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.

Guangzhou,located at ther north the Pearl River Delta,is an important trading center as well as a busy port and the capital city of the province of Guangdong.The city has an ara of over 16,000 square kilometers and a population of 6.7 million.

Like Athens of Greece and Rome of Italy,Guangzhou also has a history of more than 2,800 years.

Guangzhou WuYang

There are a lot of interesting legends concerning its past.One of the beautiful stories which gives the city its name Goat Town says that five gods riding on five goats brought the firest grain to the city.So,Guangzhou is also known as the City of Five Goats.Besides tales and stories,here and there stand monuments of the city’s democratic and revolutionary past.The monument to against a British invading force.The Huang Hua Gang Park Keeps alive the spirit of the 72 martyrs killed in an uprising in 1911 against the Qing Dynasty.The National Peasant Movement Institute is the former cadre-training school founded and run by Mao Zedong and Zhou Enlai in 1925-1926.The Guangzhou Memorial Garden is in memory of those who lost their lives during the Communist Uprising in 127.

The climate of Guangzhou is sub-tropical.August is the hottest month and January is the coldest month.The rainy season falls between April and August.The average annual rainfall is 1,720 mm.

Guangzhou Pearl River Bridge

Guangzhou is a beautiful city with an ever-green scnery and blooming flowers all the year round.The city boasts many tourist attractions,among which the highlights are White Cloud Hill Scenic Spot.Yuexiu Park,Gyuangzhou Zoo,Six Banyan Temple and Flowery Pagoda,Dr,Sun Yatsen Memorial Hall,etc.Inthe Suburbs,there are such scenic spots on Conghua Hot Springs,Xiquao Hill Scenic spot,Seven Star Crags,and Foshan City.Lots of tourists to Guangzhou like to visit one or two of them for out-of-city pleasure.

Guangzhou is also one of the most important centers of foreign commerce in South China.The Chinese Export Commodities Fair has been held twice a year in the city since 1957.

It is also a cultural center.There are several universities,the Zhongshan University.the South China University of Technology,the Ji-nan University and other higher educational establishments.The city is renowned ofr its arts and crafts,namely the GuangDong embroidery,ivory-carving and ceramics.

Eating in Guangzhou

“Eating in Guangzhou” has become a popular saying both at home and abrad.Guangzhou ranks first in the number of restaurants and tea-houses in the country.Cantonese cuisine is good in color,fragrance,taste and presentation.In addition,the delicate Cantoness pastry is also well-known for its wide range of varieties,delicious flavor and beautiful color.Cantonese cuisine is among the most famous four in the country.

Guangzhou used to be part of the so called “Maritime silk Road” that linked sounthern China with India,South_east Asia,the Middle East,and Africa. As a result of the lnks with the Middle East,a mosque was established in the city in 627,and a small Muslim community has lasted to this day.Furthermore,because the sixth patriarch of Zen Buddhism was born in Guangzhou where he taught the famous Platform Sutra and established a monastery in the north of the city,Guangzhou has maintained a strong conection with this school of Buddhism.

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)