Spring Mountaineering

Many consider April the optimum time for mountaineering - a spring activity that provides exercise, fresh air, and an escape from urban noise.

Located in Huangshan City, southern Anhui Province, Mt. Huangshan, or Yellow Mountain, is one of China’s top ten famous scenic spots and the only laureate of both honors: World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site and UNESCO Geo-Park. April brings spring to the mountain, which causes full bloom of canola flowers in fields along the highways. Azaleas on the mountain ridges add contrasting color to further enhance the area’s beauty.

The three main peaks of Yellow Mountain - Lianhua (Lotus), Mingding (Bright Summit), and Tiandu (Heavenly Capital) - all reach over 1,800 meters above sea level. All of them are great for climbing, and every visitor can enjoy the beauty of various oddly-shaped ancient pines and the sea of clouds at the summit.

Veteran climbers insist that the key to scaling the summit is preserving physical strength during the climb. Thorough preparations beforehand are strongly recommended, such as packing light gear, comfortable shoes, several thin layers of clothes to cope with the changing weather, a disposable mountaineering poncho, and high-calorie snacks, such as chocolate. 

World’s Largest Airport Planned

With nine runways enabling passenger capacity of 130 million and cargo capacity of 5.5 million tons annually, ground has been broken for a new airport to be built midway between Beijing and Langfang City, Hebei Province. The first phase of the project will be completed in 2015, and upon completion, it will be the world’s largest airport. 

Accor-Aojia Partnership

Recently, Wenzhou Aojia International Hotel joined hands with France’s Accor Group to establish a five-star hotel in Wenzhou, indicating a promising future for the hospitality industry in a city that is accelerating its pace towards internationalization. 

Irish Cultural Festival

The sixth installment of the two-week Irish Cultural Festival kicked off in early March in Beijing, during which locals enjoyed authentic Irish culture. The event also offered a chance for Irish artists and Chinese college students to exchange ideas. “This is about friendship and culture,” remarked Declan Kelleher, Irish ambassador to China, “It allows us to show to our friends in Beijing what the Irish culture is like.” 

Flavored Tours of Anyang

Recently, the ancient city of Anyang, Henan Province, began promoting its strongly-flavored tourism to Beijingers through various campaigns such as the Aerial Sports Tourist Festival, Yin & Shang Culture Tourist Festival, and 2012 Photo Contest for Foreign Ambassadors to China Touring Anyang. Meanwhile, the municipal government has offered incentives to encourage tourists from all over the world to visit. 

Sister Cities Tourism

Recently, Xiamen of Fujian Province welcomed three representatives from its Canadian sister city, Richmond, on a mission to further friendship and intensify win-win cooperation between the cities. Both sides hoped to sign agreements in tourism cooperation.  

Hangzhou Tourism Ad in London

In early March, the municipal government of Hangzhou launched a big campaign to promote tourism via posters on 150 taxis and three buses in London. The words “Welcome to Hangzhou China” are spread across a backdrop of the night view of West Lake in Hangzhou.