Modern Art in an Ancient Setting——Beijing's Red Gate Gallery

A SCENDING the ancient stone steps to Red Gate Gallery reveals the quintessential Beijing pan orama. The gallery is housed in Dongbianmen Watchtower, a Ming Dynasty structure straddling the last crumbling vestiges of Beijing＇s city wall. Like a besieged bastion of the city＇s imperial past, the watchtower is hemmed in by railway lines and Beijing＇s Second Ring Road. The glass and steel edifices of the CBD loom in the distance. It＇s appropriate that this ancient fortress, surrounded by a cornucopia of modern development, houses a gallery that has long been a cultural bastion of a more contemoorary kind.     

Nanjing Software： The New Brilliance of an Ancient City

TOGETHER with Dalian and ＇Chengdu, the city of Nanjing is a major producer of computer software in China.People may wonder what in the world has made Nanjing, a city known for its cultural and historical heritage, a leader in China＇s software industry. And how did this seem to happen overnight？ In spite of its relatively low profile, Nanjing has a few tricks up its sleeve the other cities don＇t.     

Yangpu： A Seaside Industrial Landmark

HAINAN Island off China＇s southern coast boasts more than just beautiful seascapes. A popular tourist destination, it has top-notch hotels, convention facilities and golf courses. As well as stunning natural scenery, the island features several notable cities, including the seaside metropolis of Haikou in the north, the scenic ＂tourist resort and ecological city＂ of Sanya in the south, and the historic city of Qionghai and picturesque Bo＇ao in the east.     

Old Businesses Losing Their Last Stronghold

FOR over 600 years, Beijing＇s Qianmen Street has been one of the city＇s most prestigious and busiest commercial thoroughfares. Just 10 minutes by foot from Tian＇anmen Square, in the very heart of the city, the 800-meter-long avenue was in its heyday a convergence of more than 100 upscale stores and restaurants, attracting a steady stream of shoppers and sightseers.     

The City of Tomorrow Urban Best Practices Area a Peek into the Future

TEXT and the city - a lot is being said about Shanghai 2010, so let＇s not forget this is the first time in the past century and a half that a city has ＂attended＂ the World Expo as an independent participant. The Urban Best Practices Area on the south- em bank of the Huangpu River is certainly making the most of that spotlight and is expected to be the highlight of the World Expo 2010. For an exhibition of 15.08 hectares （only 3 percent of the entire Expo space） this may seem ambitious,     

Geng Yanbo： Datong＇s Scholarly Mayor

SPEAKING to Geng Yanbo, the new mayor of Datong, it is difficult not to be swept up by his enthusiasm for the history of his city. And it is that enthusiasm which a majority of the city＇s residents agree also accounts for Geng＇s unique approach to modernizing Datong while preserving its long cultural heritage. Looking about, the evidence of that commitment is everywhere, from the newly opened shops to ihe freshly paved roads. Since being transferred in March from Taiyuan to Datong to become acting mayor and deputy secretary of the Municipal Committee of the CPC, Geng has acted resolutely to turn this industrious coal town into a cultural showpiece.     

A Pearl Embedded in the New Silk Road-An Exclusive Interview with Mayor of Kaifeng Ji Bingwei

KAIFENG, located in the heart of China, was the world＇s biggest and busiest ,city during the 11th and 12th centuries. As the intersection of the land and maritime Silk Roads, it was a pIace from where goods were dispatched and traders from the East and West met. Today, it is a major city in the central China economic region due to its integrated development with Zhengzhou, capital of Henan Province.     

Small Loans, Mighty Impact

WENZHOU has cultivated the most vibrant private capital market in China, estimated conservatively at RMB 342 billion by the Wenzhou Branch of the People＇s Bank of China, or a steeply higher RMB 600 million by other experts. China＇s Banking Regulatory Commission published Advice on Experiments with Small Loan Companies in May of 2008, clarifying the nature of these financial entities and setting rules for their operation. It is widely believed this is a move by the state to give private capital its long awaited legitimacy. So far eight small loan companies have been established in the city, all closely watched by the financial sector of the nation.     

牛街民族团结小区

In the Liao, Song and Yuan dynasties many Muslims from Central Asia settled in northern China, and the Niujie section is the largest Hui community in China＇s capital city. Dating back with a history of more than a thousand years, the term Niujie, oxen street, today is commonly used to refer to an area of some 60 winding alleyways, or hutongs, with a central ＂Niujie＂ in its midst.     

Qinhuangdao Takes Advantage of the Beijing Olympics to Move Ahead——A Conversation with Zhu Haowen,Mayor of Qinhuangdao

QINHUANGDAO in Hebei Province is famous for its section of the Great Wall and pristine beaches.But it is more than just an ideal summer resort.In 2008,it attracted world attention as the only prefecture- level co-host city of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games,staging not only some memorable Olympic football matches, but also taking advantage of the opportunities created by the Games to move ahead in terms of development. China Today spoke with Zhu Haowen, the city＇s mayor,and he described Qinhuangdao＇s unique charm with seven key words.     

The Olympics Economic Bonanza

SINCE Los Angeles unexpectedly reaped a profit in 1984 for the first time in the history of the modem Olympics, the quadrennial event has become an economic bonanza for host cities. Barce- lona, for example, achieved a profit of US $26.05 billion in 1992. The Olym- pic-related economy in Beijing is also picking up as the big event draws near.and put up eight temporary structures in and around the park. After the Games, the park and venues will continue to host top sporting events, and provide ample facilities for the public＇s sporting activities. The boom is expected to last well beyond August. At the begin- ning of 2007, the Beijing Municipal Government stated that sports-related businesses are set to be one of the city＇s     

Heart and Soul Kashi in Southern Xinjiang

TRAVELING westward along the Old Silk Road, Kashi is the last big city before enterine the Pamir Plateau. Kashi is a Uygur-inhabited settlement - people of the Muslim faith. On the streets tourists can see men wearing Uygur-style caps and women in their brightly colored ethnic clothing. Testimony to the city＇s strong ethnic flavor it is said, ＂One cannot say he has been to Xinjiang without visiting Kashi.＂     

Extending Beijing＇s Ancient Backbone

THE concept of a ＂center＂ is one of the most distinctive characteristics of China＇s traditional culture, and is reflected in the design of the country＇s ancient cities like Beijing. While the traditional layout of the capital is still evident, in contemporary times the Olympic Games have seen the capital＇s ancient backbone extended northward.     

Daqing Revitalized

DAQING, a city in China＇s northeast, has a proud record. Its oil industry was founded 49 years ago, and at its peak produced more than 50 million tons of crude oil annually for 27 years running, a world-class achievement. Daqing also has unparalleled human capital, and it is that potential which has propelled the city into the 21st century.     

Islands in the Fun-Shanghai

Situated at the mouth of the Yangtze River- China＇s longest river- the coastal city of Shanghai is surrounded by a variety of charming islands. Some of them have now been developed into havens for tourists, where people can escape the bustling city and cool off on sultry summer days.     

Memorial Day Set to Honor Victims and Remember History

ON February 27, 2014 the Standing Committee of the National People＇s Congress passed a decision on a memo-rial day to honor victims of the Nanjing Massacre. The move is in response to a strong call from the Chinese people for a national salute to the victims and is also in line with international norms. The memorial day, as remembrance of a hor- rifle episode in China＇s history, is bound to have a global impact.     

Qinhuangdao：Where the Great Wall Reaches the Sea

SEEN from a distance, the Great Wall looks like an enormous dragon, and the city of Qinhuangdao is where the dragon’s head dips into the sea. Qinhuangdao is located in Hebei Province, a city of strategic importance linking Northeast China with North China. It is 280 kilometers east of beijing and 370 kilometers southwest of shenyang.     

The Eternal Couple Taishan Mountain and Tai＇an City

TAI＇AN City is located in the center of Shandong Province, home to the ancient states of Lu and Qi. Built in homage to Taishan Mountain （Mount Tai）, one of China＇s sacred peaks, the city was named after an old saying： ＂If all is well on Taishan Mountain, the world will be at peace.＂ ＂Tai＇an＂ literally means ＂peace upon Taishan.＂     

Hainan——Springtime in an Open Province

IT＇S springtime in Hainan, literally in terms of the season, but also figuratively in terms of an ongoing era of rebirth for the tropical island. Hainan is China＇s southernmost territory, and the nation＇s smallest province in terms of land area. Size is no reflection of status, however. The island is famous as a holiday resort of azure skies, bright sunshine, fresh air and unspoiled beaches.     

A Diverse City of Serenity

YUNNAN＇S provincial capital Kunming is, by any measure, a blessed city. Over the past 7,000 years it has been spared significant disasters of any kind, and the year-round spring-like weather nurtures a lush, enticing environment full of opulent produce. All in all, Kunming residents have long enjoyed a carefree life in laidback surroundings, which perhaps explains the locals＇ love of art and flowers.