News from around China

International Air Service Expands in China
Several major international carriers are expanding their air service to the country’s largest cities.  Starting this month, British Airways will fly nonstop between London and Shanghai, and Continental Airlines will offer direct flights between Newark and Beijing. Lufthansa already has launched nonstop service between Guangzhou and Frankfurt.

First National Wetland Park Opens Its Gates
The Xixi Wetland Park in Hangzhou, touted as China’s first wetlands preserve open to the public, welcomed its first visitors on May 5. The park’s 10 square kilometers of reclaimed land are now home to 89 species of birds and countless plants and animals. The daily number of visitors will be restricted to maintain the park’s ecological integrity.

World’s Largest Ferris Wheel to Kiss the Shanghai Skyline
The Pearl Tower and Jin Mao Building will have some unusual company on the Shanghai skyline in 2007. A 3.5-hectare site along the Huangpu River has been purchased to construct the Shanghai Kiss, a Ferris wheel that will surpass the famous London Eye as the world’s largest. As designed by British architecture firms Alsop and Arup, Shanghai Kiss will have a 170-meter diameter and 36 pods and will be able to carry 1,100 passengers at once.

OLYMPICS UPDATE
The Capital Museum of Beijing collected more than 600 items of Olympics memorabilia from donors during its  “My Contribution to Olympic Wealth” campaign.  Among the most prized contributions are several official Olympic champion  seals,  awarded  by  the  Chinese  government to athletes who won medals  in  previous  Olympic games. Several items will be displayed during the third Beijing Olympic Cultural Festival this summer.

Construction  has  begun  on the National Convention Center at the heart of the  Beijing  Olympic  Green.  The  270,000-square-meter  arena  will  host fencing,   air   gun  and  pistol  events  as  well  as  the  International Broadcasting Center.

For the latest developments on the 2008 Olympics, check out the games’ official website at http://www.beijing-2008.org

UPCOMING EVENTS
China International Animation Festival
Hangzhou will make its  mark  on  the $500 billion animation industry by hosting  this much-anticipated conference from June 1-5. Guests will attend screenings of classic and cutting-edge animated films, discuss the latest technological breakthroughs, meet famous animators and authors, and try out the latest animation toys and games.

Shanghai International Film Festival
Now in its  12th  year, this event has evolved into the only “Category A”
film festival in China, recognized by the International Federation of Film Producers’ Associations. This year’s festival, from June 11-19, will screen some 120 movies from 26 countries.

Ancient Porcelain Exhibition
More than 200 pieces of porcelain from the Yuan (1280-1367) and Ming
(1368-1644) Dynasties are now on exhibition at the Shenzhen Museum until June 26. These beautiful and historic works were unearthed from official kilns at Jingdezhen, a city in Jiangxi Province considered the birthplace of Chinese porcelain.

Gourmet China
Visitors and exhibitors alike will have their taste buds tempted at this convention devoted to all things delicious. Imported and organic foods are the focus of the exhibition, to be held June 28-30 at the Shanghai New International Expo Center in Pudong. International chefs will provide cooking demonstrations as vendors showcase the latest tastes in gourmet food products.

Beijing Watermelon Festival
Each summer, vendors line Beijing’s streets to sell fresh watermelons by the cartful. The sweetest and most succulent melons come from nearby Da Xing County, which has hosted its annual watermelon festival every July since 1987. Movies, fireworks, a lantern fair, a food street and several competitions mark the occasion.

Football Fever
In July, two giants of Premier League football will take on Chinese teams in matches at Beijing Workers’ Stadium. Beijing Guoan faces off against superstar David Beckham and Real Madrid on July 23. The game commemorates the 20th anniversary of Beijing and Madrid’s partnership as Sister Cities.
On July 26, Beijing Hyundai takes on Manchester United.

15th Annual Qingdao International Beer Festival This port city’s affinity for beer dates back to 1903, when German settlers founded the world-famous  Tsingtao Brewery. This lively celebration, held August 13-28, celebrates that history with music, fireworks, a parade, art show, sports competitions and many other events.

LUXURY IS BIG BUSINESS
Statistics from China have always been mind-boggling, but none more so than those on current wealth and consumption.  Consider the latest numbers reported at the “Business of Luxury Summit” sponsored by the Financial Times, May 18-20, in Shanghai:
•    There are 235,000 millionaires in China today; this number will
increase 12 percent annually.
•    Chinese will spend US$500 billion on luxury products by 2010.
•    There are 270 luxury brands on the market in China today.
•    70,000 Mercedes cars are sold annually in China.
•    By 2020, China’s GOP is projected to quadruple.

Source:  China Insider

June 3, 2005   Posted in: China