Fuhai,Desert Oasis

LARGE tracts of western China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region are smothered in dusty sand. Set against this barren landscape is Fuhai County, a lush green area that extends to the Altai Mountains in the north and the plains and deserts of the south. Two rivers - the Ulungur and the Ertix - run through this fertile region, together creating miles of verdant pasture. Fuhai is also home to the Alxa Nature Reserve.     

Glory of Gilt

正Chaozhou,a city in Guangdong Province,south China,is known as one of the birthplaces of the Chinese tea ceremony.Itis famed for an ancient art as well.Its delicate woodcarving,which originated in the Tang Dynasty (618-907),is a masterly skill that was recognized as a national intangible cultural heritage in 2006.     

A SHARING OF MINDS

正The Media Leaders Roundtable is held at the Boao Forum for Asia(BFA)Annual Conference in Boao,south China’s Hainan Province,on March 23.Over 80 government officials,leaders of international organizations and business executives attended this year’s BFA Annual Conference,which took place on March 23-26 under the theme Globalization and Free     

Ancient City of the Minyue Kingdom

THE Minyue Kingdom city is35 kilometers north of theWuyi Mountains in FujianProvince, and has a history ofmore than 2,300 years. Constructedon the summits of a few foothills,the city faces the magnificent WuyiMountains to the west, and hills andmounds to its north and south. Agurgling crystalline stream originating in the Wuyi Mountains flowsfrom the west to the city and thengoes past it from north to south. Itsvast stretches of alluvial plains inthe east and north give this ancientcity a…     

Ecological Progress

China’s less developed western region is promoting environment-friendly investment and rejecting the polluters “This is our first time partic-ipating in this expo, and we just want to promote and spread our brand a bit fur-ther here to the vast west of China,” said Cao Fulin, a sales manager for Hsufuchifoods Ltd., a well-known food company based in Dongguan, south China’s Guangdong Province. He was speaking at the 11th Investment and Trade Forum for Cooperation Between East and West China which kicked off in early April in Xi’an, capital of northwest China’s Shaanxi Province.     

An Exciting Time for Steel City

Panzhihua, in south Sichuan's basin, is aptly called West China's Industrial Pearl, and "treasure bowl." This city is well known as the home of Panzhihua Iron and Steel Group Company and Ertan Hydropower Station. At the beginning of 2004, two major events thrust this city into the limelight.     

The Battle of Muye—The First Massive Battle in the History of China

Xinxiang is located at the southern foot of Taihang Mountain and at the northern foot of the Yellow River. It was here that took place a great event which changed the history of China. This was the Muye battle. After this decisive battle, Zhou Dynasty (11th century -221 B.C.) replaced Shang Dynasty (16th-11th century B.C.). The Chinese history entered a new horizon.In ancient times, the place of Muye referred to land "From the south of Chaoge (the capital of Shang Dynasty, lies in Qi county of Henan province) to Qing Shui (Wei River, which originated from Huixian of the city of Xinxiang, runs into the sea in Tianjin city.)"(By Li Daoyuan who was a geographer of Beiwei Dynasty) It means that the broad area included from northern shore of Weihe river to Weihui County.     

Turfan-the Lowest Place in China

Travelling by rail, road or air across the vast western region of Xinjiang, the impression is of a lifeless desert of grey sand and gravel. In this, one of the world's driest places and the farthest point on the planet from any ocean, occasional patches of green show that life is possible. Desert settlements are called oases. Their survival depends on a secure supply of water. Recently I visited the Turfan (Tulufan) Oasis, 185 kilometres south east of Urumqi, the regional capital. Not only is this hottest place in China (summer + 40 degrees), it is also the second lowest place in the World - nearby Moon Lake is 154 metres below sea level. Rainfall is practically nil.     

An ancient street in Gaochun

In the southwest corner of East China's Jiangsu Province, Gaochun County lies in the southern out skirts of the provincial capital Nanjing, just a one and a half hour ride to downtown Nanjing.The county is famous for its "old street" or "No 1 ancient street in Jinling", which is located to the west of Gucheng Lake and to the south of the Guanxi River.Gaochun is a commercial centre dating back to the fifth century AD, with Chunxi Town being the local government seat of the county.     

The Panjiayuan Folk Culture Market

ALTHOUGH some people may not know exactly where No.18 Huaweili,Panjiayuan Road,in the south part of Chaoyang District is,PanjiayuanFolk Culture Market is a huge draw.People are irresistibly drawn by itsantiquities,and it is mentioned in several travel books.More and moreforeigners in Beijing frequent this secondhand market.     

Tu Ethnic Group

Tu ethnic group, known for their simplicity and industriousness, lives in the northwestern part of China - to the east of Qinghai Lake and south of Qilian Mountain Range and along the banks of the Huangshui and Datong rivers. They have about 192,600 population, which is concentrated mainly in the Huzhu Tu Autonomous County in Northwest China Qinghai Province, and also in the counties of Minhe and Datong. Others are scattered in Ledu, Menyuan and the Tianzhu     

MODEST PROSPECTS

Without a doubt,the Chinese economy has sailed safely through the global economic downturn,while the developed world struggles to restart its growth engine.China's economic momentum remained strong in the first half of this year,though the growth rate is heading south in the second quarter.So what risks lie ahead? How is the country's economic rebalancing progressing?     

Jiayuguan-the greatest pass under heaven

The Hexi Corridor stretching westwards from Lanzhou in Gansu Province was China's land connection with Central Asia. Virtually a narrow passage between the snow-capped Qilian Mountains to the south and the waterless desert to the north it is home to the historical Silk Road. It was also strategic in the defence of Ancient China. Recently I travelled along this route by overnight train from Lanzhou to the 'Greatest Pass under Heaven', Jiayuguan.Today this modern city of 100,000     

Booked up and Ready to Go

Chinese publishing giant is writing a new chapter in the U.S. market A booth at the south hall of this year's BookExpo America (BEA) at the Los Angeles Convention Center has five very unusual attractions. Fuwa, the official mascots     

Linyi： Rivers,Mountains and Much,Much More

I have been to many cities across China. For sure, cities in the south are modern. But in my opinion they lack the depth. In the north, it’s just the opposite," said renowned scholar, author and commentator Yu Dan recently. But she also added: "Linyi in Shandong Province is an exception to this rule. It’s inherited the south’s modernity and the north’s sense of dignity." Linyi literally means "by the Yi River."     

Fengxian - Ocean Outlook,Southern Charm

FENGXIAN District in the south of Shanghai sits on the northern shore of the Hangzhou Bay. Here the feminine grace of southern scenery and the virile majesty of the ocean come together in happy union. Fields blaze with golden rape blossom against an azure ocean backdrop： it cries out this is southern China.This particular paradise encompasses 720 square kilometers of land and 417 square kilometers of sea within its boundaries.     

CHINA DEHYDRATED

Across China in 2007,39.93 million hectares of farmland was affected by drought,of which nearly 9 percent became unfertile. Millions of people had difficulty accessing drinking water"Spring rain is as precious as oil."This ancient proverb invented by farmers in north China captures both the im- portance and rarity of springtime rain in the region.Areas south of China's great Yangtze River receive high levels of rainfall during the country's mon-     

The Water Diversion Project

One of the basic characteristics of water distribution in China is that there is a deluge of water in the south and a deficiency in the north. To ease the water shortage in the north, the Chinese Government     

Shaoxing Opera-A Folk Favorite

Shaoxing Opera originated in Zhejiang Province during the mid-19th century. Despite stiff competition from TV, DVDs and on-line entertainment, it still has a stalwart audience south of the Yangtze. Private troupes that tour villages and towns in Zhejiang and Jiangsu cater to this pool of aficionados, occasionally hitting the Shanghai cosmopolis. One of them is the No.2 Wenling Shaoxing Opera Troupe.     

South China Sea Challenge

China's attempts to solve disputes with ASEAN over the South China Sea help regional peace China's marine economy and security are currently faced with new challenges, requiring careful handling, especially in disputes with ASEAN countries and in promoting common development of the South China Sea. The outcome of how this is dealt with could undoubtedly pave the way for solutions to other oceanic disputes. The South China Sea is located south of