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:
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>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)