South Putuo Temple Fujian province

South Putuo Temple is adjacent to Xiamen University in the Southeast of the city. Originally built in the Tang Dynasty (618-907), the temple was destroyed many times over the course of following dynasties. In the 23rd year of the Kangxi reign of the Qing Dynasty (1616-1912), it was once again rebuilt and given its present name. A statue of the Bodhisattva Guanyin, or Avalokitesvara, is enshrined in the temple, which receives an endless stream of worshippers and pilgrims throughout the year. [Photo/China.org.cn]

China's Airport Building Boom

The first rule of airline travel in China is: Don’t cut connections close. Assume your first flight will be late, and leave plenty of time than to scramble to your next gate. Fortunately, if you’re flying between major Chinese cities, you can bide your time in a gleaming new airport with plenty of shops selling tea, lattes, snacks, souvenirs, and even prestige apparel. (Only in Chinese airports have I seen stores selling “BMW Lifestyle” clothing).


In China, travel is booming, giving rise to new airports and hotels to accommodate the inbound masses. The International Air Transport Association forecasts that by 2016, China will have 415 million fliers annually, second only to the U.S. in volume of domestic passengers. Volume at the Beijing Capital Airport has tripled in the last 10 years; the city’s second major airport will open by 2018. In all, the current Five Year Plan calls for 55 new civil airports by 2015, bringing China’s total to 230.

The build-out is good news for the obvious suspects, including travelers, hotels, and retailers that profit from travel. In a recent report, the Virginia-based Global Business Travel Association estimated that spending related to business travel in China will increase 14.7 percent in 2013, to $224 billion. (GBTA estimates comparable spending in the U.S. in 2013 will be $268.5 billion.)

For many of the Chinese cities caught up in the airport-construction boom, it’s been a mixed blessing. In 2011, China’s Civil Aviation Administration recorded that 75 percent of its civil airports were operating at a loss, according to the China Daily. High levels of debt assumed by local governments to finance airports and other large infrastructure projects are a growing worry for China. Last month Fitch downgraded China’s credit rating, expressing concerns especially about local debt. In its assessment, the credit rating agency noted: “Fitch believes total credit in the economy including various forms of ‘shadow banking‘ activity may have reached 198 percent of GDP at end-2012, up from 125 percent at end-2008.”

One component of the mismatch is that Chinese airline carriers have focused on connecting major hubs, with far fewer flights to secondary destinations. As a result, while small regional airports are often eerily quiet, industry analysts believe Beijing’s Capital Airport is on track to overtake Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport as the world’s busiest.

Source: Bloomberg Businessweek By Christina Larson

West Lake boosts revenues through free admission

Source: (CNTV.cn)

West Lake is an extremely popular tourism destination in east China's Zhejiang province. But while most of scenic spots in the country are raising their ticket prices, West Lake is bucking the trend, offering free entry to major spots. That's in spite of the big revenues generated over the last decade.

Surrounded by mountains, West Lake lies peacefully in the heart of Hangzhou city. Its picturesque landscape attracts visitors from China and beyond.

A tourist said, "Of all the places I've seen in China, this is the most beautiful. This is the first time I've come here. And it is what I most considered to be typical China."

Walking along this Chinese-style bridge, you can really immerse yourself in the flavor of the culture south of the Yangtze River. Over 130 sightseeing spots including museums and memorial halls are free to public, drawing more than 30 million visitors every year.

A tour guide said, "Actually we're very afraid to lead groups on May Day holiday because it brings the biggest crowds. But West Lake is so famous that many people don't want to miss it."

In West Lake, the free ticket scheme combined with greater service options is convincing visitors to prolong their stays inside the park. They can take leisurely walks, bike around the lake, or even take a short cruise.

Nina Wu, Hangzhou, Zhejiang province, said, "This is one of the ten famous scenic sites of West Lake. These three stone pagodas were built over 800 years ago. They form the centerpiece of the scenic spot known as: "Three Pools Mirroring the Moon". By taking a boat on the water, visitors can admire the beauty of West Lake."

West Lake is the only World Heritage site in China offering free entry. The city officials replaced ticket charges with a host of entertainment options. The plan has actually caused profits to soar.
Liu Ying, Director of West Lake Administration Committee, said, "Every year we reduce ticket revenue by 40-50 million RMB for West Lake visitors. But commercial services and facilities have been expanded since free admission launched ten years ago. It brings a lot of publicity to the open park."

With free entry and no price increases, West Lake has showcased a great way for China's scenic spots to generate revenue through a more open prospective.

China to start issuing e-passports

Source: By Cao Yin in Beijing and Zhou Wenting in Shanghai (China Daily)

China's e-passports will better protect citizens' personal data and national security, said customs officials on Tuesday, as authorities nationwide geared up for the introduction of the new high-tech system.

The 48-page travel document, which will be issued starting May 15, is fitted with a chip on the last page. Each page has an anti-forgery label.

Only police and customs authorities will be able to access the information on the chip, which includes the holder's name, photograph and fingerprints.

"In this way, no one can copy or use an e-passport that is lost or stolen," said Tang Lei, head of e-passport management for Beijing Public Security Bureau's exit-entry administration.

"The e-passport will be effective in protecting national security and convenient for residents when passing through customs checkpoints."

So far, more than 100 fingerprint recorders have been installed at the exit-entry administrations that process applications across the capital. Authorities say that staff members responsible for coping with the application work have received extensive training.

Although the e-passport will increase the workload for staff, it will take just one or two more minutes to finish an application.

Starting May 15, new applicants will get e-passports after storing thumb fingerprints and signatures, while old passports can still be used, if valid, said Lin Song, an officer in the administration.

The cost for the passport application will remain 200 yuan ($30).

The application process in Beijing will be suspended on Monday to transfer the system.

In Shanghai, the acceptance of passport applications will be suspended for the three work days prior to May 15 to prepare devices and make system upgrades, said Li Feng, a publicity official for the Shanghai Public Security Bureau's exit-entry administration.

More than 90 countries in the world, including the United States and Japan, already use e-passports, according to the administration.

"It's inevitable for such advanced technology to step into residents' lives," said Tang, who hailed the arrival of e-passports as an important step for China to take toward automatic processing at customs points.

"If the e-passport is developed well in China, the automatic pass, or pass without labor management, in customs will be implemented as soon as possible," Tang said, adding that it would be like the self-service ticketing on buses in the capital.

However, exactly when that could be realized is uncertain, he said.

The e-passport service has received plaudits from applicants.

"A passport can sometimes work as a substitute ID card when checking in at hotels or boarding a flight. It would be horrifying if my passport was fraudulently used by others," said Zhou Shuwen, 25, who works in a public relations agency in Shanghai.

However, others fear the need for fingerprints will be inconvenient, especially when it comes to visas.

"I have to personally go to the site to give my fingerprint with this new passport," said Tang Wenzhe, a Shanghai native and a travel enthusiast.

"Then what is the need to pay for travel agencies? I want them to help me with the string of application procedures," she added.

According to the Ministry of Public Security, China issues more than 10 million regular passports every year, and that number is increasing by 20 percent annually.

Over 1000-year-old Shanggantang Village

Photos taken on May 5, 2012 shows Shanggantang Village near Xiemu River in Jiangyong County, central China's Hunan Province. Shanggantang Village, with a history of more than 1,000 years, locates at 25 kilometers southwest of Jiangyong and has more than 400 families. Most of the villagers are surnamed Zhou. Until now, there still remains more than 200 resident houses and a number of other historical relics built in the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties. (Xinhua/Li Ga)

Taipei's Palace Museum to expand

Source: Xinhua via  china.org.cn

Taipei's Palace Museum will expand its exhibition area to accommodate growing numbers of visitors, according to Taiwanese authorities in charge of economic construction.

The expanded exhibition hall, together with a cultural creativity center, will be built near the museum's current site, according to a plan passed on Tuesday.

The museum will put up 80 percent of the cost, estimated to be between 20 billion New Taiwan dollars (NTD; 686.3 million U.S. dollars) and 30 billion NTD.

The culture creativity center and the hall will be completed in 2016 and 2024, respectively, according to the plan.

The project is estimated to bring back 151 billion NTD in economic returns in 30 years, help create 6,500 jobs every year during the construction period and provide employment for 2,200 people annually after 2024, according to a spokesman.

Tourist numbers are expected to hit 4.4 million per year after 2016 and are set to double the current figure to hit 7 million per year by 2041.

Visitors have flocked to the museum since authorities in Taiwan lifted a ban on mainlanders traveling to the island in July 2008. Taipei's Palace Museum is considered a must-see destination on mainlanders' Taiwan trips.

The mainland is currently the biggest source of tourists to the island. More than 210,000 tourists from the Chinese mainland visited Taiwan in April, a record monthly high, an official with the island's tourism department said Tuesday.

In 2011, more than 1.78 million mainland residents visited Taiwan, a year-on-year increase of 9.4 percent, taking up nearly one third of the 6.08 million visitors the island received last year, according to Taiwan's tourism authorities.

Spring hopes themes will draw numbers

Themed flights, new menus and more business class seats are among the innovations that Chinese low-cost carrier Spring Airlines is banking on to draw in more passengers this year.

The Shanghai-based carrier is, however, banking on themed flights, in which flight attendants and crew are dressed up as French maids and butlers, from Shanghai Hongqiao International Airport to bring in more domestic passengers.

Spring Airlines says that it was motivated to launch such flights in China after the successful experiences of other international carriers. "We were profitable in 2012," said Wang Zhenghua, founder and chairman of Spring Airlines.

Strong support from Shanghai Spring International Travel Service, the carrier's parent, has been one of the main reasons for its success, said Li Lei, an industrial analyst with Minzu Securities.

"The parent's strong support ensures that Spring Airlines has a large passenger flow even in a low market," he said.

"Most of our passengers are young, white-collar workers and the themed flights are just one of the steps that we are planning to cater to their tastes," said Spring Airlines spokesman Zhang Wuan.

"The clothes are designed according to young people's tastes and they are prettier than the normal flight attendant uniforms. We have called them maidservant clothes and butler clothes because we want to emphasize serving customers," he said.

The clothes resemble maidservant dresses in old French movies with a modern style.

Zhang said the costumes have been designed by the budget airline. The themed flights would be chosen at random as the carrier wants to surprise its passengers.

Yin Xiaonan, branch manager at Shanghai Jingjiang International Travel, said Spring Airlines' themed flights "underline the domestic carriers' willingness to offer more high-quality services".

"It's meaningful," added He Jianmin, a tourism management professor from the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics, "especially because Spring Airlines is usually recognized as a low-cost airline".
But critical voices have also surfaced online.

"Dressing like a servant will give people the impression that flight attendants are in an inferior position and that's not a good idea," one netizen wrote.

Gu Jun, a sociology professor at Shanghai University, said: "The definition of a servant does not necessarily mean precedence in social life. Whether one person is inferior to another is not decided by a title but by one's personality.

"There are many services for which flight attendants have to kneel down to serve first-class passengers and there were many criticisms about that when the service was launched at first," he said. "But as long as the service is provided without violating the law, there is no need to argue whether it is proper."

He from Shanghai University of Finance and Economics said there are several leaders who are trying to offer servant-style leadership and they are often called "public servants". Since there is hardly any criticism of such activities, there is no reason why flight attendants cannot wear such dresses, He said.

The development of Chinese society, he added, will need people to change the notion that to serve is a low-level person's job. As a matter of fact, the more a society develops, the more important services are, he said.

Taiwan's Eva Air used Japanese cartoon character Kitty White for its Hello Kitty-themed planes. Passengers on the themed planes had the famous kitten on items as diverse as boarding passes, cups and food.

The themed flights are one of a series of themed marketing initiatives the budget carrier launched this year.

"Price will always be the first consideration, said Qian Ting, an employee of Shanghai Airlines Tours. "No matter what, customers always prefer the cheaper flights."

Most of Spring Airlines' customers are middle- to low-income customers. However, by providing themed flights, the low cost carrier is looking to win a wider variety of passengers, said Gu.

Source: By Wang Ying in Shanghai (China Daily)