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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Chinese New Year to boost UK visitor figures

FORWARD flight booking data showed that bookings from China to the UK were up 24% from Wednesday 30 January to Tuesday 12 February, compared to the period when Chinese New Year fell last year. Longer term forward booking data shows that bookings from China to the UK were up 31% from January to June this year compared to the same period in 2018.

Chinese New Year is a prime time to travel for the Chinese and the UK is gearing up to host some of the largest celebrations outside of Asia. Events include three days of celebrations in Liverpool, parades in Manchester, festivals and performances in Birmingham and Leeds to a street parade from Charing Cross to Chinatown in London and the first ever Chinese New Year festival in Edinburgh.

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Engaging in rural tourism

CHINA has been encouraging poor villages to develop tourism by providing them with subsidies. In 2007, the number of tourist visits to rural areas exceeded 2.5 billion, benefiting 9 million rural households. 17.5 percent of the people who have risen above the poverty line have done so through engaging in rural tourism.

51 year old Chang Ying is a resident of a remote desert village in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region. He has three daughters, and had almost no source of income. Opportunities came in the summer of 2014 when a tourism company came to invest and turned the desert land into a scenic spot where villagers like Chang can make money by offering tourists horse or camel rides.

It turned out that the revenue from one horse could reach 700 to 800 yuan a day. Apart from that incentive, each poor household is eligible for a subsidized loan of up to 50,000 yuan with which they joined the operation of the scenic spot and get a yearly dividend of 5000 yuan. This policy has helped to greatly improve the life of poor households.


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Solo Sojourn on the Yangtze River

CHINA'S landscapes are vast, its history and monuments epic. Complex and energetic – this is a country which must be experienced at least once in a lifetime. And the Yangtze River, the world’s third longest river at 6,280 kilometres (3,900 miles), is its symbolic lifeline. Flowing from Tibet to Shanghai and cutting through the dramatic mountains of the Yangtze River basin, the river’s fortunes are inextricably entwined with those of the country itself. 

Historically, the Yangtze served as a divider between northern and southern China, a natural barrier against invaders, and a waterway for transport and commerce. Today, the river basin is the country’s heartland, home to 500 million people – a tenth of the world’s population. One of the best ways to experience the #Yangtze is by #boat. And the luxuriously appointed Sanctuary Yangzi Explorer is hard to beat. 

Exploring the very best stretches of this immense waterway, this elegant vessel introduces a new standard of cruising in #China. More intimate and luxurious, with the largest cabins and suites on the river, all with private balconies and floor to ceiling picture windows, as well as the highest crew to passenger ratio on the river of 1:1, the atmosphere is more private club than cruise ship. 

www.sanctuaryretreats.com

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Lucky Thirteen: Paris to Fuzhou

XIAMEN Airlines, voted China's "Best Airlines" for its extraordinary aviation service for 6 consecutive years since 2012, is officially launching its new direct flight between Paris and Fuzhou on Dec. 11th, 2018. The opening of this new route will provide unique experiences for passengers.

The Paris – Fuzhou route operates three times a week every Tuesday, Thursday and Sunday, 13 hours and 25 minutes one way. It departs from Paris at 13:30 (GMT+8) and arrives at Fuzhou around 07:30 the next morning; the returning flight departs at 00:30 from Fuzhou Changle International Airport (FOC) and reaches Paris at 06:55.

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144 hours in Shandong Province

STARTING January 1, 2019, five Chinese cities -- Xiamen, Qingdao, Wuhan, Chengdu and Kunming -- will implement a 144-hour (6 day) transit visa exemption policy for non-Chinese citizens who are transiting through the five cities, giving them more time and opportunities to get a taste of the hospitality that Shandong province is known for and experience some of its folk customs. How does one travel in Shandong in 144 hours? The Information Office of the People's Government of Shandong Province has put together some recommendations.

A three-day trip throughout the province's coastal regions
Stop 1: Qingdao

The old city of Qingdao is a place that every traveler to China has heard about and wants to visit. Badaguan, a.k.a. the Expo of World Architecture in China, features a multiplicity of architectural styles, giving visitors the opportunity to feel the romance of the historical locale.

Stop 2: Yantai

The seaside city of Yantai has a distinctly different feel from Qingdao. Yantai Mountain is the region's landmark and a scenic spot replete with beautiful scenery and oddly-shaped rocks. The nearby city of Penglai has a long, historical association with the Taoist legend of the Eight Immortals Crossing the Sea, imbuing visitors with a sense of being in a wonderland.

Stop 3: Weihai

Every winter in Yandunjiao, travelers can observe the thousands of whooper swans that spend the winter here. Lights from the fishing boats, seaweed cottages and country roads form a dream-like world reminiscent of what one might only see in an oil painting.

A three-day tour of the inland regions
Stop 1: A fantasy journey to Tai'erzhuang

During the visit in Tai'erzhuang, a water town nestled in a landscape that is typical of the region that lies on the north side of the Yangtze River at the point where Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces meet, you can make your entrance into the ancient city on the deck of a black-awning boat to take in the ancient Huizhou buildings and the architecture that is emblematic of the region.

Stop 2: Mount Tai

Climb to the top of Mount Tai, known as the Chief of the Five Sacred Mountains, and take in the view of all mountains in a single glance. At the top of the mountain, you can look down on the whole of the city of Tai'an.

Stop 3: Qufu, a.k.a. the Holy City of the East

If you want to understand the true meaning of the common Chinese saying, "how happy we are to meet friends from afar", a visit to Kong Family Mansion, the Temple of Confucius and Confucius Cemetery is an essential part of the journey through Shandong.

Stop 4: Jinan, the City of Springs

In Jinan, a city known for its many springs, you can enjoy the beauty and sound of bubbling water, all well stocked with many species of beautiful fish. The water that pours forth from Pearl Spring emulates the look of gorgeous pearls. The area is home to 72 famous springs, among them, Baotu Spring, Black Tiger Spring, Five Dragon Pool and Baimai Spring.


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Luxury hotel Shanghai Wonderland opens

SHANGHAI Wonderland is a luxury hotel masterfully built into the side wall of a formerly abandoned quarry in Southwestern Shanghai. Stretching 88 metres underground, the hotel was nominated as one of the architectural wonders of the world by the National Geographic Channel’s MegaStructures series due to its pioneering architectural design.

The new-build InterContinental Shanghai Wonderland combines the brand’s signature luxury with revolutionary design at a wonderfully unique location, creating an unprecedented experience. Located at Sheshan Mountain Range, this new hotel is mostly subterranean, with two floors above ground and 16 below ground, including two floors underwater. 

Individually designed to best reflect both modern elegance and the unique features of the quarry’s landscape, all 336 rooms and suites provide ample, luxury living spaces with spectacular views of waterfalls and the surrounding cliffs. 

The stunning underwater loft offers two awe-inspiring levels: the landing deck at water level houses the outdoor terrace and living room, whilst the underwater bedrooms are encased within a turquoise aquarium where guests will be surrounded by the schools of fish that swim by.

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Wuzhen Theater Festival

IN the sixth Wuzhen Theater Festival, which will be held from October 18 to 28, 2018, in addition to the list of theatrical performances specially invited to the event, represented by masters of the world theatrical and operatic, there will be an Outdoor Carnival that will be presented to more than 100 companies and performances that will perform more than 1800 works in the district of Xizha in Wuzhen during the 11 days of the event.

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Mission Yangtze milestone

BRITISH adventurer and extreme athlete Ash Dykes, from North Wales, arrived at his first major milestone during Mission Yangtze, his third world-first record attempt to walk the entire 4,000 mile length of the Yangtze river in China - one the world’s genuine and last remaining world-firsts.

After setting off in late August, Ash has completed the first 550 miles and has arrived at his first city - Yushu, situated in Qinghai province in the west of China.

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A green airport garden

WITH rapid development, Shuangliu International Airport ranks in the world's leading airports. Since its first international air route in 1987, Shuangliu International Airport has opened 109 routes, connecting five continents.

While promoting the airport economy, Shuangliu is actively building a beautiful airport and improving the level of green resources. Up to now, the green area in Shuangliu District has reached 4030.06 hectares, of which parks cover 557.47 hectares.

In the future, Shuangliu will build "Airport Flower Field Park" at Muma Mountain, it will also speed up the construction of airport greenway, carefully lay out various urban parks, green landscape and rural pastoral landscape, and form the regional ecological pattern, in a bid to ensure that the per capita park green land area will reach 16m2 by 2020.

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Hotel News from the East

RADISSON Hotel Group will be introducing its globally renowned Radisson Blu and Radisson brands to central China, with the signing of two new hotels, Radisson Blu Wuhan ETD Zone and Radisson Wuhan Optics Valley in the city’s high-tech business and development zones. 

These two hotel properties will provide high-quality accommodation and world-class facilities for the rising number of domestic and international visitors attracted to Wuhan’s economic zones. 

The capital of Hubei province, Wuhan is a bustling metropolis that is home to approximately 10 million people. Nicknamed the “Detroit of the East,” this city has one of China’s largest automotive industries and a thriving manufacturing sector, which has attracted many major Chinese and international companies.

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Chinese travellers second largest inbound market To Australia

AUSTRALIA was in the Top 10 Destinations at the 2018 ShanghaiWow Hotel and Travel Forum and Award Ceremony in Shanghai last week.

ShanghaiWow is a WeChat account with over five million followers that introduces destinations and experiences to readers.

It is the first year for the awards which combine the world's best destinations and experiences for discerning international Chinese travellers.

In 2017, China was Australia’s second largest inbound market for visitor arrivals and largest market for total spend and visitor nights.


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Welcome Back!

BANYAN Tree Jiuzhaigou is set to reopen to guests on April 28th this year following the reopening of Jiuzhaigou National Park in early March after 7 months of post-quake reconstruction efforts. A UNESCO World Heritage Site situated in the mountainous region of Southwest China's Sichuan Province, Jiuzhaigou National Park is famous for its otherworldly beauty and diverse ethnic cultures.

Opened officially in March 2017, Banyan Tree Jiuzhaigou is a picturesque mountain retreat 2,500 metres above sea level. Located 2.5 hours away from Jiuzhaigou Huanglong Airport and a 60-minute drive from Jiuzhaigou National Park, the resort allows guests easy access to the nature reserve while providing a Sanctuary for the Senses away from the hustle and bustle of city life and tourist crowds.

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A taste of the extraordinary

HONG KONG Foodie has unveiled the exciting Temple Street Night Foodie Tour. On its newest culinary adventure, Hong Kong Foodie whisks food lovers through the backstreets of Hong Kong’s most colorful and food-obsessed neighborhoods in the Yau Tsim Mong district, in search of Hong Kong’s best evening fare. In this city that never sleeps, this evening #Foodie Tour also showcases life in #HongKong after dark — local entertainment, market vending and fortune telling.

From street food to seafood, the new Temple Street Night Foodie Tour introduces Foodie participants to a wide range of authentic local Hong Kong flavors at six small eateries. No Foodie experience in Hong Kong is complete without trying our world-famous street snacks and understanding our street food culture. On this new food tour in Hong Kong, participants will also savor traditional treats before concluding with a scrumptious dinner featuring seafood dishes renowned in this neighborhood.

The three-hour guided walking tour features not only Hong Kong’s culinary gems but also highlights this neighborhoods’ rich culture, history and architecture. Participants will learn about the dizzying array of local entertainment options available, immerse in the street market scene and explore our living culture such as fortune telling.

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Picture Credit: 95282411@N00/27248173068 Winter Cured Meat nvia photopin.com

Visa free access to Hainan

#CHINA will offer greater visa-free access for tourists from 59 countries to #Hainan from May 1, in a move to support reform and opening up in the country's southernmost island province.  Under the new policy, group and individual tourists from 59 countries, including Russia, Britain, France, Germany, and the United States, can visit Hainan visa-free and stay there for up to 30 days on condition that they book their tour through travel agencies.

Hainan has offered a 15-day visa-free stay for group tourists from 21 countries since 2000, and added another five countries to the list in 2010.  The eased visa-free access to Hainan is part of China's effort to build the province into "a free trade port with Chinese characteristics," as stated in the guidelines on supporting Hainan to deepen reform and opening up, released by central authorities Saturday.

The island has become a famous tropical resort for overseas tourists in recent years, with the number of overseas tourists exceeding 1.1 million in 2017, up nearly 50 percent year on year.

Last year, Hainan received nearly 320,000 tourists from the 26 countries with visa-free access, 3.5 times the number recorded in 2016. Tourists from Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, the Republic of Korea (ROK) and Russia accounted for more than 90 percent of the total.

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Australian Maritime Museum to offer Chinese language tours

TO celebrate Chinese New Year 2018, the Australian National Maritime Museum is launching a new, specially-designed product to welcome its Chinese visitors, the Endeavour Highlights Tour. From 1 February – 28 February 2018, the museum will offer Chinese language guided tours of the museum’s main galleries, exhibitions and attractions.

To be delivered in Mandarin, the tours will run three times per day, seven days per week and will feature a visit to Captain Cook’s Endeavour replica, moored at the museum on iconic Darling Harbour. They will also include guided tours of a range of compelling exhibitions including Passengers (Australia’s immigration story by sea), Navigators (a showcase of Australia’s relationship with Asia and Europe, featuring maritime navigation instruments, charts and maps) and Gapu-Monuk Saltwater (the museum’s recently opened Indigenous exhibition exploring the landmark sea rights case of North-East Arnhem land). 

Visitors on these tours will also have a photo opportunity on board the Endeavour with a 18th Century Captain’s hat, ideal for sharing on WeChat. And, in keeping with this year’s Chinese zodiac Year of the Dog, they will also have the chance to meet the museum’s resident canine, Bailey Haggarty, famous for chasing the seagulls from the museum’s ships and wharves.

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From China to Chicago

MIRRORING China’s Past: Emperors And Their Bronzes runs February 25 to May 13 at the Art Institute of Chicago, and will be the first project devoted to an in-depth study of the tradition of collecting ancient bronzes in China. The focus of this exhibition is not only how such works were unearthed in their original context, but also the different ways in which they were collected, classified and conceptualized throughout Chinese history. 

The exhibition features over 160 exquisite objects of diverse forms and materials, including a number of highlights from the Art Institute of Chicago’s strong holdings; the majority are loans from the Palace Museum, Beijing, the Shanghai Museum and important museums and private collections in the United States.

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Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival

ON June 22-24, local and international teams will descend on the buzzing city of Hong Kong for the annual Hong Kong Dragon Boat Carnival, which is also known as the Tuen Ng Festival. 

The carnival dates back 2,000 years and commemorates the death of Qu Yuan, a Chinese national hero. 

The highlight event takes place on Victoria Harbour where fierce-looking dragon boats compete in a lively colourful spectacle. Teams of 12-28 paddlers race the elaborately decorated dragon boats, to the beat of heavy drums and encouragement of spectators.

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New Hilton resort opens in South China

SET amidst the natural splendor of one of south China's most picturesque destinations, Hilton Huizhou Longmen Resort is now welcoming travelers to experience the ultimate in relaxation and hospitality in the region. The resort boasts modern interiors, a variety of fine dining options and is the first #Hilton property in #China to feature natural hot springs that guests can enjoy at their leisure.

The resort, located in Yonghan Town of Longmen County, is secluded from the hustle and bustle of city life while still providing easy access to travelers from across the globe. The resort is a scenic, 80-minute drive from Guangzhou or Baiyun International Airport, and is an easy trip from the Pearl River Delta cities such as Shenzhen, Dongguan and Foshan.

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Kidz Paradise in Sanya Yalong Bay opens

HILTON Sanya Yalong Bay Resort & Spa announces the opening of its new Kidz Paradise.  An indoor game zones and a large outdoor water playground including a children's pool has been allocated to entertain youngsters from the age of 3 to 12.

Bright colored decor and soft furnishings in the French window game room, a separate entertainment area with soft toys for infants care, cushions and tables for craft use and art works. Children's slides and sea ball pools are connected like tunnels in the ocean. A reading room and movie displaying area for quieter activities is also available.

The Resort has also launched a 3-Day Winter Camp along with the opening of its new Kidz Paradise. The children will be toured with three themed activities on each day: Ocean World Safari, Fairy Forest Adventure and Flowery Wonderland Camping. Kids Ambassador will lead the "Scout" to discover salt making in ancient style, flower and soft clay art works. While a junior edition of You Are the Chef has been prepared for elder children.

Since the Resort launched its family rooms and suites, the new kidz paradise brings back quite a lot of grand and glorious scenes to the Resort located on Sanya's premier beach in Yalong Bay. It was awarded the Best Family Friendly Hotel by leisure media City Traveler and Voyage, and China Hospitality Industry Association.

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