Hamlet meets Peking Opera

China Postal Airlines launches flights between Yantai, Seoul

Mail and cargo flights between the Chinese coastal city of Yantai, Shandong Province, and Seoul, South Korea, went into operation on Tuesday, shortening delivery times between the two cities by at least 12 hours.

CCTV opens three channels in Cuba

The China Central Television (CCTV) opened three channels in Cuba on Sunday, marking the completion of a three-phase project over the past five years.

Spring Festival celebrated in South Africa

Terracotta warriors to be exhibited in Netherlands

Ancient terracotta warriors from China will march into a Dutch museum for the first time ever with the official opening on Saturday of an exhibition in Assen in northern Netherlands.

Tourism booth promoting China at Madrid

Celebration of Spring Festival in Cairo

Foreigners' Dream of Red Mansions

Foreign students took part in Beijing audition on Saturday, January 26, 2008, for an adaptation of the ancient Chinese literary classic, "A Dream of Red Mansions."

Young Chinese artists to perform in Vienna

Chinese woman dancing to Indian beat all her life

Beijing Olympic Float in LA Rose Parade wins award

The Beijing Olympic Float, which took part in the Pasadena Tournament of Rose Parade in Los Angeles on Tuesday, has won the Theme Trophy for excellence in presenting parade theme, organizers announced on Wednesday.

China, S Korea joust over fengshui art

For many years, the art of fengshui has been seen as an indispensable part of Chinese traditional culture. But recently, this long standing heritage was challenged when South Korea applied to list the art as a World Cultural Heritage under its name.

Macao decorated for Christmas

Dinosaur mummy found with intact fossilized skin

A partially mummied dinosaur was found in North Dakoda with its intact skin tissues, media reports said Tuesday quoting paleontology researchers.

Int'l Haungshan mountain climbing meet

Scientists find giant prehistoric creature

'Tolerant' Queen's diamond anniversary commemorated

Celebrations kicked off yesterday to mark the diamond wedding anniversary of Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, who married 60 years ago this week.

Thai Princess records Qinghai-Tibet trip in new book

A Thai Princess has released a pictorial album in Bangkok today. The album records the Princess' train journey in her own words along China's Qinghai and Tibet. A launch ceremony was held to mark this occasion because it symbolizes an ongoing and intimate bilateral relationship mutually enjoyed by the nations of Thailand and China.

Legendary writer Norman Mailer dies at 84

Norman Mailer, the pugnacious two-time Pulitzer Prize winner who was a dominating presence on the US literary scene for more than half a century, died on Saturday of kidney failure, his family said. He was 84.

United Airlines to launch daily Guangzhou-San Francisco direct service

United Airlines will become the first US airline to offer a daily, nonstop route between Guangzhou and San Francisco when it launches the service on June 18, 2008.

Charles and Camilla visit London's Chinatown

The most exciting rollercoaster in the world

Yangjiang Int'l Kite Festival

Russian classic Boris Godunov to make Asian debut in HK

Renowned British Director Declan Donnellan and top-class Russian theater actors will perform the Russian classic Boris Godunov next month which will be its Asian debut.

German Avenue in Nanjing

Japan-born panda twins to return to China

Two male pandas born in Japan four years ago by leased parents from China will become the first overseas-born twin pandas ever to come back to China next week.

China International Tea Expo

Air China to launch direct route linking Beijing, Athens

Air China will launch a direct route linking Beijing and Athens via a stopover in Dubai on November 28, which is also the first direct flight between China and Greece.

British female writer Doris Lessing wins Nobel Prize in literature

British female writer Doris Lessing has won the 2007 Nobel Prize in literature for five decades of epic novels covering the fields of feminism, politics as well her youth in Africa, the Swedish Academy announced Thursday.

Former US official becomes president of Chinese school

A former US education official has started to work as the honorary president of an elementary school in southwest China.

Briton ends 13-year muscle-powered world adventure

British adventurer Jason Lewis on Saturday arrived in Greenwich, southeast London, ending a 13-year round-the-world trip using only the power of the human body.

Foreign tourists visit local food market

China int'l folk art festival

More foreign students coming to China

China attracted more than 162,000 students from 185 countries and regions in 2006, an official with the Ministry of Education said at a function in Beijing for foreign students for the Mid-Autumn Festival, which falls on Tuesday.

Pingyao Int'l Photography Festival

Classic Cars Travel in Hangzhou

Boat Show Marks the Start of 2007 Hunan Tourism Festival

A grand boat show was held on Wednesday on the Dongting Lake in city Yueyang to mark the start of the 2007 Hunan Tourism Festival.

Eating out in London Takes Big Bite of the Wallet

Getting hungry can cost one dearly in London, now the most expensive city in the world for dining out, research showed yesterday.

'Housewives' Re-dubbed for Shanghai Audience

The American smash hit TV series "Desperate Housewives" has been re-translated and dubbed into Chinese by the Shanghai Film Dubbing Studio for a second round of screening in Shanghai.

Animated Fuwa Gets International Award

An Olympic mascot cartoon, "The Olympic Adventures of Fuwa," was awarded "Best Production" at the Asian Animation Comics Contest (AACC) on Monday.

International Firework Festival

Rare Barbie Dolls to Tour China

A year-long itinerant show featuring 1,000 precious Barbie dolls since their creation in 1959 will be kicked off next January to cover seven Chinese cities including Shanghai and Beijing, an organizer said in Beijing on Wednesday.

Zhuhai to Host Air Show in Nov 2008

To meet the fast growing demand for aviation service, Zhuhai in South China's Guangdong Province will host China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition, or Airshow China, in November 2008, Chen Ying, vice-mayor of Zhuhai, said yesterday.

World's Largest Civil Aerospace Expo Opens in HK

The Asian Aerospace International Expo and Congress 2007 opened in Hong Kong on Monday to embrace the top fast-growing Asia Pacific market, which is forecast by the world's top manufacturers to account for a third of aircraft orders over the next 20 years.

  --Asian Aviation to Grow More Influential: Cathay Pacific

  --China's Self-designed Regional Aircraft Attracts Visitors in Aerospace Expo

Fiji Opens Gates for Chinese Tourists

Chinese tourists to Fiji do not require a visitor's visa when traveling to Fiji.

Chinese Film Selected to Open Pusan Film Festival

Chinese famous director Feng Xiaogang's "The Assembly" has been selected as opener of the 12th Pusan International Film Festival (PIFF), South Korean media reported on Wednesday.

Lively Views Exchanged on Relations

Frank and heated exchanges on Sino-Japanese relations and the future of Asia marked discussions between Chinese university students and Japanese guests at the third Beijing-Tokyo Forum yesterday.

Chinese Develop a Taste for German Cuisine

Often, when Germans and Chinese sit down to a German meal, they bring a taste of their cultures to the table.

Chinese Students Chat with Astronauts

Twenty Chinese students in Nanjing, the capital of east China's Jiangsu Province on Sunday spoke directly via amateur radio with an astronaut orbiting above them in the International Space Station (ISS).

Giant Panda Cub Born in Vienna

Japanese Play 'Taketori Monogatari' on Stage in E China

Terracotta Army Figures to Be Displayed in UK

Tuya's Marriage Premieres in Germany

A premiere ceremony was held on Monday in Germany for this year's Berlinale Golden Bear-winning film "Tuya's Marriage".

6 Countries Approved as Destinations for Tourists

The Chinese government has approved six more countries as the destinations for outbound tourist groups, said sources with the China National Tourism Administration on Sunday.

India's Independence Day Marked in Shenzhen

About 100 Indian people living in Shenzhen celebrated their country's 60th Independence Day at the Spice Circle Indian restaurant in Luohu District on Wednesday evening.

Canadian Pop Diva to Give Solo Concert in Shanghai

Canadian pop punk queen Avril Lavigne has arrived in Shanghai on Monday to make preparations for her concert in the eastern China's financial hub today.

How Harry Spells It Out

College freshman Wan Xu from Beijing had no idea he would become such a popular guy. The 21-year-old is a serious member of HP Fans, a website set up by people wild about Harry Potter, the teen wizard who cast a spell across the world.

Play Offers Israelis Window into Chinese Daily Life

As an important part of the first China Cultural Festival being held in Israel this year, a popular drama by the renowned National Theater of China was presented Saturday night in Tel Aviv, offering the local audience a rare opportunity to learn about the daily life of Chinese people.

Heavy Burden, Responsible Shoulders

She could feel Queen Elizabeth II's affection for China while presenting her credentials to the monarch a couple of months ago. It was evident in the queen's tone. "Her Royal Highness was very impressed on her tour of China in 1986. She recalled discovering that the expressions of each of the Terracotta Warriors was different," says Fu Ying, China's ambassador to the United Kingdom. The warriors in Xi'an were made to guard of the tomb of the first Chinese Emperor Qinshihuang.

US Airlines Vie for Flight Rights to Booming China Route

United Airlines has plans to start new flight services between California and two Chinese cities in next two years to exploit the booming US-China route, but the airline is facing stiff competition from other US carriers.

Hou Hsiao-Hsien Honored at Swiss Film Fest

'Chinese Bridge' a Stage for Sinophiles

The second and final rounds of the Sixth Chinese Bridge – Chinese Proficiency Competition for Foreign College Students kicked off today in Changchun, in northeast China's Jilin Province. The ten-day competition has collected foreign Chinese learners from universities around the world. All have survived the international preliminary rounds.

Sino-Japan Movie to Open Tokyo Film Festival

Cross Over, a co-production by Chinese and Japanese film makers, will open the 20th Tokyo International Film Festival in October, organisers said on Monday at the festival's first press conference.

Blind Girl Determined to Help Disabled Enters Harvard

Few students of any nationality receive acceptance letters from eight top US universities. The fact that Wu Jing is blind makes the achievement even more stunning in her hometown in East China's Jiangsu Province.

Chinese Research May Help Rescue African Mangoes

A traditional pest control method used in China could also help African farmers keep about 60 percent more of their high value crops, according to a recently released research by the Africa Rice Center in Benin.

Int'l Beer Festival Kicked off in Dalian

Visitors from home and abroad enjoy more than 200 different kinds of beer in an International Beer Festival just opened in Dalian, northeast China's Liaoning Province, on July 26, 2007. Many beer-related parties and events will be staged during the 12-day-long festival.

Of Taiji, Chinese Culture and Zheng He

Mahmoud Allam does not only look like a sportsman, but also love sports, especially outdoor activities like hiking, tennis and, hold your breath, Chinese Taiji. He feels happy and content after exercising in open air, says Egypt's ambassador to China.

British Students Learn Kunqu Opera

Over a hundred students from the UK on the British Students' Camp 2007 visited the Qinlan Hall of Kunqu Opera in Suzhou and learned artistic motions from actors and actresses of Kunqu Opera.

How Learning Chinese Has Been Made Easy

Joshua felt a bit hesitant before deciding to learn Chinese when his school in New Jersey introduced courses in the language two years ago.

Yura from St Petersburg

"We came to Inner Mongolia three and a half years ago," said Irineshna Gormarsharov, a forty-five year old Russian national.

Chinese Fans Rush for Final Potter Book

Thousands of Harry Potter fans in China swarmed into book stores in Beijing on Saturday to get the seventh and final volume of the boy wizard's adventures after standing in line for several hours from midnight.

Super Junior Band Stirs Shanghai Fans

A charity concert held in Shanghai on Wednesday night has become a show-off for the South Korean pop boy band, Super Junior.

Chinese Studies, a Sought-after Major

A notebook in hand, Mary Lepneva wrote down all the Chinese phrases that were new to her, while working as a volunteer for the Fourth China-Russia Women's Cultural Week.

Prince of Melancholy Hits Beijing

German singer and songwriter Maximilian Hecker met with Chinese media and expectant Beijing fans on Sunday afternoon, warming up for his upcoming show, Friday night, at Star Live.

Hollywood to Remake Hong Kong Romance

Hollywood will continue its tradition of ripping off popular films from other countries after a studio agreed to remake the Hong Kong romantic comedy Love Undercover.

New Standards for Tourist Signs of Yangtze River Delta

Foreign visitors to eastern China's Yangtze River Delta will soon find a new convenience -- revamped tourist traffic signs for the area.

'Japanese Mei Lanfang' Likely to Tour China

Japanese kabuki actor, Sakata Toojuuroo, hailed as the "Japanese Mei Lanfang," is expected to tour China in September. Along with a drama group, Sakata Toojuuroo will bring two classic pieces of kabuki art to Beijing, Shanghai, Hangzhou and Guangzhou.

People Diplomacy, Shaolin Style

A Shaolin Temple delegation of martial arts experts and monks left Dengfeng in central China's Henan Province yesterday for a two-month visit to Japan where they will compete, offer demonstrations and try to boost relations between the two countries.

'S Korea Friendship Week' to Be Staged in Tianjin

A "S Korea Friendship Week" will be held in north China's port city of Tianjin from July 8 to 12 in a bid to strengthen the economic and cultural links between China and South Korea.

American Airlines Targets Nonstop Beijing-Chicago Service in 2009

American Airlines (AA) Beijing Office announced Sunday it would file an application to the US and Chinese regulators for opening a new nonstop route between Chicago and Beijing on March 25, 2009.

Spanish Art Exhibition Debuts in Beijing

An art exhibition from the Spanish Prado National Museum opened in Beijing on Thursday, with visiting Spanish King Juan Carlos I attending the opening ceremony.

Moscow, Beijing Mayors Vow to Cement Ties

Moscow Mayor Yury Luzhkov and Beijing Mayor Wang Qishan pledged on Wednesday to expand cooperation and enhance people-to-people contact in a bid to further bilateral ties.

South China Karst Made World Heritage

The South China Karst, which is made up of the stone forest in Yunnan Province, Libo County in Guizhou Province, and Wulong County in Chongqing City, was inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List Wednesday.

Flights Added to China-Japan Route

Additional daily passenger charter flights between China and Japan will commence in October, civil aviation officials announced yesterday.

Foreign Students Get Onboard for Races

A group of international students from Guangzhou's Zhongshan University founded a dragon-boat team to enter today's citywide annual dragon boat competition.

TOEFL Cranks Ups Testing Capacity on Chinese Mainland

Educational Testing Service (ETS), the promoter of the TOEFL test, has decided to provide 25,000 additional places on the Chinese mainland for people taking the internet version of its test, TOEFL iBT.

Pulitzer-nominated Play to Stage in Shanghai

East West Theater is set to open its second show accommodating this gap in the market, whilst doing its bit for cultural exchange. The Dining Room which was first shown in New York in 1982 and earned author A.R. Gurney a Pulitzer Prize nomination opens locally today and promises its audience a humorous and compassionate performance.

Hunger for the West

For decades, Chinese cuisine has been making a journey to the West. But today, the dinner tables are turning. China's foreign food market, while still in its infancy, is growing fast in line with demand from a cosmopolitan set developing a taste for the international.

Jews Will Never Forget Harbin: Envoy

Yehoyada Haim has been in China for five years as Ambassador of Israel, but regrets not having visited more cities in the country. However, this is his sixth visit to Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province.

Air Canada Expands Service to China in July

Air Canada will double its daily Beijing-Vancouver service and increase its Shanghai-Toronto non-stop flights in July, the carrier's Beijing Office said on Sunday.

China S Airlines to Open New Route to Fukuoka

China Southern Airlines, the nation's largest carrier by fleet size, will on Friday launch a new service from the northeastern city of Changchun to Fukuoka in Japan.

Mixed Marriages on the Increase

Last year, 68,000 mixed couples registered for marriage, 4,000 more than in 2005. Frequent migration across borders, driven by the country's rapid economic growth, is a major reason behind the growing number of mixed marriages

US Grainger President Receives Marco Polo Award

Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the US-based W. W. Grainger Inc. Richard L. Keyser on Tuesday was given the Marco Polo Award, which honors American business people who support American volunteer professionals working in China.

Greece, China Boost Tourism Relations

Greece and China agreed on Wednesday to take a series of actions aimed to boosting bilateral tourism relations, starting with finalizing a date on holding a joint Greek-China commission on tourism in October.

5,000 More Students a Year to Study Overseas

The Ministry of Education has launched a five-year graduate program to send about 5,000 students a year to the world's best universities, including Harvard and Yale in the US, and Oxford and Cambridge in England.

Diplomats 'Impressed' by Ecoagriculture

Dozens of foreign diplomats to China said they were impressed by a Beijing village's use of ecoagriculture during a science and technology tour there Thursday.

Sino-Russian Friendship Committee Has 7th Session

The Sino-Russian Committee of Friendship, Peace and Development opened its seventh plenary meeting in Moscow Wednesday. Presidents of both countries sent their greetings to the participants.

Shakespeare's Tempest to Play in Beijing

William Shakespeare's The Tempest will play at Beijing Capital Theater from June 21 to 24 to mark the theatre's 100th anniversary.

British Headmasters in China to Boost Chinese Teaching

On Sunday, 110 headmasters of British schools came to China for an exchange program on Chinese language education. The program, "Chinese Bridge for UK Schools," is designed to boost cooperation between Chinese and British primary and middle schools in Chinese language teaching.

China-Russia Friendship Tour: China Tour Starts

The "China-Russia Friendship Tour: China Tour", a large-scale media activity jointly organized by China Radio International (CRI) and Russia's ITAR-TASS news agency, was launched in Beijing on Friday morning.

Actresses Perform at Sixth S Korea Week of Shenyang

The sixth South Korea Week of Shenyang kicked off on Sunday.

UNESCO Honors China With 1st Heritage Training Institute

UNESCO officials and senior officials from Tongji University yesterday cut the ribbon on the first World Heritage Institute of Training and Research, Asia Pacific (WHITR-AP), with China having the honor of welcoming it.

Prison Break China: A Hoax?

It had been previously stated that Prison Break star Wentworth Miller was contacted by Zhongbo Media Group, who have bought the rights from Fox to shoot an online video adaptation of the American hit TV drama; however, a recent report suggests that this was a hoax.

Two Cultures, One Office

Cultural differences, even more than language barriers, can make talking shop in Chinese offices tricky business.

UNICEF Holds Annual Meeting in HK for First Time

The 52nd Annual Meeting of the National Committees for the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund (UNICEF) launched in Hong Kong Monday, with over 120 representatives joining the event.

Nepal Promoted as Attractive Tourist Destination

Nearly three months of its operation in Nepal, China Southern Airlines (CSA) is now focusing at promoting Nepal as an attractive tourist destination among outbound Chinese travelers, an official of the CSA said in Kathmandu Sunday.

Mr. Olympics Honored at Book Launch

He Zhenliang was praised as a great defender of the Olympic cause and a wise man of many qualities by Jacques Rogge, president of the International Olympic Committee, yesterday at the launch of his book He Zhenliang and China's Olympic Dream in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Foreign Students Experiencing Chinese Wedding

Some foreign students attended a mock ancient Chinese wedding ceremony in Wuhan, Hubei Province, April 21, experiencing and learning traditional Chinese culture.

China Mobile Ranks 5th Global Brand

China Mobile has leaped ahead of household names such as Marlboro and Wal-Mart to rank fifth in an influential annual ranking of the world's top brands.

Panda Cub to Stay in US for 2 More Years

Tai-shan, a Chinese panda cub born in the US National Zoo two years ago, will stay in the country for two more years, Chinese Ambassador to US Zhou Wenzhong announced on Tuesday.

New Zealand, China Expand Air Services

New code-share arrangements between New Zealand and Chinese airlines will bring about future growth in tourism and business travel between the two countries, New Zealand Transport Ministry said Monday.

Gates Offers US$3 Software for Students

Bill Gates yesterday promised to offer a US$3 Microsoft software package to poor students both in developing and developed countries.

China, Japan to Open Charter Flights to Mark Bilateral Normalization

All Nippon Airways (ANA), Japan's second biggest airline, is to operate charter flights between Chinese and Japanese cities from August to November when the two countries mark a diplomatic milestone.

China Intangible Cultural Heritages Staged in Paris

Cai Stresses Peaceful Development

A top Chinese information official Monday emphasized the importance of peace and development to the world's most populous country during a trip to London.

Northeast Asian Personages Call for Cooperation

Renowned politicians, entrepreneurs, scholars and cultural personages from China, South Korea and Japan Monday called for strengthening regional cooperation and promoting common prosperity and stability in Northeast Asia.

Peking Opera 'Builds Bridges' with Kabuki

Peking Opera and Kabuki are two different genres of theater. But for Peking Opera actor Wu Rujun, cultural differences can turn into opportunities for cultural exchanges.

Granny Starts Blog Offering Tips on Learning Japanese

An 80-year-old granny has started a blog to teach Japanese for free.

Two Cultures Unite in a Family

While some deep-rooted antagonism between the Japanese and Chinese cultures exists, one couple has bridged the divide with love.

Yearlong Fiesta in China-Spain Relationship

Spanish artists staged a performance at the opening ceremony of the "Year of Spain in China" on Friday in Beijing. Spain's First Deputy Prime Minister Maria Teresa Fernandez de la Vega and China's Minister of Culture Sun Jiazheng inaugurated the "Year of Spain in China", a yearlong series of activities aimed at fostering bilateral friendship and cooperation.

Japan Names Good-will Ambassadors of Japan-China Culture, Sports Exchange Year

Famous Japanese table tennis player Ai Fukuhara and pop star Noriko Sakai on Thursday were named good-will ambassadors of the 2007 Japan-China Culture and Sports Exchange Year.

Macao to Host Int'l Trade, Investment Fair

Macao is to hold the 12th International Trade and Investment Fair (MIF) this October, the organizers said in Macao on Wednesday.

Thai Princess Calls for More Agrobiotechnology Exchanges

Visiting Thai Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn called Tuesday for further cooperation between China and Thailand in the field of agrobiotechnology in order to face up to future food security challenges.

China Explores EU's 50 Years in Photographs

China unveiled a photo exhibition on Sunday which celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Treaty of Rome by charting the progress of the European Union (EU) since its inception.

Chinese Circus Stages in Germany

Artists of the Chinese National Circus stage a guest performance at the Tempodrom theatre in the German capital Berlin March 29, 2007.

Beijing-Washington Non-stop Flights Start

The maiden non-stop flight from Washington DC to Beijing arrived at the capital's airport at 1:55 PM yesterday after a 14-hour flight.

Rome Woos Chinese Tourists

Both Beijing and Rome are popular tourist destinations and cities with a strong and varied cultural heritage. This provides a basis for more exchange programs in tourism, cultural protection and restoration, the mayor of Rome said during his recent visit to China.

Chinese Fine Porcelain Exhibition Opens in Moscow

A Chinese classical porcelain exhibition opened Tuesday at the State Tretaykov Gallery in Moscow.

Scandinavian Airlines Launches Direct Flights Between Beijing, Stockholm

Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) on Monday launched a direct service between Beijing and Stockholm.

Biggest Show to Beef up Economic Ties

China hosts its largest-ever exhibition China National Exhibition in a foreign land this week with nearly 200 large companies showcasing state-of-art products in the Russian capital to add economic substance to burgeoning political relations.

SW City to Host China's 1st Int'l Clown Festival

China's first international clown festival in early May is expected to attract 50 artists from 10 countries to Liuzhou, in Southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, said a local government official on Wednesday.

China Adopts Int'l Luggage Standards for Overseas Flights

China will adopt international standards on luggage restrictions for flight passengers traveling overseas from May 1, limiting each passenger to one liter of liquid.

Chinese Military Doctors Leave for Zambia

A Chinese medical team comprising nine military doctors, one translator and one logistics staff member left China on Monday for Zambia to offer medical aid to local residents.

Highway Bordering China, Nepal Reopens After Snow Cleared

Traffic is moving again on the trans-border highway linking China and Nepal after 80 centimeters of snow blanketed the area, sources with the local authorities said on Sunday.

Intel to Build US$2.5 Bln Facility in NE China

A plan by the world's largest computer chip manufacturer, Intel, to build a wafer fabrication plant in Dalian, a coastal city in northeast China's Liaoning Province, has been approved by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).

200 Students Begin Exchange Tour in Japan

A group of over 200 Chinese high school students were welcomed Wednesday in Tokyo by Japanese government officials and friendship organizations, before they begin a week-long exchange tour in Japan.

April Start Date for RMB Accounts at Overseas Banks

Chinese citizens on the mainland may soon be able to open RMB accounts at subsidiaries of four overseas banks, namely the Hong Kong and Shanghai Banking Corporation (HSBC), Citibank, Standard Chartered Bank and the Bank of East Asia from April onwards. This was confirmed after initial inspection on the four banks' preparations for creating locally registered subsidiaries was completed.

Singapore to Help Build Dalian Industrial Park

Dalian will start building an industrial park on Changxing Island in cooperation with Singapore later this month, Mayor Xia Deren has said.

Forbidden City to Host British History Exhibition

The Forbidden City -- once off-limits to ordinary citizens and foreigners -- will host a British history exhibition starting Friday.

Volunteers in Xi'an Tackle English Woes

"Though the Chinese characters are the same, this chukou (export) does not mean that chukou (exit)."

United Airlines to Operate Fifth Direct Sino-US Air Route

United Airlines (UA) will launch a daily non-stop air route from Beijing to Washington DC on March 29.

Bangladeshi Confucius Institute Celebrates Lantern Festival

Bangladeshi Confucius Institute under North-South University held a marvelous evening party in Dhaka Sunday celebrating Chinese traditional Lantern Festival.

China Participates in International Polar Year for the 1st Time

The China Program for International Polar Year (IPY) 2007-2008 was officially launched in Beijing on Thursday.

New Year Parade Coming to Hollywood with Olympic Focus

Bringing the belief in harmony demonstrated in Chinese New Year culture, over 500 Beijing performers will dance in Hollywood on Saturday in a giant goodwill parade, organizers said on Wednesday.

Elephant as a Present to Commemorate China-Sri Lanka 50 Years of Friendship

Sri Lankan President Mahinda Rajapakse gifted China on Monday with a young elephant named Migara who will live at the Beijing Zoo.

Chinese Weddings Through Foreign Eyes

The bride and the groom are the center of all eyes at a wedding feast in the Chinese countryside. True? No, not if a blonde, blue-eyed US citizen is around.

Dongbei Comedy to Make Debut in US

Famous comic Zhao Benshan is taking Errenzhuan, a genre of theatrical duet comedy sketches popular in northeastern China, to the US. This is the first time the traditional Chinese folk entertainment will be performed on such a high-profile tour in America.

Spring Festival Observed in New York

A total 1,327 colored lamps were lit atop the Empire State Building, the highest building in New York City, from February 15 to 17, to celebrate Spring Festival, the Chinese lunar New Year, which falls on February 18 this year.

Festivities Begin for 'China in London 2007'

China's footballer Wang Dalei and Chelsea's Frank Lampard kicked off the month-long "China in London 2007" celebrations on Thursday afternoon. Together with London Mayor Ken Livingstone, they signaled the start of the festival by switching on the specially designed Chinese lanterns in downtown London.

Expat Corner: US Historian Sings Praises of the Song

"We have to 'unlearn' history if we want to know more about the past," says Richard L. Davis, head of the Department of History at Hong Kong's Lingnan University and an expert in the history of the Five Dynasties (907- 960) and Song Dynasty (960-1279) periods.

Chinese-Indian IT Venture Launched

India's biggest IT company, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), officially launched a joint venture in Beijing yesterday and announced a contract with China's Foreign Exchange Trade System (CFETS), a part of the central banking system.

US Airways to Pitch for China Route

US Airways Group Inc, unsuccessful in a hostile bid for Delta Air Lines Inc last month, will seek US authorization to begin flights to China in 2008.

China Most Popular Tourist Destination by 2020

China will rise to become the world's top tourist destination before 2020, Francesco Frangialli, Secretary-General of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) announced Thursday at a ceremony in Beijing. China earned US$33.5 billion from tourism last year, making it the sixth highest global tourism revenue earner.

CBRC Signs Cooperation Accord with Peers from 23 Nations, Regions

China Banking Regulatory Commission (CBRC) has signed with the Ukraine Central Bank a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in cross-border banking regulation, the industry watchdog announced on Tuesday.

African Continent: Big Draw for Chinese

National Tourism Administration figures show that the number of Chinese tourists choosing African countries as first stops on trips abroad reached 194,000 last year, a year-on-year growth of 35.2 percent, with South Africa and Egypt as the top two destinations.

Nanjing Airport Receives Foreign Investment

Singapore's Changi Airports International has bought a 29-percent stake in Nanjing Lukou International Airport in east China's Jiangsu Province. The 1.08 billion yuan (US$139.2 million) investment is the first private-equity investment deal in a Chinese airport by a foreign airport.

China to Continue Desert Control Efforts in Africa

The Chinese government will continue to help African countries combat desertification, according to the Gansu Desert Control Research Institute (GDCRI), which trains technicians from developing countries in desert-control methods.

World's Most Desirable Men to Face off in S. China

After having hosted three Miss World contests, China's tropical resort of Sanya will see the world's most handsome men compete for the title Mister World in March, the city's government announced Wednesday.

Moldova Hopes to Increase Wine Trade with China

Moldova hopes to increase its wine export to China as Moldovan wine has already entered the Chinese market, Moldovan ambassador to China Iacob Timciuc said Tuesday evening.

ADB Assists Fresh Railway Construction in China

The Asian Development Bank (ADB) is helping China in building fresh railway systems through two technical assistance grants totaling US$1.1 million, the bank's news office said on Monday.

132 Outbound Tourist Destinations Approved So Far

China has so far approved 132 countries and regions as destinations for outbound tourism, with 86 receiving Chinese tourist groups, said the China National Tourism Administration.

Cambodian, Chinese TV Stations Sign Cooperation Agreement

Cambodian Cable TV station signed in Phnom Penh on Sunday an agreement with China's Guangxi TV station for the former to spare a channel to broadcast the Chinese TV station's daily programs to audience in Phnom Penh.