On March 19 at 22:00, rainfall over Beijing turned to snow, covering the city in a 20 cm blanket of fluffy, white snow over night. As a result, Beijingers woke up to find a beautiful snow-covered cityscape.【echinacities】

If you ask most expats in China what they know about Hainan, their knowledge is probably very limited. Ask someone outside of China and they might very well have difficulty placing the island on a map. But Hainan is so much more than just an island with beautiful beaches and great weather. It is part of an impressive government project to put the island on the international tourism radar—to make it the ‘Hawaii of the China’ and a rival to traditional tourist hotspots in the region like Thailand and Bali.

Source: 898.travel

Famed for generations for its isolation, with a reputation as a place of exiles and years of underdevelopment, it was not until the late 1970s when China flung open its doors to the world that Hainan really started its journey. Thirty years later, with the Chinese economy powering ahead, the government announced its plan to make Hainan an “international tourism destination” by 2020.

Visa rules

In fact, the government has already put in place a number of pilot schemes on the island to help achieve its goal. In 2000, the island introduced a visa-upon-arrival policy for international tourist groups (defined as at least five people) to stay in Hainan for a maximum of 15 days. At present, this scheme is available to tourists from the following countries: Australia, Austria, Canada, Denmark, France, Finland, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Russia, Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Money matters

In many ways, Hainan province is able to operate free from the regulations set in Beijing. The province is allowed to acquire investment directly from foreign countries and all Hainan registered companies whose exports amount to $1.5 million per year are able to apply for an Import/Export License.

Business freedoms are not restricted to the Chinese alone. Foreign companies enjoy rights and business opportunities not seen elsewhere on the Mainland, paving the way for international tourism players to set up shop. This will not only enhance the services already provided, but also raise the tourism industry on the island to the next level and help it achieve its 2020 deadline.

The province not only allows foreign companies to set up and separately run their own tourism businesses, but welcomes investment in power, sea transportation, ports, motorways, stores and many others—something that is tightly controlled back on the Mainland. With the government monopoly on tourism alleviated, Hainan is definitely more than just an island; it is an island with its eyes set firmly on putting itself center on the world stage.

Duty-free

To go with its growing international exposure, a duty-free program was initiated in April 2011 to increase sales of luxury goods and to persuade Chinese tourists to holiday at home rather than abroad. Initially, a cap of 5,000 RMB (approximately $804) worth of goods was set for domestic tourists, although this was raised to 8,000 RMB (approximately $1,286) in October 2012 and extended to international visitors. This makes luxury goods purchased in China 10 to 35 percent cheaper—another step in the government’s master plan to make Hainan an international tourist destination.

China, never content to do anything on a small scale, currently has the world’s largest duty free shopping center, the China Duty Free Group-built Sanya Haiting Bay International Shopping Center under construction on the island. Once open at the end of the year, it will cover an area of nearly 70,000 square meters. 23 world famous brands have already signed up to house their goods in this temple of unabashed commercialism, ready to tap into Hainan’s growing market.

International versus domestic

Despite all of Hainan’s grandiose plans, the question still lingers: who is all this really for? The government wants it to be a world-class tourist destination by 2020 and with the business freedoms and relaxed visa rules it would seem that the target audience is the big bad world. However, Hainan is in a great transitional period. The vast majority of tourists are still from the Mainland, lured by the blue skies, tropical weather and simply the island’s ability to provide everything Chinese tourists complain is not provided overseas (services in Chinese, authentic Chinese food to name just a few).

However, with prices rising out of the reach of most ordinary Chinese, Hainan understands it needs to quickly attract foreign visitors. At present, Japanese and Russians make up the vast majority of the island’s international presence, with its proximity to their countries no doubt a pull factor.

Hainan understands that more than just shopping and relaxed business regulations are needed to cater to the international crowd and lure them in. The Ritz Carlton has established itself in Sanya and the Sheraton is now a familiar face in Haikou. Meanwhile, Mission Hills, a branch of the Shenzhen golf club opened in January 2010 to much fanfare.

Not satisfied with mere real estate, the island is now home to a number of important events. The Boao Forum for Asia, where regional and world leaders meet to discuss issues related to the continent and the greater world, is held annually in Hainan. Even the Miss World beauty pageant has graced Hainan a number of times, adding to the allure and reputation of the island (at least with the male tourists).

Gambling, banned on the Mainland, requires potential gamblers to travel to Macau or fly overseas. However, the recently opened Casino Bar at the Mangrove Tree Resort in Sanya Bay is changing all of that. Currently gambling is permitted, but there are no cash prizes. Instead your winnings are used to buy luxury goods at the hotel or even used to pay for your stay. It might be early days and a far cry from the hedonistic gambling culture of places like Las Vegas but it is a step in a direction not taken by the Chinese government on the Mainland.

The sky’s the limit!

The reality is Hainan has come a long way. The famed Song era poet Su Shi helped put the island on the radar during his second period of exile, but its metamorphosis into an up-and-coming tourist hotspot has been long in the making. China has proven time and time again, its ability to reinvent itself and put on a good show. According to a 2011 China Daily report, the country hosted 2 billion domestic trips in 2010 and hopes to raise this to 3.3 billion by 2015, with Hainan no doubt playing a substantial role. China likes to think big and making Hainan an international tourist destination in the next seven years is no small feat. But if there’s one country that can do it, it’s China.【By Seve Findlater, eChinacities.com】

South of the island of Hongkong, winding coastline, has many beautiful beaches. Repulse Bay is located in the south of the island, Hongkong is the most representative of the beach. Repulse Bay of white sandy beach, long, wide beach bed, and calm. Summer is the most popular Repulse Bay, a large number of swimmers come in great numbers for swimming or sunbathing on the beach, huge crowds of people, every kind of swimsuit formed a colorful picture.

Repulse Bay eastern end of the tree-lined, is full of religious undertones tianhailou park. The sea is standing erect two giant statues “goddess of the sea” and “a Buddism godness Guanyin Bodhisattva”, will be displayed next to the Dragon King, Bo and Fu Lu Shou auspicious figures, true to life likeness. Built near a seven-color Cihang lighthouse, magnificent momentum, attracting many tourists in this photo. There are some restaurants, fast food shops and supermarkets around the beach. Linhai tea, is a good place to enjoy the sunset and the sound of the waves against the shore. Repulse Bay’s beautiful scenery, making it one of the island’s famous noble residential areas, areas around the luxury residential. These wall construction, constitute a unique scenic Repulse Bay, people indulge in pleasures without stop.

Transport: from central Exchange Square bus terminus by 6, 6A or 61 bus to Repulse Bay off.

Photo taken on March 16, 2013 shows rape flowers in full bloom in Jianling Township of Wuyuan County, east China’s Jiangxi Province. (Xinhua/Shi Guangde)

Pearl River including the East River, the Xijiang and Beijiang tributary to the Guangzhou River confluence,,, very beautiful scenery. At night, lights,” Pearl River Pearl” on the tour ship carrying tourists from people’s bridge near Sai ferry, traveling east, the Liberation Bridge, Jiangwan bridge, Haizhu bridge. Haiyin bridge, Guangzhou bridge, Hedong Bridge, then return. Landscape on the way with Zhuhai loyalty, East Lake, Whampoa　 Yun Qiang, Etan lament,” Yangcheng eight scenic spots”, and the south building, Aiqun Hotel, Guangzhou Hotel, Hotel Landmark Canton, Le Grand Large Hotel Jiangwan Haizhu Square Gardens, two sand, White Swan Hotel, sand villa building. The whole two hours.

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Lotus Mountain，covering an area of 2.33 square kilometers and with 108 meters above sea level, is situated by the bank of Lion Sea which is the estuary of Pearl River, thus it is provided with superior location and convenient communication. As a scenic spot combining the ancient ruggedness with the modern grace, it was awarded laureate titles such as “National AAAA Tourist Attraction”, “Provincial Scenic Spot”, “National Preserved Cultural Relic” and “Top 8 Tourist Attractions of the New Century in Guangzhou”.

The Ancient Quarry is well known as its unique spectacle which goes by the comment of “manpower exceeded nature’s engineering” .The Lotus Pagoda and Lotus Wall both are Provincial Preserved Cultural Relics.

Remarkably, the 40.88 meters high Guan-yin is the highest gold-foiled bronze one in the world and has been visited and worshipped by millions of pilgrims annually. Furthermore, various self-contained service facilities are well prepared for the visitors in GD Hotel & Resort. We all wish you an enjoyable visit and leisure herein Lotus Mountain.

Central Radio and TV Tower is located in western Beijing San Huan mid Road (xī sān huán zhōng lù 西三环中路), near Yuyuan Tan Park(yù yuān tán gōng yuán 玉渊潭公园) and Diaoyutai State Guesthouse(diào yú tái guó bīn guǎn 钓鱼台国宾馆) from east, the new West Railway Station(běi jīng xī zhàn 北京西站) in the west, and the Summer Palace (yí hé yuán 颐和园) is in the north. It’s 405 meters high and covers an area of 15.4 hectares. It is the fifth highest tower in the world.

There are VIP hall, rotating restaurant and terrace in the palace lantern-shaped tower, with an area of 6000 square meters. Rotating restaurant is on the 18th floor, which is 221 meters high. It can accommodate 250 people dining at the same time. The indoor viewing room is on the 19th floor, which is 225 meters high. There’s an open-air observation platform on the 22th floor with a height of 238 meters. It’s the biggest open-air observation platform on large towers in the world, which shows a 360-degree view of Beijing. And 20 times automatic telescope can be used for free. There’s a post office in the indoor viewing hall, it’s certenly the highest highest office in the air in Beijing. You can send a postcard with a stamp and medal of the post office in the air.

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As the elite the Guilin landscape. the Lijiang  River is a bright pearl among China`s beautiful mountains and rivers. Originated in Mao`er Mountain at Xing`an County. northeast of Guilin City. the Lijiang River winds its way southeast for about 437 kilometers via Guilin City. Yangshuo City to Gongcheng Estuary of Pingle County in Guangxi Province. The 84-kilometer-long segment from Guilin City to Yangshuo City resembles a green silk belt. winding among the peaks and the chains of mountains. The miraculous peaks. green mountains and blue waters mutually embellish. just as a 100-kilometer-long scroll. For several thousands of years. a great number of bookmen and scholars have been intoxicated with it. A segment of the mountains and waters of the Lijiang River are printed on the back of the new version paper currency RMB 20.

The voyage of the Lijiang River from the Guilin City to the Yangshuo City is about 83 kilometers. and it can be divided into the following three segments:

The first segment is from Guilin City to Yangdi (total 46km; 4 hours’ voyage). The scenic spots are a bit far from the waterway. The scenic spots near Guilin City include the Elephant Trunk Hill, the Pagoda Hill (Sword Hill), etc. Two hills named ” Chuanshan” on the east bank and ” Guishan” on the opposite west bank resemble a pair of fighting roosters.

The second segment is from Yangdi to Xingping (total 17km; 40 minutes’ voyage). This segment has the most beautiful landscape of waters and hills. Many scenic spots are on both banks of the Lijiang River. For example, the ferry precipices of the Half-Side Ferry seem cut by knife, which is seldom seen in the world; the peaks are standing upright on both banks and the flying waterfall is being suspended highly at the Erlang Gorge; the precipice of the Mural Hill is even straight as if cut by knife, interlaced and decorated with the colors of white, yellow, gray and black, etc. After boating out of the Siwang, one can see nine horses on the precipice of the Mural Hill, so it is commonly called as the Nine-Horse Painting.

The third segment is from Xingping to Yangshuo (total 20km; 2 hours’ voyage). When you can see the highest Green Lotus Peak in Yangshuo, you will reach Yangshuo City soon. Seen from the front side, the Green Lotus Peak is as smooth as a mirror, so it is also called the Jianshan (mirror hill).

One of the advantages to visit the Lijiang River is that the tourists do not need to worry about the change of the weather, since the views of the Lijiang River have different characteristics in different weather conditions: Tourists can view the inverted images of green peaks in sunny days ; view the clouds and mists covering the hills in overcast days and view the misty rain of the Lijiang River in rainy days. Even in the overcast and rainy days, the mist over the water is wreathing, the chain of mountains is gleaming, drifting clouds are moving among the miraculous peaks, and the rain curtain is covering the waters and hills as the lengthwise yarn, looking like many splash-ink watercolor paintings.(via MySpace.cn)

Only 60 km away from China`s huge capital Beijing there is this lovely little village called Chuandixia. This village is known for its well preserved 689 Ming and Qing dynasty-style houses owned by 76 families.

These houses are built on the side of a hill. surrounded by mountains and forests. Steep stairs and lanes paved with rocks are simple and unadorned.

The village was rated as a village of great tourist value and has been placed under national level cultural relics protection. It is a great place to take photos. Almost every family at the village now receives tourists.

The village is also near spots like Shuanglong Gorge. with its rivers and falls. the Pearl Lake and the Longmenjian grand canyon.

To get there: take bus 929 from Pingguoyuan subway station to Chuandixia village.
Tel: 010-6981-9333

The Beijing National Stadium,also known as the National Stadium,the “Bird’s Nest” is a stadium finished form the Olympic Games in Beijing.The “Bird’s Nest”,the main venue for Beijing’s Olympic Games,is perhaps the most iconic structure of the 2008 Olympics.It is located east of the Beijing Natinal Aquatics Centre.

The stadium will host the main track and field competitions form the 2008 Summer Olympics,as well as the opening and closing ceremonies.The stadium can seat as many as 91,000 spectators during the Olympics.The capacity will then be reduced to 80,000 after the Games.It has replaced the original intended venue of the Guangdong Olympic Stadium.the stadium is 330 meters long by 220 meters wide,and is 69.2 meters tall.The stadium uses 258,000 square meters of space and has a usable area of 204,000 square meters.It was built with 36 km of unwrapped steel,with a combined weight of 45,000 tons.The stadium will cost up to 3.5 billion Yuan.

The National Stadium is dubbed the “Bird’s Nest” because ofits innovative grid formation.The twig-like structural elements and the bowl-shaped roof are the masterpiece of the project,yet they pose great challenges to technicians and workers who need to make the building stand on its own feet.The constructors have made decisive efforts to let the “Bird’s Nest” support its own weight without relying on any of the supporting structures.

The large steel skeleton of the project weights 42,000 tons,with the roof and the hanging parts around it accounting for 11,2000 tons.To bear such a heavy load,78 supporting structures were temporarily installed and distributed in different points under stress.Through accurate calculation and careful argumentation,experts came to understand that the unloading process of the supporting frameworks should be divided into seven steps and each step should abide by the sequence of outer circle,middle circle,inner circle,middle circle and innercircle.In other words,35 mini-steps are needed to complete the whole process.

To unload a supporting structure,or to load the insitu steel skeleton,a lifting jack is used.Jacking pads with a height of 100mm to 200mm are placed on the top of the supporting structures.When the lifting jack rises,it replaces the structure to bear the load of the steel skeleton,and a jacking pad is removed.Then the jack descends slowly to give the remaining load again to the column,thus repeating a total of 35 times until the steel skeleton is able to bear its own weight.

Accuracy is required during the process.The maximum descent of the outer circle is limited to  68-286mm,the middle circle 161-178mm and inner circle 208-286mm.If the descent of the steel structure,which relies on its own supporting capability,exceeds the extent,or cracks appear somewhere in the skeleton,then problems might exist in the design,manufacturing or construction stages in the past three years.In a word,the unloading process is a proof of “the Bird’s Nest” Quality.