Six wounded in knife attack at southern China rail station

(Reuters) - At least two, and as many as four, assailants wielding long knives wounded six people in an attack on Tuesday at a railway station in China's southern city of Guangzhou, police and state media said, in the latest of a series of assaults to raise jitters around the country.

Police gave no reason for the attack, but China's nervousness about Islamic militancy has grown since a car burst into flames on the edge of Beijing's Tiananmen Square in October and 29 people were stabbed to death in March in the southwestern city of Kunming.

The government blamed militants from the restive far western region of Xinjiang for both those attacks. 

Resource-rich and strategically located Xinjiang, on the borders of central Asia, has for years been beset by violence blamed by the Chinese government on Islamist militants.

Guangzhou police "arrived quickly on the scene" on Tuesday and shot one of the attackers. The official Nanfang Daily said another suspect had been caught by police after fleeing the scene.

"After verbal warnings were ineffective, police fired, hitting one male suspect holding a knife, and subdued him," Guangzhou police said on an official microblog.

They did not identify the attackers.

Provincial television showed pictures of what it said was an apparently injured suspect being pressed to the ground by police and plainclothes security officials, as they removed a bloodied white t-shirt.

It was not possible to see the person's face.

The attackers carried half-meter (20-inch) knives, wore white clothes, including white hats, and launched their assault as passengers were leaving the station, city newspaper the Guangzhou Journal wrote on its microblog.

There were a total of four attackers, some other Chinese media microblogs said in their reports.

The official Guangzhou Daily, citing a store owner who witnessed the violence, said the suspects squatted on the ground next to his shop for about two hours, covering their baggage with clothing.

They suddenly let out a shout, pulled knives from their bags, and began attacking people, the daily said on its microblog. Police were on the scene within minutes and began firing warning shots, it added.

Photos circulated online in state media showed police cordoning off an empty plaza, with an ambulance parked nearby and bloodspots on the ground.

Speaking while on a visit to Hong Kong, U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Russel expressed "horror, outrage and sympathy" at the Guangzhou attack.

"We oppose terrorism in all forms, and in those instances where the available information or the information shared by the Chinese authorities pointed to terrorism by a group or individual, we have condemned it as terrorism," he said.

China last week reacted angrily to U.S. criticism of the level of cooperation from Beijing on fighting terrorism.

China blamed religious extremists for a bomb and knife attack last Wednesday at a train station in Urumqi, the regional capital of Xinjiang, that killed one bystander and wounded 79.

The government called the attackers "terrorists", a term it uses to describe Islamist militants and separatists in Xinjiang who have waged a sometimes violent campaign for an independent East Turkestan state.

Exiles and many rights groups say the real cause of the unrest in Xinjiang is China's heavy-handed policies, including curbs on Islam and the culture and language of the Muslim Uighur people.

Beijing is unhappy at the U.S. State Department's 2013 country reports on terrorism, published last month, which said China's cooperation on fighting terrorism "remained marginal" and that the Chinese provided scarce evidence to prove terrorist involvement in incidents in Xinjiang.

Source: Reuters by Ben Blanchard 

Mainland Tourists Arrivals to Hong Kong Fell Over Holiday

(WSJ) Maybe it was all the fights over peeing in the streets, the angry chants to “go home,” or increasingly vocal complaints from locals. And then, of course, there’s China’s slowing economic growth.

Whatever the reason, for the first time since 2005, the number of mainland tourists flocking to Hong Kong over the first three days of the Labor Day holiday dropped this year.

Between May 1 and May 3, according to data from the Hong Kong Immigration Department, some 388,070 mainland Chinese tourists entered Hong Kong. That’s down 2% from the same holiday period last year, when 394,476 visited Hong Kong.

The number of mainland holidaymakers crossing the border on the first day of the holiday, meanwhile, dropped 12% from last year.

If mainland visitors are loath to visit Hong Kong, perhaps that’s no surprise. Spats between locals and mainland Chinese aren’t unusual in the southern Chinese city over everything from whether mainland Chinese children should be allowed to pee in the streets (spoiler alert: Hong Kong residents aren’t thrilled about the idea) to the fact that the tourist influx has helped drive up prices and occasionally empty shelves of certain items, such as baby formula.

But industry members say Hong Kong locals shouldn’t be so quick to reject their Chinese compatriots from across the border, some 35 million of which annually visit Hong Kong, a city of seven million. 

The former British colony returned to China in 1997 but continues to maintain its own independent political and economic systems, as well as—most importantly from the perspective of China’s luxury shoppers—lower taxes. Between 2008 and 2012, the number of mainland tourists coming to Hong Kong rose by around 20% per year, according to official data.

In particular, Yiu Si-wing, a lawmaker representing the city’s tourism sector, says that angry locals who are most vociferous in their protests against mainland tourists “don’t understand China.”

“The actions OF those who oppose mainland tourists are too radical—they ruin the reputation of Hong Kong as a civilized international city,” Mr. Yiu said.

“Widespread reports on pee [incidents] could have scared off some mainland tourists ,” Mr. Yiu said, referring to an April incident in which mainland Chinese parents clashed with locals over whether their child should be allowed to urinate in the busy commercial center of Mongkok.

From easing visa restrictions to attempting various video campaigns (as one mayor in Italy appealed in an ad, “Chinese friends: invade us!”), cities around the world are vying for Chinese tourists—or more specifically, the promise of thick wallets they bring—and Hong Kong shouldn’t turn its nose up at what they can offer, Mr. Yiu said.

“Hong Kong should not lose this opportunity simply because of some trivial grievances and misunderstanding with mainland Chinese,” he said.

Source: Wall Street Journal 

Top attractions in Harbin, China

Harbin is the capital of Heilongjiang Province, China's northeastern-most region. With its arctic climate and abundant ice and snow, the city is known as China's "Ice City." The architecture in Harbin gives the city its nickname of "Oriental Moscow" and "Oriental Paris."

Since 1963, the world-famous Harbin International Ice and Snow Festival has been hosted in January of each year. During that time, exquisite ice sculptures are decorated with colorful ice lanterns and winter sports competitions attract thousands of local and overseas visitors.

If you visit Harbin, don't miss the Harbin Ice and Snow World -- by far the largest ice and snow art exhibition and amusement park in the world. The picturesque Sun Island Scenic Area and the Sophia Cathedral are also good choices for you to go.

 Following are the top 10 attractions in Harbin, China

Sun Island Scenic Area

Located on the north bank of the Songhua River, the Sun Island Scenic Area is a famous resort in China. Surrounded by blue water, the area boasts crystal lakes, wooden rockeries, beautiful flowers and exotic buildings, covering a total area of 3,800 hectares.

In summer, the comfortable weather makes it the first choice to escape from the heat; in winter, the spot is a paradise of ice and snow. Every year, ice and snow sculptures and architecture are exhibited here, attracting thousands of visitors.

Admission:30 yuan (US$4.9)/person

Central Street in Harbin

Known as the "Eastern Moscow," northeast China's Harbin has always been regarded a unique and exotic city. The Central Street in downtown Harbin is the city's ultimate symbol.

Harbin's 100-year-long history can be traced back to this story-filled street. Originally constructed in 1898, for the transportation of railway supplies and named the "Chinese Street," Central Street was later floored with square stones based on the design of a Russian engineer in 1924. Since then, it has become home to numerous foreign shops, hotels and bars. Russian leather, British woolen cloth, French perfume, German medicine and many more exotic commodities can be found here.

With a total length of 1,450 meters, Central Street is now the longest pedestrian street in all of Asia. The European architectural art is the most obvious feature of this long corridor and the four most influential schools of Western architecture from different eras -- including Baroque, Renaissance, eclecticism and Art Nouveau -- are all presented along the street. As Harbin's most cultural rich area and busiest commercial street, Central Street is an enthralling destination, attracting tourists both all over the globe.

Admission: Free

Saint Sophia Cathedral

The Saint Sophia Cathedral, or the Cathedral of the Holy Wisdom of God, is a former Russian Orthodox Church located in Harbin, capital city of Heilongjiang Province.

First built in 1907, the cathedral is the largest Orthodox Church in the Far East and is one of the most magnificent structures in the city. After being restored and rebuilt multiple times, it was turned into the Municipal Architecture and Art Museum in 1997, showcasing the multi-cultural architectural development of Harbin throughout the ages. It is hailed as a monumental work of art.

Admission: 20 yuan (US$3.27) /person

 Harbin Ice and Snow World

Established in 1999, the Harbin Ice and Snow World is by far the largest ice and snow art exhibition and amusement park in the world, conveying the unique charm of both ice and snow culture and tourism. It usually opens in late December or early January and lasts around three months, along with the Harbin International Ice and Snow Sculpture Festival.

The ice carvings here are regarded some of the world's finest examples of frozen art, where visitors are able to admire some of the largest and most majestic ice-sculpted masterpieces to be found anywhere. It is also a center for various forms of entertainment, such as ice rock-climbing, skating, skiing, sliding, snow fights, ice golfing and ice archery. Special performances based on the festival's theme are put on throughout the event.

Admission: Adult: 300 yuan (US$49.01)/person; Kids: 160 yuan (US$26.14)/person  (Subject to change each year)

Yabuli Ski Resort

Located some 23 kilometers (14.29 miles) to the southwest of Yabuli County, at 198 kilometers (123.03 miles) from Harbin, the Yabuli Ski Resort is the largest ski resort in China, as well as its largest ski training center. It is also the best ski resort in China in terms of slopes, types of slopes, length of slopes and overall services. It has hosted a number of games, including all snow-involving events of the 3rd Asian Winter Games.

The number of snow days averages around 170 and the skiing season lasts for nearly 150 days. The best time to visit the area is from mid-November until late March. The 11 slopes meet the demands from beginning to experienced skiers. Average snow fall is 30-50 cm in the lower areas and about 100 cm at the top of the mountain. The resort offers various kinds of service facilities, including hotels, bars, restaurants, a shopping mall and an aid station.

Admission: 10 yuan (US$1.63) / person

Erlong Mountain Scenic Spot

The Erlong Mountain Scenic Spot is situated in the east of Harbin, at 50 kilometers (31.07 miles) from the city center. Covering a total area of 25 square kilometers (2500 hectares), this lakeside scenic spot is surrounded by mountains on three sides. It is an ideal place for touristic recreation and sightseeing, especially in summertime. You can find many entertaining activities here, including skiing, sledding, rock climbing, mini bungee jumping, paintball, go-carting, biking and paragliding. The area welcomes nearly 1 million visitors every year.

Admission: 50 yuan (US$8.17) / person

Siberian Tiger Park

Located at the north bank of the Songhua River, the Siberian Tiger Park is the largest natural park for wild Siberian tigers in the world, covering an area of 1.44 million. It was opened to public in 1996, with the aim to save and protect the Siberian Tiger -- an endangered species.

There are more than 700 pure-bred Siberian tigers in the park, with 100 visible to visitors. Staying inside a bus, protected by wire mesh, visitors can see the tigers walking around. If you are brave enough, you can buy live animals to feed to the tigers, including ducks, chickens and even cows. In addition to the Siberian Tigers, white tigers, lions, lynxes, leopards and several other big cat types can be found in the park.

Admission: 90 yuan (US$14.7) / person

Dragon Tower

The Dragon Tower, known as the Heilongjiang Broadcasting & TV Tower, is a prominent Harbin landmark. At a height of 336 meters (1,102 feet), it is a multi-purpose steel lattice television and observation structure. It became a member of the World Federation of Great Towers on November 8, 2008.

The tower features an observation decks and platforms where visitors can have a picturesque view of the city's surrounding areas. It also features a dinosaur exhibition, a 4D theater, tower halls, walkways and buffet restaurants.

Admission: 150 yuan (US$24.5) / person

Volga Manor

The Volga Manor, located on the banks of the Ashi River, Xiangfang District of Harbin, is a tourist resort themed on Russian culture. Covering an area of 600,000 square meters (60 hectares), the manor shows the visitors marvelous views of its huge of gardening and marsh lands. The rivers, bridges, country views, together with the magnificent classical Russian-style architecture, will take you into a fairy-tale world. It is an ideal place for recreational activities, wedding ceremonies and outdoor events.

Admission:100 yuan (US$16.33)/ person

Jinyuan Cultural Tourism Area

The Jinyuan Cultural Tourism Area, located 2 kilometers (1.24 miles) south of Acheng City, Harbin, is a well-preserved site of the capital of Kin Dynasty (1115-1234). Today, the meridian Gate and palaces are in good condition, and the walls of outside city, barbican entrance, turret and moat are still there. 

Acheng City is a historical site which was used to be the largest city and political, economic, military and cultural center of northeast Asia during the 12th century.

Admission:10 yuan (US$1.63) / person

Source: china.org

Most Popular Chinese Dishes for Foreigners

(china.org) Chinese food, considered to be the biggest cultural exchange between China and other countries, is famous for its colors, aromatic flavors and the variety of its regional cuisines and ingredients. The following ten dishes are each unique in their own way yet they all have exquisite flavors, wonderful presentations and deep cultural meanings.
Sweet and Sour Pork/Chicken

Sweet and Sour Pork is a Chinese dish that is particularly popular in Cantonese cuisine and can also be found in Zhejiang cuisine, Sichuan cuisine, and Shandong cuisine. The dish is now popular all over the world. With its great look and taste, Sweet and Sour Pork takes the cake among foreigners' favorite Chinese dishes.

Main ingredients: pork tenderloin, soy sauce, ketchup, salt, vinegar, bell pepper and onion. 

Kung Pao(Gong Bao) Chicken 


Kung Pao Chicken is the most famous dish of Guizhou cuisine. It is popular among both Chinese and foreigners. Ask a foreigner to name some of Chinese dishes, Kung Pao Chicken will be one of them.

The dish is named after Ding Baozhen, a late Qing Dynasty official. Born in Guizhou, Ding served as the head of Shandong province and later as the governor of Sichuan province. His title, Gong Bao, or palatial guardian, is where the name Kung Pao chicken derives. Main Ingredients: chicken, dry red peppers and peanuts. 

Spring Rolls

Spring rolls are an appetizer, eaten either fresh or fried.They are usually eaten during the Spring Festival in China, hence the name. The dish bears very auspicious meanings as it resembles gold bars and people tend to link them with ideas of wealth. Of course, they also taste good.

Main Ingredients: flour, pork, vegetables and oil   

Egg-fried rice 

Originally from China's ancient western regions, egg-fried rice has now become part of Chinese people's daily cuisine. Famous for its aromatic smells, soft textures and handsome presentation, one can easily find this popular dish anywhere in China, from high class hotels to family-run restaurants on the street.

While it is fairly easy to make, there are some points that should be kept in mind: use left-over rice rather than newly-cooked rice for better taste. Additionally, before frying, the rice should be churned up. Main Ingredients: rice, eggs and oil. 

Spicy Tofu (Mapo doufu)  

Spicy Tofu, known in Chinese as "mapo doufu", is one of the most famous dishes from Sichuan cuisine. The dish features the trademark "hot" spiciness along with the characteristically tongue-numbing nature of Sichuan's flavorful food.

Spicy Tofu can be found in restaurants all over China, as well as in Korea and Japan, where the flavors are adapted to local tastes. The Japanese style still retains the "spiciness", even though spicy is not the preferred taste in Japanese cuisine, and is coupled with Japanese rice. 

Main Ingredients: tofu (Bean Curd) and beef

Dumplings
 
During the Spring Festival, Chinese families will get together and have dumpling parties. It is said that the dish was invented by Zhang Zhongjing, one of the finest Chinese physicians in history. Dumplings have a 1,800 year long history which is why it is one of the most popular traditional foods in China and extremely popular in Western countries. They may be cooked by boiling, steaming, simmering, frying or baking. 

Dumplings feature thin skin, soft stuffing, and unique shapes. Dumpling stuffings are various, including pork, beef, cabbage, carrots, and/or onions among others. Deep cultural meanings are usually associated with this dish, for example dumplings stuffed with celery is called "qin cai jiao" in Chinese, which is a homophone for the phrase that means "hard working and lots of wealth." Main Ingredients: meats, vegetables and flour 

Won Ton Soup
 
Won Ton Soup, called "Hun Dun" in Mandarin, is a highly welcoming dish in China. Since China is a nation of diverse ethnic groups and different cultures, each region has their own shapes for won tons. Won tons are usually boiled and served in soup, but they can also be deep-fried. 

The most versatile shape for won tons is a simple right triangle. Made by folding the won ton in half and pulling together to two opposite corners, this versions flat profile allows it to be pan-fried like a pot sticker in addition to it being boiled or deep-fried. Many people mix up won tons and dumplings, but there are three major differences. First, they have different starting shapes; won tons make use of a 6cm square or isosceles trapezoid base while dumplings us a 7cm diameter circular base. Second, the "skin" used for won tons is much thinner than the "skin" used for dumplings. Finally, won tons are always found in soups while dumplings are dipped in condiments and sauces Main Ingredients: pork, shrimp, vegetables and green onions.

 Peking Duck
 
Now considered to be one of China's National Foods, the Peking Duck is prized for its eloquent taste and stunning presentation. This famous dish can be found at restaurants all around Beijing. Upscale restaurants take this dish so seriously that some even have their own duck farms and use only a special kind of duck for their specific Peking Duck dish. 

The Quanjude Restaurant, one of the largest roast duck restaurants in Beijing, if not the world, opened its door in 1979. Filled to capacity, Quanjude can serve as many as 5,000 meals a day. Peking Duck is famous for its thin, crispy skin, and its delectable and aromatic meat, which is highly popular among all foreigners, including foreign celebrities and leaders. Main Ingredients: duck, pancake and onion.

Chow Mein

 

Chow Mein is a rich source of nutrition and has many health benefits including improving digestion, anemia and immunity. Extremely popular in China and all over the world, this stir-fried noodle dish comes in many varieties. Cantonese Chow Mein is the most famous in Western countries.

In American Chinese cuisine, Chow Mein consists of noodles, meat, onions and celery. It is served as a specific dish at westernized Chinese restaurants. The East and West Coasts of the United States do have some differences in preparation of this dish. On the East Coast, Chow Mein is almost always prepared in the "Hong Kong" style and crispy. On the West Coast, Chow Mein is almost always steamed and soft. Most restaurants in China cook this dish by deep frying the noodles; the fastest way to obtain the beautiful golden yellow noodles associated with this aromatic dish. Main Ingredients: noodles and oil.

Fried Shrimps with Cashews


Compared with the heavy tastes of Spicy Tofu, this dish is relatively light. Known for being nutritious, good-looking and tasty. Fried Shrimp and Cashews is said to protect the cardio-cerebral-vascular system and prevent cardiovascular disease. The shrimp is usually soft and easily digestible and accented by the cashews.

The dish is easy to cook at home. There are two very important tips that you should follow. First, if the shrimp is a bit too hard, one can put flour inside of them to soften them up. Second, one knows when the cashews have been in long enough once they start to sink in the hot water. They should then be fried until golden yellow.

Main Ingredients: shrimp, cashews and celery.


Source: china.org by lu na

Labor Day Travel

Passengers queue to enter the Nanchang Railway Station in Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi Province, April 30, 2014. The four-day period of Labor Day travel peak began on Wednesday. National railways were expected to receive 36,400,000 passengers from April 30 to May 3, 2014


Source: Xinhua

Travel guide for Labor Day holiday

With the three- day Labor Day Holiday taking off, tourists have already descended on the nation’s scenic spots. Do you have any plans for your Labor Day holiday? Here are our travel tips, check it out.

Zhangjiajie, Hunan province

Zhangjiajie is located in the northwestern part of Hunan Province, about 265 kilometers to the northwest of Changsha, the provincial capital. Most scenic spots in the area are situated in the northern part of Zhangjiajie City, including Zhangjiajie National Forest Park, Wulingyuan, Tianmen Mountain, Huanglong Cave, Baofeng Lake, and Suoxi Valley. Zhangjiajie is known for its beautiful forests, odd-shaped rock formations, exquisite canyons, limestone caves, and jaw-dropping panoramic views. The entire area is covered with towering sandstone and quartz cliffs and dense unspoiled forests over limestone caves lying underneath. The hills present different views to visitors with the changing of seasons. In the summer, it is the best place to avoid high temperatures and enjoy the charming scenery.

Travel tips:

Admission:

Zhangjiajie National Forest Park: 245 yuan

Wulingyuan: 245 yuan

Tianmen Mountain: 260 yuan

Opening Hours: 08:30-17:30

Getting there: You can take travel bus from Zhangjiajie to all the scenic spots.

Yili River Valley, Xinjiang

Yili River Valley is located in the Yili Kazak Autonomous Prefecture, northwestern part of Xinjiang. It borders Russia and Mongolia in the northeast, and connects Changji Hui Autonomous Prefecture and Bayinguoleng Mongol Autonomous Prefecture in the southeast. In 1964, some species of lavender were first introduced from Provence, France to Yili River Valley. After half a century, Yili has now become the only lavender farming area in China, with more than 3,000 acres in production each year. It accounts for more than 95 percent of the country’s lavender production. And Yili becomes one of the world's four lavender origins, together with Provence in France, Hokkaido in Japan, and the Caucasus alongside in Russia. After May each year, lavenders begin to blossom almost everywhere around the valley and turn the place into a sea of purple.

Travel tips:

Admission:

Kesang National Forest Park: 30 yuan

Kelajun Grassland: 50 yuan

Dongdatang: 25 yuan

Lujiaowan Grassland: 25 yuan

Getting there: You can take bus from Yining railway station

Zhexi Grand Canyon, Zhejiang Province

Sitting at the border of Zhejiang and Anhui, Zhexi Grand Canyon is situated in the Lin'an City, northwest of Zhejiang Province. With a total length of more than 80 kilometers, the canyon has three scenic sections. The first scenic section is "Longjing Canyon", which has about 18 kilometers long and consists of exotic peaks, graceful waterfalls and dangerous and steep rocks. The second section is "Shangxi Canyon". With a length of about 26 kilometers, it has a high, steep topography, rapid currents and exotic and interesting mountain stones. The third is "Zhemen Canyon", which has layers of mountain waterfalls and flowing mist, as well as exotic and wonderful landscapes of large and small stone gate caves. It’s an ideal place to enjoy the nature’s beauty and avoid the sweltering summer.

Travel tips:

Admission: 110 yuan

Opening Hours: 07:00-17:00

Getting there: You can take coach bus from Lin’an bus station or Changhua bus station to Taipingqiao Town.

Daocheng, Sichuan Province

Daocheng Located in the south of Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Daocheng is widely regarded as "the last pure land in the blue planet." At an average elevation of 3,800 meters, Daocheng is renowned for its magnificent mountains, broad valleys, lush pastures and wild lakes. Forests, grasslands, and brooks can also be found in the grand valley, fringed by splendid snowcapped mountain peaks. After May each year, when the temperature climbs high, lots of visit Daocheng to hike, hoping to relax and enjoy the quietest and purest natural scenery on the earth.

Travel tips:

Admission: 150 yuan; 70 yuan for students

Opening Hours: 07:00-18:30

Getting there: You can take coach bus from Chengdu.

Xilingol Grassland, Inner Mongolia

Xilingol Grassland Xilingol Grassland, which means "rivers on the highlands", is located in Xilinhot City, center of Inner Mongolia. Covering more than 10,786 square kilometers, the grassland is considered one of the most representative grasslands in a temperate climate zone in China. It consists of marshlands, grasslands, sand dunes, and wetlands, with over 1,200 plants growing on the grasslands. Among them, 671 plant varieties are edible, over 400 are herbs, and over 50 are oil bearing corps. The grassland is also home to many animals, including fine-wool sheep, Mongolian oxen, prairie red cows, Ujumuchin sheep, Xilinguole camels and horses, as well as 76 species of birds including swans and larks. When summer comes, it is a wonderful resort for sightseeing and avoiding heat.

Travel tips:

Admission: 25 yuan

Opening Hours: 08:30-17:30

Getting there: You can take travel bus from Xilinhot City to Xiwuqi or Dongwuqi.

Dalian Bingyu Valley, Liaoning

Covering an area of 110 square kilometers, Bingyu Valley is located north of Zhuanghe City, 240 kilometers from Dalian. It is labeled as "Little Guilin" and "Oriental Miniature Switzerland" thanks to its rugged cliffs, astonishing peaks, clear rivers, and mysterious caves. The valley is beautiful in different ways during different seasons. In winter, travelers can try ice sports; in autumn, visitors can enjoy a lofty mountain with colorful leaves, while in summer, it is the ideal place to avoid the heat. The whole scenic area consists of various scenic spots, such as Yingna River, Longhua Mountain, Yunshuidu, Shuanglonghui and Xianren Cave.

Travel tips:

Admission: 120 yuan

Getting there: You can take travel bus from Dalian railway station, or take coach bus from Beigangqiao bus station.

Nanhu Lake, Shaanxi

Lying at the southern foot of the Hanshan Mountain, Hanzhong City, Shaanxi Province, Nanhu Lake is listed as a AAA national tourist attraction and one of the most famous scenic spots in Shaanxi Province. Perennial green mountains, densely flowing rivers, colorful flowers, and flourishing pine and bamboo forests make Nanhu Lake a lush garden on the water. The poem line: "Blue water reflecting on the fairy lands makes you feel you’re roaming in a picture." is an authentic description of Nanhu Lake's scenic spot. After May each year, the weather gets warmer and the mountain turns green, it’s the high time to go out and enjoy the beauty of the area.

Travel tips:

Admission: 15 yuan

Opening Hours: 08:00-18:00

Getting there: You can take travel bus from Hanzhong City.

Kangxi Grassland, Beijing

Situated to the west of Badaling Great Wall, Yanqing County, Kangxi Grassland is sandwiched between Haituo Mountain and Guanting Reservoir. Covering an area of about 22 square kilometers, it is the largest grassland in Beijing. About 80 kilometers away from downtown, the grassland is a wonderful place for people to go out and get some fresh air. When summer comes, grasses begin to flourish and flowers start to bloom. It's the best time to escape from the city's chaos and relax. There are various interesting activities in the grassland, including horseback riding, camelback riding, boating, fishing and skating. Visitors can also have a taste of Inner Mongolia’s lifestyle, complete with yurts, Mongolian song, dance, milk tea, kumiss, cheeses and roast rabbit and goat.

Travel tips:

Admission: 30 yuan

Opening Hours: 08:00-17:00

Getting there: 919 branch line (Deshengmen-Kangxi Grassland)

Source: china.org

Mainland tourists to Taiwan up 45% in Q1

Chinese mainland visitors to Taiwan reached 767,400 in the first quarter of 2014, up 45 percent year on year, a Taiwan affairs office spokeswoman said on Wednesday.

The number of individual tourists from the Chinese mainland to Taiwan hit 252,200 in the first quarter, a rise of 176 percent year on year, thanks to the mainland's efforts to make cross-Straits travel more convenient, said Fan Liqing, spokeswoman for the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, at a press conference.

Mainland people who signed up for organized group package tours to Taiwan reached 515,200 in the first quarter, Fan said.

The past four months have witnessed a continuous increase in the number of mainland visitors to Taiwan, according to the spokeswoman.

She also noted that mainland tourists have shown enthusiasm for travel to Taiwan for the upcoming May Day holiday, citing statistics from Taiwan that tours to the island have been fully booked in advance.

Mainland tourists are encouraged to show good manners while sightseeing in Taiwan, Fan said, adding that both sides should try to ensure the safety of mainland tourists.

Source: xinhua via china daily