Tourists visit the border at the scenic resort of the Sino-Russian border gate in Manzhouli, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, July 3, 2012. The border gate, being 46.6m in width and 43.7m in height, is located on the border between the Chinese frontier city Manzhouli and Baykalsk of Russia. Since the northwest frontier region of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region became a popular travel destination in recent years, the border gate in Manzhouli attracts over two millions visitors annually. (Xinhua/Zhao Tingting) Tourists visit the boundary tablet of Sino-Russian border gate in Manzhouli, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, July 3, 2012. The border gate, being 46.6m in width and 43.7m in height, is located on the border between the Chinese frontier city Manzhouli and Baykalsk of Russia. Since the northwest frontier region of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region became a popular travel destination in recent years, the border gate in Manzhouli attracts over two millions visitors annually. (Xinhua/Zhao Tingting) Tourists visit the border at the scenic resort of the Sino-Russian border gate in Manzhouli, north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, July 3, 2012. The border gate, being 46.6m in width and 43.7m in height, is located on the border between the Chinese frontier city Manzhouli and Baykalsk of Russia. Since the northwest frontier region of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region became a popular travel destination in recent years, the border gate in Manzhouli attracts over two millions visitors annually. (Xinhua/Zhao Tingting) Source: Xinhua

News 2012-07-03 19:57 View：1851

The Japanese Channel of Zhangjiajie Online opened on June 29. The Japanese channel strives to integrate news and service, report great events in politics, economy, culture and society of Zhangjiajie City in a prompt and accurate manner, promote tourist attractions, tourism & performance and traditional culture of the city, display picturesque scenery and appearance of the city, and recommend investment projects. It endeavors to provide accurate and swift information and service for the Japanese who are touring, living, working and investing in Zhangjiajie. The website, divided into nine columns, includes six plates, namely news, introduction, tourism, economy, photo and living. Translator: Zhang Minsi Source: Hunan Official Web Portal

News 2012-07-02 20:13 View：1014

Zhangjiajie Mayor Zhao Xiaoming met a delegation led by Pak Chong-ryul, president of the Association of Korean Journalists on the evening of June 29, 2012. Mayor Zhao jubilantly shared with the South Korean journalists the exchanges and funny stories between Zhangjiajie and South Korea in the past decade. Pak Chong-ryul remarked that Zhangjiajie is very popular in Korea and there is no one but knows it. Former President of the Korean Tourism Organization got the "Special Contribution Award for Zhangjiajie's Development" for his efforts in promoting the city.The Name Card Room of Korea, which is called the China-Korea Friendship Pavilion, is a must-see place for any Korean tourist who comes to Yuanjiajie Scenic Area. The pavilion was designed by Yang Yongjun, a native of Zhangjiajie. A couple from Chaoxian (Korean) nationality of China have been invited to the pavilion to introduce Zhangjiajie's natural scenery to tourists. Korean tourists often initiatively leave their name cards and take photos as commemoration. Two languages--Chinese and Korean are used everywhere in Zhangjiajie's scenic spots. It was here that the earliest direct exchange of RMB and KRW was carried out. Guides, hotel attendants, and the locals all can speak Korean. Mayor Zhao said that since 2002 Zhangjiajie has sent the government delegation to visit South Korea each year. Friendly ties have been established between Zhangjiajie and Hadong County. Korean art groups have performed many times in Zhangjiajie, and many Koreans have settled here. Translator: Lv XuefenSource: Hunan Official Web Portal

News 2012-07-01 20:17 View：1070

A bullet train leaves the Yichang East Railway Station on the inaugural trip of the Hanyi Railway, in Yichang, central China's Hubei Province, July 1, 2012. The 293-kilometer Hanyi Railway, an express rail link that connects Wuhan, capital of Hubei, and Yichang, was launched on Sunday. The railway will reduce travel time between the cities to one hour and 39 minutes. (Xinhua/Hong Tongqian) YICHANG, July 1 (Xinhua) -- The Hanyi Railway, a section of a major high-speed rail corridor between the eastern metropolis of Shanghai and southwest China's city of Chengdu, opened on Sunday. The 293-km Hanyi Railway links Wuhan and Yichang, two large cities in central China's Hubei province. The railway will reduce travel time between the cities to one hour and 39 minutes, said Yang Tao, an official with the Wuhan railway bureau. The Hanyi Railway is part of the Shanghai-Wuhan-Chengdu Railway, or Huhanrong Railway, a major east-west high-speed rail corridor outlined in China's national high-speed railway development plan. The 2,078-km railway will travel though four provinces and two municipalities, connecting the cities of Shanghai, Nanjing, Hefei, Wuhan, Chongqing and Chengdu. Most sections of the Huhanrong Railway are in operation, with construction on the last section slated to be completed in 2013. Source: xinhuanet

News 2012-07-01 19:54 View：1939

On the evening of June 29, nine international chefs gathered at Qinhuang Restaurant in Changsha to promulgate cooking skills and ideas. The hosts prepared "Delicacies in Seven States" named after the seven states in the Warring States Period(475-221BC). These chefs are renowned for the dishes which closely relate to Chinese traditional culture. Javier, one of the world's best chefs, commended the innovative idea of combining traditional culture with Hunan cuisine. Italian chef Yannick Berkvens remarked that compared with western-style food, Chinese food is much healthier, adding that people can appreciate Chinese traditional culture through Chinese food. Netherlands chef Jan Van Lissum stated that the Chinese food can become even more popular throughout the world if placed under the label of "Made in China". Translator: Xiao JuanSource: Hunan Official Web Portal

News 2012-06-29 20:10 View：979

Miao people are well versed in finding a good place to live, or hide, to be more precise. A track into a Miao village in the deep mountains of Xiangxi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in northwestern part of Hunan province has proved the conclusion positively true."Miao People's Valley", or "Miao Ren Gu" in Chinese, is situated some 18 kilometers from Phoenix town, but the difference between the two tourist sites is striking.While Phoenix town is easily accessible and bears obvious marks of modernization, Miao People's Valley probably wouldn't be shown on a regional map and more than one third of its inhabitants don't have a television.According to local villagers, their ancestors settled here to stay away from the bandits using the mountains and the rivers as cover. They never thought that what used to protect them would hinder the development of the village now.But in recent years, travel buses began to transport packs of tourists to the village. Although it is one hour's bumpy ride from Phoenix town, they consider it worthwhile to experience the unspoiled Miao ethnic culture and breathtaking natural scenery.We were struck speechless by the idyllic sight when we arrived at the village gateway. Squares of rice swayed simultaneously with the wind, the tips of the plants beginning to turn golden. Stone houses with gray roofs scattered in the open field. Hardly any people, dogs and hens roam about indolently while strings of red chili and corn hang on the walls to dry.However, we are not in the center of the village yet. You have to take a bamboo raft and flow down to a huge cave before taking another boat to the other side of the mountain. The cave belonged to the head of the Miao village in ancient times. There is a buffalo skull hung on the banner of the cave gate to show the dominance of the leader.The cave is dark and damp, the channel is narrow. Water drips from overhead and occasionally we encounter waterfalls pouring down from high up on the stone walls.When we emerge into the sunlight again, we see an open lake, like a gem embedded in the mountains. After around five minutes of rowing on the lake, we arrive at the small Miao village.Girls and boys dressed in Miao costumes wait at the entrance, singing a folk song to welcome us. It is a tradition for the Miao people to welcome their guests with a song and in return, the guests should also sing back. They offer us homemade rice wine before we step into their homes. Low in alcohol and rich in fruit flavor, the rice wine tastes sweet and sour.They also show us their unique stunt - playing tunes using tree leaves. Our guide says that in Miao villages, girls and boys are free to choose their own partners when they are 16 years old. And a boy would show his affection for his girl by playing tree leaves tunes to her. So the feat is actually part of the matchmaking ritual for young lovers of the Miao ethnic minority and most men know how to play.To outsiders like us, the skill is incomprehensible, just like the lyrics of the Miao ethnic songs and dances that they perform for tourists. A large number of young people in the village are working as performers under a local tourism company. Long Faqiu's son is one of them.Long Faqiu, a local villager, serves homemade Miao cuisines to tourists. Although he mainly works on his farmland, he is receiving more and more benefit from the emerging tourism in Miao People's Valley. His annual income has doubled from years before the village was opened to travelers.On asking about whether he would go to live in big cities when he earned enough money, the middle aged man answered honestly that he wouldn't. What has drawn those city people here is something that you can't buy with money, as Long explained.Indeed, the pristine lifestyles of Miao people here is admired by travelers and their loyalty to tradition is something city dwellers do not possess.My wish upon leaving the village is not that I could stay longer, but that our visit, or any other tourist's visit in the future, does not taint the originality of Miao People's Valley and its residents.The pristine vistas of the Miao People's Valley.A buffalo skull is hung on the banner of the stone cave gate to show the dominance of the Miao leader.Tourists have to get on a bamboo raft and flow to the entrance of the stone cave before entering the village.Water drips down from the stone walls of the cave.Girls dressed in Miao costumes offer us homemade rice wine to welcome us.A woman with her small child in the wooden basket on her back, walks down the cobble stone path in Miao People's Village.Source from China.com.cn arranged by Aileen

News 2012-06-28 21:06 View：1950

News 2012-06-27 20:36 View：3672

June 30th is scheduled to mark the unveiling of a magic lantern show at Yaowang Temple on Haoyun Hill in Hongjiang Ancient Commercial Town. The show will open with the indigenous labor song " Yuanjianghaozi" in the ancient town known as "Pearl of Western Hunan". The story of "A Self-made Stranger" will be staged, presenting visitors with the magnificence of the torrent Yuanshui River, alterations in the commercial town and ups and downs of an immigrant merchant. The blessing lantern show is planned to be held every Saturday and will be free to tourists with entrance tickets to the scenic area. Translator: Guo Yan Source: Hunan Official Web Portal

News 2012-06-26 20:02 View：1447