The "Thousand Monk Pot", with a diameter of 2.36 meters, 1.8 meters high and a weight of 5.6 tons, stood in front of the main hall of the Grand Temple of Mount Hengshan on January 19. Savoury Laba porridge cooked in it attracted many tourists and local people. Laba porridge is a kind of Chinese traditional food eaten on the eighth day of the twelfth lunar month (the Laba Festival).Nanyue District of Hengyang City in Hunan Province held a public welfare charity activity "Welldoings in the World & Warmth of the Laba Festival" in the Grand Temple of Mount Hengshan. On the spot, the staff gave each tourist and citizen a bowl of hot Laba porridge, wishing them healthy, peaceful and good luck in the new year.Tourists and citizens who prayed for eating Laba porridge stood in long lines. Before sharing the Laba porridge, many tourists posed for a group photo.President of Buddhist Association of Nanyue District Shi Dayue said that the Laba porridge cooked in the "Thousand Monk Pot" was made of rice collected from various families, and thus it was named "Happiness & Longevity Porridge". More than 27,000 yuan raised on the spot was donated to the poor as well.The staff give tourists and citizens a bowl of hot Laba porridge.Before sharing the Laba porridge, tourists pose for a group photo.Translator: Wang RongSource: Hunan Official Web Portal

2013-01-21 18:20 View：1123

Recently Changsha's immediate plan on urban rail transit (2012-2018) has been approved by the National Development and Reform Committee (NDRC). Changsha plans to invest 63,695 billion yuan in the first phase construction of the west extension of Subway Line 2 as well as Subway Line 3, 4 and 5.According to the plan, Changsha will build a new metro network covering 96.3 kilometers while the first phase of Line 1and 2 are under construction. The first phase of west extension of Line 2, stretching from Meixi Lake West Station to Wangcheng Station, is 4.5 kilometers long with 4 stations, which is scheduled to be completed in 2013. The first phase of Line 3, stretching from Lianping Avenue Station to Longjiao Road Station, boasts 25 stations with a total length of 35.6 kilometers, which is scheduled to be completed in 2016. The first phase of Line 4, stretching from Purui Avenue Station to Guihua Avenue Station, is 33.5 kilometers long with 24 stations, which is scheduled to be completed in 2017. The first phase of Line 5, stretching from Panlong Road Station to Times Avenue Station, is 22.7 kilometers long with 18 stations, which is scheduled to be completed in 2018. The trains will run at a maximum speed of 80 km/h. Translator: Xiao Juan Source: Hunan Official Web Portal

2013-01-20 18:18 View：1085

It is revealed by the China Southern Airlines that the company developed the flight service with the British Airways at the beginning of 2013.The flight network will be expanded to such inland cities in UK as Manchester, Edinburg, Newcastle, Aberdeen, and Glasgow as well as Ireland and other European cities. It is expected to optimize the fan-shaped flight layout to Europe by the China Southern Airlines with Guangzhou as its hub.During the Spring Festival travel season, tourists from Hunan to Britain for vacation or overseas study can start in Guangzhou and take a connecting flight in London to British inland cities, Ireland and other European cities.CZ303 departs from Guangzhou at 9:30 and arrives at London Heathrow Airport at 14:50 of local time. CZ304 departs from London at 22:30 and arrives in Guangzhou at 18:30 of local time.Translator: Wang BilianSource: Hunan Official Web Portal

2013-01-20 18:17 View：1186

A strong focus must be placed on cultural undertakings that highlight the protection of cultural and historical relics and the construction of cultural facilities to benefit the public, Changsha Mayor Zhang Jianfei made the remarks on January 17 when inspecting the city's work concerning culture, radio and TV, press and publication.Changsha was honored as one of the country's first pilot demonstrative areas in public cultural services in 2011. It boasted an estimated cultural output of 125 billion yuan in 2012, with the economic contribution of culture leading the provincial capital cities across the country.Zhang stressed that creative utilization of cultural relics is as important as their recovering and protection. The construction of cultural facilities should be targeted at the various social demands to actively integrate social resources by means of adjusting measures to local conditions, using local resources, and fully utilizing second-hand materials.Source: Hunan Official Web Portal

2013-01-17 18:15 View：1005

Until now, there are 60 scenic spots in Hunan Province, including two items of world heritage and three items of national heritage, Among these scenic spots,,20 are at the national level and 40 at the provincial level. Hunan ranks first in its number of scenic spots at the national level in China, holding about one-tenth of the total.Hunan boasts the world heritages of Wulingyuan Scenic Spot and Langshan Mountain and the national heritages of Hengshan Mountain, Ziquejie Terrace and Meishan Dragon Palace and Wanfo Mountain and its stockade villages of Dong people. The scenic spots cover an area of 7,717.87 square kilometers, taking up 3.64% of the provincial total, 1.62% higher than the national average.In 2012, Hunan received about 320 million tourists home and overseas, bringing in a revenue of 223.7 billion yuan, a year-on-year growth of 25.4% and 25.6% respectively. Great increases were also seen both in tourist arrivals and ticket sales in the National Day holidays, up 70% and 64% respectively compared with the same period of last year.Yubi Peak in the Wulingyuan Scenic Spot Langshan MountainTranslator: Li Xuan Source: Hunan Official Web Portal

2013-01-19 18:13 View：1069

The promotion conference and the signing ceremony of travelling to Henan by the high-speed railway were held in Changsha, on the morning of Jan.16. Representatives of the main scenic spots along the high-speed rail and the travel agencies, led by Henan Tourism Bureau, gathered in Changsha to introduce tourist attractions in Henan. During the event, a collaboration agreement on tourism was signed between Henan and Hunan. Zhang Guangzhi, vice governor of Henan Province and Wu Jihai, vice chairman of the CPPCC Hunan Provincial Committee were present and delivered a speech respectively. In the promotion conference, the representatives of Henan Tourism Bureau showed the scenic spots in such eight cities as Anyang, Hebi, Xinxiang, Zhengzhou, Xuchang, Luohe, Zhumadian and Xinyang via display panels. Additionally, six travelling routes driven by the high-speed rail were particularly introduced, including the world cultural heritage tour, the ancient capital tour, the root seeking and ancestor worship tour, the culture of the Three Kingdom Period tour and the red culture tour. The finale performance of Dengfeng Shaolin Kung Fu and Jiaozuo Chen's Tai Chi Chuan, the first batch of state-level intangible cultural heritage, amazed Hunan people. The tourism agreement was signed by directors of both Hunan and Henan Tourism Bureau. They also made a proposal of sincere quality tourism along the high-speed rail from Beijing to Guangzhou together with those people working in the tourism circle. Representatives from five travel agencies along the rail signed the proposal to make a solemn commitment to the tourists. Translator: Wu LirongSource: Hunan Official Web Portal

2013-01-18 18:12 View：1274

On January 16, Changsha Mayor Zhang Jianfei met with a Swedish environmental protection delegation headed by Swedish Ambassador to China Luo Ruide (Lars Fredén) in Changsha and signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Ecological City Planning and Cooperation between Changsha Municipal People's Government and Embassy of Sweden to China. Mayor Zhang remarked that sustainable development is an overarching trend in the global development now. He also expressed his hope to further cooperate with the Swedish environmental protection delegation during their visit in Changsha. Mr. Luo said that Changsha is one of the fastest growing cities in China now, and he expected to have a deeper understanding of Changsha's urban development and planning. He believed that the project of Xiangjiang River New Town by Changsha Pilot Investment Holdings Co., Ltd. will be a good opportunity for their future cooperation.According to the Memorandum of Understanding, the priorities in ecological city planning and cooperation of two parties should be given to the construction of a low-carbon ecological city with sustainable development and seek for a sustainable development mode of ecological city in "Two-Oriented Society" based on the experience in demonstration projects.The Changsha-Sweden Sustainable Urban Development Technology Exchange Conference was held on the same day.Translator: Yin XiaodongSource: Hunan Official Web Portal

2013-01-18 18:10 View：1210

On January 14, the Hunan Provincial Culture Department selected 13 counties and cities to highlight as boasting unique Spring Festival culture.Longshan County, Baojin County and Yongshun County are listed as areas known for Tujia Spring Festival customs. One of which is the Tujia new year "Diaonian", usually celebrated one day ahead of the lunar new year. There is also the Sheba Festival, celebrated from the 3rd day to the 17th day of the first month of the Chinese calendar.Jishou, Luxi County and Huayuan County appear on the list for their unique Miao Spring Festival customs, especially the Qiangzhou Spring Party, which features interesting cultural art performances and other traditional Spring Festival activities.Other areas with characteristic Spring Festival customs include: Miluo City, known for Changle Stories; Nan County, for the "Two-hundred Dragon Dance" and Huagu Opera; Nanyue District, for Nanyue Temple Fair; Zhangjiajie City, for Lantern Festival; Leiyang City, for Aoshan Temple Fair; Ruchen County, for Xianghuolong Art Performance; Yueyang Tower District, for Bianhe Street Spring Festival Temple Fair; Xinhuang County, for Tianjin Village Spring Festival Customs; Xupu County, for Silk Lantern Dance; Jianghua County, for "Dragon and Lion" bonfire dance; and Shangzhi County, for Temple God Parade.Translator: Guo Yan Source: Hunan Official Web Portal

2013-01-17 18:09 View：1118

The China Net News 2012 Heroes" awards ceremony was held in Beijing on the afternoon of January 15. The ceremony was hosted by the Xinhua News Agency and sponsored by Xinhua Net, Beijing TV and the China Net News Column of Xinhua News Agency.The awards were presented to ten grassroots heroes, including Mountain Guard Liu Zhenmao from Chenzhou, Hunan, Chinese J-15 fighter jet engineer Luo Yang, who died in the line of duty on China's first aircraft carrier, and "most beautiful teacher" Zhang Lili, who sacrificed her own two legs to rescue students from a bus accident.Liu Zhenmao, dubbed "Mountain Guard", is a 65 year-old retired worker from Yaogangxian Town, Yizhang County, Chenzhou City. He began to patrol the Shizikou Mountain in the 1980s and has been protecting the mountain from deforestation for 30 years. His total ranger journey is equivalent to 10 laps around the earth! His long-term dedication has kept the mountain free of forest fires and has helped preserve the pristine ecology of the border area of Hunan, Guangdong and Jiangxi.Translator: Guo YanSource: Hunan Official Web Portal 

2013-01-16 18:07 View：2601

Changsha Pioneering District on the West Bank of Xiangjiang River plans to set up eight urban green corridors with a total length of 45 kilometers and an area of 2.5 million square meters by 2016, according to the Administration Committee of the district revealed on January 14. The eight green corridors will be built along Pingtang Avenue, Yanghu Avenue, Xiaoxiang Avenue, Meixi Lakeside, Dawangshan Holiday Resort, urban areas to the south and north of Meixi Lake and Dongfanghong Road (Xiaohe Landscape section).  The district commenced 27 environment projects worth nearly 2 billion yuan in 2012. The completed Meixi Lake has become Changsha's largest urban lake with a capacity of 7 million-plus cubic meters. Phase II of Yanghu Wetland Park covering 1,500 mu(100 hectares) has been basically accomplished, making it the largest urban wetland park in central China. Other projects include Taohualing Park, Meiling Park, Yinxing Park, Shijiagang Water Park, Green Xiaoxiang Avenue, Green Lane around Meixi Lake and Green Dongfanghong Road.Translator: Guo YanSource: Hunan Official Web Portal

2013-01-15 18:05 View：1056