A mountain that scales China's history

During a 3,000-year span, emperors, poets and scholars made pilgrimages to Mount Taishan to pray to the gods, leaving behind hundreds of inscriptions and stone tablets, Zhao Ruixue reports in Tai'an, Shandong province

Tarzan, whose paradise is in the African jungle, might also feel at home on Mount Taishan in Shandong province. Not only does the mountain share the cartoon figure's namesake (Tarzan is translated as Taishan in Chinese) but it is lush with green vegetation that could make for a comfortable environment for the tree-swinger.

Vegetation covers nearly 80 percent of the mountain, which has 989 species of flora, including 462 species of medicinal plants, such as multiflower knotweed, Taishan ginseng and Chinese gromwell, that are indigenous to the region. The mountain also has more than 200 animal species and 122 bird species.

One could only guess if Tarzan would appreciate the temples and stone tablets that dot the mountain. After all, it would be difficult for him to understand them.

Described by UNESCO as "a world-renowned treasure house of history and culture", Mount Taishan is ideal for people who want to learn about Chinese history while enjoying beautiful landscapes.

Named Dong Yue (the sacred mountain of the East), Mount Taishan is located in Tai'an. Jining, Confucius' hometown, lies to the south and Jinan, the provincial capital, to the north.

"Among the mountains of China, Mount Taishan is the most intertwined with Chinese history. 

Cultural interests and natural landscapes are well integrated into the mountain," said Du Xiaofan, a member of UNESCO's Beijing office.

Mount Taishan, with its dense forests and ancient temples, has been the site for imperial pilgrimages for roughly 2,000 years, according to UNESCO, and the artistic masterpieces found throughout the mountain are in perfect harmony with the natural landscape.

Standing 1,545 meters above sea level, the mountain is by no means the tallest in China, but it is among the first to be blessed with the sunrise's golden hues because of its geographical location in East China. It was regarded in ancient times as the closest position to the sky.

Over 3,000 years, Chinese emperors have made pilgrimages to Mount Taishan to pray to the gods. 

Scholars and poets have marveled at the majesty of the mountain and composed poems and prose in honor of it, some inscribing them on the mountain.

Twelve emperors, beginning with Qin Shihuang, the first emperor that unified China in 221 BC, have paid homage in a ritual called "Fengshan Sacrifices" at Mount Taishan, said Lyu Jixiang, a researcher with Taishan's management committee.

"There are more than 2,000 rock inscriptions and stone tablets testifying to visits by emperors and scholars," said Lyu.

Lyu said more than 10,000 poems and works of prose have been found.

Located at the foot of the mountain, the Dai Temple is a must-see. Measuring 405 meters by 236 meters, Dai Temple is the largest and best-preserved structure on Taishan. Built in the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220) as a site at which emperors paid their respects to the gods, the temple was expanded and renovated by rulers of the Tang (AD 618-907) and Song (960-1279) dynasties.

Han Emperor Liu Che (141-86 BC) visited Mount Taishan ten times. It is said the emperor planted 1,000 cypresses at the Dai Temple, thought only five survive today. Two of the five have had their barks stripped but surprisingly some of their branches are still greeting tourists with green leaves.

The Tiankuang Hall, the temple's main structure, houses a giant Taoist mural that is 3.3 meters high and 62 meters long and depicts the god of Taishan Mountain on an inspection tour. The mural details forests, palaces, bridges, riding beasts and 697 people and was painted during the Song Dynasty.

Parts of the mural have been damaged, though it is slated for repairs this year, said Zhao Peng, deputy director of Tai'an Museum.

The Dai Temple is also called "the forest of stone tablets" because it houses more than 300 stone tablets, Zhao said.

At the summit of the mountain is an address made during one of the "Fengshan Sacrifices" rites that was written by Emperor Li Longji (who reigned from AD 712-756) during the Tang Dynasty.

Emperor Li took the rite seriously. He selected 1,000 horses and a massive army and began his journey to the temple from the then capital of Chang'an. Emperor Li carved his address in an entire cliff to show his achievements.

At the summit, you will also see several monuments marking Confucius' visits.

"The Platform for Viewing Lu Kingdom" is where Confucius scanned over the Chinese kingdom and where an upright slab of stone is inscripted with "Confucius finds the world small".

The Azure Cloud Temple at the summit has become a popular place for people to burn incense and pray for their health and happiness. To protect the environment, the management committee for the mountain has prohibited incenses longer than 50 cm.

Statistics from the local tourism administration shows 48.3 million tourists visited the city last year, generating 44.17 billion yuan ($7.08 billion), which accounted for 15.8 percent of Tai'an's GDP.

In recent years, the local government has introduced several projects to enrich its tourism industry. 

Among them are performances to re-enact the "Fengshan Sacrifices" at Fanta Wild Adventure Park.

IF YOU GO

Travel tips

The popular eastern route is dubbed the "Imperial Way" because it was historically favored by emperors. Nearly 7,000 steps snake up the mountain and the route is dotted with sacred spots, carvings and inscriptions by China's famous literati and rulers.

・ From the Red Gate, tourists will encounter such sites as the Middle Heaven's Gate, the Wudafu Pine, the 1,600-step 18 Bends and more than 300 inscribed cliffs.

・ You can also take a tour bus for 30 yuan ($4.80) at Tianwaicun village to Middle Heaven's Gate.

・ From Middle Heaven's Gate, take a cable car to South Heaven's Gate located at the top of the mountain for 80 yuan ($12.80).

・ From the South Heaven's Gate, tourists can hike to Jade Emperor Peak, the summit of the mountain. Southeast of the peak is a stone pagoda named Sun-Watching Peak because it is an ideal spot to watch the sunrise.

・ Tourists can also take the ropeway from Peach Blossom Ravine at the western part of the mountain, which will take you directly to the South Heaven's Gate.

・ The temperature at the summit is usually seven degrees lower than at the foot of the mountain.

How to get there :

・ High-speed trains run from Beijing and Shanghai to Tai'an every couple of hours.

・ A ticket of admission for Mount Taishan is 127 yuan ($20.36) from Feb 1 to Nov 30. It costs 110 yuan ($17.63) from Dec 1 to Jan 31.

Source: By Zhao Ruixue (China Daily)

China Southern acquires smaller domestic rival

China Southern Airlines, the country's largest airline by fleet size, announced its subsidiary Xiamen Airlines has signed an deal to take a 95.4-percent stake in smaller rival Hebei Airlines.

In a filing to the Shanghai Stock Exchange on Tuesday, China Southern said the deal with the Hebei Aviation Investment Group Co Ltd values 680 million yuan ($111 million).

China Southern said its board of directors believed the acquisition will help Xiamen Airlines consolidate its market share in north China and optimize its air routes nationwide.

Hebei Airlines, headquartered in Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province, has a registered capital of 1.8 billion yuan and total assets of 4.2 billion yuan.

In the first eight months of the year, Hebei Airlines reported revenues of 940 million yuan and net loss of 120 million yuan.

China Southern also said in the statement that it will sign a deal with Sichuan Airlines to take a 3.83 percent-stake in Hebei Airlines the small rival holds for 69 million yuan.

The two deals are subject to regulatory approvals, it said.

After the two deals, Xiamen Airlines will own 99.23 percent of Hebei Airlines.

Source: Xinhua | Photo: Reuters 

US eyes sale of NY's Waldorf hotel to Chinese firm

(AP) — Concerned about potential security risks, the U.S. government is taking a close look at last week's sale of New York's iconic Waldorf Astoria hotel to a Chinese insurance company.

U.S. officials said Monday they are reviewing the Oct. 6 purchase of the Waldorf by the Beijing-based Anbang Insurance Group, which bought the hotel from Hilton Worldwide for $1.95 billion. 

Terms of the sale allow Hilton to run the hotel for the next 100 years and call for "a major renovation" that officials say has raised eyebrows in Washington, where fears of Chinese eavesdropping and cyber espionage run high.

The officials also said the sale could have implications for the government's longstanding relationship with the hotel, which serves as home to the American ambassador to the United Nations and hosts the president and hundreds of U.S. diplomats during the annual U.N. General Assembly.

"We are currently in the process of reviewing the details of the sale and the company's long-term plans for the facility," said Kurtis Cooper, a spokesman for the U.S. Mission to the United Nations. 

He and other officials said decisions about the future of the U.S. relationship with the Waldorf would be made based on cost, Anbang's long-term plans for the hotel, and the government's needs and security concerns.

The officials said specifics of the renovation plan would be a key issue of the review.

"The State Department takes seriously the security of its personnel, their work spaces and official residences," Cooper said. "We are constantly evaluating our security protocols and standard operating procedures to ensure the safety and security of our information and personnel."

The department routinely warns U.S. diplomats in China about physical and electronic surveillance and tells American citizens in the country to be aware of similar risks, notably in hotels.

"Hotel rooms (including meeting rooms), offices, cars, taxis, telephones, Internet usage and fax machines may be monitored onsite or remotely, and personal possessions in hotel rooms, including computers, may be searched without your consent or knowledge," according to the department's latest travel advice for China. "Business travelers should be particularly mindful that trade secrets, negotiating positions and other business-sensitive information may be taken and shared with local interests."

For more than 50 years, the State Department has leased a residence for the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. on the 42nd floor of the hotel's Waldorf Towers. And, every September, the department takes over two floors of the Waldorf to serve as headquarters for the horde of U.S. diplomats that decamp from Washington for the U.N. General Assembly. During the session, the president spends several nights at the Waldorf.

U.S. law allows the department to rent the ambassador's residence for a term of 10 years or less. The current lease expires next year with an option to renew it for one or two years.

It was not immediately clear if the review would affect decisions about the possible renewal of the existing lease.

Ending the government's relationship with the Waldorf could be problematic and expensive, according to officials who note that numerous studies conducted during both Republican and Democratic administrations have concluded that it is cost effective and convenient.

Cooper noted that the U.N. ambassador's residence must meet a long list of requirements, including appropriate housing, reception space, security, proximity to the U.S. Mission to the United Nations and the U.N. headquarters.

Source: Associated Press by Matthew Lee

800-year-old ancient village in Shanxi

With the history of more than eight hundred years, Dacan ancient village, located in Yuxian, north China's Shanxi province, is surrounded by mountains.

Eight years ago, there were 85 households and more than 320 villagers, but now there are only 11 households and 17 residents, with the oldest being 90 years old and the youngest 50 years old.

Dacan ancient village is also called stone village because the whole village is built on a rock slope and all the houses were made of stones

Source: china.org

Top attractions in Inner Mongolia, China

Mausoleum of Genghis Khan (成吉思汗陵)

The Genghis Khan Mausoleum is located in Ordos City. It was built by the Chinese government from 1954 to 1956. Featuring the traditional Mongolian style, the mausoleum is not the real burial place of the Khan because his burial site remains a mystery. It is just a cenotaph, where the coffin contains no body; there are only headdresses and accessories as decorations.

Admission: 110 yuan

Best time to visit: May to September

Hulun Buir grasslands (呼伦贝尔草原)

Located in northeastern Inner Mongolia, the Hulun Buir grasslands have been ranked as one of the three best grasslands in the world. The grasslands get their name from the Hulun and Buir lakes. It is one of the world's best preserved grasslands, boasting more than 120 types of pastures. Although every season shows us the different beauty of the grasslands, the landscape from May to August is the most gorgeous as it is dotted with colorful flowers, birds, and cattle and sheep scattered among the grasses. Besides, you can enjoy various kinds of activities, including horseback and camelback riding, and watch the local horse racing and Mongolian wrestling.

Admission: NA

Best time to visit: May to August

Xiangshawan (响沙湾)

Xiangshawan, also known as the Resonant Sand Gorge, gets its name from an echoing sound you hear when you step on the sands. It is located in the middle part of Dalad Banner near Ordos City. 

Here, you can enjoy the sand dunes and participate in various kinds of activities like sand surfing and camel riding. It is close to the Mausoleum of Genghis Khan and Zhaojun's Tomb.

Admission: 80 yuan

Best time to visit: Autumn

Zhaojun's Tomb (昭君墓)

Located on the southern bank of the Dahei River nine kilometers south of the city of Hohhot, Zhaojun's Tomb, also known as green tomb, belongs to Wang Zhaojun, one of the Four Beauties of ancient China. It is 33 meters high, covering an area of 13,000 square meters. In 33 B.C. Huhanxie Chanyu, chief of the Xiongnus, proposed ties of amity with the Han court through marriage. When Zhaojun married Huhanxie, it brought a half century of peace for the Han Dynasty and Xiongnus.

Admission: 65 yuan

Best time to visit: April - October

Huitengxile grassland (辉腾锡勒草原)

As we all know that Inner Mongolia is famous for its wide and beautiful grasslands. Located 135 km from Hohhot, Huitengxile is a high recommended spot to see the boundless sky on the green prairie. 

It features a sea of flowers, countless lakes and Heishan Mountain, with its grotesquely-shaped rocks. The area offers all kinds of activities for tourists, including horseback riding, archery and tasting local food.

Admission: free

Best time to visit: June and July

Wudangzhao Monastery (五当召)

Situated on Jihuluntu Mountain, 54 kilometers north of Baotou City, Wudangzhao Monastery is one of the four largest Tibetan Buddhist temples in China, together with Potala Palace in Tibet, Ta'er Monastery in Qinghai and Labrang Monastery in Gansu. It consists of six halls for chanting Buddhist scriptures, three Living Buddha mansions, one mausoleum and multiple lama dormitories. The monastery looks solemn and grand.

Admission: 60 yuan

Best time to visit: June to September

The Rock Paintings of Yinshan Mountains (阴山岩画)

The Rock Paintings of Yinshan Mountains is the largest rock painting and carving treasury in China, scattered over the central and west part of Inner Mongolia. The themes of the carvings mainly are daily life and hunting activities of prehistoric nomads. Among the rock paintings, the most numerous drawn ones are pictures of animals, including goats, sheep, argali, rabbits and foxes. The vivid engravings exude the rich flavor of the lives of ancient peoples.

Admission: NA

Best time to visit: May to October

Hexigten Global Geopark (克什克腾世界地质公园)

Located in Hexigten Banner, 400 km north of Beijing, the park covers an area of 5,000 square kilometers, featuring 10 types of geological and morphological landscapes, including glacier landforms, granite landforms, volcanic landforms, grasslands, lakes, rivers, and wetlands. Besides, among the various kinds of grasslands in Inner Mongolia, it is the nearest grassland to Beijing. When the spring comes, the blooming flowers make for charming views.

Admission: 100 yuan (Arshihaty granite forest park)

                       120 yuan (Qingshan granite mortars)

                       25 yuan (Dali Nur volcanic landscape, including 15 yuan for the museum)

Best time to visit: May to October

Dazhao Temple (大昭寺)

Located in Yuquan District of Hohhot, the capital of Inner Mongolia, Dazhao Temple, also known as Hongci Temple and Wuliang Temple, was built in the 7th year of Wanli Reign of the Ming Dynasty (1579). It features a rare silver statue of Sakyamuni that measures 2.5 meters high. It is now a well-known attraction for its impressive buildings, splendid statues, delicate frescoes and fine collection of Buddhist scriptures, providing precious information for studying the society, economy and culture of ancient Inner Mongolia.

Admission: 30 yuan

Best time to visit: June to September

Aershan National Forest Park (阿尔山国家森林公园)

Aershan National Forest Park is located in the south part of Greater Khingan, featuring Te'ermei Mountain, the highest peak of Greater Khingan with 1378 meters as well as the first lake of Greater Khingan Da'erbin Lake. Besides, it features many rivers and lakes and more than 260 types of plants and over 60 kinds of birds. Besides its unique scenery, it has abundant natural springs, which are used to produce drinking water and can also be used for bathing.

Admission: 180 (high season)

                     150 (low season)

Best time to visit: June and July

Source: china.org by lu na 

Bamei Village, a legendary escape to nature

Bamei village is located in Guangnan County, Yunnan Province, approximately 450 kilometers from Kunming, capital city of Yunnan Province.

The word Bamei is a direct transliteration from Zhuang language (language used by the Zhuang ethnic minority) meaning 'the mouth of a cave in a forest', which vividly reveals the uniqueness of the village.  The village is so naturally authentic that there is no highway and residents have no access to electricity.

Also, a 950m-long limestone cave, in which electricity is not available, is the only access to get in or out of the village. Because of its remoteness, the way that villagers farm remains almost the same as it was nearly 300 years ago. For example the wooden ploughs, harrows and water mills are still used; and cotton weaving is still popular.

Source: china.org

Chinese tourists bring plethora of riches to US cities

(China Daily) National Day revelers in China have brought good cheer - and plenty of yuan - to foreign tourist destinations.

Oct 1 was the start of China's National Day holiday, and this year marked the 65th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. It is called Golden Week because the seven-day national holiday generally sees millions of mainlanders set off on overseas trips that bring huge profits to tourism hot spots.

The United States has traditionally been one of the most popular tourist destinations for Chinese travelers.

Flights between Los Angeles and large Chinese cities were almost fully booked on Monday, even on super jumbo jets, said Lu Weixi, general manager of China Southern Airlines (North Americas).

During the week, the number of Chinese visitors who booked on Usitrip, a travel platform from UnitedStars International Ltd, soared 35 percent over the same period last month, said Andy Zhang, representative of the Los Angeles-based Chinese travel agency.

"We created promotional tour packages to attract Chinese tourists, including local guides and drivers," Zhang told China Daily, adding that Los Angeles and New York remain the most popular US destinations.

"About 60 percent of our Chinese customers chose the Los Angeles tours during the national holiday," said Zhang, who said Southern California's famous theme parks and pleasant weather were probably the main attractions.

Other visitors were attracted by shopping tours in eastern US cities. Chinese travelers shopping for luxury goods in the US spend about $2,500 on average per trip, statistics show, and some spend even more when visiting New York City, said Zhang.

In response to the increase in holiday spending, large retailers in the US have ramped up efforts to attract Chinese customers with special offers and heavy promotions on clothing, shoes and jewelry, Zhang said.

Zhang estimated that traffic to outlet malls increased 50 percent during Golden Week.

For example, the Kiehl's skincare store at the Westfield Valley Fair mall in San Jose, Calif, even hired a Mandarin-speaking sales representative to cater to Chinese patrons. The store also put up a sign that said in Chinese, "Celebrate China's national holiday and get four complimentary luxury samples with a purchase over $75."

The sales representative told China Daily she was asked by her manager to write the sign.

"It attracted lots of Chinese customers to come into the store or take pictures of the sign," she said. "I could tell that many of them were tourists from China."

In 2013, the number of Chinese tourists visiting the US that year totaled 1.9 million, and the number is projected to rise to 2.3 million by the end of 2014, according to Zhang.

Source: china daily via china.org