuers resumed the search for Boskoff in the Genyen Mountain this month after snow melted, and found her body near the site where the body of fellow climber Charlie Fowler was found in Dec.. Boskoff, 39, and Fowler, 52, disappeared in November. Boskoff was among the world's leading high-altitude women climbers and had ascended six of the world's peaks over 7,800 meters, including Mt. Qomolangma (Mt. Everest).

Old Shops to Reopen on Qianmen Street
Chinanews July 22, 2007 - The famous old style Qianmen Street in Beijing will be reopened in October. It is said that the 13 famous shops of long standing originality lining the street will resume their business. The 200 new shops will be located on both sides of the street, covering nearly 70,000 sq m, including restaurants, retailers and shops providing other services. The invitation will last till the beginning of September. The places of the 13 long-standing shops have already been reserved. The administration are planning to invite some international enterprises to open their business here. The buildings along the street will be restored to their original look in the 1920s and 1930s. The five traditional ceremonial archways on the street will be rebuilt. The street will be paved with slabs, and streetcars will be put in use again on the new Qianmen Street.

Magical Inner Mongolia Beckons Tourists
July 19, 2007 - The Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, with its varied attractions, presents an exciting and memorable getaway for tourists. The region contains almost everything that an urban tourist's heart may desire: stunning grasslands, the Gobi desert, the Mongolian way of life, and energetic unique folk pastimes such as horse and camel riding, Mongolian wrestling, archery, rodeo competitions, and singing and dancing. (Click the title of this news for full report.)

Guilin Scenery, Finest Under Heaven
Guilin is one of China's most picturesque cities, with a population of 670,000, situated in the northeast of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region of the People's Republic of China on the west bank of the Lijiang River (also called the Li River). Its name means "forest of Sweet Osmanthus", owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city. Its scenery is reputed by many Chinese to be the "finest under heaven", or directly from Chinese: "the mountains and rivers in Guilin are the number one under the heaven." (Click the title of this news for picture show.)

Scenery of Siguniang Mountain
July 19, 2007 - Siguniang (Four Girls) Mountains Scenic Area is situated in Xiaojin County of the Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province, China. The area consists of Mt. Siguniang, Mt. Balang and Changping, Haizi, Shuangqiao valleys, covering an area of 2,000 sq km. Featuring primitive ecological condition and exquisite scenery, the area is reputed to be the Queen of Sichuan's Mountains and the Oriental Alps Mountain. It is also a center of attention for scientists. (Click for picture show.)

Downpour strands thousands at Chongqing airport
July 17, 2007 - A downpour with roaring thunders battered southwest China's Chongqing Municipality on Tuesday, stranding more than 5,000 passengers at the local airport. Thundershowers started to blow on the mountainous city early Tuesday morning, and precipitation in the downtown area reached 200 millimeters. (Click the title of this news for full report.)

China's craft master has many fans
July 17, 2007 - Owning an exquisitely handmade folding fan, especially one featuring refined paintings and calligraphy by famed literati, was a status symbol in ancient times. Today, a small population of fan fanatics still cherishes this tradition. And members of this clique flood the home of 75-year-old fan-making master Xu Yilin, in the Taohuawu area of Suzhou, in East China's Jiangsu Province.(Click the title of this news for full report.)

Palace chief: Potala Palace well preserved
Xinhua News, July 16, 2007 - The director of the Potala Palace, when responding to the concern of UNESCO about Potala Palace, said: "Potala Palace has so far enjoyed first-class preservation." UNESCO disagrees and has expressed concern at the palace becoming increasingly hemmed in by nondescript modern Chinese buildings. (Click the title of this news for full report.)

Hotels Told to Keep Temperatures No Lower Than 26 C
Xinhua, July 16, 2007 - China has ordered hotels in the capital not to reduce the temperature in air-conditioned rooms to less than 26 degrees Celsius in summer and not to heat them over 20 degrees in winter to save energy. The order comes just a month after the State Council said room temperatures in air-conditioned public buildings should be set at no less than 26 degrees Celsius, to save energy during the electricity demand peak in summer. (Click for full report.)

International Beach Festival to Open in Dalian
July 10, 2007 - An international beach festival will open in the coastal city of Dalian in northeast China's Liaoning Province on July 15. The festival will last until August 18 (Click for pictures and report.)

An Oasis at Shichahai of Beijing City
July 9, 2007 - Strolling through Shichahai, it's hard to believe you are in the middle of a bustling metropolis.Whether you're out for your daily walk or you want a serene place to share a drink with a friend, you will leave Shichahai feeling content. (Click for full report.)

Guangzhou-Yangon Flight to Open
July 5, 2007 - The China Southern Airlines Monday opened an air route from Guangzhou to Yangon, bringing the total number of air links between China and Myanmar to three. Becoming the third Chinese airline that flies Yangon using 120-seat Airbus A-319, the China Southern Airlines will have regular flights three days a week -- Monday, Wednesday and Saturday after a 30-day promotion period, officials of the airline said....

Transport bottleneck curbs tourism along Silk Road
July 4, 2007 - It was once the main route for goods and people across Asia and into Europe, but international experts in development are now lamenting the inadequate transport links on the centuries-old Silk Road. The lack of sufficient transport between China and Central Asia, especially air links, has become an obstacle to tourism development along the Silk Road, according to the United Nations Development Program. (Click for full report on ChinaView..cn)

Hiding in the Mountains
June 25, 2007 - Summer may well be the worst season in Beijing, when the weather is so sweltering that even the air you breathe sears your throat. It may be difficult to decide whether to leave the comfort of an air-conditioned room and to step into the strong sunshine and endure soulless skyscrapers, seemingly endless traffic jams, jammed buses and the short tempers which make the day intolerable...

Flights Added to China-Japan Route
China Daily June 26, 2007 - Additional daily passenger charter flights between China and Japan will commence in October, civil aviation officials announced Monday. There are to be two exchange flights between Haneda airport and Hongqiao airport every day.

China's First National Park Unveiled in Shangri-La
June 22, 2007 - Shangri-La, famed as one of China's most naturally beautiful areas, now has the added honor of holding China's first national park, the 2,000-square-km Potatso National Park which was inaugurated on Thursday in Yunnan Province. (Click for full report.)

Qinghai-Tibet Train Provides Translation Service
The Qinghai-Tibet Railway Company has hired 16 Tibetan and English translators as many passengers come from Tibet and abroad, according to the Ministry of Railways. Every service has been equipped with one Tibetan and one English translator to create an "obstacle-free" communication environment for passengers, said the ministry. The translators would be paid around 3,000 yuan (US$390) a month, said an official with the company.

Air Canada Expands Service to China in July
June 18, 2007 Xinhua News - Air Canada will double its daily Beijing-Vancouver service and increase its Shanghai-Toronto non-stop flights in July, the carrier's Beijing Office said on Sunday. The added Beijing-Vancouver daily flight will operate between July 2 and October 1, using a 211-seat Boeing 767-300 plane. Effective on July 1, The Shanghai-Toronto service will increase to daily service starting for the summer peak and continue as a three-day-a-week service for the 2007-2008-winter schedule.

China S. Airlines to Open New Route to Fukuoka

June 18, 2007 - China Southern Airlines, the nation's largest carrier by fleet size, will on Friday launch a new service from the northeastern city of Changchun to Fukuoka in Japan.The new Airbus A319 service will depart Changchun Monday and Friday at 8:20 a.m., arriving in Fukuoka the same day at 12:00 a.m. local time. Return flights will operate on Monday and Friday afternoons, according to sources with the Jilin branch of China Southern. China Southern runs direct international services between Changchun and three Japanese cities of Tokyo, Sendai and Nagoya.

"Beijing Week" to be staged in Moscow
Xinhua, June 15 - China will stage a "Beijing Week" in Moscow from June 27 to 30 amid a series of regional cooperation programs marking the "Year of China" in Russia. The Beijing municipal government would send a delegation of more than 300 headed by mayor Wang Qishan and vice mayor Lu Hao --the largest ever in Beijing's history, Yang Liuyin, director of the Beijing Municipal Foreign Affairs Office, told a news conference on Thursday. The event will help push the friendly ties between Beijing and Moscow and between China and Russia.(Click for full report.)