Visiting Hulun Buir in Fall

Located in eastern Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Hulun Buir is recognized as the largest prefecture-level city in terms of area in China. Covering 250,000 square kilometers, the city is home to lush grasslands, immense forests of the Greater Hinggan Mountains, and an intricate network of rivers and lakes. Various ethnic groups, rich local customs, and valuable historical heritage add singular flavor to the city. Since its climate features a cool summer and a snowy winter, it can be an attractive destination during both seasons. Moreover, the city is regarded as the birthplace of several ethnic groups in northern China and remains densely inhabited by ethnic minorities, leading to frequent visits by outsiders.

Forests rest to the north of Hulun Buir. The optimum times to visit them are from May 5 to 20, and then in mid and late September. In May, pictures capture emerald trees and azaleas, but the colors of September are even more treasured by photographers. To the south of Hulun Buir are grasslands, which look their best from July to September. October kicks off the winter season, and the winter scenes continue until mid-February of the next year. For visitors who would like to experience the prime beauty of both the forests and grasslands, September is the time to go.

Hulun Buir Grassland is considered by some the best grassland in the world. It covers a total area of 100,000 square kilometers, and natural pastures take up 80 percent of the total. The picturesque grassland is home to about 3,000 small rivers and 500 lakes, which complement each other to form a magnificent landscape. 

Mamma Mia! Beijing!

A Chinese version of the musical Mamma Mia! began its long Beijing run of 80 scheduled performances on August 12.

The play, utilizing songs from the rock group ABBA, tells the tale of a young woman preparing for marriage on a Greek island, where she embarks on a quest to discover the identity of her real father. Following the lengthy Beijing stop, the tour will head south to the Guangzhou Grand Theater.  

New Airlines Focus on Southeast Asia

China Eastern Yunnan Airlines - a joint venture of China Eastern Airlines (CEA) and the Yunnan provincial government - began operation on August 2 in Kunming City.

The cooperative agreement was signed in 2009, with CEA, the nation’s third-largest airline, holding 65 percent of the company’s equity. The rest remains under State-owned Assets Supervision and with the Administration Commission of Yunnan Provincial People’s Government. The airlines will fly to more than 70 destinations, including both domestic and foreign airports. 

Beijing: Most Cultured Chinese City

A recent global online poll named the Chinese capital as the country’s most cultured city.

The Chinese City Ranking survey, launched recently, gathered opinions from netizens in more than 26 countries and attracted more than 5.7 million participants.

Beijing topped the list among 20 contending cities, winning by more than 150,000 votes. Chengdu, Xi’an, Nanjing and Lhasa were ranked second through fifth, respectively. 

Chinese Tourist Spending to Pass U.S. in N.Z.

Tourists from China and South Korea are continuing to buoy New Zealand’s tourism industry during the economic downturn, despite Chilean volcanic ash clouds and Christchurch earthquakes, recent figures from New Zealand Ministry of Economic Development show.

Chinese tourist spending in New Zealand could soon surpass that of visitors from the United States, New Zealand tourism chiefs revealed.

Visiting China

Invited by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), a youth delegation from Secours Populaire Français (French People’s Aid) visited Beijing and Henan Province from July 18 to August 1, to make exchanges with Chinese youths in the fields of music and sports.

Secours Populaire Français is one of the largest non-profit folk aid associations in France. Since it established a formal relationship with CPAFFC in 2006, the two sides have completed many projects together, including those aimed at poverty alleviation, disaster relief, and youth exchange.