Urumqi

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080616/Img214405522.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080501/Img214333681.jpg[/img]

Urumqi, the capital city of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China, lies to the north of Tianshan Mountain and is surrounded by fertile land, green mountains and water. People who've been living there for generations refer to it affectionately as the "beautiful pasture," the translation of "Urumqi" in ancient Mongolian.

Urumqi is the farthest city from the sea in the world and is located at Asia's geographic center. With an urban area of 62 square kilometers and a population of 1.48 million, it comprises seven districts , one county and eight pastures. The city has a long history as Xinjiang's political, economic and cultural center, and is a stop on the world-famous, ancient Silk Road. Different ethnic groups, namely, Uygur, Han, Hui and Kazak nationalities, have been harmoniously living here for centuries, contributing to the splendid ancient Xiyu civilization.


[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/urumqi/index.shtml[/url]
[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/urumqi/news/n214333680.shtml[/url]

[[i] Last edited by wxiaoqings at 2008-6-18 11:54 [/i]]

Kashi

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080616/Img214405513.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080423/Img214320826.jpg[/img]

Kashgar Prefecture, with a total area of 162,000 kilometers, lies between latitude 350 to 408 north and longitude 730 to 797 east in the southern part of Xinjiang. Kashi city, a place of strategic importance in south Xinjiang, has an area of 15 square kilometers with an average elevation of 1289.5 meters. The city is located between latitude 395 to 295 north and longitude 756 to 764 east and lies 1,473 kilometers from the city of Urumqi.

Located in the plain climate zone with the clear four seasons, Kashi has a long summer and a short winter. The annual mean temperature in Kashi is 11.7 , with the lowest temperature of -24.4 in January and the hottest 40.1 in July. The frost-free period averages 215 days.

Kashi prefecture was called Shule in ancient times and it has a history of more than two thousand years. According to the record of the Persian Epic, Afulabuseyav, an ancient Tulan hero, established the capital of his kingdom here. In the beginning of the Han Dynasty, it belonged to the Zhuangpu Prefecture General's Office of the Hun. In the latter half of the second century B.C., after the Han Dynasty Emperor Wudi sent Zhang Qian as his special envoy to the Western Region, Kashi submitted to the authorities of the Western Han Dynasty. During the first century, Kashi was the supreme headquarters of Ban Chao, an imperial general who administered the Western Region. But at the end of the Sui Dynasty and in early Tang Dynasty, Kashi had to pay taxes and levies frequently to the Western Turkish Khanate. During the reign of the Tang Dynasty Emperor Taizong and afterwards, it was an important military stronghold of the Tang government. Kashi was one of the four important towns in Anxi at the time; thus it was made the seat of the Shule Superintendent's Office. The Karakhanid Dynasty also established its capital in Kashgar. Before Genghis Khan went on his western expedition, Kashgar was the south capital of the Western Liao Regime established by Khitans. After Khan's western expedition was over, Kashgar became the fief of the crown prince of Chagatai. During the reign of the Qing Dynasty Emperor Qianlong, Kashgar became the seat of government of the Kashgar Councilor of the Qing government.


[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/kashi/index.shtml[/url]
[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/kashi/news/n214320825.shtml[/url]

[[i] Last edited by wxiaoqings at 2008-6-18 11:55 [/i]]

Guanghan

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080318/Img214273054.jpg[/img]

Guanghan is located in the deep center of Sichuan Province, along the hi-tech industrial belt. It is both an important part of the Chengdu economic circle and a key town north of the Sichuan capital. About 590,000 people live on its 538 square kilometer area.

Guanghan has a long history and great culture. There are many outstanding personalities and beautiful spots in Guanghan. Sanxingdui, a national 4A-level scenic spot, Guluo, Longju Temple, and the Temple of Culture are all famous historical sites in the area. In addition, the Civil Aviation Flight University of China (CAFUC), the only full-time regular institution of higher education for civil aviation pilots, is also located here.

Guanghan has always held the spirit of innovation and is one of the more important cities practicing national reform and opening up policies.


[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/guanghan/[/url]
[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/guanghan/news/n214365961.shtml[/url]

[[i] Last edited by wxiaoqings at 2008-6-19 16:28 [/i]]

Introduction to Leshan

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080421/Img214316801.gif[/img]

Leshan, whose name literally means "happy mountain," is a prefecture-level city located on the southwestern edge of the Red Basin in southern Sichuan, about 120 km from Chengdu.

The administrative area of Leshan is 12,827 sq km. Over 60 percent of the region is mountainous.

The annual average temperature in Leshan is 17.8 degrees Celsius, with an average low of 8.2 degrees Celsius in January and an average high of 25.9 degrees in August. The mean annual precipitation is 1,062mm.

Leshan boasts plenty of scenic spots and is especially well known for the Leshan Giant Buddha, the world's largest stone Buddha sculpture. In 1996 UNESCO named the Mount Emei Scenic Area, of which the Leshan Giant Buddha is a part, a World Heritage Site.

It is beautiful place, i have been to here on labor day(May.1-10),2005. Delicious food,beautiful view,and go to "Happy mounain", have a nice week!:victory:

[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/leshan/[/url]
[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/leshan/news/n214316952.shtml[/url]

[[i] Last edited by wxiaoqings at 2008-6-19 16:29 [/i]]

Introduction to Zigong

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080426/Img214325031.jpg[/img]
  Zigong Salt Museum (Photo credit: China Foto Press)

Situated in southern Sichuan, Zigong is a prefecture-level city that covers an area of 4,373 sq km and has a population of 3.2 million. It is known as the "Salt City" for its long history of salt-related culture and brine extraction techniques. The Fuxi River, a tributary to the Yangtze River, passes through the city.

Zigong has a humid climate, with the humidity level typically between 80% and 90%. Temperatures can reach 40??C in the summer and 15.5??C in the winter.

Zigong is bordered by Neijing in the north, Yibin in the south, Luzhou in the east and Leshan on the west.


[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/zigong/index.shtml[/url]
[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/zigong/news/n214317587.shtml[/url]

[[i] Last edited by wxiaoqings at 2008-6-19 16:30 [/i]]

Introduction of Yibin

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080425/Img214323631.jpg[/img]
    Yinbin scenery (Photo credit: China Foto Press)

Lying in the confluence of the Jinsha River and the Minjiang River, Yibin wins the fame of the First City of the Yangtze River because it is located at the top of the river.

Endowed by nature with beautiful scenery, Yibin also has a lot of historic sites.

With an average annual temperature of 17??C and a total precipitation of 1000mm, Yibin has four clearly demarcated seasons. Spring comes early, summer is very humid, autumn has a lot of rain, and winter comes with a little frost or snow. Yibin is a city that features the southern subtropical climate.


[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/yibin/index.shtml[/url]
[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/yibin/news/n214323630.shtml[/url]

[[i] Last edited by wxiaoqings at 2008-6-19 16:30 [/i]]

Geographic situation of Chengdu

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080321/Img214276485.jpg[/img]

Chengdu is situated in the middle of Sichuan Province, in the West Sichuan Plain. The city zone covers an area of 208 square kilometers. It is 1,600 km away from the East China Sea, and 1,090 kilometers away from the South China sea.

Climate: Due to the abrupt difference in altitude between the east and west sides of the city, Chengdu does not have a uniform temperature. Generally speaking, the higher west side is cooler than the lower east side. The annual average temperature is around 16.4 degrees Celsius.

[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/chengdu/index.shtml[/url]
[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/chengdu/news/n214317636.shtml[/url]

[[i] Last edited by wxiaoqings at 2008-6-19 16:32 [/i]]

Shannan Introduction

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080426/Img214325677.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080319/Img214274220.jpg[/img]

Shannan Prefrecture of the Tibet Autonomous Region is located between 9014'E-9422'E and 2708"N-2947"N, at the lower reaches of the Yarlung Zangbo River south of the Kangdese Mountains-called the Nyainqentanglha Mountains on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. It is bounded by the capital city Lhasa to the north, Xigaze to the west, Nyingchi to the east and India and Bhutan to the south. With an area of 73,500 square kilometers, Shannan occupies one-fifteenth of the total area of the Tibet Autonomous Region. With a boundary line of more than 600 kilometers, it has great strategic importance and serves as China's southwestern border area.

Shannan includes 12 counties, four of which are in boarder areas. They are Cona, Lhongzi, Nanggarze and Lhozha. There are 144 township-level towns, five neighborhood committees and 719 village committees. Of the 144 townships, there are 71 agricultural townships, 18 involved animal husbandry, and 57 that combine these two sectors.

Shannan's topography is typical of the southern Tibetan valley area, with a terrian gradually declining from west to east and at an average elevation of about 3,700 meters. The Yarlung Zangbo River, the mother river of Tibetan people, runs 424 kilometers from west to east through the seven counties of Nanggarze, Gonggar, Chahang, Nedong, Sangri, Qusum, Gyacha. In addition, Shannan has 41 rivers that run down high mountains and deep valleys all year round, with the river area of 38,000 square kilometers. There are 88 lakes in the prefecture, including Yamzhog Yumco, Namco, Chigu and Purmo Yumco, which are well known and, like green gemstones, are inlaid in the mountains of Shannan.

(China Tibet Information Center)



[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/shannandiqu/index.shtml[/url]
[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/shannandiqu/news/n214325192.shtml[/url]

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080425/Img214323310.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080319/Img214273954.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080423/Img214320707.jpg[/img]
    Potala Palace (Photo credit: China Foto Press)


Lhasa, the capital of China's Tibet Autonomous Region, has a history of more than 1,300 years. It is the political, economic, cultural and transport center of the region. Lhasa covers an area of close to 30,000 square km. It has a downtown of 544 square km and a population of 400,000; 140,000 of its people live in the downtown area. Lhasa is home to the Tibetan, Han, and Hui peoples, as well as many other ethnic groups, but the Tibetan ethnic group makes up 87 percent of the total population.

Lhasa has beautiful scenery. The Lhasa River, known as the "merry blue waves," runs through the snow-covered peaks and gullies of the Nyainqentanglha Mountains, extending 315 km. The river empties into the Yarlung Zangbo River at Quxu, forming a scenic wonder that features blue and white water waves.

The ancient city of Lhasa stands by the Lhasa River. Inside the city towers the Potala Palace. The city features a combination of traditional and modern things, including prayer wheels and computers.

Located at the bottom of a small basin surrounded by mountains, Lhasa has an elevation of 3,650 meters and sits at 91'06E and 29'36N, the center of the Tibet Plateau. Blessed with flat land and mild weather, Lhasa is free of frigid winters and unbearably hot summers, having an annual average daily temperature of 8 degrees C (43 degrees F). It enjoys 3,000 hours of sunlight annually, much more than all other cities in this regard, giving the city its title of "sunlit city."

Lhasa enjoys an annual precipitation of 500 mm. It rains mainly in July, August and September. The rainy seasons in the summer and fall are the best seasons of the year, when it rains mostly at night, and is sunny in the daytime.

(zt.tibet.cn)



[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/lhasa/index.shtml[/url]
[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/lhasa/news/n214320706.shtml[/url]

Golmud -- China's salt lake city

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080426/Img214325676.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080321/Img214276057.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080425/Img214323410.jpg[/img]

Golmud is a Mongolian word meaning "a place concentrated with rivers." It is situated in the central-south of the Qaidam Basin on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and occupies an area of 124,500 square kilometers, or half the size of Britain.

Mt. Kunlun and Mt. Tangula traverse the entire region with a large number of snow-capped mountains, glaciers, rivers and lakes. Among the lakes, alkali flats, swamps, oasis and rolling dunes in the flat basin, Chaerhan Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the world, with an area of 5,658 square kilometers, giving Golmud its nickname "Salt Lake City."


[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/golmud/index.shtml[/url]
[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/golmud/news/n214323409.shtml[/url]

maybe we should thank you for your service.

hope hardship man got more.

best regards!

Overview of Qinghai Lake

[img]http://en.beijing2008.cn/upload/BOTR/May-August/QINGHAIHU.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080430/Img214332245.jpg[/img]

Located 151 km away from Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, Qinghai Lake is the largest lake in China. It has an east-west width 106 km, a circumference of over 360 km, and total area of nearly 4,500 sq. km. The lake is under the protection of the UN "Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat," also known as the Ramsar Convention, and prized as a national 4A-level scenic spot.

Seen from the sky, Qinghai Lake looks like a big poplar leaf, with the east-west length a little longer than the north-south width. Surrounded by Datong Mountain, Riyue Moutain, Qinghai Nanshan Mountain, and Xiangpi Mountain, the lake has an average depth of about 19 m (28 m at most), a water-holding capacity of 105 billion cu M, and an altitude of 3,260 m. Thanks to its high altitude, the lake enjoys fresh and cool air with an average temperature of only 15 degrees Celsius. It's an ideal place for summer vacations.


[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/qinghaihu/index.shtml[/url]
[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/qinghaihu/news/n214332244.shtml[/url]

Brief introduction to Xining

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080425/Img214323309.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080425/Img214322957.jpg[/img]
    The Grand Mosque of Xining (Photo credit: China Foto Press)

As the capital city of Qinghai Province , Xining is the provincial center of politics, economy, culture, education, technology, transportation and commerce. Xining lies in the eastern part of Qinghai-Tibet plateau, and the upper reaches of Shuang Shui River . The average altitude of the urban area is 2275 meters.

It is not very cold in winter and not very hot in summer, belonging to the typical mainland plateau climate. The average annual temperature is 7.7 centigrade, and the annual rainfall is 425 millimeter. Xining has a history of over 2100 years.

It is composed of four districts (East, West, South & North), three counties (Da Tong, Huang Zhong, Huang Yuan), one Economic &Tech Development Zone which is under construction, and one Cheng Nan New District. With a total area of 7,665 square kilometers, it has a total population of 2.1 million and an urban coverage of 350 square kilometers and 1.03 million urban populations. Xining is a multinational and multi-religion city, consisting of 36 nationalities such as Han, Hui, Tu, Tibetan, Mongolian, Manchu and Salar etc, which constitute 25% of the total population. Xining is the only city whose population exceeds one million.

([url]www.xining.gov.cn[/url])


[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/xining/index.shtml[/url]
[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/xining/news/n214322956.shtml[/url]

Introduction to Urumqi---NEW Torch Relay!!!

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080616/Img214405522.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080501/Img214333681.jpg[/img]

Urumqi, the capital city of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region in northwest China, lies to the north of Tianshan Mountain and is surrounded by fertile land, green mountains and water. People who've been living there for generations refer to it affectionately as the "beautiful pasture," the translation of "Urumqi" in ancient Mongolian.

Urumqi is the farthest city from the sea in the world and is located at Asia's geographic center. With an urban area of 62 square kilometers and a population of 1.48 million, it comprises seven districts , one county and eight pastures. The city has a long history as Xinjiang's political, economic and cultural center, and is a stop on the world-famous, ancient Silk Road. Different ethnic groups, namely, Uygur, Han, Hui and Kazak nationalities, have been harmoniously living here for centuries, contributing to the splendid ancient Xiyu civilization.

(Photo credit: China Foto Press)


[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/urumqi/index.shtml[/url]
[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/urumqi/news/n214333680.shtml[/url]

Introduction to Kashgar

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080616/Img214405513.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080423/Img214320826.jpg[/img]
                  Apak Hoja Tomb

Kashgar Prefecture, with a total area of 162,000 kilometers, lies between latitude 350 to 408 north and longitude 730 to 797 east in the southern part of Xinjiang. Kashi city, a place of strategic importance in south Xinjiang, has an area of 15 square kilometers with an average elevation of 1289.5 meters. The city is located between latitude 395 to 295 north and longitude 756 to 764 east and lies 1,473 kilometers from the city of Urumqi.

Located in the plain climate zone with the clear four seasons, Kashi has a long summer and a short winter. The annual mean temperature in Kashi is 11.7 , with the lowest temperature of -24.4 in January and the hottest 40.1 in July. The frost-free period averages 215 days.

Kashi prefecture was called Shule in ancient times and it has a history of more than two thousand years. According to the record of the Persian Epic, Afulabuseyav, an ancient Tulan hero, established the capital of his kingdom here. In the beginning of the Han Dynasty, it belonged to the Zhuangpu Prefecture General's Office of the Hun. In the latter half of the second century B.C., after the Han Dynasty Emperor Wudi sent Zhang Qian as his special envoy to the Western Region, Kashi submitted to the authorities of the Western Han Dynasty. During the first century, Kashi was the supreme headquarters of Ban Chao, an imperial general who administered the Western Region. But at the end of the Sui Dynasty and in early Tang Dynasty, Kashi had to pay taxes and levies frequently to the Western Turkish Khanate. During the reign of the Tang Dynasty Emperor Taizong and afterwards, it was an important military stronghold of the Tang government. Kashi was one of the four important towns in Anxi at the time; thus it was made the seat of the Shule Superintendent's Office. The Karakhanid Dynasty also established its capital in Kashgar. Before Genghis Khan went on his western expedition, Kashgar was the south capital of the Western Liao Regime established by Khitans. After Khan's western expedition was over, Kashgar became the fief of the crown prince of Chagatai. During the reign of the Qing Dynasty Emperor Qianlong, Kashgar became the seat of government of the Kashgar Councilor of the Qing government.

([url]www.kashi.gov.cn/English[/url])


[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/kashi/index.shtml[/url]
[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/kashi/news/n214320825.shtml[/url]

[[i] Last edited by ASHLEYTUNG at 2008-6-17 18:18 [/i]]

Shihezi City: an introduction

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080616/Img214405570.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080321/Img214276369.jpg[/img]

Nearly 60 years ago, Shihezi was a desolate place in the vast Gobi Desert, little known and inhabited. An army eventually settled here, which started the history of the new city.

After nearly half a century's efforts, Shihezi has become a beautiful city and bears the name of "Pearl in the Gobi Desert." In 2000, Shihezi won the Dubai International Award for Best Practices to Improve the Living Environment, issued by UN-HABITAT.

Shihezi has a population of 641,600. Besides the Han Chinese, who make up 94.8% of the total population, Shihezi has 33,300 minorities from 26 ethnic groups including Hui, Ughur, and Kazak people.

Shihezi has an area of 456.84 square kilometers. It experiences typical continental climate, with hot and dry summers and cold winters.

Farming is Shihezi City's fundamental industry, supporting the two other major industries of the city, namely, textile and food. Cotton growing in surrounding farms has boomed in recent years and has gradually dominated the economy.


[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/shihezi/index.shtml[/url]
[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/shihezi/news/n214333881.shtml[/url]

Introduction to Changji

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080616/Img214405510.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080501/Img214333925.jpg[/img]
     Changji scenery

Changji City is located in Xinjiang Province in northwest China. It used to be a major town on the route of the historic Silk Road.

Changji has an area of 7,964 square kilometers and a population of 400,000, including 81,000 ethnic minorities.

Changji has an annual rainfall of 183-200mm and on average, 2,833 hours of annual sunshine, suitable for growing wheat, corn, beets, beans, sunflowers, tomatoes, and many other vegetables.

Changji is an area rich in biodiversity: It is home to hundreds of precious animal species that are protected by law, such as snow leopards and antelopes. Changji also is inhabited by wild plants such as spruces, larches, and camel thorns, as well as over 100 species of medicinal herbs.

In the south, vast grassland, stretches of mountain and pinewood, as well as strong local Kazakh traditions, make Changji an ideal tourist destination.

In addition, you can also find many historic and cultural relics in Changji, for example, the site of the ancient Changji city, a mosque with over 200 years of history, century-old temples, and many other unearthed cultural relics.



[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/changji/index.shtml[/url]
[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/changji/news/n214333924.shtml[/url]

[[i] Last edited by ASHLEYTUNG at 2008-6-20 18:35 [/i]]

Introduction to Lhasa

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080616/Img214405514.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080319/Img214273954.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080423/Img214320707.jpg[/img]
    Potala Palace (Photo credit: China Foto Press)

Lhasa, the capital of China's Tibet Autonomous Region, has a history of more than 1,300 years. It is the political, economic, cultural and transport center of the region. Lhasa covers an area of close to 30,000 square km. It has a downtown of 544 square km and a population of 400,000; 140,000 of its people live in the downtown area. Lhasa is home to the Tibetan, Han, and Hui peoples, as well as many other ethnic groups, but the Tibetan ethnic group makes up 87 percent of the total population.

Lhasa has beautiful scenery. The Lhasa River, known as the "merry blue waves," runs through the snow-covered peaks and gullies of the Nyainqentanglha Mountains, extending 315 km. The river empties into the Yarlung Zangbo River at Quxu, forming a scenic wonder that features blue and white water waves.

The ancient city of Lhasa stands by the Lhasa River. Inside the city towers the Potala Palace. The city features a combination of traditional and modern things, including prayer wheels and computers.

Located at the bottom of a small basin surrounded by mountains, Lhasa has an elevation of 3,650 meters and sits at 91'06E and 29'36N, the center of the Tibet Plateau. Blessed with flat land and mild weather, Lhasa is free of frigid winters and unbearably hot summers, having an annual average daily temperature of 8 degrees C (43 degrees F). It enjoys 3,000 hours of sunlight annually, much more than all other cities in this regard, giving the city its title of "sunlit city."

Lhasa enjoys an annual precipitation of 500 mm. It rains mainly in July, August and September. The rainy seasons in the summer and fall are the best seasons of the year, when it rains mostly at night, and is sunny in the daytime.



[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/lhasa/index.shtml[/url]
[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/lhasa/news/n214320706.shtml[/url]

[[i] Last edited by ASHLEYTUNG at 2008-6-20 18:43 [/i]]

Golmud -- China's salt lake city

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080426/Img214325676.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080321/Img214276057.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080425/Img214323410.jpg[/img]

Golmud is a Mongolian word meaning "a place concentrated with rivers." It is situated in the central-south of the Qaidam Basin on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau and occupies an area of 124,500 square kilometers, or half the size of Britain.

Mt. Kunlun and Mt. Tangula traverse the entire region with a large number of snow-capped mountains, glaciers, rivers and lakes. Among the lakes, alkali flats, swamps, oasis and rolling dunes in the flat basin, Chaerhan Lake is the largest saltwater lake in the world, with an area of 5,658 square kilometers, giving Golmud its nickname "Salt Lake City."


[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/golmud/index.shtml[/url]
[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/golmud/news/n214323409.shtml[/url]

Overview of Qinghai Lake

[img]http://en.beijing2008.cn/upload/BOTR/May-August/QINGHAIHU.jpg[/img]

[img]http://images.beijing2008.cn/20080430/Img214332245.jpg[/img]

Located 151 km away from Xining, the capital of Qinghai Province, Qinghai Lake is the largest lake in China. It has an east-west width 106 km, a circumference of over 360 km, and total area of nearly 4,500 sq. km. The lake is under the protection of the UN "Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat," also known as the Ramsar Convention, and prized as a national 4A-level scenic spot.

Seen from the sky, Qinghai Lake looks like a big poplar leaf, with the east-west length a little longer than the north-south width. Surrounded by Datong Mountain, Riyue Moutain, Qinghai Nanshan Mountain, and Xiangpi Mountain, the lake has an average depth of about 19 m (28 m at most), a water-holding capacity of 105 billion cu M, and an altitude of 3,260 m. Thanks to its high altitude, the lake enjoys fresh and cool air with an average temperature of only 15 degrees Celsius. It's an ideal place for summer vacations.


[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/qinghaihu/index.shtml[/url]
[url]http://torchrelay.beijing2008.cn/en/journey/qinghaihu/news/n214332244.shtml[/url]

Brief introduction to Xining

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           The Grand Mosque of Xining (Photo credit: China Foto Press)
As the capital city of Qinghai Province , Xining is the provincial center of politics, economy, culture, education, technology, transportation and commerce. Xining lies in the eastern part of Qinghai-Tibet plateau, and the upper reaches of Shuang Shui River . The average altitude of the urban area is 2275 meters.

It is not very cold in winter and not very hot in summer, belonging to the typical mainland plateau climate. The average annual temperature is 7.7 centigrade, and the annual rainfall is 425 millimeter. Xining has a history of over 2100 years.

It is composed of four districts (East, West, South & North), three counties (Da Tong, Huang Zhong, Huang Yuan), one Economic &Tech Development Zone which is under construction, and one Cheng Nan New District. With a total area of 7,665 square kilometers, it has a total population of 2.1 million and an urban coverage of 350 square kilometers and 1.03 million urban populations. Xining is a multinational and multi-religion city, consisting of 36 nationalities such as Han, Hui, Tu, Tibetan, Mongolian, Manchu and Salar etc, which constitute 25% of the total population. Xining is the only city whose population exceeds one million.

([url]www.xining.gov.cn[/url])


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Introduction to Yuncheng

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Yuncheng, once named Hedong, is located in southwestern Shanxi province.

It adjoins L¡§?liang Mountain and Linfen on the north, Zhongtiao Mountain and Pucheng on the east, and the provinces of Shaanxi and Henan on the west and south. The city has a population of 4.95 million, with 71 percent inhabiting rural areas.

Located in a traditionally agricultural region, Yuncheng is characterized by flat lands, fertile soil and a warm climate. It receives 525 mm of rain annually and the temperature averages 13 degrees Celsius.


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[[i] Last edited by ASHLEYTUNG at 2008-6-24 19:22 [/i]]

Getting to know: Pingyao

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Pingyao County is located in central Shanxi Province, 94 kilometers southwest of Taiyuan, the provincial capital. The county's downtown region covers an area of 5.7 sq km and has a population of 54,400. One of China's most well preserved ancient walled cities, also named Pingyao, is located here.

Pingyao has a temperate continental monsoon that is semi-dry with an annual average temperature of 10.2 degrees Celsius and annual precipitation of 480 mm, with rainfall concentrated in the summer.

Initially built during the reign of King Xuan of the Western Zhou Dynasty (827-782 B.C.), the walled city of Pingyao has a history of over 2,700 years. Located on the trade route between Beijing and Xi'an, Pingyao developed into a center of trade where enterprising locals set up the nation's earliest banks, named Piaohao. These institutions were the first in China to use checks, and business peaked in the 19th century, when the city was the undisputed financial center of the Qing government. Shanxi business people (Jin Shang) were quite famous in the Ming and Qing dynasties.

The walled city covers an area of 2.25 sq km. The city wall was expanded for defensive purposes in 1370, when Ming Emperor Hongwu was on the throne. The wall runs 6,162.68 meters (about 4 miles) around the city and stands about 12 meters tall and 3 to 6 meters wide on top. It is made of rammed earth strengthened with a covering of bricks and stones. Outside the city wall there is a moat, 4 meters wide and 4 meters deep. There are 72 watchtowers on top of the city wall and 3,000 external battlements. The city wall, the streets, buildings and shops are all preserved from the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

In 1997 UNESCO decided to include Pingyao on the World Heritage List, the comments reading: the Ancient City of Ping Yao is "an outstanding example of a Han Chinese city of the Ming and Qing Dynasties, retaining all the features of these periods. Pingyao presents a picture of unusual cultural, social, economic, and religious development in Chinese history."

Thirty points of interest lie in and around Pingyao, including its two other "treasures," Zhengguo Temple and Shuanglin Temple (Double Tree Temple), the first treasure being the city wall. Zhengguo Temple, located 12 km northeast of Pingyao, features unique wooden structural architecture, and Shuanglin Temple, located 6 km southwest of Pingyao, is famous for its colorful sculptures. Another attraction is the Pingyao Confucius Temple, first built in the Tang Dynasty and restored in 1163. Rishengchang was established in the early Qing Dynasty, as the forerunner for organizing China's early finance system, handling remittance, money exchange, deposits, loans and other financial business.


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Geography of Taiyuan

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Taiyuan is one of the great industrial cities of China and lies on the Fen River in the north of its fertile upper basin. It commands the north-south route through Shanxi, as well as important natural lines of communication through the mountains to Hebei province in the east and??via Fenyang ?? to northern Shaanxi province in the west.


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General information of Datong

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Datong is one of 24 historic cities designated by the Chinese government. The total area of the city is 14,112 square kilometers. Liuleng Mountain has the area's highest peak, Huangyangjian (2420 meters above sea level).

Of Datong's population, 99.6 percent are of the Han ethnicity. Other ethnicities include Meng, Man, Hui, Zang, Miao and Chaoxian.


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General introduction to Zhongwei

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Zhongwei City lies in the central-west Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, bordered by Gansu Province in the west and Inner Mongolia in the north. The Yellow River flows through the northwest part of the city. The terrain of Zhongwei declines from the west to the east, the south to the north. Mountains and loess hills constitute most of the city's territory.

Zhongwei's current population is 1.05 million and covers an area of 17,000 square kilometers. The municipal government has jurisdiction over one district (Shapotou) and two counties (Zhongning and Haining), 38 villages and towns, 434 administrative villages, and 29 resident committees.

Zhongwei is located deep inland, close to desert and far from sea, hence, it enjoys a semi-arid continental monsoon climate accompanied with desert weather. Spring comes late here, followed by a short summer and a long winter. It is windy and there is a lack of rain in this area; most of a year's rainfall comes between June and August.


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General information of Wuzhong

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Wuzhong is situated in the center of the Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, neighboring Yinchuan in the north. It is bordered by Shaanxi Province in the east and also shares boundaries with Inner Mongolia and Gansu Province. The Loess Plateau, Ordos Massif, alluvial plain of the Yellow River, and mountainous area all reach into the city. The terrain of Wuzhong generally declines south-north. Its northern area belongs to the Yinchuan Plain, while the south has a distribution of hills and mountains.

Wuzhong currently has a population of 306,000 and covers a total area of 1,112 square kilometers. The municipal government has jurisdiction over one district (Litong), 2 counties (Yanchi and Tongxin), and one county-level city (Qingtongxia).

Wuzhong is an inland city, bearing a temperate semi-dry continental climate. It has four distinct seasons, but summer is not hot. As one of the cities in China with the most hours of yearly sunshine, Wuzhong's rich land is favored for the planting of agricultural products. Generally, the temperature varies greatly during the day and night.



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Beijing Olympic Torch Relay City profile: Yinchuan

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                    Yinchuan:victory:

Torch Relay Date: July 4, 2008

Location: Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region

Area: 7,137.44 sq m

Population: 1,298,400

Yinchuan, known also as the "Phoenix City," is the capital and political, economic and cultural center of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region in north-central China. It has a population of nearly 1.3 million and is home to some 350,000 people of the Hui ethnic group.

Founded in 678 C.E., the 1,300-year-old city is one of China's 99 most well known ancient cities. Yinchuan lies in the central section of the Ningxia Plain, with the Yellow River to its east and the Helan Mountain to its west. It enjoys a dry climate with abundant sunshine.

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               Yinchuan Train Station

Points of interest within a 50-km radius of Yinchuan include the Western Xia Imperial Tombs, the 1,500-year-old Haibao Pagoda, the Buddhist Chengtiansi Pagoda from the Western Xia period, Helan Mountain Cliff Paintings.

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              Haibao Pagoda



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General introduction to Yan'an

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Situated in northern Shaanxi Province on the Loess Plateau, Yan'an overlooks the middle reaches of the Yellow River, the cradle of Chinese civilization. Yan'an, called 'Yanzhou' in ancient times, has a history stretching back about 1,400 years and has long been the political, economic, cultural, and military center of north Shaanxi. Nowadays it is a city which boasts one district and twelve counties. It is inhabited by a population of 2.15 million, which includes 24 minorities. Holding a prominent place in Chinese military history, Yan'an is an important revolutionary city in China. It was the country's military headquarters during the Chinese Anti-Japanese War (1937-1945) and China's War of Liberation (1945-1949), as well as the former location of the Central Committee of the Chinese Communist Party.

This checkered past means that those who are interested in Chinese modern revolutionary history or those who want to examine the colorful folk customs and culture of the Loess Plateau should make sure that they visit Yan'an. The city has something for everyone to see, including numerous revolutionary, historic, and scenic sites. In addition, the abundant special local products, delicious Yan'an snacks, and various folk art forms of peasant painting, paper-cutting, drum art, and folk songs are also appealing to visitors.

Being of a temperate continental monsoon climate, Yan'an is an ideal place to visit all year round especially in the summer.



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Beijing Olimpics Game will be the most successfully Game