EK flies high with WGC-HSBC Champions

Shanghai, China, 4th November 2009 - EK airlines, as the Official Airline of the World Golf Championships-HSBC Champions 2009, is ready for take off at Asia’s first WGC event, which will be held at the Sheshan Golf Club, Shanghai. US$7 million has fixed the eyes of seven of the world’s top-10 golf stars, including world number one Tiger Woods, former winners of the HSBC Champions Sergio Garcia, Phil Mickelson and Yang Yong-Eun, as well as Henrik Stenson, Paul Casey and Geoff Ogilvy. The championship is the start of a busy year of golf sponsorships for the Dubai-based international airline. In addition to its partnership with the HSBC Champions, Emirates is the Official Airline to a further 12 tournaments, including the Barclays Singapore Open, Australian Open Championship, Thailand Open, Hong Kong Open, the Australian PGA Championship, Dubai Desert Classic, Malaysian Open, Volvo China Open, BMW International Open, Austrian Open, Hero Honda Indian Open and the Dubai Ladies Masters. “Emirates is delighted to be part of the WGC-HSBC Champions 2009, which has attracted a world-class line-up of golfers including Tiger Woods, said Edwin Lau, Emirates Vice President, Greater China. “As the name suggests, World Golf Championships are played all around the - just like Emirates vast network spanning six continents. Golf sponsorships offer Emirates the opportunity to strengthen our brand awareness and receive international exposure. Golf is a lifestyle preference for many of our passengers and our sponsorship of international golfing events allows us to share and support their interest in the game. Giles Morgan, Group Head of Sponsorship, HSBC Holdings, added: “Emirates firm support of the HSBC Champions for second successive year is further proof that the world’s local bank is achieving its aim of bringing world’s top golf events to Asia. “One glance at their sponsorship portfolio whether it’s their Official Partner status with the 2010 FIFA World Cup or the cricket and rugby world cups, or their sponsorship of football teams like Arsenal, AC Milan and Paris St Germain shows that they only associate themselves with the best sports properties in the world. During the tournament, EK airlines be prominent in the course and run a number of promotions in the public area to give spectators the opportunity to win flights to Dubai. Skywards, Emirates frequent flyer programme, is offering golf fans the chance to win 200,000 Skywards Miles - equivalent to two Business Class return tickets to Dubai, with participants required to guess the number of golf balls in a travel pack. Spectators can also try their luck at the “Longest Putt competition where they will have another chance to win a Business Class ticket to the golf capital of the Middle East. Through Emirates Closest-to-the-Pin challenge during the Pro-Am, donations to Project Hope give amateur golfers yet another opportunity to win Business Class return tickets to Dubai. Emirates has more to offer. At the silent auction located at the Emirates booth, all spectators can bid for a range of Emirates merchandise signed by sports stars, including “Fly Emirates T-shirts and caps, golf ball packs, golf towels, gym bags, and an A380 aircraft model. Last prices of the day win and all proceeds will again go to Project Hope. In addition to golf, Emirates sponsors a number of other sports properties, including; FIFA, as an Official Partner; high-profile football teams like Arsenal, Paris Saint German, Hamburger SV, AC Milan and Olympiacos; ICC, as an Official Partner; the IRB as a Worldwide Partner of Rugby World Cup 2011; while it also supports leading horse races around the world. The airline also extends its support of golf to passengers by allowing them to check in a set of golf clubs free of charge - in addition to their normal checked baggage allowance - in any class of service on all Emirates flights. Emirates connects China and Dubai with 13 and 12 weekly passenger services from Shanghai and Beijing respectively, a daily service from Guangzhou, twice-daily service from Hong Kong and seven dedicated freighter services every week from Shanghai. Emirates has received more than 400 international awards in recognition of its efforts to provide unsurpassed levels of customer service since its launch in 1985. With a fleet of over a 130 modern, wide-bodied aircraft, the airline currently flies to 101 destinations in six continents, from its international hub of Dubai.

New London Vacation Guide Helps Keep Your Travel Budget Under Control

London, England May 18, 2006

Gareth Owen, the creator of London Vacation Guide (http://www.londonvacationguide.com), built the site after listening to the woes of overseas visitors at his bar in London, ”They told me how much they were paying for their accommodation and sightseeing trips and I knew there were much cheaper and better ways to see London if you knew where to find them

The site includes information, articles, and recommendations written in the style of a helpful friend, or barman, as well as online booking facilities and links to other useful websites. The team of researchers and writers provide insider tips on anything from how to get into sold out theatre shows and members only bars, to booking &163;20 hotel rooms and where Londoners head for their discount shopping.

It took more than six months to research and compile the information before building the site that Owen says, “is aimed at both first time visitors who want to enjoy the major London tourist attractions, and people who have previously visited and are now looking for experiences away from the crowds.

Along with general London travel advice; there are specific sections relating to accommodation, entertainment, eating and drinking, sightseeing, shopping, family travel, gay and lesbian attractions, disabled traveller advice, sporting events and outdoor activities. London Vacation Guide also offers a monthly newsletter to keep visitors informed of the latest openings, special offers and travel news updates before they arrive.

There is also a discussion forum so visitors past and present can post their questions or recommendations to help new or returning visitors on their London vacation.

The site is always growing and keeping up to date with present and future activity in London and ofcourse always advising on how to save money at every opportunity.

Passenger number dropped in February

“We can see that the negative trend experienced over the past few months is continuing. The fall in traffic volume by 18.7% was primarily due to the economic downturn and the resulting fall in travel activity caused by the financial crisis. Moreover, traffic was extraordinarily high in February 2008, one of the reasons being that it was a leap year, said Carsten Nørland, Director of Aviation, Copenhagen Airports A/S. The leap year alone meant that there were approximately 3% more passengers than during a normal February of 28 days.

2009 will be a difficult year
1,307,868 passengers travelled through Copenhagen Airport in February, which was 299,846 fewer than in February last year. International traffic fell by 19.2% to 1,171,006 passengers, and domestic traffic fell by 13.4% to 136,862 passengers.

“We are still not prepared to speculate as to when traffic growth at Copenhagen Airport will pick up again, but we expect that 2009 will generally be a difficult with overall fall in traffic, said Nørland.

NexClub 86 The only event where people from all areas of the industry can meet, network and have fun.

March 16, 2002

Hong Kong &194;– Club 86 is back and the event in Hong Kong on March 6 was first of the many meetings planned worldwide, with new city

added each month.

NexC, the global hospitality network, has revived this relaxed and informal gathering of hospitality industry professionals, much needed in

today&194;’s hectic business environment. &194;“86&194;” is an American slang used in the hospitality industry that means &194;“out of order&194;” or &194;“unavailable.&194;”

More than 100 professionals in Hong Kong from all industry sectors in the restaurant, hotel, travel trade and tourism met on Tuesday night

for a few drinks, snacks and relaxed conversation at 1/5, Elite Concepts&194;’ new stylish bar in Wanchai.

This networking event is the brainchild of Josef Paier, NexC and Paul Hsu, Elite Concepts that met first time in 1986 for the opening of

Shanghai Hilton. Before the handover of Hong Kong to China in 1997, they had organized networking events behind hotels and

restaurants. With the movements of people in the industry, the get-together faded gradually &194;– much to the regrets of many participants

who valued the friendships and the free exchange of ideas they have made in every event.

In response to numerous requests, NexC has led the revival of this &194;“evening network&194;” in the industry now named &194;“NexClub 86.&194;” The

schedule of succeeding meetings in Hong Kong is every first Tuesday of the month. This will bring together a cross section of personalities

from the hospitality industry, academe and trade organizations.

The gathering will soon include guest speaker or a short presentation, as well as raffle draw to make sure it becomes a winning event. The

April 2 meeting will be held again at 1/5, followed on May 7 in Cyrano at Island Shangri-La, June 4 in Club97 at Lan Kwai Fong, and July 2

at Caf&195;&169; Deco Bar.

But NexC won&194;’t stop there as it plans to lead the creation of similar get-together events in cities throughout the world with the NexClub 86

first kick-off in Manila on April 2.

For the latest updates on upcoming NexClub 86 events around the globe, check out the Web site at http://www.nexc.com/club86 or e-mail the

following addresses at josef.paier@nexc-corp.com and ph@elite-concepts.com.

Related Links:

http://www.elite-concepts.com/
http://www.shangri-la.com/eng/hotel/index.aspid=18
http://www.cafedeco.com/
http://www.nexc.com/club86>.

Emirates airlines provides access to full content through Amadeus for five years

10th March, 2009 - Amadeus, global leader in technology and distribution solutions for the travel and tourism industry, has signed a five year worldwide agreement with Emirates to ensure travel agents have access to the airline’s full range of content. “We are delighted to offer Amadeus travel agents efficient access to our full range of content using Amadeus extensive global network, said Keith Longstaff, Divisional Senior Vice President, Commercial Operations Worldwide at Emirates. “We remain fully committed to working with the travel agency channel as we continue to expand our reach, providing a high quality service with the latest routes between Asia, Europe and the Americas. The full range of Emirates fares, schedules and inventory made available through the Amadeus system will be the same, and under the same conditions as that offered through any indirect or direct channel, distribution provider or website. “We believe that Emirates choice to offer agents unhindered access to their content will help agents immeasurably as they continue to service travellers in key growth areas such as Australia, Europe and the Middle East, said Philippe Chereque, Executive Vice President, Commercial, Amadeus. “Offering efficient access to content will help airlines make more sales

Four new European routes

”More competition always benefits passengers, as it means greater flexibility, more flights and, not least, lower prices. Therefore, we are very pleased that Norwegian is once again expanding its Danish base with four new routes says Carsten Nørland, Director of Aviation, Copenhagen Airport.

”Copenhagen has fast become an important base for Norwegian, and we have received a very warm welcome from Danish as well as Swedish passengers departing from Copenhagen. Despite the financial crisis, we are experiencing strong demand and an increasing number of passengers. Passengers have become more price-conscious, and more and more are choosing Norwegian and our low prices, explains Daniel Skjeldam, Commercial Director, Norwegian.

The four new routes will open on 17 August with three weekly flights from Kastrup to Vienna, Rome and Dublin, respectively, and six weekly flights to Warsaw.

New Sichuan Museum to open in May

The new Sichuan Museum will be open to visitors for free on May 9.

Located in South Huanhua Road in western Chengdu, the museum will be the largest province-level museum that houses historical and cultural items in western China. It combines the functions of exhibition, souvenir sales, tourist service, relic protection and cultural exchange.

The museum boasts some 260,000 collections and has 10 theme halls, including the hall of Han Dynasty (206 BC­24 AD) pottery, the hall of bronze articles of ancient Sichuan, the hall of ceramic articles and the hall of Zhang Daqians art works.

The museum offers free admission to visitors, who are asked to obtain tickets at the gate of the museum. The number of visitors will be limited to 4,000 per day.

Hi - tech a strong support to foreign trade growth

Recent statistics by Chengdu Bureau of Commerce show that the rapidly growing hi-tech products export is playing a greater role in boosting foreign trade of the city. The statistics say Chengdu achieved an import and export volume of USD11.88 billion in the early fi ve month of the year, the largest among cities in centra and western China and an over 16% increase year-on-year. Of th total volume, the hi-tech products export obtained a remarkable growth of 71.24% and reached USD2.38 billion, with computer and telecommunications as the fastest growing sectors.

Beijings New Traffic Plan to Hit Car Owners|beijing travel

　　Private car owners might have to accept higher charges as the city's traffic authority plans to further improve public transport and reduce the use of vehicles to ease traffic congestion.

　　Liu Xiaoming, director of the Beijing Municipal Commission of Transport, suggested in a report to the Beijing Municipal People's Congress that the city adopt "both economic and administrative measures" to further reduce the use of private cars and divert private car owners to public transport.

　　Liu said this should be the city's "primary policy target" in solving traffic congestion.

　　Although Liu has suggested that charges for private cars will be increased, neither he nor the commission have specified what measures will follow the raising of parking fees in April.

　　Meanwhile, Liu said that constructing a denser underground transport system in downtown areas will be another key component in reducing congestion on the roads.

　　"Eighty percent of new rail transit lines will be built in downtown areas," he said.

　　According to Liu, the commission estimates the public transport system will take up 42 percent of the daily transport volume in Beijing.

　　The city's traffic woes have been slightly eased since a series of measures were put into effect in the first half of this year, he said.

　　The average driving speed during rush hour reached 24 km/h in the first six months of the year, a 10 percent increase over the speed during the same period last year.

　　"It is a good sign that the comprehensive measures have taken effect," Liu said. "But tackling gridlock is still a challenging, long-term task."

　　He said the reforms had yielded a measurable effect, even though the number of vehicles on the city's roads in July jumped by more than 600,000 compared to last July's figure.

　　Experts said a more comfortable and convenient public transport system is the key to solving the city's long-standing traffic congestion problems.

　　However, they did admit that it has a long way to go to attract private car owners.

　　Zhang Zhuting, an expert on public transport at the Ministry of Transport, believes comfort and convenience levels on the city's buses and trains must be improved. "A low-price strategy is not a long-term solution," Zhang said. "We need to rate the public transport system through comprehensive indexes, such as comfort, convenience and safety," Zhang said.

　　Experts also said the lack of coordination between buses and the subway remained a problem.

　　Zhang Changqing, an expert on public transport law at Beijing Jiaotong University, pointed out that usually the city's subway stations and bus stations are not located near each other due to uncoordinated planning.

　　"If the bus and rail systems could be linked, it would be a cutting-edge advantage," he said.

　　Statistics from the commission show that the public transport system had already recorded a daily volume of 19.43 million individual journeys in the first quarter of 2011, a figure close to Beijing's population of 19.61 million residents.

　　The commission's report was widely regarded as a half-year summary of the city's intensified efforts to reduce traffic problems. Measures such as a license plate lottery system, increases in parking fees and restrictions on non-local cars entering the city during rush hours were introduced earlier this year.

　　Pressure mounted on the bureau earlier this month when a poll on its website showed only 47 percent of residents believed the traffic situation was improving, which raised doubts about the effectiveness of the city's new measures.

　　The report noted a sharp reduction in the number of cars in parking lots due to the rise in parking fees, with a 12 and 19 percent drop in the number of cars in parking lots and off-street garages.

　　The Ministry of Public Security said that Beijing had 4.64 million vehicles by June, but only 2.5 million parking spaces.

I Spa|beijing travel

The first Thai spa in Beijing, I Spa is designed in the traditional Thai style and features a decor, ambience, and service steeped in the traditional Thai concepts of harmony and balance.

In an effort to provide professional and personalized spa service to all of our distinguished guests, each branch is comprised exclusively of self-contained suites equipped with changing areas, shower and wash rooms, saunas, baths and lounge seating. I Spa gives you the personal space and timelessness to indulge your senses, soothe your body, renew your spirit, and finally rediscover yourself.

All of I Spa’s therapists hail from Thailand and China, and are trained in basic English for easy communication. Their exquisite massage skills, paired with essential oils and herbal remedies, help to restore vigor and balance in an environment that is synonymous with peace. Services include body massages, scrubs and wraps, aromatherapy baths, facials, and more, each of which is the unique result of evolving techniques passed on through the hands of many generations.

Needless to say, despite the endless flow of visitors, guests all share an interest in high-quality care and it is at I Spa that they are able to find it.

"I think of life as a path of discovery, says I Spa co-founder, Ms. Sirirat Fungkhajon, “The frantic pace of life in a large city leaves us with no time to reflect deeply upon our lives, and leaves us with little time to care for ourselves and those we love. I Spa is more than just a haven where our guests can regain balance of the body, mind, and soul, it is also a place where you can rediscover and renew yourself so that you radiate with elegance. We chose the name ‘I Spa to convey this idea of personalized treatment and service. This spa is yours.

Discover a sanctum of tranquility and slip into the calm of I Spa. Experience the exotic sights, relaxing sounds, and rich scents, and see for yourself why our guests keep coming back.

About our branches:

I Spa Sanlitun, located between the CBD and the Yansha Business Area, is a 10-minute drive from Beijing's major diplomatic area and is quickly turning into an oasis within the busiest part of the city.

I Spa Napa Valley, located in the countryside of Beijing, lies 30-minutes north of the National Stadium. A place of ultimate tranquility with natural hot spring water, it is the perfect choice for a romantic weekend escape from the city.

I Spa Xuanwu, located near Financial Street, is steeped in Thai decoration and is one of the best spas in the west Beijing.

I Spa Gulou, located in the 2008 Beijing International Media Center, is an ideal place to relax for the reporters all over the world.

I Spa Upper East, located in Traders Hotel Upper East, managed by Shangri-la, can hold a party of more than 20 people. It’s a very convenient place for the guests from Lido, Sanyuanqiao, Wangjing, and even Guomao.

Location:
UnitName="F" SourceValue="5"

>5F, Tower 2, Taiyue Suites, 16 Nan Sanlitun Rd, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China

Telephone: +86-10-65071517

Website: http://www.ispa.cn

Typhoon Muifa Weakens as It Moves Along Chinas East Coast|beijing travel

　　Typhoon Muifa, the ninth typhoon to hit China this year, is weakening as it moves towards the country's key northeastern ports after forcing the evacuation of 610,000 residents on its course along the affluent and densely-populated east coast, authorities said Sunday.

　　Muifa, bringing gusts up to 178 km per hour, is moving at 25 km per hour towards the Shandong Peninsula where it is expected to make landfall Monday morning near the port of Weihai before heading to the port of Dalian and nearby areas, national and local meteorological centers said.

　　Crews working on the off-shore platforms of Shengli Oilfield, China's key oil production base located near Weihai, started to evacuate Sunday.

　　The oilfield, operated by China Petrochemical Corporation (Sinopec Group), has 102 off-shore platforms which extract oil from 524 wells with a daily output of 8,000 tonnes, according to the Shengli Oilfield Administration.

　　If the rainfall brought by Muifa exceeds 100 millimeters, water in 50 out of about 140 large and medium-sized reservoirs in Shandong may overflow, said Du Changwen, head of the provincial water resources bureau.

　　In Qingdao, a famous coastal resort in Shangdong, all off-shore scenic spots and beaches will be closed and all water sports will be suspended from Sunday evening to Tuesday, according to the city's tourism authorities.

　　Muifa is expected to bring torrential downpours to Qingdao and gales up to 133 km per hour to nearby sea area on Monday, said the city's meteorological bureau.

　　Disaster relief teams were also called to standby in Dalian, a key industrial port in northeastern Liaoning Province.

　　In Beijing, an emergency meeting chaired by Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei, also deputy head of the State Flood Control and Drought Relief Headquarters, was held Sunday to arrange prevention measures.

　　The headquarters ordered two more provinces -- Jilin and Heilongjiang in the northeast, to beef up disaster relief efforts as the typhoon heads towards them. The province of Hebei, which is near Beijing, has reported rainfall caused by the typhoon.

　　More than 610,000 people were evacuated from dangerous areas in Shanghai and the provinces of Fujian, Zhejiang and Shandong, the country's disaster relief agency said. More than 62,700 vessels were ordered to dock.

　　In Shandong, the local weather forecast bureau said the typhoon might further weaken into a tropical storm when it lands, even so authorities continued to order about 20,000 fishing boats to lay anchor in harbors.

　　Maritime authorities on Sunday also requested vessels to either leave or stay clear from those parts of Shandong's coast most likely to be hit hardest by the typhoon.

　　Also in Shandong, 18 flights departing or arriving at Qingdao airport on the coast were canceled Sunday. Most of the canceled flights were headed for southern cities, such as Shanghai or Hangzhou.

Subway Safety Blitz in Beijing after a Train Crash Accident|beijing travel

　　Beijing has strengthened safety procedures on the city's subway network in the wake of a fatal train crash in east China, the Beijing Times reported Monday.

　　After the train crash in east China on July 23, the State Council has required local governments to strengthen procedures to ensure transportation networks are running safely.

　　The capital's deputy mayor, Gou Zhongwen, stressed in an emergency meeting on the issue of safety that the city should strictly carry out the four requirements for safe subway operation: Carriages should not be overloaded, platforms not overcrowded, passages not over-congested, and escalators not operating at full capacity.

　　Measures should be strengthened to prevent a rear-end collision, as occurred in June 23's train crash, from happening on the city’s subway lines, said the deputy mayor at the meeting.

　　Statistics published on Friday by Beijing Subway, the operator of 12 subway lines, showed more than 6.2 million journeys were made on its 12 lines on July 15, 2011, creating a new record. Presently, the subway’s passenger capacity has reached its utmost limit.

　　The operator has taken measures to secure safe operation, including setting up guardrails outside the subway stations, splitting the passenger flows and allowing trains to skip stations if necessary.

2010 top 10 hangout spots in Beijing|china travel

Whether it's sharing a pint with a long lost pal or simply sitting and watching the people of Beijing bustle by, the capital is overflowing with relaxing, or invigorating, places to spend the day "hanging out".

A man sells fruits covered in sugar (Tang hulu) in Nanluoguxiang. Photos Provided to China Daily

Nanluoguxiang:Rocking the retro

For the young arty types looking to fill their wardrobe and their shelves with a blast from Beijing's past, Nanluoguxiang is a hot pot of hip stores with retro styles and inebriated smiles.

Though there is a mix of more than 100 stylish shops offering iconic imagery, like the shirts found at the street's first shop, Plastered 8, and abstract artistry like the streetwear found at NLGX, the 700-year-old street also has a hint of the historic.

If shopping works up a thirst, there's a long list of coffee shops and bars available, from one of the street's original expat bars, Pass By bar, to the cozy, grab-a-couch-and-watch-a-movie style cafe, 16 MM.

The towering peaks of Jianwai SOHO.

Wudaokou: Embrace your youthful side

Students and professionals experiencing a tinge of nostalgia from their university days can head to Wudaokou for a taste of Beijing's higher learning.

Housing most of Beijing's major universities, this area contains as much merrymaking as it does studying. With a range of international bars and restaurants like Lush, D-22 and Pyro Pizza, Wudaokou is perfect for cracking open the books or cracking a beer.

Ideal for sunny days, strolling across the historic campuses of Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) or Tsinghua University makes for a perfect place to hang out and watch students as they bustle by.

Jianwai SOHO: Metropolitan monster mash

White-collar workers looking to dig into the hustle of Beijing's busiest business district can travel to the heart of the capital and check out Jianwai SOHO.

With hundreds of shops geared toward one-hour lunch shopping sprees, commercial offices, scenic landscaped plazas and trendy restaurants, Jianwai SOHO is almost a city within itself.

Some of the area's highlights include Twilight Whiskey Bar, which serves up a decent dish of pizza as well, and Vegan Hut, one of Beijing's hippest vegetarian restaurants. For a lush business lunch, there is also Cafe Europa.

On a boat at Houhai Lake.

Houhai: Lakeside lounging

The ultimate waterside hangouts, the shores of Houhai Lake are stuffed with bars, boutiques and activities to keep visitors occupied year-round.

For winter, sipping on a hot drink next to the fireplace in No Name Bar, to watch people ice skate, is a perfect way of hanging inside and fighting the cold.

During the summer, renting a boat and cruising the lake before getting a good meal at one of the many restaurants in the area is a fantastic way to pass the day.

Fangjia Hutong: Art meets culture

Surreptitiously slotted between Yonghegong Street and Andingmen, Fangjia Hutong is one of Beijing's yet-to-be-discovered cultural pockets.

At its mouth, the street gives the appearance of just another residential alley, but venturing down reveals a small pocket of homely restaurants like Hot Cat Club and Caihuoche Salon, plus bars catering to the local expat crowd such as El Nido and El Nido 2.

Add into the mix the Ruby Theater, a chic dance theater built from an old China National Machine Tools Corp production plant, and it's easy to understand why this has been dubbed the "creative neighborhood".

Preparation key to coping with cold|china travel

"Just take enough warm clothing," was the refrain from sports and fitness experts I consulted on how to prepare for a trip to "China's North Pole".

They were right. It was four to five layers of clothing that allowed me to survive temperatures of -30 C to -45 C.

Underneath my green down coat was a red woolen turtleneck, which covered a brown cotton turtleneck, which hid violet polyester long underwear and the base layer of black cotton long underwear.

Concealed by my bright pink ski pants was a pair of shiny black down pants and a pair of black polyester long underwear. I also wore a beige woolen scarf, purple ski gloves and two layers of woolen socks inside snowshoes.

"Make sure there's enough room for air to circulate between layers," Dong Hexin, 32, a Mohe cab driver, said when I told him what was in my luggage.

The only reason I didn't wear a cotton mask over my nose and mouth - like most locals did - was that it would have worsened the frost on my glasses. I decided to forgo contact lenses after consulting an eye doctor.

"The trouble with glasses is they fog," said Dr Jesse Caguioa, chief optometrist at the Asian Eye Institute in Manila, but "our biggest concern with contact lenses in such negative temperatures is that they'd dry out".

I was terrified by the possibility of the contacts freezing into fish scale-like discs - and cracking - while on my eyeballs.

I also found useful advice online: Get adequate sleep before and during the trip, and keep yourself hydrated. A bottle of hot water, I discovered, can double as a hand warmer between jaunts outdoors or as a "hot water bag" while in bed at night.

I brought disposable heating pads for my cold feet, but I barely felt their effect. After 20 minutes outdoors I began experiencing a throbbing pain on my forehead and it became difficult to think or speak.

My toes and my fingers would feel painfully frozen and heavy, and I'd get nightmarish visions of frostbite. While in a panic rush back to a heated car or room, I'd question the sanity of my winter expedition to Mohe.

But I survived Mohe's dreadfully cold winter. I think I've now earned the right to see it in summer.

China Daily

(China Daily 01/06/2011 page19)

Qianlongs secret garden for his old age|china travel

In the Forbidden City, a retired ruler made a refuge for himself which is now being lovingly restored

Even before he abdicated the throne, the Emperor Qianlong was already preparing for retirement. He had a two-acre private courtyard built and filled it with his favorite books, art and a wall mural that brought his garden inside even when he could not go out to enjoy it.

This was the emperor's personal retreat, Juanqinzhai, more known to antiquities experts as the Qianlong Garden. Its name, which alludes to "rest after a lifetime of work", reflected Qianlong's love of scholarship and the arts. He prided himself as an accomplished calligrapher and he is known for his huge collection of art and antiques.

Much of this has been lost, plundered by the turbulent times that China went through before it finally emerged, cleansed and ready for new beginnings. But there is enough left within the courtyard to make it very interesting to the experts.

Built in the 1770s, Juanqinzhai fell into disrepair after China's last emperor, Puyi, was expelled from the Forbidden City in 1924. For decades, it suffered the fate of being forgotten, a decrepit storage space.

The World Monuments Fund (WMF) from the US has played a key role in its restoration with not only funds but also expertise, according to Nancy Berliner, curator of Chinese art at the Peabody Essex Museum.

The $3-million project can be seen as a good example of international cooperation in cultural relics conservation, says Li Ji, deputy director of the Palace Museum. "The cooperation with the WMF was the first major collaboration between a US conservation group and the Palace Museum."

The WMF starting working with the Palace Museum in 2002 to restore the Qianlong Garden and helped train Chinese conservators as they faced the many complex challenges posed by the fragile historic interior and its unusual mix of materials and techniques.

One such was the wall mural that stretched over the ceiling of the room where a miniature stage was built for opera performances, one of Qianlong's loves. It is a detailed depiction of the palace gardens complete with lilacs and trailing purple wisteria. Craftsmen spent much time and money matching the unusual pigments used for the trompe l'oeil, and this was where the expertise from the WMF came in most useful.

This joint conservation exercise has proved so successful that the WMF, a New York-based non-profit organization, signed a broader agreement to restore all 24 buildings and the elaborate outdoor courtyards of the entire Qianlong Garden.

The expected date of completion will be in 2019, a year before the Forbidden City marks 600 years of existence.

New SAS route to Wroclaw, Poland

“Poland is an important trading partner for Denmark and the ninth-biggest Danish export market. It is essential to Danish companies to have good and frequent flight connections to Poland. As Wroclaw is an important industrial city, Danish business people will benefit greatly from the new service, which concurrently strengthens Copenhagen Airport’s position as a northern European hub, said Ole Wieth Christensen, Director of Airline Sales & Route Development for Copenhagen Airports.

A number of international companies have production, development and other activities in Wroclaw, including Volvo, Toyota, Bosch, LG Electronics, 3M, HP and Whirlpool, and the city’s technology park is also home to a large number of IT, biotech and pharmaceutical companies.

One of the host cities of the European soccer championship
The historic city attracts many tourists, and the opening of the new service is also good news to soccer devotees, as Wroclaw will be one of the host cities of the European soccer championship.

“We are pleased to offer a non-stop service to one of the fastest growing cities in central Europe. Wroclaw features both high technology and beautiful architecture, and we look forward to welcoming passengers on our flights to this new destination, said Per Møller Jensen, Vice President, Brand, Marketing & EuroBonus for SAS.

Forty-two weekly flights to Poland
SAS flies to Wroclaw four times a week on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays, leaving Copenhagen at 11:15 a.m. and Wrocław at 1:00 p.m. The flying time to Wroclaw is one hour and 20 minutes, and SAS uses CRJ200 flights seating 50 passengers on the service.

SAS now operates a total of 42 weekly flights to Poland out of Copenhagen Airport. In addition to the service to Wrocław, SAS also offers services to Warsaw, Gdansk and Poznan out of Copenhagen.

Emirates connects Costa Cruise ships to passengers from all over the world

13th January 2009: The UAE’s position as the hub and most popular destination - for cruise ships in the Middle East will be consolidated next month with the arrival of a new state-of-the-art luxury liner on its maiden voyage. And the arrival in Dubai of Costa Deliziosa, the 15th vessel to join the fleet of Costa Cruises, will strengthen an exciting partnership between Europe’s number one cruise company and Emirates airline, with the firms geared for an expected surge in cruise tourism in the region. Emirates and Costa Cruises will be at the forefront as the rapidly emerging industry is bolstered further this month when the new Dubai Cruise Terminal becomes fully operational, with a capacity to handle four ships simultaneously. Costa Deliziosa, along with sister ships Costa Luminosa and Costa Europa, expect to dock in Dubai 32 times during the 2009/2010 winter season and Emirates will play a pivotal role in connecting holidaymakers with their cruise liners. The airline - which will fly to 25 European destinations in 2010 after announcing the addition of Madrid, Prague and Amsterdam to its network - shares the same commitment to service excellence as Costa Cruises and will ensure many of their guests begin their dream holiday in style. Costa Cruises, Italy’s largest tourism group, expects this season to bring 140,000 visitors to Dubai with many flying in with Emirates from France, Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the UK and is confident of delivering a significant contribution to the tourism industry. Antonio de Rosa, Costa Cruises VP Cruise Operations, said: We were the first major operator to believe in the UAE as a cruise destination and are proud of the economic benefits we are bringing to the region. We predict the number of guests cruising to Dubai with us will increase by 40%, with an estimated boost of Dhs 74 million for the city in the winter of 2009/10. And Fabrizia Greppi, Costa Cruises VP Corporate Marketing and Communication, welcomed Emirates commitment to Costa Deliziosa event as well as developing the Middle East ’s burgeoning cruise industry. Richard Vaughan, DSVP Commercial Operations Worldwide for Emirates, said: “We are delighted to be working in partnership with Costa Cruises to give their guests the best possible start to what for many will be the trip of a lifetime. “With an extensive flight schedule to cities throughout Europe, we can unite Costa cruise ships with passengers travelling from their key market, as well as give them the opportunity to attract guests from many of the other countries in our network of more than 100 destinations. “Cruise tourism has been identified as a key growth segment and we are very excited at the long-term benefits that this partnership can bring to both Emirates and Costa Cruises, not to mention the tremendous boost this gives to the tourism industry in the region. The Costa Deliziosa and Costa Luminosa, which can both accommodate almost 3000 travellers, will operate a seven-day itinerary, starting and finishing in Dubai, with one-day stops in Oman, Fujairah, Abu Dhabi and Bahrain.

Italian home styling popular among locals|china travel

When architect and home designer Fabrizo De Leva came to China seven years ago, he didn't expect Chinese people would be so interested in Italian style.

Yet today 99 percent of De Leva's clients at FdL in Beijing are Chinese. The appeal is due to "a combination of simplicity, functionality and luxury", De Leva said.

Italians are known worldwide for their style in leather and luxury brands such as Prada and Lamborghini. And that's exactly what newly affluent Chinese want in their homes - Italian luxury, according to De Leva.

He said there are two types of Chinese interested in his professional services.

One type, who have a humble background and make it big, want to show off their new money - they like their homes designed in an ostentatious way.

De Leva said one client had his whole bathroom plated in gold at a cost of 1 million yuan.

The other type are more confident of their wealth and "want real style", he said.

De Leva said an Italian home is not about a golden bathroom, but mixing aesthetics and function. Every item in a room should be useful, easy to operate and move around.

He said the No 1 rule is to avoid a so-called "U-turn" in a home, meaning that you can only get in or out of a room the same way. An entrance should allow people to navigate the house, he said.

Italian style is also not just about marble floors. It's the way of working with the space in a home that distinguishes it, that is new in China, he said.

"Some people don't understand that design and style is not about dressing up an empty space, it's about creating an empty space," he said.

"Some Chinese are too sophisticated. They will have the furniture along the walls in a traditional style. We will put some furniture in the middle of the room."

Furniture is the exuberance that achieves that luxury Italian look, but it can raise costs dramatically, especially if the customers are looking for genuine leather furniture and designs.

"You can get good copies of Italian furniture here in China but many Chinese are willing to pay much more to get the original," De Leva said.

"They are concerned about the quality and would rather fly to Italy and choose the furniture they like and have it shipped over to China."

For many Italians the kitchen is the heart of the home, but for the Chinese it's the opposite.

De Leva said the dominant colors of an Italian-style home are pastel, which reminds him of Mediterranean islands such as Sicily. Few, if any, are red.

As he designs more homes in China, he said he hoped more Italian designers will come to China.

"Chinese people have a keen eye for Italian style," he said. "But Italian designers are slow to come and be a part of this great opportunity."

Citys First Solar Power Station Starts Operation

A solar power station, located in Shuangliu County of Chengdu, began to generate electricity on Tuesday. It is the first solar power station built in the city, which makes Shuangliu the pilot area of new energy using.

The solar power station was designed and built by Sichuan Apollo Solar T&D Inc., a high-tech company of solar power development.

Noah headquaters settle in Chengdu

Chinas leading provider of electronic learning products Noah Education Holdings Limited (Noah) announced on Wednesday that the company had moved its headquarters from Shenzhen to Chengdu.

Chairman of Noah Tang Benguo said the decision had strategic importance since Chengdu possesses the advantages in highstandard human resources, completed industrial capacity and lower cost.