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Kunming bus attacks: Police triple reward as a new clue emergesThursday, 24th July 2008 ~ Chris ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
Still searching for a major breakthrough in Monday's bus bombings on Renmin Xi Lu which left two dead and 14 injured, Kunming police have tripled the reward for clues leading to the arrest of the individual or individuals behind the attacks. According to Kunming media reports, the biggest lead in the case that's been made public so far is that an individual suspected of involvement in the blasts was seen on the first bus to explode at 7:05 am on Monday carrying a bag with the Longsheng Pu'er Tea (龙生普洱茶) logo on it – see image above. Kunming police have stated that the identity of anyone providing clues related to the bus bombing case will be kept strictly confidential. Anyone with information related to the case can call 110, stop by the police station at 76 Renmin Zhong Lu or call the station at 3387940 or 3623404. Meanwhile, with Beijing less than three weeks away from the opening of the Olympics, officials are addressing reporter questions about bus security in China's capital. "We have already taken measures and we will increase security. I hope that all people can support us," Liu Shaowu, Beijing Olympic security director, told reporters, according to a Reuters report. "We need to step up security measures in all areas for the safety of the bus system," he said. Tags: 7.21 bus explosions, Beijing, crime, Olympics
Gansu folk musician Zhang Quan (张佺) is to perform in Kunming this Saturday at Halfway House, his first performance in Kunming since January 2007. Strongly influenced by Chinese northwestern folk music as he grew up, Zhang Quan joined the now-defunct Beijing folk band Wild Children in 1995 and until one of his bandmates passed away in 2003. Zhang was also the co-owner of the influential folk music venue River Bar in Beijing. Zhang moved to Yunnan in 2004 and in 2006 he had a solo tour that passed through Sichuan, Yunnan, Gansu, Qinghai and Tibet. Currently Zhang Quan plays the dombra, a Kazakh instrument with a sound similar to a banjo or a lute, and harmonica. This Saturday night's show is entitled Ballad of the Yellow River, which will include re-presentation of Zhang's earlier works, Chinese northwestern folk songs and his recent dombra and harmonica works. The performance will start at 9:30 pm, tickets to the show are 15 yuan. Tags: Beijing, dombra, Gansu, Halfway House, Wild Children, Zhang Quan Olympic torch relay in Yunnan delayed by two daysWednesday, 28th May 2008 ~ Chris ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
During last week's three-day national period of mourning in China, many teahouses, restaurants, bars, clubs and other 'entertainment' venues closed or were shut down for three days. The Olympic torch relay, winding through mainland China en route to Beijing, also paused for three days. The torch's delay left Chinese Olympic officials with the new logistical challenge of getting the torch through all the previously planned destinations, but three days faster than before. Not surprisingly, the torch relay schedule has been delayed for several locations, including cities in Yunnan. Originally slated to pass through Kunming, Lijiang and Shangri-la from June 7 through June 9, the Olympic torch will now pass through the three cities from June 9 through June 11, according to Kunming media reports. Related article: China mourns Olympic torch to pass through Yunnan Tags: Beijing, Lijiang, Olympic torch, Olympics, Shangri-la, Wenchuan earthquake
An earthquake of magnitude 7.8 with its epicenter in northeast Sichuan province's Wenchuan County took place today just 90 km (55 miles) west-northwest of the provincial capital Chengdu, population 11 million. Tremors from the quake were felt throughout China. Reports of damage or casualties have yet to emerge, but Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao is now headed to Sichuan to survey the damage and the People's Liberation Army has been mobilized to assist in any aid and rescue efforts. The earthquake took place at 2:28 pm Beijing time, with tremors being felt in Kunming around 2:35. Tremors were also felt in Beijing, 1,545 km (960 miles) northeast of Wenchuan, but their origin is still unclear. Xinhua is reporting that a second earthquake took place in Tongzhou, part of Beijing Municipality, at 2:35 pm today. Chengdu's airport has been closed, with some flights being diverted to Kunming Wujiaba International Airport. GoKunming has contacted friends in Chengdu who are reporting widespread building evacuations but no major damage due to the Wenchuan quake. Utilities and public transportation are also reportedly unaffected. Update: At least 10,000 are dead, with that number expected to rise. The Chinese military is sending 27,000 troops - including 3,000 special forces - to assist affected areas. Chengdu image: Xinhua Related article: Pu'er hit by 6.4-magnitude earthquake Tags: Beijing, Chengdu, earthquake, Kunming Wujiaba International Airport, Sichuan, Tongzhou, Wenchuan County
With Chinese New Year just around the corner – this year it lands on February 7 – China is preparing for a major surge in domestic travel. At the beginning of next month, millions of students, soldiers, workers and businesspeople throughout the country will meet up with family and friends to celebrate the end of winter and the coming of spring. More than 22 million air passengers are expected to fly China's skies this holiday - which is known in China as Spring Festival. The General Administration of Civil Aviation of China (CAAC) has announced that it might add temporary domestic flight routes to handle the spike in air travel. CAAC said it will 'strictly control' air traffic in Kunming's Wujiaba International Airport plus other major airports in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen and Chengdu to ensure everything goes smoothly during the holiday. Air travel may be increasingly popular with Chinese travelers, but the majority of people returning home will get where they're going via China's extensive rail network. China's Ministry of Railways is expecting nearly 179 million rail travelers – almost the population of Brazil – this holiday season. The ministry is adding 311 trains to the normal national rail schedule to absorb the increase in travelers. Kunming's main rail station is anticipating a major influx in ticket buyers this month, to address the demand for train tickets it is building 40 temporary ticket windows in front of the station. The windows will sell tickets 24 hours a day beginning Wednesday of this week and lasting through the holiday. Aside from increased travel, the Chinese New Year season is also a time for higher food and drink prices as a large percentage of China's billion-plus population spend the holidays focused on eating and drinking. This year rising food prices are putting more pressure on holiday budgets than usual. Even beer as well as baijiu and other traditional Chinese wines spirits are feeling the bite of inflation as alcohol prices in China are experiencing unprecedented price hikes, blamed on rising costs for grain, coal and transport. Image: clzg.cn Tags: Beijing, CAAC, Chengdu, Chinese New Year, Guangzhou, Shanghai, trains, travel Kunming 'tree doctors' to maintain Olympic venueThursday, 10th January 2008 ~ Chris ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
The 2008 Olympics have already focused global attention on Beijing, but other cities will also host selected competitions. Regatta events will take place in Qingdao and soccer/football matches will be held in Shenyang, Qinhuangdao, Tianjin and Shanghai. Even Hong Kong – technically an 'international' flight from mainland China – will host the Olympic equestrian competition this year. The decision to hold equestrian events in Hong Kong is tacit acknowledgment that the equestrian facilities and traditions in the former British colony are superior to anywhere on the mainland. Despite the existing world-class facilities, organizers of the equestrian events in Hong Kong are addressing even seemingly minute details. A prime example of this attention to detail is the hiring of Kunming-based arboricultural consultancy Asia Tree Preservation (ATP) to ensure that tree shade at the Hong Kong Golf Club complements equestrian events rather than interferes with the events and their broadcast. ATP was established in Kunming last year by the father-son team of Don and Jon Picker plus longtime friend Jeff Legue, all certified arborists and Kunming residents. Don Picker has 25 years of experience as an arborist, a profession he says the average person has some difficulty understanding. "Usually I'll tell people we're 'tree doctors'," said Picker, adding that despite the lack of general knowledge of arboriculture in Asia, the profession is quickly taking a foothold in this part of the world due to the training work done in Singapore by Dr Bill Fountain of the University of Kentucky. "In Singapore, there's been about two or three hundred arborists certified in the last six years," Picker said. "Malaysia and Hong Kong have become increasingly interested in arboriculture in recent years too." What is arboriculture? In a nutshell, it is the selection, management and removal of shrubs and trees with the aim of reducing hazards and promoting harmony with an area's needs. Arboriculture has been recognized as a profession for about 40 years. Beginning this week, ATP will be helping the 122 year-old Hong Kong Golf Club with the management of its banyan trees and eucalypts, some of which are as high as 30 meters and require climbing and pruning by trained professionals. ATP was initially hired to help the golf club prepare for the upcoming Hong Kong Open golf tournament, after which they were asked to assist with the maintenance of the grounds for the Olympic events this summer. Despite acceptance in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, arboriculture has yet to catch on in mainland China, said Don Picker, who is Chairman of the International Safety Committee of the International Society of Arboriculture (ISA). Picker is also an ISA-certified arborist. Last year he helped with the translation of the organization's Tree Climber's Guide into traditional Chinese – he said he hopes to help with a simplified Chinese version for the mainland soon. According to both father and son, Kunming could use the advice of a professional arborist, particularly with regard to the practices of 'topping' trees (cutting off the tree tops to encourage horizontal growth) and painting the lower portions of trees white.
"We'd like to see the elimination of 'topping' in Kunming," Jon Picker said. "Topping exposes the trunk of the tree to rain, which leads to core rot, and the branches that grow after topping are susceptible to breaking in the future, which creates a hazard." Strolling virtually anywhere in Kunming one is able to see trees that have been topped. Most trees have also had their lower portions painted white, a practice that the Pickers cite as a major peeve in tree maintenance in Kunming. "Historically, a lime base paint was used to repel insects and there has also been an illumination element to the white paint on trees," Don Picker explained, "But now it seems that the practice exists primarily because people think it looks beautiful." After finishing their work in Hong Kong, ATP hopes to focus on cooperation with local universities in Kunming. However, as Don Picker acknowledges, few people appreciate the work of arborists as the aim of their work is generally subtle and unobtrusive. "The challenge in our industry is that the average person doesn't really look at trees until something grabs their attention, which usually happens after some kind of environmental damage occurs or a tree has been pruned," the elder Picker said. "Arboriculture is both a science and an art - we prune in a way that doesn't alter the tree's appearance." Related Links: International Society of Arboriculture Treesaregood.org Tags: arboriculture, arborists, Beijing, Don Picker, environment, equestrian events, Hong Kong, Hong Kong Golf Club, Jeff Legue, Jon Picker, Malaysia, Olympics, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Shenyang, Singapore, Tianjin Germany-based hotelier Kempinski and Tangula International signed an agreement in Geneva last month that appoints Kempinski to manage China's first commercial luxury train routes - from Beijing to Lijiang and Beijing to Lhasa - beginning in spring 2008. The specially built trains will feature 48 suites capable of accommodating as many as 96 passengers. Suites will feature their own bathrooms with showers as well as entertainment systems with music, television and satellite Internet. All trains will feature butlers and the Lhasa-bound train from Beijing will feature an on-call doctor for the ascent. Both the Beijing-Lijiang and Beijing-Lhasa routes will take five days and four nights to complete, trains heading for Beijing will be a bit shorter at four days and three nights. All routes will feature several off-train excursions along the way. The Beijing-Lijiang routes will pass through scenic cities including Guilin, Kunming and Dali. Ticket sales for the luxury routes will commence after May this year and are expected to be boosted by the influx of luxury travelers visiting Beijing for the 2008 Olympic Games. The rail link connecting Dali with Lijiang is still under construction and is expected to be finished this year. The Beijing-Lijiang route is the newest of a growing number of luxury travel products based in northwest Yunnan, including Banyan Tree's Lijiang and Ringha resorts and the upcoming Amanresorts resort planned for Diqing County. Tags: Beijing, Kempinski, Lhasa, Lijiang, Olympics, Tangula International, tourism, trains, travel |
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