Hainan Province, also called Qiong, is located in the southernmost part of China. The main island is Hainan Island, which is the second largest island in China, and consist of Xisha, Nansha, Zhongsha and its sea areas. The province covers an area of 34,000 square kilometers and has a population of 6.7 million.

The Hainan Island is like a circle island. From the center spread outward, the rugged hills, plains and sea were linked one after another. The plain area covers more than 60 per cent of the total island. The main rivers are Nandu River, Wanquan River and Changhua River. It enjoys a tropical monsoon climate and has no frosting period all year round. Those islands in the South Sea are flat and small. Zengmuansha is the hottest place in the southwest. Iron ore and some other gold ore materials account for 70 percent of the nation’s mine resource. Reservation of oil and natural gas are strong. And there are rich tropical sea and fishery resources as well.

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Baogong Memorial Hall,a special memorial hall to commemorate Bao Zhen in the Northern Song Dynasty,is located in Fragrant Flower Mound of Bao he Park,Hefei.

It was first built in the period 1488 to 1505 of the Ming Dynasty.These buildings were rebuilt in 1882 and 1946 respectively.Fangrant Flower Mound used to be the place where Bao Zhen studied.During the Ming Dynasty,Song Guangming,the governor of Hefei,saw this scenic spot and the ancient temple into Baogong Academy.In the memorial hall display the statue of Baogong,stone carved image,cultural relics and relevant materials.By the side of the memorial hall,there is a pavilion with a well in it.

The well is named Honest and Clean Well.Legend has it that those officials who have not been honest and clean dare not to drink the water from the well.Bao Zhen,popularly known as Bao Gong,was prefect of Kaifeng,capital of the Northern Song Dynasty.He was famous in popular legend as an upright and capable official and fearless,impartial judge with a knack of passing true verdicts in all the cases he tried. The people called “Just Judge Bao” in the Northern Song Dynasty.

Shanghai’s Oriental Pearl Tower is situated at the mouth of the Lujiazui, Pudong New Area. The Oriental Pearl Tower, stands at 468m and is the highest tower in Asia and the third highest one in the world.
The tall tower is composed of three nine-meter-in-diameter cylinders, which are supported by three seven-meter-in-diameters cylinders with an oblique angle of 60 degrees. With eleven steel inscribed spheres of various sizes, the body of the tower creates an admirable image, which is described in an ancient Chinese verse as, “Large and small pearls dropping on a plate of jade.” People enjoy the panoramic view of the Bund and the Pudong New Area from the spheres which are 90m, 259m, 263m, and 350m high. The famous revolving restaurant is on the sphere of 267m high. It is the highest revolving restaurant in Asia and can serve 350. The Shanghai Exhibition Hall of Historical Development is on the “Zero Meter Hall” in the Oriental Pearl Tower. It covers an exhibition area of 6,000sqm and is an exhibition hall connecting history with culture, tourism and entertainment.

Name:Shanghai Oriental Pearl Tower (Dongfang Mingzhu Ta)
City:Shanghai
Address:1 Century Boulevard, Pudong District

by Ozgur Tore

On May 16, Jin Jiang International Hotel Management Co., Ltd was awarded “2008 Most Investment-Worthy Local Management Company of China” at the Forum for Development Opportunities and Challenges for China Hospitality Industry & the fifth Golden-Pillow Award of China Hotels.

Sponsored by China’s leading financial media “21^st Century Business Herald” in association with China’s top business travel magazine “Business Travel” in 2004, the Golden-Pillow Award of China Hotels is the most prestigious award for the hospitality industry in China and even in Asia, in an aim to provide more business consulting for global business travelers as well as provide authoritative and advisory opinions for the development of China’s hospitality industry.

Jin Jiang International Hotel Management Co., Ltd is the largest hotel management company in China. It dedicates itself to quality hotel management, boasting professional management teams with rich experience. And the Jin Jiang brand is highly reputed in China. The company has the corporate website in four languages, i.e., Chinese, English, Japanese and French, and a new brand identification system as well as a sophisticated central reservation system. The company is poised to launch its Loyalty Program in 2008 amongst its over 100 star-rated member hotels across China.

Mr. Chen Hao, CEO of Jin Jiang International Hotels Development Co., Ltd, the parent company of Jin Jiang International Hotel Management Co., Ltd said, “The staff of ‘Jin Jiang International Hotel Management Co., Ltd feel great honored to receive such a prestigious award. We appreciate the recognition and encouragement from the hospitality industry and customers for our work. Jin Jiang International Hotel Management Co., Ltd will continue moving toward its “going global” strategic goal.”

Accor has been chosen as “The Best Hotel Management Company of 2008 Selected by Investors” at the “5th Golden Pillow Award of China Hotels” award ceremony, held recently in Shanghai. Simultaneously, Robert Murray, Accor’s Senior Vice President - Greater China, was also recognized as “The Leader of the Hotel Industry of 2008”.

The “Golden Pillow Award of China Hotels”, recognized as one of the most prestigious hotel evaluations in China and the Asia region, has been hosted yearly by 21st Century Business Herald since 2004. The professional award utilizes first-hand knowledge of a panel of senior industry experts and business people along with field investigations by editors and reporters of the newspaper, to gain a comprehensive look at China’s hotel industry, supply travel news to the extensive Chinese business community and offer suggestions and directions for the industry’s development.

“China is welcoming a new era of rapid development in the business travel industry. High-end business customers have demanded more rigorous requirements for both high-end business and luxury hotels. Factors such as the environment, facilities, services and brand expertise are crucial in their consideration when selecting a hotel. The Golden Pillow Award endeavors to providing professional advice while identifying the best choices for business travelers,” said Mr. Murray. “We appreciate the professionalism of the award and it is an honor for Accor to be named as “The Best Hotel Management Company of 2008” in China.”

As one of the pioneer international hotel management companies to enter the China market, Accor China currently operates 61 hotels (over 17,000 rooms) in 29 cities with approximately 80 projects under development.

All Accor hotels in China are situated in major metropolitan areas, gateway cities, popular resort destinations, and are developing fast into tier two and tier three cities under 6 different brands: Sofitel, Pullman, Grand Mercure, Novotel, Mercure and Ibis, covering a full spectrum of markets from luxury to economy.

“The accolade endorses Accor’s reputation in hotel development and management in China, and will certainly raise the confidence of our associates and attract more investors to partner with Accor,” Mr. Murray added.

Accor’s Senior Vice President for Greater China named “Leader of the Hotel Industry of 2008”

Meanwhile, at the same award ceremony, Mr Murray was honored with “The Leader of the Hotel Industry of 2008” award. Mr. Murray’s stint in China commenced in 2005. He has over 25 years management experience in the hotel and tourism industry. His primary focus is on improving the performance of the existing Accor hotels network within China, while ensuring that the company infrastructure is capable and ready to feed the development pipeline.

Michael Issenberg, Accor Asia Pacific Chairman and COO, said, “Accor is delighted with this accolade for our senior manager, Robert Murray. These two awards are an acknowledgement not only of Robert’s leadership but is also an endorsement of Accor’s innovativeness, entrepreneurial flair and dynamism as a company.”

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1. What to buy

Popular things to buy here are carpets, daggers, jewelry, aprons and hats, all of which can be found in the famous Barkhor Street. The vendors on the street outside the Holiday Inn have basically the same range, but in smaller quantities and at higher prices. Besides this, plenty of department stores line the Yuthok Lu, selling more routine articles. Those interested with Chinese herbal medicines also have the chance here to pick up some potions rarely seen in other Chinese cities.

- Dagger

Tibetan daggers are seen as indispensable part of the ordinary Tibetan’s basic paraphernalia. Not just used as a tool for cutting meat and protecting themselves, the dagger is also a critical fashion accessory. This is especially true of daggers that may be carried by Tibetan women. These tend to be more decorative and delicate. Based on the materials used and the level of craftsmanship in the making of the dagger, prices can range from a few RMB to several thousand. Actually, daggers from Shigatse are particularly famous and are characterized by hard to imitate intricately designed silver sheaths.

- Jewelry

There are numerous varieties of jewelry and ornaments in Tibet, including pearl, agate, jade containers and golden-silver products, etc. Generally, it is more graceful in ancient style. You could get them in some used-goods market of Barkhor Square or some special shops for tourists. They have all the decorations you could wish for, which can be pulled on the neck, adorned the wrist, hung on the ears, or some daggers embellished the waist, and all of them are exquisite and decorative; while for those ornaments bigger than others, you could hang them in your rooms or some public locations, thus it would bring you a kind of special environment.

2.Where to Buy

- Shopping in Lhasa

Barkhor is the best shopping market in Lhasa. Tourist can find lots of odd and fascinating stuff, for religious and secular uses. Small shops and stalls on the street sell a variety of items like prayers flags, Buddha figures, conch-shell trumpets, rosaries, amulets, fur hats, horse bells, bridles, copper teapots, wooden bowl, inlaid knives and jewelry inlaid with turquoise and other gems. However, attention shall be paid to the quality of the jewelry since many items are coarse. Exotic Tibetan opera masks and costumes are interesting items to buy. Bright and beautiful homespun Tibetan rugs and Tibetan khaddar are also popular souvenirs. Tourists can easily find things which are of individuality and appeal to them. The most interesting thing to shop in Barkhor is that you can bargain with local people and may buy nice things in a lower price. Just cut the price by 50 percent!

Shopping along the street accompanied by hundreds of pilgrims prostrating will be a thrilling experience. Tibet carpet and tent can be bought at Lhasa Carpet Factory and Lhasa Tent and Banner Factory respectively.

Department stores, mostly on Yuthok Lu and for everyday requirement, are becoming usual in Lhasa. Lhasa Department Store (General Department Store), on the west end of Yuthok Lu, is the largest and famous one in Lhasa. It sells handicrafts as well as practical items, such as cotton clothing, mugs, canned food, towels and toothpaste and other stuff tourist may need to buy before they move to other remote towns. Supermarkets can also be found in Lhasa.

There are three Xinhua book stores in Lhasa, one on Yuthok Lu, another on east Barkhor and the other on Beijing Zhong Lu, west of Tibet Hotel. They sell maps of Lhasa, Tibetan primers, Tibetan-Chinese dictionaries, and Chinese and Tibetan books. A bookshop carrying Tibetan literature is on north Barkhor.

- Shopping in Shigatse
The best place to go shopping in Shigatse is the market opposite the Tenzin Hotel. There is the usual array of jewelry, antiques and religious objects on display here. However, the market is much smaller than the one in the Barkhor in Lhasa. What is the same here are the shrewd vendors hanging around, hunting for potential buyers. So be prepared to bargain!!

An alternative is to go to the Tibet Gang-Gyen Carpet Factory on Qomolangma Lu, several minutes’ walk from the entrance of Tashilunpo (open weekdays). Here, you will be given the chance to see how carpets are made. Of course, the real reason tourists are allowed in here, is to be encouraged to buy something! Prices range from between RMB200 to RMB3000. The factory even arranges shipping!

(via TibetTour)

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(70 winners)

一、 Main Awards ：( 52 winners)

(一)Hotel Brands (4 winners)

2008 China’s Most Favorite International Hotel Brand

Hyatt Hotels & Resorts

2008 China’s Most Favorite Domestic Hotel Brand

New Century Hotels & Resorts

2008 China’s Most Favorite Serviced Residence Brand

Ascott

2008 China’s Most Favorite Economy Hotel Chain Brand

Home Inn

(二)Hotel Management Companies (4 winners)

2008 China’s Most Investment-worthy International Hotel Management Company

Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide， Inc.

Accor China

2008 China’s Most Investment-worthy Domestic Hotel Management Company

Jinling Hotels & Resorts Corporation

Jin Jiang International Hotel Management Co. Ltd

(三)Individual Hotels (30 winners)

2008 China’s Top 10 Most Favorite Business Hotels

1.Pudong Shangri-La， Shanghai

2. The Ritz-Carlton Beijing， Financial Street

3. Jinling Hotel Nanjing

4. Grand Hyatt Shanghai

5. Grand Hyatt Beijing

6. InterContinental Shenzhen

7. InterContinental Hong Kong

8. New Century Grand Hotel Hang Zhou

9. Le Royal Meridien Shanghai

10. Marco Polo Shenzhen

2008 China’s Top 10 Most Favorite Resort Hotels

1. Sheraton Sanya Resort

2. Yalong Bay Mangrove Tree Resort

3. Banyan Tree Lijiang

4. Hilton Sanya Resort & Spa

5. Sheraton Suzhou Hotel & Towers

6. Sanya Marriott Resort & Spa

7. Sheraton Haikou Resort

8. Le Meridien She Shan Shanghai

9. Wuyi Mountain Yeohwa Resort

10. Hotel of Modern Art Libre，Guilin

2008 China’s Best New Opening Hotels

1. JW Marriott Hotel Beijing

2. The Ritz-Carlton， Beijng

3. Hyatt on the Bund

4. The Westin Guangzhou

5. The Interlaken OCT Hotel Shenzhen

6. Shangri-la Hotel， Guangzhou

7. Xiamen Seaview Resort

8. The Purple Palace

9. Shangri-La Hotel， Chengdu

10. Sheraton Shenzhen Futian Hotel

(四)Figures in China’ Hotel Industry(14 winners)

2008 Best Hotel Managers (4 winners)

Mr.John Rice General Manager of Pudong Shangri-La， Shanghai

Mr. Claudio Nardini　 General Manager of Sheraton Sanya Resort

Mr.Jin Meicheng　 Board Director and Operation Manager of Jinling Hotels & Resorts Corporation

Mr. Janus Lee General Manager of Le Meridien She Shan Shanghai

Figures with Distingushed Contributions to China’s Hotel Industry In 2008 (3 winners)

Mr.Chen Hao Board Member and CEO of Jin Jiang International Hotel Development Co. Ltd

Mr. Chen Miaolin　 Chairman， Zhejiang New Century Tourism Group

Mr.Sun Jian　 CEO of Home Inn

2008 The Leader of China’s Hotel industry (6 winners)

Mr. Qian Jin Senior Vice President， Operations， China & Taiwan Starwood Hotels & Resorts

Mr. Robert Murray　 Senior Vice President ，China， Accor

Mr. Edmond Ip Chief Operating Officer， Greater China， IHG

Mr. Edward Tai　 President of Hyatt China

Mr. Angelini Giovanni CEO and Managing Director of Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts

Mr. Colin Lin Vice President， Hotel Development， China，Marriott International， Inc

2008 Lifetime Achievement Award in China’s Hotel Industry (1 winner)

Mr. Yuan Zongtang Former Director of Hotel Administration Department， National，Tourism Administration of China， Vice President and General Secretary of China Tourism Hotels Association， Chairman of International Hotel Leaders Organization

二、 Special Awards (18 winners)

(一) Special Awards for Hotel Brands (6 winners)

2008 the Most Influential International Hotel Brand in China

Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts

2008 China’s Most Favorite Luxurious Hotel Brand

BanYan Tree Group

2008 China’s Domestic Hotel Brand with Most Development potential

Gloria Hotels & Resorts

2008 China’s Most Competitive Domestic Hotel Brand

HNA Hotels&Resorts

2008 China’s Most Competitive Serviced Residence Brand

Frasers Hopitality

2008 China’s Most Favorite Business Chain Hotel Brand

Green Tree Inns Hotel Management Group，Inc.

(二)Special Awards for Individual Hotels (12 winners)

A、Business Hotels (6 winners)

2008 the Most Favorite Business Hotel in Northeast China

Sheraton Shenyang Lido Hotel

2008 the Most Favorite Business Hotel in Southwest China

Green Lake Hotel Kunming

2008 the Business Hotel with Most Development Potential in China

Hua Ting Hotel & Towers Shanghai

2008 China’s Best Exhibition and Business Hotel

Songjiang New Century Grand Hotel Shanghai

2008 China’s Best Theme and Business Hotel

Crowne Plaza Shenzhen

2008 China’s Best Olympic Business Hotel

Crowne Plaza Park View Wuzhou Beijing

B、Resort Hotels (1 winner)

2008 China’s Most Favorite Recreation Resort

New Century Resort Qiandao Lake Hangzhou

C、New Opening Hotels (5 winners)

2008 China’s Best New Opening Luxurious Hotel

Sky Fortune Boutique Hotel， Shanghai

2008 Best New Opening Hotel in Western China

Shangri-La Hotel， Xi’an

2008 China’s Best New Opening Luxurious Hotel

Sofitel Wanda Beijing

2008 China’s Best New Opening Convention and Exhibition Hotel

InterContinental Century City， Chengdu

2008 China’s Best New Opening Boutique Hotel

PuDi Boutique Hotel， Shanghai

(by 21 Century Business Herald)

If you’re deciding to visit Asia, one of your must stops is Hong Kong, and what better place to stay than the legendary Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Hong Kong. With its breathtaking location overlooking Victoria Harbour, it has served the international elite since 1963.

It has been rated the best hotel in Asia for many years and it is the prime choice for many celebrities such as Kate Moss, Kevin Costner, Tom Cruise, Britney Spears, and Jennifer Lopez have stayed at this hotel, as well as the esteemed members of the business community and the well heeled.

This iconic property recently completed a top-to-bottom $150 million renovation that included the installation of one of the city’s most elaborate eight-room spas. The Mandarin Oriental now has 9 unique bars and restaurants including Pierre which is run by Pierre Gagnaire a 3-star Michelin chef. Five new categories of rooms, from “study” to “harbour,” span a wider price range than ever before. All have been updated to a space-age standard: flat-panel LCDs, iPod docks, Wi-Fi, DVD players and Hermès toiletries.

The Mandarin Oriental Hotel is a perfect blend of contemporary luxury, state-of-the-art facilities and legendary service. Whether you are visiting Hong Kong for pleasure or business, you can experience a perfect combination of modern luxury, exquisite facilities, and award-winning hospitality.