Beijing's green display

Opening Ceremony

(BEIJING, March 26) -- On Tuesday morning, the "Green Olympics -- From Concepts to Action" Touring Photo Exhibition held its grand opening ceremony in front of the Beijing Lufthansa Center. The exhibition features over one hundred placards complete with information regarding the steps China took in order to ready itself for the Olympics in an environmentally-friendly manner.

The entire exhibition is divided into four categories that help visitors understand how Beijing prepared for the Games while embodying the concept of a "Green Olympics." Through pictures, charts, and detailed explanations about technological advances, the touring exhibition seeks to display Beijing's steps in creating a suitable, green environment in which to host the Olympics. In order to better help guests understand the information presented, high-tech devices, including electronic guidebooks, are also available.

International guests are attracted by the exhibition.

Through the exhibition, visitors can better understand the harmonious relationship between man and nature, the advantages to environmental protection and healthy living brought about by advances in technology, and the steps that Beijing took to become a more environmentally-friendly city as well as the successes of those endeavors thus far.

"Green Olympics—From Concepts to Action" Touring Photo Exhibition sign in Lufthansa Center

The free "Green Olympics -- From Concepts to Action" Touring Photo Exhibition will remain at the Lufthansa Friendship Shopping City from March 26 to March 30. From April 2 to April 6, the exhibition will be shown in Wangjing; from April 14 to 18, it will be housed in the Capital Tower; from April 26 to 30, the Jingyuan Lufthansa Center; and in the beginning of May, interested persons should head to Shinkong Place to see the display.

Representatives from BOCOG and other relevant organizations attended the opening ceremony and toured the exhibition.

Olympic Pictograms

• The pictograms of Athens 2004
• The pictograms of Sydney 2000
• The pictograms of Atlanta 1996

• The pictograms of Barcelona 1992
• The pictograms of Seoul 1988
• The pictograms of Los Angeles 1984

• The pictograms of Moscow 1980
• The pictograms of Munich 1972
• The pictograms of Tokyo 1964

• The pictograms of London 1948

• The pictograms of Torino 2006
• The pictograms of Salt Lake City 2002
• The pictograms of Nagano 1998

• The pictograms of Lillehammer 1994
• The pictograms of Albertville 1992
• The pictograms of Calgary 1988

• The pictograms of Sarajevo 1984
• The pictograms of Lake Placid 1980

BEIJING 2008: Final Coordination Commission Visit

With the Beijing 2008 Olympic Torch Relay now underway and anticipation building for the Games themselves in August, the IOC's Coordination Commission for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games will be in the host city of Beijing this week for its final review of the Beijing 2008 project. Led by Commission Chairman Hein Verbruggen, the members of the Commission will meet with their Beijing Organising Committee (BOCOG) counterparts to fully understand the state of BOCOG's progress as the Games approach and also to help guide BOCOG as they finalise their preparations and operations.

Highest Standard

This will be the tenth visit of the full Commission to Beijing and marks the closing chapter of seven years of close collaboration between BOCOG and this expert IOC group. During that time, the members of the Commission have been able to assist and monitor BOCOG, as they collaborated towards putting on top-class Games for the athletes of the world in August 2008. And this visit will be no different as the Commission works with BOCOG down to the wire to ensure that the services that the athletes, media, spectators and National Olympic Committees (NOC) receive will be up to the highest standard possible.

ANOC and Executive Board

Following closely on the heels of the Coordination Commission, Beijing will also host the final General Assembly of the Association of National Olympic Commitees (ANOC) before the Games, as well as a meeting of the IOC's Executive Board. The ANOC meeting will give the NOCs the opportunity to learn directly from BOCOG what has been planned for Games time and also to ask BOCOG any outstanding questions that they may still have ahead of the opening of the Olympic Village in July.

Beijing 2008

The Games of the XXIX Olympiad -- Beijing 2008 will take place from 8 to 24 August 2008. The Games in Beijing will play host to the 28 summer sports currently on the Olympic programme. Approximately 10,500 athletes are expected to participate in the Games with around 20,000 accredited media bringing the Games to the world.

Beijing Opera

Beijing Opera, also written as Peking opera, is a purely Chinese opera form which dates back to the year 1790. That year four local opera troupes of Anhui Province came to Beijing on a performance tour on the order of the imperial court. The tour was a hit and the troupes stayed. The artists absorbed the tunes of the Hubei local opera and drew on the best of Kun Qu, Qin Qiang and Bang Zi and other local operas.
Facial Makeups Represent Different Characters

For the painted role, the different colors of the faces represent different characters and personality. Yellow and white represent cunning, red stands for uprightness and loyalty, black means valor and wisdom, blue and green indicate the vigorous and enterprising character of rebellious heroes and gold and silver represent mystic or super-natural power.
Unique Terminology

"Sheng, dan, jing, chou," for instance, are just the terms for four different types of roles. "sheng" is the positive male role, "dan" is the positive female role, "jing" is a supporting male role with striking character and "chou" is the clown. Every type has its telltale facial makeup and decoration.

But actually, "piao you" means Peking opera fans, "piao fang" means the place where fans meet to amuse themselves and "xia hai" means turning professional. When you come across with a small group of Peking opera fans singing in a street corner, that corner can be considered a "street piao fang." There is no lacking of social celebrities among Peking opera fans. Emperor Guang Xu of Qing Dynasty, for example, was not only a good amateur Peking opera singer, but was also a good drummer in the Peking opera orchestra (the drummer plays the role of the director of the orchestra). The Empress Dowager was an avid Peking opera fan, too. The huge three-storey theater in the Summer Palace is a proof of her love for Peking opera.

 

• Di Opera and Masks
  Di Opera is a traditional Chinese opera popularized in the Guizhou towns of Anshun, Huishui, Pingba and Zhenning. Originally without a name, the opera became known as Di because the audience watched on slopes rising in all directions from the stage.It is said that the opera originates from sometime ...

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• Errenzhuan
  Er'renzhuan (Song and Dance Duet), was also known as "bengbeng". Speaking and singing alternately is the main performing form of this kind of drama.Er'renzhuan was originally developed on the basis of northeast yanggo dance and lianhualao (a popular song sung to the accompaniment of castanets) and i ...

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• Exorcising Ghosts Opera
  I had heard a long time ago that Guizhou was the only place where an ancient opera of primitive culture, the exorcising ghosts opera (nuoxi), was still played. On my trip to Guizhou this time, I happened to see a few shows.The performers were all farmers. The accompanying musical instruments include ...

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• Facial Makeups in Operas
  A plastic art peculiar to the Chinese stage, the facial makeups are various designs of lines and coloured patches painted on the faces of certain operatic characters. They follow traditionally fixed patterns for specific types to highlight the disposition and quality in the personages so that the au ...

China online bookings soar

CTRIP.COM, China's largest online travel agent, recently announced net profits of RMB398 million (US$55 million) in 2007, up 66 per cent over the previous year, leading many analysts to question the future of traditional travel agents in the country.

According to the World Travel & Tourism Council, China's travel and tourism industry is expected to grow by close to 10 per cent per annum over the next 10 years.

MasterCard Worldwide expects outbound tourists from China to top 21.6 million in the first half of 2008. And a growing share of these tourists are turning to the Internet for travel information.

A recent survey by The Nielsen Company in partnership with PATA found that nearly seven in 10 Chinese leisure travellers used the Internet to secure information before making travel bookings. The study also found that the Internet was now more popular as a source of travel information than traditional travel agents in China. And representatives from eLong, China's second largest online travel site, say Chinese travellers are using the Internet to make hotel and flight bookings and payments.

In 2006, more than 2.75 million Chinese booked hotel rooms, air tickets and other travel services on the Internet, up 72 per cent from the previous year. And analysts are optimistic the number of users will more than double to 5.7 million this year, and hit nine million by 2010. The online sector is expected to be worth RMB6.5 billion by 2010.

Wonders of China & the Grand Yangtze Shanghai to Beijing - 18 days

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Journey along the mysterious waterway that is the heart of China, the mighty Yangtze River. See ancient sites and remote rural villages, and get an up-close look at the world’s largest hydroelectric plant, the Three Gorges Dam. Enjoy the extraordinary scenery at Huangshan, with its rocky, mist-enshrouded peaks and fancifully-shaped pines. Be awed by the spectacular Three Gorges and the Lesser Three Gorges. Watch monkeys frolicking along the verdant Emerald Gorge and see gorgeous landscapes.

Experience the striking changes of urban China

Bustling urban streets, an emerging fashion district, modern skyscrapers and a pulsating nightlife all give Shanghai a striking energy sure to delight. One of the most important cultural, commercial, financial, industrial and communications centers of China, Shanghai is your starting point for this incredible tour.
You’ll also experience another of China’s grand cities, Beijing. Nowhere else can you get a more concentrated impression of old and new China than in Beijing. While ancient treasures abound, Beijing is a thriving, bustling, metropolis, offering world-class amenities. Travel with Uniworld and experience the wonders of China and the grand Yangtze.

Who will enjoy this cruise: Those who appreciate the natural beauty of an unspoiled land with its enchanting vistas, breathtaking mountains and gorges, and an amazing flowing waterway. You’ll understand why countless painters and poets have been attracted to this landscape. Also those who wish to experience three of China’s grand cities: Shanghai, Xi’an and Beijing.

Beijing Hotel Reservation

• Beijing DaWan Hotel
  Dawan Hotel Beijing, is a three star standard hotel centrally located in Beijing%26#39;s well known shopping and sightseeing district of Wangfujing area.

• Beijing East Gate Plaza Service Apartmen
  Beijing East Gate Plaza Service Apartment is a residential, commercial, retail and entertainment multiplex holding apartments, office towers, retail floors, banks, restaurants, health clubs, swimming pool, basketball, squash, bowling lanes, billiard, movie theatre, beauty salon, supermarket, laundry, florist, travel agency, tea house, and parking for 700 vehicles.

• Beijing Eastern Morning Sun Youth Hostel
  Beijing Eastern Morning Sun Youth Hostel is in the Floor B4 east building of Oriental Square which is the largest architectural complex in Asia.

• Beijing Exhibition Centre Hotel
  Beijing Exhibition Centre Hotel, which lies in the compound of the famous Beijing Exhibition Centre, is a three-star Sino foreign joint venture hotel.

• Beijing Fangyuan Hotel
  The Beijing Fang Yuan Hotel is conveniently located in the Wangfujing area, downtown of Beijing.

• Beijing Far East Hotel
  The Beijing Far East International Youth Hostel is located in the center of the city.

• Beijing Feiying Hotel
  Beijing FeiYing International Youth Hostel is located quite in the heart of Beijing, close to Xidan shopping area, Liulichang Culture Street .

• Beijing Fujian Hotel
  The four-star Fujian Hotel, located near the International Exhibition Center, Beijing%26#39;s Silicon Valley, the Asia Games Village and major shopping centers, features a luxurious movie theater, a fully equipped gym, a ballroom, a karaoke bar and a billiards room.

• Beijing HWA(Apartment) Hotel
  The hotel is located in Xidan Commercial Street, in the entertainment and shopping centre of Beijing, with the central financial area around.

• Beijing Jianguo Garden Hotel
  The Hotel faces Beijing railway station, and just 5 minutes walking distance to Wangfujing shopping area.

Beijing HWA(Apartment) Hotel

Beijing HWA(Apartment) Hotel Description:

The hotel is located in Xidan Commercial Street, in the entertainment and shopping centre of Beijing, with the central financial area around. only 20 minute walk from Tiananmen Square and Forbidden City. The Hotel just steps away from the metro station.

 

Beijing HWA(Apartment) Hotel(Beijing) Environment: 0 km from downtown, 3 km from Wang Fu Jin, 4 km from Beijing Railway Station, 33 km from Capital International Airport

Beijing HWA(Apartment) Hotel Address: No. 130 Xidan North Street (Xidan Beidajie), Beijing
Equipment: There are many kinds of restaurants. McDonalds, Japanese Style food and Western Restaurant. The Business Center is located on the 7th floor, provides Chinese/ English typing; fax; EMS; and photocopy services. Ample underground parking lot available for parking needs. In the laundry, wet and dry cleaning service available by just fill up the form placed in the room. Besides, there is a little shop at the 1st floor and a launderette at the 9th floor.

Beijing HWA(Apartment) Hotel Memo: The Internet discount room rate includes service charge. Check out 12 noon.
Unless upon request, the hotel will only keep the reservation till 18:00.
Rates may be subject to surcharge during peak periods.

Beijing Beijing HWA(Apartment) Hotel Position:

Beijing Airport Lantian Mansion (3 Star) Introduction

Beijing Airport Lantian Mansion Hotel, affiliated with Beijing Airport Zone, is a three star hotel with a convenient and graceful environment, located only 10 minutes drive away from Beijing Capital Airport.

It is equipped with 60 comfortable guestrooms, including a Chinese style dining hall, perfectly equipped gym %26 recreation center, large and small meeting rooms, commercial center, and air-ticket booking, etc. FREE PICK-UP AND DROP-OFF!!!!

Beijing Airport Lantian Mansion also provides free pick-up and drop off service for the clients. So remember to contact us with your full name and your flight schedule before your arrival, so that the hotel can be informed of the right information and pick you up at Beijing Airport on time.

Check out is 12:00 noon. Unless upon request, the hotel will only keep the reservation till 18:00. The rates may change from time to time as advised by the hotel - especially during special holidays or local festivals where room situations are tight. Special holidays include Labor Day Week in May, National Day Week in Oct and Spring Festival Week (Chinese New Year)

The hotel reserves the rights to change the rates and terms without prior notice.

 

Beijing Airport Lantian Mansion(Beijing) Environment: 5kms to the Airpport; 30kms to the Railway Station; 30kms to the City Center; 5kms to Airport-Industrial District;
Surrounding landscape: PANASONIC CORPORATION, JVC CORPORATION, ERICSSON CORPORATION

Beijing Airport Lantian Mansion Address: Tianzhu Konggang Industrial Zone, A Area, West Side of Capital Airport, Beijing 101312
Equipment: Air Conditioning, Free Airport Transfer, Money Exchange, Indoor Swimming Pool, Ping-pong Room, 24-hour Hot Water Supply, Bar %26 Lounge, Billiards, Business Center, Restaurants, Six-channel Binshiyu Bowling, Kara-Ok Dancing Hall

Beijing Airport Lantian Mansion Memo: Check out 12 noon.
Rates may be subject to surcharge during peak periods.
Above rates includes service charge.
Free airport pick-up service(6:00-23:00).
Chinese breakfast: RMB10 per person.
The rooms can be kept until 22:00pm.

Beijing Beijing Airport Lantian Mansion Position:

 

• 365Inn (Qianmen Branch)
  365Inn is located in central of Beijing.

• 365Inn (Xiaoxitian Branch)
  365Inn hotel (Xiaoxitian branch) is a chain type commercial hotel of Beijing Kimberley Hotel Management Co.

• Agriculture exhibition home inn
  Hotels assign the warm mark room to wait for all kinds of 144 house types, offer 24-hour hot water shower , air conditioner , TV , telephone and surf the Net with broadband free, there are standard spring mattress bed accessories and related furniture.

• Asia Jinjiang Hotel
  Beijing Asia Jinjiang Hotel is ideally situated close to the second ring road and in the east of the embassy area of Beijing.

• Atrairl Express Hotel-Suzhou Qiao
  Atrairl Express Hotel is an economy Hotel with the brand of %26#34;Zhonghang Inn%26#34; which is built by Chinese Airlines Group Tourist Industry Ltd.

• Avic Hotel Beijing
  AVIC Hotel--stands by Chang%26#39;an Avenue in core of CBD.

• Beijing Ai Hua Hotel
  Ai Hua Hotel Beijing is a three star hotel, near BeijingWest Railway Station.

Heads of some 50 countries confirm attendance of Beijing Olympics

The leaders of some 50 countries have confirmed their attendance of the Beijing Olympic Games next year, Liu Qi, President of BOCOG (Beijing Organizing Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad) said on Thursday.

At a briefing in New York, Liu reiterated Beijing's determination to fulfill its promise to improve the air quality and provide good conditions for the athletes from around the world.

Despite the progress made so far, Beijing still faces challenges, he said. The State Environmental Protection Administration (SEPA) and the Beijing municipality are working on measures to respond to any unexpected weather conditions and providing a good environment for the athletes in their competitions, he said.

"We will ensure a clean Olympics free of doping as we will use a sophisticated test center and enhance cooperation with the World Anti-Doping Agency," he said.

Liu said Beijing has enough volunteers to serve the Olympic and Paralympic Games next year as the number of the applicants has already surpassed what is required.

BOCOG Ticketing Center halts domestic ticket sales as demand surges

The head of the BOCOG Ticketing Center said Tuesday that after careful consideration and discussions with the relevant technical partners, and to ensure the interests of the public, BOCOG has decided to temporarily halt the domestic ticket sales in the second phase to improve the technical plan and will announce new ticketing information on November 5.

The second phase of domestic ticket sales for the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games, launched Tuesday morning, was met with an unprecedented rise in ticket demand from the general public. Within the first hour, from 9:00am to 10:00am, the page view (PV) volume of the official ticketing website of the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games (http://tickets.beijing2008.com) soared to eight million, while the number of calls to the ticketing hotline (+8610 952008) exceeded 3.8 million.

Because of the overwhelming volume of page visits, the technical system was unable to perform the tasks well enough, and many applicants were unable to successfully submit their applications. The BOCOG Ticketing Center expressed regret for any inconvenience experienced by the applicants in the process of purchasing tickets.

Tuesday morning's turnout for the ticket sale fully reflected the Chinese people's longing and support for the Olympic Games. There were long queues at BOCOG-designated Bank of China (BOC) branches; some applicants had waited in line since Monday. Many others had sat in front of the computer for a long time, waiting to access the ticketing website and to submit their orders. Meanwhile those who chose to purchase their tickets by phone had been constantly calling the hotline since early morning.

In regard to the communications jam caused by the excessive page visits, the official explained that the ticketing center had underestimated the demand from the public, resulting in shortcomings in the preparations and causing inconvenience to ticket buyers.

"We sincerely apologize to the general public," the official said.

The official confirmed that the successful orders of the Olympic tickets on Tuesday through the three channels -- via the Internet, telephone, or at the Bank of China branches -- will remain valid. The applications of those who registered their ID information at BOC branches and call centers on Tuesday will be processed immediately once the ticket sales begin again.

Beijing airport provides express channel for tour groups

Tour groups leaving China from Beijing Capital International Airport can save time following the establishment of an express channel. The service is open to groups of 25 passengers or more and is designed to reduce the time from checkout to boarding gate to three minutes. Each of the group passengers will need to fill out an application form in advance and the passenger service center staff will help the group make preparations and go through all necessary procedures. The application form is available in the airport and on the homepage of Beijing Capital International Airport, and passengers can also apply by telephone, fax or email.