Chinese Etiquettes——Vitalin the Business World

正NO matter what part of the world they come from,expats in sales and marketing jobs in China and those planning to set up new businesses here need to study how the Chinese behave in the business environment.Expats come to China to be involved in the second biggest global economy.Figuring out the four rising and falling tones in spoken Mandarin–no easy task in a month–will not,however,help in delicate business     

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.     

Daqing——Transforming Dependence on Oil

DAQING City in Heilongjiang,a province of Northeast China,sits on Daqing Oilfield-the largest in China. To this oil resource the city owes its founding,its prosperity and its name.     

Translating——A Vital Historical Mission

WITH globalization developing apace, translation services around the world are more vital than ever. Accurate translations are crucial in facilitating effective communication, cultural exchanges, and understanding between nations and cultures. On the eve of the 2008 Beijing Olympics in August, the 18th World Congress of the International Federation of Translators （FIT） will take place in China＇s most international city, Shanghai. The triennial event promises to be a grand festive gathering for language and cultural exchange professionals from ,around the world.     

Zhou Jianhua——Faithful Recorder of Miao Customs

Zhou Jianhua is quite a celebrity in Huayuan County, Hunan Province. That fame comes mainly from his photography, a path he started out on very early. As tar back in the 1980s when he worked in the educational field. Zhou used to carry a film camera to different schools to photograph various activities, as well as graduating students together with their teachers. Zhou does not grudge what he spends on his passion, so, after retiring he bought a full kit of Nikon＇s top digital camera equipment. Every time he came home from a shoot, he would select several images, have them enlarged, and give them to his subjects for free. What was once a pleasurable pastime has made him something of a name. For the last few years, he has devoted himself to photographing Miao folkways in western Hunan. Having amassed a large portfolio of such material, one top-notch photograph has followed another, and national magazines have used his shots in features on ethnic customs, many of those pictures winning awards at photographic exhibitions. Zhou Jianhua is not only a faithful recorder of Miao customs in western Hunan, but a leading photographer in Huayuan County.     

Gender Bending——Social Trends You Can Wear

PASSING for a member of the opposite sex is a tirelessly amusing trick celebrated in several art forms over many centuries and in many cultures. In 1998,Walt Disney Pictures made the animated film named Mulan based on a story from the Sui Dynasty(581-618) about a Chinese legendary heroine Hua Mulan.Mulan impersonated a man and took the place of her ill father in the ranks of the army fighting invaders from the north.For her bravery in assuming a male role,and the sacrifice she made for her father,Mulan has been honored in history.There are many such female heroines in Chinese history,fictitious and real,such as Fan Lihua of the Tang Dynasty(618-907) and Qin Liangyu of the Ming Dynasty(1368-1644) whose legends celebrate female ferocity and their awakening to inner strength and power.     

Revised Budget Law——A Reflection of Transformation

THE revisions last August to China’s Budget Law were the first since it took effect in 1995.It has thus taken more than a decade to revise a law so important it has been dubbed the"Economic Constitution."Response to the Demand for Change China’s Budget Law was promulgated in 1994 and took effect in 1995.Over the ensuing two decades Chinese society has witnessed dramatic changes–in economic development,state governance,and also public opinion and understanding of the budget.Social progress     

Prisons of Learning——Human rights in the eye of a prisoner

On February 25, 2004, the United States issued its Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2003, distorting the human rights conditions in China, including human rights in Chinese prisons. As a prison inmate in Beijing, I have a say in the human rights conditions in prison based on my personal experience. 1 wrote an article titled "Human Rights in Chinese Prisons in the Eye of a Prison Inmate," which was published in the journal Human Rights (Issue No. 6,2003 of English Edition). Now I'd like to say something about the right to education in Chinese prisons.     

Marriage made in Heaven——intercultural relationships

When I first visited China in 1987, intercultural marriages were relatively uncommon.They were fraught with many difficulties and indeed were often actively discouraged. Today, in China's major cities such relationships are increasingly normal and are often seen as beneficial for both partners, particularly if the foreigner intends to stay in China for the long haul.     

Legal Aid in China——History,current conditions and future

Legal aid,also known as legal relief,is commonly adopted in many countries.In fact,it is an indispensable part of the legal system in a modern society ruled by law.It is an important guarantee for the fairness in the adminis- tration of justice and human fights relief. It is also an important mark of political civilization and social progress in a coun- try.