On May 24th, the opening ceremony of the fifth China International Tourism Commodities Fair is held in Yiwu International Fair Center, and Wang zhifa, deputy secretary of party committee of national tourism bureau and deputy director general attends the ceremony and delivers the opening speech. Liang liming, deputy mayor of Zhejiang province and other relevant officials also attend the ceremony.“China International Tourism Commodities Fair is an important platform for display and transaction of tourism commodities, as well as a grand gathering for national tourism system. In the past five years, the fair has showed vigorous energy, strong development potential and endless market charm, which have made great contribution to Zhejiang’s tourism and even to the national tourism. I hope that the fair will further display its advantages and plays an important role in activating tourism commodities market and developing independent tourism brand.” Liang liming says on the ceremony.Source from National Tourism AdministrationTranslated by Crystal

2013-05-27 12:18 View：923

On May 23th, the news conference for “the 2012 National City Network Image List–Annual Report to urban network image” is held in Beijing, with ZJJ on the list, which successfully obtains two prizes, namely “Top Ten City” and “Network Image Promotion Award”. Besides, Changsha is honored “Government Affairs Blog Demonstration Prize ”.It is reported that “the 2012 National City Network Image List” is the comprehensive ranks for the 2012 network image of 286 major cities in China and is formed by experts’ opinions and netizens’ voters. Some prizes, like “Top Ten City”, “Award for the best city”, “Network Image Promotion Award” and “Government Affairs Blog Demonstration Prize ” are set up and about 60 cities from all of the country have entered the list.Translated by Crystal

2013-05-26 12:17 View：1013

As the third Tourism Day of May 19th comes, the county tourism department visits some main scenic spots and companies in Cili. The parking lots are teemed with tourist buses and tourists swarm into the check-in office. A young fellow is climbing along the stairs with flowers in his hand and sweat oozing from his forehead. While a beautiful girl shouts “I will not accept you unless you arrive here in two minutes” It turns out that the boy is proposing to the girl and other tourists are shout their supports to him. The boy presents his flowers and shining ring to his lover amid tourists’ cheers and laughters. This tough but happy scene is the very true mirror of Cili’s tourism.Although international trend in this year has undergone recession and our domestic economy goes slowly, which heavily affects the tourism economy, the county party committee and government of Cili firmly conduct “flourishing through tourism and strengthening by industry”strategy. The tourism economy is climbing and maintains a good momentum. In the first quaters, about 720,460 tourists have been accepted, and there is 30.52 billion RMB tourism investment, a 32.3% increase and 32.56% increase compared with last year, including 52.64 million RMB ticket fees.Now, Zhangjiajie Grand Canyon, Dragon Cave, Wulei Munt and other scenic spots are coming into peak season.Cili tourism is continue to flourish with tourism numbers recorded 3 million, 10% increase on year -on-year basis. The great aim of 1.8billion tourism income is able to be expected.Translated by Crystal

2013-05-25 12:16 View：1241

On May 23th, the organizing committee of China division of the 12th international professional model contest officially releases its final winner list on its website. Hu wenmin, the female model once obtained the championship, and the male model Zhang lizheng who once won the third place, are disqualified. According to the report, the winners of the male and female model are replaced by their latter winners.The announcement says, the organizing committee of this competition will embody idea of ecological civilization and loving heart into this contest, and Na Cadbury Group also advocates youthful vitality of Zhangjiajie, environmental protection and loving Na Cadbury”, which receives support and participation from the majority of contestants. At the same time, the organizing committee will organize the model contestants to conduct some activities to promote ecological civilization, such as picking up rubbishes in the scenic spots and students-aiding activities, such as helping disabled children, which all consist of the main part of China final competition of the the 12th international professional model contest and also the inseparable part of this contest.Translated by Crystal

2013-05-24 12:15 View：944

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

2013-05-30 11:45 View：1302

The Hong Kong Media group participating in the 2013 Hunan (Hong Kong) Investment and Trade Promotion Week, led by Mr. Kang Haifeng, vice executive manager of Hong Kong Wenhui Newspaper, arrived in Hunan on May 26. Xu Yousheng, director of the Publicity Department of the CPC Hunan Provincial Committee, welcomed the group.The event is to be held in Hong Kong and the Pearl River Delta region from June 17 through 21. More than ten Hong Kong media, including Hong Kong Wenhui Newspaper, HKSTV, ATV, Sing Pao Daily News, and Phoenix Satellite Television, have been invited to several cities of Hunan such as Changsha, Zhuzhou, Hengyang, Chenzhou, etc. During May 27 and 31, they will report Hunan's economic and social development, so as to create a good atmosphere for voicing public opinion. Director Xu expressed his hope that the group will give all-round, multi-perspective, and in-depth reports regarding the event; thereby people can have a better understanding of Hunan and focus on Hunan and the event."Hong Kong media group will fully utilize their advantages to promote and publicize Hunan and facilitate cooperation between Hunan and Hong Kong," said Mr. Kang.Translator: Lv XuefenSource: enghunan.gov.cn

2013-05-28 11:45 View：833

The street annals serve as an epitome of the transition of the ancient city and development of the new town. On the morning of May 22, the “Street Annals of Furong District of Changsha”, recording the history and story of hundreds of the streets in Changsha, was published.The compiling work started in April, 2010. The annals consist of 500,000 characters, 17 maps and 347 photos. 592 names of streets in Furong District and 369 articles about these streets were included. The central part of Changsha has never changed since its founding 2000 years ago, a large part of which belongs to Furong District. The annals keep a detailed record of the transition of the city: the ancient style and the modern prosperity.There is no off-the-peg mode of street annals compiling to draw on the experience. The editors of the Archives Bureau of Furong District took a bold attempt and successfully accomplished Hunan’s first Street Annals.Source: enghunan.gov.cnTranslator: Zhangshu

2013-05-26 11:24 View：1192

The First Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition of Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Anhui Provinces, jointly organized by the cultural departments of the four provinces, kicked off in Hubei Museum of Art on May 23. A delegation led by Zhu Jiangang and Meng Qingshan, director and deputy director of the Hunan Provincial Department of Culture respectively, attended the exhibition.At the Hunan exhibition hall, Zhong Jiantong, who is from Longhui County, Shaoyang City, Hunan Province, was unhurriedly holding a mane brush and making new year paintings. He is an inheritor of Tantou New Year painting and also procurator of Procuratorate of Longhui Conuty.Zhong's parents, both aged above 80, are representative inheritors of the national intangible cultural heritage Tantou New Year painting. Zhong returned home a few years ago, and spent one year mastering the skills of Tantou New Year paintings.Hunan's 60 items of intangible cultural heritage, with local cultural flavors, good productive protection, and promising prospects, were on display at the exhibition. Representative inheritors of 10 items made handicrafts at the exhibition, consisting of Shaoyang glove puppet show, Tantou New Year painting, Hunan embroidery, Baoqing bamboo engraving, paintings of Miao ethnic group, Changsha palm leaf weaving, inserted embroidery of Miao ethnic group, Daqiao paper cutting, weaving skills of Dong brocades, and bamboo weaving crafts.The First Intangible Cultural Heritage Exhibition of Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, and Anhui Provinces commences in Hubei Museum of Art.Zhong Jiantong, inheritor of the national intangible cultural heritage item Tantou New Year painting (a handmade woodblock New Year painting), shows his crafts and attracts many visitors.Translator: Lv XuefenSource: enghunan.gov.cn

2013-05-25 11:23 View：816

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

2013-05-30 11:09 View：1113

The abbots of 29 temples in Hunan province have started a campaign to make entry to temples in the province free. The move is praiseworthy, because it is against commercialization of temples, says an article in Guangming Daily. Excerpts:There are tens of thousands of temples in China, and a person needs to buy a ticket to enter one that is even slightly popular. But making entrance tickets mandatory to visit such places is not conducive to preserving the varied culture of China. Besides, the public doesn't like commercialization of cultural sites, especially temples.Entrance tickets, however, are only the tip of the iceberg. The root of commercialization of temples lies in travel packages and industrial management offered by profit-minded companies that have no respect for faith or culture.Businesspeople don't think twice before using temples to make money. Moreover, some local governments have made incomes from temples a part of their regular revenues. Businesspeople and local governments, however, have been making money at the cost of the public.When it comes to temple-related issues, monks should have the final say, and local governments and businesspeople should be prevented from intervening in sensitive affairs.Public opinion should be respected while developing public tourist attractions such as famous mountains and ancient temples. Making entrance to 29 temples in Hunan free is a good way to stop commercialization of temples.Source:china.org.cn

2013-05-24 11:07 View：1029