Lanzhou City on the big screen

A video exhibiting the charming culture of Lanzhou City will be broadcast on the mega screen of the "Crossroads of the World" -- New York Times Square. The video is produced by the News Office of Lanzhou City Government, and is titled "Golden Lanzhou, the City of the Yellow River". 

#LanzhouCity is proud to share the city's image and culture with the world at this very special time, when the People's Republic of China celebrates its 70th anniversary and embarks on its path to pursue new achievements and communicate more with the world for peace and hope. Following its nation's footsteps, Lanzhou City is trying its best to protect Oriental culture as well as develop itself.


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New ports of call in Europe for Viking cruises

VIKING cruises today announced the addition of two new itineraries and a variety of new pre- and post-cruise extensions to its river cruise offerings for 2019. 

Debuting in March 2019, the new 10-day Holland & Belgium itinerary will sail between Amsterdam and Antwerp, allowing guests to explore the inland waterways of the Low Countries and visit new ports of call for Viking: Rotterdam, Maastricht and Nijmegen.

Also, in commemoration of World War II and D-Day, Viking will offer a new 11-day cruisetour, Paris & D-Day 75th Anniversary, with two special departures that coincide with the June 6, 2019 anniversary. On this historic journey, guests will travel from London to the maritime city of Portsmouth before boarding their ship in Paris and sailing through Normandy, where they will visit and honor D-Day landing sites.


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Remembering the past

THE Museum of Jewish Heritage – A Living Memorial to the Holocaust today announced plans to present the most comprehensive Holocaust exhibition about Auschwitz ever exhibited in North America. Auschwitz. Not long ago. Not far away. is produced in partnership with the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum in Poland and the international exhibition firm Musealia. The groundbreaking exhibition will open in New York City on May 8, 2019 and run through January 3, 2020.

The exhibition's opening on May 8 marks the anniversary of VE Day or Victory in Europe Day, 1945, when the Allies celebrated Nazi Germany's surrender of its armed forces and the end of World War II.

One of the most visited exhibitions in Europe last year. The exhibition explores the dual identity of the camp as a physical location—the largest documented mass murder site in human history—and as a symbol of the borderless manifestation of hatred and human barbarity.

Featuring more than 700 original objects and 400 photographs, the New York presentation of the exhibition will allow visitors to experience artifacts from the Auschwitz-Birkenau State Museum on view for the first time in the North America, including hundreds of personal items—such as suitcases, eyeglasses, and shoes—that belonged to survivors and victims of Auschwitz. 

Other artifacts include concrete posts that were part of the fence of the Auschwitz camp; fragments of an original barrack for prisoners from the Auschwitz III-Monowitz camp; a desk and other possessions of the first and the longest serving Auschwitz commandant Rudolf Höss; a gas mask used by the SS; Picasso's Lithograph of Prisoner; and an original German-made Model 2 freight wagon used for the deportation of Jews to the ghettos and extermination camps in occupied Poland.

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British Airways to go retro to celebrate 100th birthday

AS part of its 100-year birthday, British Airways has today announced it will be painting four of its aircraft in much-loved retro designs from across its past, with the first confirmed as a Boeing 747 in a British Overseas Airways Corporation (BOAC) design. 

The livery from the 1964 – 1974 BOAC era will adorn a B747, reg: G-BYGC. The aircraft will leave the paint shop in Dublin and arrive in to Heathrow on February 18, before entering service the following day. 

This coincides with the 50th anniversary of the first Boeing 747 flight only a few days earlier. The BOAC 747 will be followed by three other aircraft which will all have different retro liveries, with details being revealed in due course. All four aircraft will fly British Airways’ routes, proudly showcasing some of the popular designs as part of the airline’s centenary celebrations.

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Picture Credit: British Airways press release

Celebrate in the Kings playground

KNOWN as the playground of the Kings of France, and remembered as the cradle of the French Renaissance, the #LoireValley will shine even brighter in 2019. The UNESCO World Heritage region will be celebrating the 500th Anniversary of the French Renaissance, which coincides with the anniversary of Leonardo da Vinci's death in #France. 

During the first year of Francois Ier's reign in 1515, and following his victory at Marignano, the French King met Leonardo Da Vinci. Awed by the genius, and by Italy's artistic and architectural renewal, France's great Renaissance king invited the artist to live in France. In 1516 (with the Mona Lisa, The Virgin and child with St. Anne and St. John the Baptist, all now at the Louvre Museum), Leonardo left Rome for Royal Amboise, settling at the Château du Clos Lucé, where he spent the last three years of his life.

The building of majestic Chateau de Chambord, whose staircase and design was inspired by Da Vinci's ideal city, began in 1519. This inspired later Renaissance gems like Chenonceau--of Catherine de Medici fame, Azay-le-Rideau, Valençay and Villandry. The program of events will include a large traveling digital show, an international architecture competition, banquets, and a wealth of exhibitions, including a virtual exhibit of Leonardo's 17 masterpieces at the Chateau du Clos Lucé. 


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Anniversary of the D-Day Landings

FRANCE is always an exciting destination and June 5 and 6, 2019 will mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Landings and the launch of the crucial Battle of Normandy, which paved the way for Europe's liberation and the end of WWII. 

The anniversary will also include military parades, fireworks, giant picnics, concerts, airdrops, and of course, a great international ceremony attended by the Allied heads of state on June 6.

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A holiday tradition not to be missed

HAILED as a “venerable holiday tradition” performed with “an exultant spirit that came from the heart” by The Chicago Tribune, The Apollo Chorus' rendition of Händel’s Messiah has been performed every December since 1879—a track record unmatched by other choral organizations.

One of the most renowned musical organizations in the nation, The Apollo Chorus of Chicago, celebrates the 139th anniversary of its annual presentation of Händel’s Messiah with two performances on Saturday, December 15 at 7:00 p.m. and Sunday, December 16 at 2:00 p.m. at the Harris Theater for Music & Dance, 205 E. Randolph Dr., #Chicago.



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The Somerset Poppies

AT the Bishop's Palace in Wells an installation has literally popped up on the Croquet lawn. Featuring over 8000 poppies made by children at schools in and around Wells, Somerset. Each poppy will represent a serviceman from Somerset, or who served in a Somerset regiment, who lost his life in World War One.

Poppies can be pre-ordered for £5 at www.somersetpoppies.co.uk. All proceeds will be donated to the Wells branch of the Royal British Legion, and SSAFA, the armed forces charity.

The exhibition (11th - 25th November) is free to view.




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Picture Credit: Angela Suter

Up in the air . . .

ETIHAD Airways, the national airline of the UAE, is introducing Economy Space, a new seating option across its wide-body fleet, to enhance its product offering and to provide more choice to its customers on longer flights. By December 2018, Etihad Airways will have retrofitted its 10 Airbus A380s with Economy Space seats, which feature an increased seat pitch of up to 36 inches. The redesign increases the number of extra legroom seats in Economy from 20 to 80 on this aircraft type.

KOREAN Air celebrated the 30th anniversary of its first scheduled service between Canada and South Korea, by holding events at the Vancouver and Toronto airports on 2 November. Korean Air launched its scheduled service to Canada on November 2, 1988, with the DC-10 passenger jetliner flying the Seoul-Vancouver-Toronto route twice a week. After international exchanges and cooperation between the two nations improved, Korean Air then split the route into Vancouver and Toronto services in December 1995. The two regular services from Incheon to Vancouver and Toronto have contributed to the economic development and movement of people and supplies between Canada and South Korea.   


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Celebrate with The Ghan in 2019

2019 marks 90 years since The Ghan embarked on its inaugural journey cementing its place in Australian history and its reputation as one of the world’s best train journeys. To celebrate this momentous occasion you can travel in The Ghan’s 90th year and be part of the birthday celebrations. With a dedicated anniversary train, 90 days of celebrations and six signature packages featuring The Ghan.

For a truly memorable experience, board The 90th Anniversary Train, which will depart Adelaide for Darwin on 4 August 2019 – 90 years to the day since the original ‘Afghan Express’ left for Alice Springs. This one-off journey will include unique on-train experiences and off train excursions, plus a birthday party like no other in the outback.

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Picture Credit: By Roderick Eime from Australia - The Ghan, commons.wikimedia.org 66107221

Up in the air . . . Thai Airways

THAI Airways International Public Company Limited (THAI) celebrated 30 year of flights to Nagoya, Japan with a reception based on the theme “the World is Always New with THAI,” . Over the past 30 years that THAI has operated flights to and from Nagoya, passenger traffic has increased substantially and on a regular basis. 

Presently, THAI operates 14 round trip flights per week from Bangkok-Nagoya with Boeing 787-8 and Boeing 777-300ER aircraft. THAI operates all flights with touches of Thai culture and tradition, an excellence that has received recognition with three Skytrax Awards: World’s Best Economy Class, World’s Best Airline Lounge Spa, and Best Economy Class On-board Catering.



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Celebrating 40 years of rafting the Franklin River

TASMANIAN Expeditions has launched an exclusive World Heritage Franklin River Rafting adventure led by conservationist Geoff Law in January 2019, to mark the 40th anniversary of the first commercial rafting expedition down the iconic river. 

In January 2019, Geoff Law, will lead an exclusive 40th anniversary World Heritage Franklin River Rafting adventure for Tasmanian Expeditions. It is a unique opportunity to experience the unique World Heritage protected river and the surrounding wilderness with someone who is a major part of this river’s history.

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Iconic Peak Tram celebrates 130 years

HONG KONG'S Peak Tram celebrated its 130th anniversary on 30 May 2018. To mark the occasion, The Peak Tramways Company, Limited has released five historic images of The Peak Tram carriages from years gone by. The brainchild of Scottish entrepreneur Mr Alexander Findlay Smith, The Peak Tram was the first cable funicular railway in Asia, built primarily to help increase trade to Mr Smith’s hotel which stood at the top of The Peak. 

Despite the Governor’s reservations about the need for a tram service up to The Peak, the tram was a popular attraction from the moment it opened. On its first day alone, 600 people rode The Peak Tram, and within its first year it carried 150,000 passengers – almost all of Hong Kong’s total population at the time.

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10 years of luxurious expedition

SILVERSEA Expeditions proudly celebrated 10 years of luxurious #expedition #cruising on June 3, marking the occasion with a two-day gala voyage between London and Dublin. On this momentous day, the ultra-luxury Silver Cloud departed London’s Tower Bridge amid great elation to honour Silversea Expeditions’ very first voyage, which sailed under Tower Bridge for Svalbard a decade ago to the day.

In a testament to the company’s continued focus on innovation, Silver Cloud, which was the first vessel in Silversea’s fleet and was reimagined as an elegant ice-class expedition ship in late 2017, crossed paths with Silver Spirit – Silversea’s recently lengthened and renovated ship – in Greenwich, London. 

The array of enrichments aboard Silver Cloud’s celebratory voyage included a congratulatory video message from HSH Albert II, Sovereign Prince of Monaco, who had cut the ribbon in Monte Carlo during the naming ceremony for Silversea’s first expedition ship in 2008. Originally named Prince Albert II in tribute to His Serene Highness and his environmental efforts, the ship sails today as Silver Explorer and continues a legacy of sustainable tourism.

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Shining brighter than ever

VIVID Sydney has kicked off its 10th-anniversary celebrations in style, with more than 330,000 Vivid Light Walk attendees turning out for the opening weekend (Friday, Saturday and Sunday) of the world’s largest festival of light, music and ideas. 

Weekends are by far the busiest time to see the lights and people are reminded that from tonight through until Sunday night there will be a one-way walking route in place on the Light Walk, so it’s important to plan ahead and be patient. 

Since launching the 2018 festival program, VividSydney.com has had more than a million visitors, the app has been downloaded almost 30,000 times and visitors are spreading the joy on social media. More than 13,000 people have already used the VividSydney hashtag and over 10,000 have shared incredible images and videos from the festival across Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. 

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Picture Credit: Gunn Shots Vivid Sydney  via photopin

A new beginning for an iconic show under the Big Top in 2019

CIRQUE du Soleil has announced that #Alegría, one of its most iconic shows, will return to celebrate its 25th anniversary. Staying true to the essence of the original creation, Alegría will retain its unique spirit of joy and optimism for which it was renowned around the globe.  

Cirque du Soleil first presented Alegría in April 1994, a production destined to change the history of the company, an emblematic show that was to win over more than 14 million spectators. Under the traditional Big Top and in its arena version, Alegría visited 255 cities around the world in its 19 years of touring before finally bidding audiences farewell on December 29, 2013 in Antwerp, Belgium. 

The classic power struggle of old meets new is reinterpreted for today’s cultural pulse. Alegría translates from Spanish to ‘happiness and joy’. High energy acrobatics and progressive visions of youth collide with traditional aristocratic perspectives to slay old notions, rise with wisdom, and propel forward with no holding back.

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Cruising for 145 years

HOLLAND America Line celebrated its 145th anniversary on April 18, 2018, marking its place in history as one of the most experienced cruise lines in the world. What started as shipping and passenger line Netherlands-American Steamship Company in 1873, is today an award-winning premium cruise line taking guests to more than 400 ports around the world, sailing on all seven continents. 

Within 25 years of its founding, the company owned a fleet of six cargo and passenger ships and operated between Holland and the Dutch East Indies. Because it was headquartered in Rotterdam and provided service to the Americas, over time the company became known as Holland America Line.

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Party for the Planet

DISNEY'S Animal Kingdom will mark its 20th anniversary on Earth Day, April 22, with more wild adventures than ever before.  Commemorating the milestone year, the 500-acre adventure park will offer animal encounters, family-friendly activities, specialty desserts and more during an expanded Party for the Planet celebration April 22-May 5.

Over the two-week “Party for the Planet” celebration, guests can attend conservation talks by animal-care experts and participate in enhanced interactions with some of the more than 2,000 animals that make their home at the Association of Zoos and Aquariums-accredited park.

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Smurfed in Belgium

SMURFS in the sky... On 24 March, Brussels Airlines will present its fifth iconic aircraft in the colours of Belgium and the #Smurfs our little blue friends will feature on the fuselage of a Brussels Airlines Airbus A320. 

SMURFS in the city!  . . . On 17 May, a Smurf fresco will be unveiled near the Central Station.

www.smurfexperience.com

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On the rails . . .

VIRGIN Trains has named one of its trains after one of Scotland’s most famous cultural icons in celebration of its role in serving #Glasgow.

The Charles Rennie Mackintosh Express will depart Scotland’s biggest city today (Monday, March 19) in support of Mackintosh 150, a year-long programme of events throughout 2018 celebrating the 150th anniversary of the birth of Glasgow’s renowned artist, architect and designer.

The 390008 Pendolino train is adorned with Mackintosh’s trademark moustache on the front and his name displayed in his own lettering on plaques on either side.

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