In the scorching sun, the “Yuan River Boatmen Haozi” ballad was sung loudly by the boatmen working in the surging river. Recently, an ancient rafting scene reappeared in the Yuan River in Hunan’s Hongjiang ancient commercial city, also called China First Commercial City. A group of experienced boatmen whose upper bodies were bare were rowing the raft hard against the surging water while singing aloud the ancient haozi, performing the long lost “Yuan River Haozi”. The thundering sound of the Haozi once drifted along the banks of the Yuan River, the third largest tributary of the Yangtze River, but has been endangered since 1980’s due to the decline of water transportation. In recent years, the Hongjiang Region in Huaihua City called up and organized tens of long laid-off boatmen, and arranged for the “Yuan River Haozi” and had it spread among the public in order to inherit this intangible cultural heritage. Additionally, the activity of hewing bamboos, cutting bamboo strips, tying the rope, and tying rafts won the strong support of the old boatmen and the local people. Boatmen sing the Haozi (Labor Songs) while arranging the wooden boat by the Yuan River. Translator: Cui YiyangSource: Hunan Official Web Portal

News 2015-08-18 10:34 View：1234

From August 19th to 23rd, the Imperial Ice Stars dubbed “Ice Star Troupe” will perform at Hunan Grand Theatre.Imperial Ice Stars, a representative troupe of theatrical ice shows, was formed in 2004. To prepare for this show, Hunan Grand Theatre will cover its stage with 8-cm thick ice in a weight of about 12 tons.On the occasion, 26 World, European and National Championship winners from the troupe will show off their complex and stunning skating skills in the classic shows like Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake on ice, which is rare to see even in the Winter Olympics.Stage PhotoTranslator: Zhou XinSource: Hunan Official Web Portal

News 2015-08-17 10:28 View：2129

On the morning of August 13, the 8th Tour de Hunan Cycling Race was launched in Qiaotou Village of Guidong County. A total of 150 cyclists from Russia, Turkmenistan, India, China and other countries were invited to the race. Translator: Lu XuanSource: Hunan Official Web Portal

News 2015-08-16 10:24 View：1730

The Environmental Protection Department of Hunan published on August 12 air quality indices of its 14 cities and prefecture in July. The days reaching standard hit 96 percent on average. According to the ranking, the top three cities are Jishou, Zhuzhou, and Zhangjiajie, while the bottom three ones are Loudi, Xiangtan, and Yongzhou. The Hunan Provincial Environmental Monitoring Center said that the number of days with air quality meeting the national standard (GB3095-2012) in the 14 cities and prefecture ranged from 86.7 percent to 100 percent in July. An average of four percent of days was moderately or lightly polluted, with the main atmospheric pollutant being suspended particulates smaller than 2.5 μm in aerodynamic diameter (PM2.5). Translator: Liu FenSource: Hunan Official Web Portal 

News 2015-08-15 10:23 View：1811

People of Miao ethnic group hold a celebration for the coming of autumn in Paibi Township of Huayuan County in the Tujia-Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Xiangxi, central China's Hunan Province, Aug. 8, 2015.Source: Xinhua

News 2015-08-14 15:37 View：2180

On August 11, Espen Fadnes and Bjoern Magne Bakke Bryn from Norway challenged an extreme sport "wingsuit flying carpet" on the Tianmen Mountain of Zhangjiajie Scenic Area. At about 8:00 am, the challenge began. Bejoern jumped off a helicopter first, stretching the parachute and freely flying in the blue sky and mountains. Later, Espen in a wingsuit leapt off the cliff from top of the mountain, dropping at a high speed like a free-falling body. At this time, Bejoern appeared upon him, and began chasing Espen. After adjustments, Bejoern successfully stood on Espen’s back, presenting a venturous picture of "wingsuit flying carpet", which is quite striking and surprising.Wingsuit flyer Espen Fadnes measures wind velocity at the taking-off point.The wingsuit flying challenge starts.Espen flies toward Bjoern Magne Bakke Bryn, a parachutist.The two players successfully perform joint sliding in the air.The two challengers succeed in performing the "wingsuit flying carpet".Translator: Hao JingruSource: Hunan Official Web Portal

News 2015-08-13 15:42 View：1798

A beautiful and amazing path which claims to be the world’s most beautiful path is to be constructed in Yangjiajie Scenic Area of Zhangjiajie. With basic content of the design scheme nailed down on August 7, a unique path, featuring whole-hearted efforts, fun and adventure, will enter construction phase.Situated in northwest of Wulingyuan Core Scenic Area, Yangjiajie Scenic Area is renowned for the legend that descendants of the Yangs (all people of their three generations were faithful patriotic generals or soldiers) in the Song Dynasty (960-1279 B.C.) migrated to Yangjiajie, which is characterized by the unparalleled wonders of towering walls of rock. Zhangjiajie Tourism Group Co., Ltd. will offer a reward worth one million yuan for the selected design scheme. Now the company has received schemes from seven well-known designing institutions since the news announced worldwide June 16. “Swing is available between the gorges, bicycle is workable on precipices and valley echo can be heard around the towering walls of rock.” The principal of sponsor reveals that the final design scheme of the 3.5-km-long path combines all advantages of the schemes and integrating highlights of works winning the excellent prize, will add to Zhangjiajie a view featuring pleasing beauty, environmental protection and attraction.Translator: Zhou XinSource: Hunan Official Web Portal

News 2015-08-12 15:39 View：1318

A red stone forest, with a maximum of 1,024.5 meters and a minimum of 941.2 meters above sea level, was discovered in western Hunan's Huayuan County on August 10. Its bizarrerie spreads across a mountain of over 3,000 mu (about 200 hectares) in Paila Village, Youma Village, Huanggua Village, Paidakou Village, Pojiao Village and Hangdu Village. The naturally denuded red rocks stand in various poses, presenting great value of tourism.The grand geological wonder is the result of approximately 500 million years of crustal movement as well as the intrusion and corrosion of carbonates, mud, and sand deposited at the sea floor. Like Zuolongxi Canyon, the red stone forest also belongs to the Yangtze Ancient Sea in geological history.The red stone forest in China, the world's only red carbonate rock forest formed in the Cambrian Age, is mainly located at the center of tourist sites in Hunan, Hubei, Guizhou, and Chongqing.Translator: Liu FenSource: Hunan Official Web Portal

News 2015-08-11 15:35 View：1898