News sourced from the China Ancient Architecture Photography Contest official website that Zhangjiajie photographer Peng Liping won a silver award with his work Butcher Hog for New Year.This contest aims at looking for the ancient architectures in China and sponsored by Society for the Study of Chinese Architecture .More over , Peng Liping also won the golden award with the work Spring in Yellow Stone Village  in the Second Global Internet Photography Contest this April organized by Zhangjiajie.It is said that the contest themed with Looking for the Ancient Chinese Architecture began on January 15th 2013. All the works focus on ancient architecture are welcomed and more than 1,200,000 have contributed their works ,which add to 2,050,000 pieces of works. Official statistics indicate that it is the biggest contest held in China.Peng Liping,the famous photographer in Zhangjiajie now is a member of China Photographer Association and the vice president of Zhangjiajie Photographer Association with more 20 years’ photographing experience. He has published over 300 pieces works in newspapers at all levels and awarded many prizes. There is no deny that Peng Liping has made great contribution to spread the reputation and popularity of Zhangjiajie with his works.By Aileen

News 2013-05-30 12:31 View：787

Rock climber Jean-Michel Casanova from France scales the 172-meter tall metal elevator frame in Zhangjiajie, a scenic spot in Central China's Hunan province, May 18, 2013. Casanova scaled the structure in 68 minutes equipped with only hiking shoes and a waist pack containing climbing chalk. The structure is the highest outdoor sightseeing elevator in the world.French rock climber Jean-Michel Casanova climbs the 172-meter tall metal elevator frame in Zhangjiajie, a scenic spot in Central China's Hunan province, May 18, 2013.Source:China Daily

News 2013-05-30 11:45 View：1211

The 5th day of the 5th month of the lunar year is an important day for the Chinese people. The day is called Duan Wu Festival, or Dragon Boat Festival, celebrated everywhere in China. This festival dates back to about 2,000 years ago with a number of legends explaining its origin. The best-known story centers on a great patriotic poet named Qu Yuan.Qu Yuan and Dragon Boat FestivalIn the Warring States Period (475-221BC), the State of Qin in the west was bent on annexing the other states, including the state of Chu, home of Qu Yuan. Holding the second highest office in the state, Qu Yuan urged that the Chu State should resist Qin and ally with the State of Qi to the east. This was opposed by Zhangyi, a minister of the State of Qin who was trying to disrupt any anti-Qin alliances. He seized upon an incident with a jealous court official in Chu to get rid of Qu Yuan.Qu Yuan had refused to let Jin Shang, the chief minister in the State of Chu, have a look at a draft of a decree he had been asked to draw up. In anger Jin spread the rumor that Qu Yuan was leaking state secrets. He said that Qu Yuan had boasted that without his aid no decree could be drafted. This made the King of Chu feel that Qu Yuan was belittling him.When the story reached the ears of Zhang Yi in Qin, he secretly sent a large amount of gold, silver and jewels to Chu to bribe Jin Shang and the king's favorite concubine to form an anti-Qu Yuan clique. The result was that the King of Chu finally banished Qu Yuan from the capital in 313 BC.The next year, as relations between Qin and Chu worsened, Qu Yuan was called back and named to a high office, but the clique continued its machinations against him.In 299 BC after several unsuccessful forays against Chu, Qin invited the King of Chu over, ostensibly for talks. Qu Yuan feared this was a trap and urged his king not to go. The latter would not listen and even accused Qu Yuan for interfering.On the way, the King of Chu was seized by Qin troops. He died in captivity three years later. Chu came under the rule of the king's eldest son, later known as King Qing Xiang. Under him the state administration deteriorated.Qu Yuan hoped to institute reforms and in poems satirized the corruption, selfishness and disregard for the people on the part of dubious characters who had achieved trusted positions. Neither this nor Qu Yuan's resolve to resist Qin set well with King Qing Xiang, who was in fact married to a daughter of the King of Qin, In 296 BC, Qu Yuan, then in his mid 50s, was banished for the second time. Grieving for the condition of his homeland, for years he wandered about south of the Yangtze River.During this period he poured out his feelings of grief and concern for his homeland in the allegorical Li Sao, a long autobiographical poem in which he tells of his political ideal and the corruption and mismanagement of the court.In 280 BC Qin launched an overall invasion of Chu, and captured the Chu capital in 278 BC. The news reached Qu Yuan while he was near the Miluo River in today's northeastern Hunan Province. In frustration at being unable to do anything to save his state, he clasped a big stone to his breast and leaped into the river to end his life.Qu Yuan's sufferings had gained the sympathy of the people of Chu. In memory of him, every year on the fifth day of the fifth month of the lunar calendar, the day he drowned himself, dragon boat races, which are said to represent the search for his body, are held, and the Chinese people eat Zong Zi, little packets of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo leaves, which was originally thrown into the river to keep the fishes from eating the body of Qu Yuan. In addition, it is said that when hearing the news of Qu Yuan's suicide, some doctors poured realgar wine into the Miluo River to anaesthetize the fishes, hence preventing them from eating Qu Yuan's body.Customs of the festivalThe customs vary a lot in different areas of the country, but most of the families would hang the picture of Zhong Kui (a ghost that can exorcise), calamus and moxa in their houses. People have Dragon Boat Races, eatZong Zi(dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves) and carry a spice bag around with them.Hanging Pictures of Zhong KuiZhong KuiZhong Kui is the exorcist par excellence. His picture, a fierce-looking male brandishing a magic sword, used to be hung up in Chinese houses in order to scare away evil spirits and demons, especially in the time of Dragon Boat Festival.Hanging Calamus and MoxaOn this day, most of the families would also hang calamus and moxa (oriental plants) on the front door. This is also to ward off evil.Dragon Boat RaceThe main event of the festivities is the Dragon Boat Race. These boats are long and thin with dragon heads on the bow of the ships. The boat races are said to represent the search for Qu's body, with racing boats in a forward rowing motion, to the rhythm of beating drums.Zong ZiQu Yuan drowned on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in 277 BC. Since ancient times, Chinese people threw into the water dumpling made of glutinous rice wrapped in bamboo or reed leaves on the day. Therefore the fish would eat the rice rather than the hero poet. This later on turned into the custom of eatingZong Zi.Realgar WineIt is a very popular practice to drink this kind of Chinese liquor seasoned with realgar at the Dragon Boat Festival. This is for protection from evil and disease for the rest of the year.Spice BagIt's believed that if you carry the small spice bag around with you, it not only drives away evil spirits but also brings fortune and happiness to those who wear it. The small bags are hand-made by local craftsmen. They're made with red, yellow, green and blue silk, fine satin or cotton. Figures of animals, flowers and fruits are often embroidered onto the bags and inside are mixed Chinese herbal medicines.Source:China Daily

News 2013-05-30 11:09 View：1033

On the afternoon of May 28, the century environmental protection activities in 2013 officially started with a theme of relieving and improving air pollution to breath fresh air. Deng dayuan, Zhangjiajie National People’s Congress standing committee of the party member, and Gong minghan, deputy mayor attended the launching ceremony.It is said that this activity is hosted by the committees of launching Century Environmental protection Activities. On behalf of deputy to the People’s Congress,they will pay a visit to  some companys that polluted air seriously and relieve air pollution to build a model city for environmental protection. Besides, they will make a current  report on the world natural heritage protection of Wulingyuan, supervising and monitoring its environment-friendly project.In the wake of the launching ceremony, under the guidance of Deng dayuan and Gong minghan, the members of the century environmental protection activities and a few deputy to the People’s Congress came to Yongding area in the form of hearing report, reading material, on-site inspection and visiting the masses. It is no doubt that all those measures can do good to build a environment-friendly city, a city with fresh air and little pollution.By Emma

News 2013-05-29 12:31 View：954

Do you have the habit of smoking Have you ever known the fact that widespread prevalence of tobacco use and its negative healtheffects currently lead to 5.4 million deaths worldwide annually. On this May 31th, it is the 26th World No Tobacco Day, which urge governments to address this public health threat.The global recognized logo of World No Tobacco Day is a ashtray with a rose designed by World Health Organization.The purpose of this day observed around the world every year on May 31 meant to encourage a 24hour period of abstinence from all forms oftobaccoconsumption across the globe. Each year has a different topic,and the theme this year is “Ban tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship”.In order to actively response to the 26th World No Tobacco Day on this May 31th ,Wulingyuan has made efforts to enlarge this effects and urge more people get rid of smoking since May 29th to May 31th. .By report that related offices such as Office for Public Health Promotion will hold propaganda activities on the scene, which include the free clinic, distribution of leaflets, discourage smokers and so on, which close to the theme.What is more, no smoking propaganda will spread in canteens,  firms, hotels, schools and public places in Zhangjiajie.By  Aileen  

News 2013-05-29 12:30 View：908

On May 28th, Event–“happy Xiaoxiang, happy Wulingyuan” is officially opened in Xibu Street–National 3A scenic spot. Nearly thousands of citizens, students and tourists from home and abroad attend the happy and hilarious ceremony.On the launching ceremony, ZJJ Jinrui Tourism Development Limited and Baofeng Lake company perform many literature and arts sports programs, such as Miao drums, folk song solo, waving dance and Tai Chi, etc.This activity is aimed to display Wulingyuan cultural activity outcomes and boost the development of community culture, campus culture, rural culture and barracks culture, which will further enhance ZJJ Wulingyuan’s popularity, reputation and influence and make new contribution to build into a district with strong culture and a international tourism and leisure resort.The literary performance activities for the masses of “happy Xiaoxiang, happy Wulingyuan” consist of the literary and arts performance for the masses and native joint songs. The former includes Tujia and Bai nationality dance, ZJJ folk songs, dragon r\dance, lion dance and folk singular skills, to name but a few.Translated by Crystal

News 2013-05-29 12:29 View：795

A group of Malaysian tourists are rapturously taking photos in Xibu Street, an emerging core scenic spot in Wulingyuan, Zhangjiajie. By report that Malaysia turns into the third biggest overseas tourists market and up to now there are over 6000 Malaysian have paid their visit here since this year.This group with a total number of more than 100 tourists is the biggest one in 2013.During recent years, Wulingyuan has reinforced the promotion efforts in Southeast Asia overseas market, especially in Malaysia and Thai by organizing bilateral negotiation and communication. More over, Wulingyuan also put image advertisements in Chinese media in South-east Asia to hance and improve Zhangjiajie’s market competitiveness.The manager of Wulingyuan tourism bureau told that this summer more promotion activities will be held in Southeast Asia to propaganda Zhangjiajie’s beautiful sceneries and the preferable policy that free tickets for tourists below 19 years old worldwide. All those policies all aim at attracting more and more overseas tourists to have a visit in Zhangjiajie.By Aileen

News 2013-05-29 12:28 View：772

“Iron Man”and famous climber Majin(Michelle Casanova), who once successfully climbed Zhangjiajie’s Dragon Ladder on May 18th, comes to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon for sightseeing. Intended to relax for days before coming home, he wants to challenge Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon unarmed, when seeing the splendid canyon precipices with cliffside springs.When Majin comes to Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon scenic spot, he thinks highly of the 300 meters sight canyon precipice and holds that “it is a pleasure as well as a enjoyment to challenge the steep cliff”. He also claims he would like to challenge the sight precipice unarmed without any preliminary experimental training.During the sightseeing, Majin feels incomparable relax and enjoyment amid flesh air, green trees and limpid streams and feels as if came to a land of idyllic beauty. He expresses that as a movie star, except climbing the cliff, he wishes to shoot a film become attached to Zhangjiajie in Grand Canyon.Translated by Crystal

News 2013-05-28 12:25 View：975