Christmas Village opens at 'China's North Pole'

A group of photographers in Santa costumes dance at a street parade on Friday in Luoyang, Henan province. They shared greetings with passers-by and handed out candy to children.

MOHE, Heilongjiang - Russian timber and crude oil have been Mohe county's main imports during the past decade but the community brought in its strangest commodity this winter when it adopted the Christmas Village idea from Finland.

Mohe, which is in Northeast China's Heilongjiang province, is only the width of the Heilongjiang River away from Russia and, as the nation's most northerly point, is known as China's North Pole.

It's a place that knows a thing or two about winter and holds the distinction of having experienced China's lowest recorded temperature back in 1956 when the mercury plummeted to -52.3 C. But it's not a community that is prepared to let its remote location and extreme weather hold it back.

Since the 1990s, people have been flocking to Mohe during the summer months to witness the aurora borealis, or northern lights.

Some 430,000 tourists made the trip in 2009 and so far in 2010, there have been 620,000.

Now, the town is looking for a way to keep the tourists coming during the winter and its Christmas Village seemed like the perfect fit.

"Business across the seasons is not steady," said Ji Bin, secretary of the Mohe committee of the Communist Party of China.

Source:http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/

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Fire breaks out in shopping mall in East China

Firefighters try to put out a fire on a store of GOME in   downtown Jinhua City, Zhejiang province, Dec 24, 2010.

HANGZHOU - Fire engulfed an electric appliance store in east China's Zhejiang Province Friday night, local police said.

Flames broke out at around 8:30 pm at a store of GOME, China's leading electric appliance franchiser, in downtown Jinhua City, Zhejiang, according to the police.

The store occupies the first three floors of a 13-storey residential building. The store was in business when the fire broke out.

"The fire has engulfed six floors of the building so far. At least 10 people from the upper residential apartments have been transferred to safer places by firefighters as of 9:50 pm," said a witness.

The witness said there were people trapped on the 12th floor of the building, but the exact number of the trapped remained unknown.

Ambulances are waiting on the road. So far, no casualties were reported.

Fire fighters continue rescuing people from the upper floors by stairs.

Source:http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/

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Suicide car bomb blast kills attacker in Kabul

Policemen and fire fighters inspect the site of suicide car bombing in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan, Nov. 12, 2010. A suicide car bomb blast targeting foreign troop's convoy in Kabul on Friday left the attacker dead and an Afghan National Army soldier injured.

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Lan Kwai Fong Carnival promoted in HK

Allan Zeman (3rd L), president of Lan Kwai Fong Association, and Hong Kong actress Rain Li (2nd R) attend a promotion event for the Lan Kwai Fong Carnival in Hong Kong, south China, Nov. 5, 2010. 

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Maradona visits China for charity football matches

Argentina's soccer legend Diego Maradona smiles during an official function for the Chinese Red Cross Foundation in Beijing, capital fo China, on Nov. 4, 2010. Maradona is visiting China to play in two charity soccer matches to raise money for the foundation. 

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Volcano Merapi re-erupts, 91 dead, 1 million evacuated

Bodies of victims in Volcano Merapi's latest re-eruption are seen at Dr. Sardjito Hospital in Yogyagarta, Central Java of Indonesia. The volcano re-erupted earlier Friday, the biggest since Oct. 26, killing at least 91 people and injuring seriously 66 others, leading the authorities to extend risky zone to 20 km amid over 1 million people have sough shelters, officials said. 

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Famed Argentine coach Maradona starts Beijing tour

Argentine head coach Diego Maradona arrived in Beijing International Airport Wednesday morning to begin his China charity tour. He said he had no intention of coaching a football team in China and if invited, his asking price would be very high. He also said that he has been dedicated to the national football for a long time and already been without a holiday for over a year.

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Chinese president arrives in Paris for state visit

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L, front) and French President Nicolas Sarkozy inspect the guard of honor during a welcoming ceremony at the airport in Paris, France, Nov. 4, 2010. Hu arrived in Paris Thursday for a state visit to France. (Xinhua/Liu Jiansheng)

Chinese President Hu Jintao arrived in Paris Thursday for a state visit to France, aimed at promoting long-term and stable development of comprehensive strategic partnership between China and France.

Later in the day, President Hu is expected to hold talks with his French counterpart Nicolas Sarkozy on bilateral ties and major world and regional issues of common concern, Chinese officials said.

"In the face of complicated and profound changes in the international situation, Hu and his French counterpart, Nicolas Sarkozy, would discuss how to work together to highlight the strategic nature and the overall importance of the partnership between the two countries," said Kong Quan, Chinese Ambassador to France, in an interview with Chinese reporters last Monday.

"The two sides will also explore and decide ways of bilateral cooperation which lays stress on the spirit of times and creativity," he added.

The ambassador said that the two countries will sign a number of cooperation deals during Hu's visit.




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China's top political advisor vows to bolster ties with Poland

Jia Qinglin (R), chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, meets with Grzegorz Schetyna, speaker of the Polish House of Representatives, in Warsaw, Poland, Nov. 4, 2010." China attaches importance to the relations with Poland, which is China's important partner in Europe and the European Union," Jia said.
China's top political adviser Jia Qinglin met Grzegorz Schetyna, speaker of the Polish House of Representatives, in Warsaw Thursday and vowed to bolster ties with the central European nation.

Jia, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee, applauded Chinese-Polish relations, urging the two sides to boost economic and trade cooperation.


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PLA's 7 J-10 jet fighters with new coating to make debut

Zhang Yutong (C), one of the designers for the new coating of Bayi Aerobatic Team of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force briefs to media in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 2, 2010. Seven new J-10 jet fighters of Bayi Aerobatic Team with new coating, were to make their debut in the 8th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition which would open in Zhuhai of Guangdong on Nov. 16, 2010. 

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Tunnel uncovered in Tijuana, 25 tons of drugs found

Photo taken on Nov. 3, 2010 shows a tunnel used by drug dealers, in which more than 25 tons of marijuana were found, in Tijuana, Mexico. U.S. federal agents seized more than 25 tons of marijuana after uncovering a tunnel at the U.S.- Mexican border, authorities said on Thursday.

Mexican soldiers stand outside a tunnel used by drug dealers, in which more than 25 tons of marijuana were found, in Tijuana, Mexico, on Nov. 3, 2010. U.S. federal agents seized more than 25 tons of marijuana after uncovering a tunnel at the U.S.- Mexican border, authorities said on Thursday. 

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China's 1st underground inter-city light rail line put in use

Passengers wait on the platform at Xilang station, the terminal of Guangzhou-Foshan metro line in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 3, 2010. Guangzhou-Foshan line, the light rail linking Guangzhou and Foshan, was officially put in use on Wednesday. The 21-kilometers line is China's first underground inter-city light rail line, offering passengers a seamless joint between the two cities.

A train arrives at Xilang station, the terminal of Guangzhou-Foshan metro line in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, Nov. 3, 2010. Guangzhou-Foshan line, the light rail linking Guangzhou and Foshan, was officially put in use on Wednesday. The 21-kilometers line is China's first underground inter-city light rail line, offering passengers a seamless joint between the two cities.


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Children help keep nation’s treasure alive

A young performer wears heavy headgear at Peking Opera Fans Theater in Nanchang, capital of Jiangxi province, Nov 2, 2010. 

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Billionaire buys boost Bentley

A model poses next to a Bentley Motors Limited vehicle at the 2009 Shanghai auto show. The company expects its annual sales in China this year to be at least double the figure in 2009 and probably hit 1,000.
TIANJIN - British luxury carmaker Bentley Motors Limited expects to double its sales in the Chinese market this year, thanks to the rising appetite for luxury automobiles.

"Our annual sales in China this year will be at least double the figure in 2009 and probably hit 1,000, as we see strong growth momentum here," Zheng Biao, director and general manager of Bentley's Chinese division, told China Daily.

Bentley sold 421 cars in China last year, making the country its third-largest market, following the United States and the United Kingdom.

In the first half of this year, Bentley sold 376 cars in China, soaring by 116 percent year-on-year.

Owned by Germany's Volkswagen Group, the luxury car brand now has 11 stores in China and most of its autos are priced between 4 and 5 million yuan ($597,997 and $747,496).

To meet the robust demand, Bentley is expanding its sales network in the country at a faster pace than expected. Next year, the number of Bentley stores in China will reach 22, mainly targeting China's second-tier cities including Shenyang, Dalian, Taiyuan and Xi'an.

"Cities in Northeast and west China are our next targets, because we aim to broaden our outreach to all places with strong economic growth," Zheng added.

"With the rapid development of our business, now we have nearly accomplished the five-year plan we made one year ago," Zheng said.

Last year, Bentley announced it would expand its network in China to 30 by the end of 2014, with an investment of 300 million yuan.

Following the initiative, Bentley promised to add more investment to the expansion of its dealership network and brand advertising. Zhang said Bentley will surely invest more to China but the specific plan is still under discussion.

Reaad more:http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/bizchina/2010-11/03/content_11495636.htm

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Indonesia continues rescue operations in tsunami-hit areas

Rescuers transfer a wounded girl at Pagai Selatan of the Mentawai islands, West Sumatra, Indonesia, Oct. 31, 2010. Rescuers from all over Indonesia are doing rescue operations in tsunami-hit Mentawai islands at the present time.

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Sculpted buildings

Frank Gehry's creations have changed the world's skyline, such as the Guggenheim Museum in Spain. 

The Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles.

Vila Olimpica Fish Sculpture in Barcelona, Spain.
Renowned architect Frank Gehry is happy designing the future, one building at a time. Gan Tian reports

Frank Gehry, the 1989 Laureate of the Pritzker Architecture Prize, is staging a solo exhibition in China for the first time. The exhibition, entitled Frank Gehry Architect, is being held at Sanlitun Village in Beijing. It features sketches, drawings, models, photographs and video clips, illustrating Gehry's creations around the world.

Visitors can discover stories behind buildings like the Guggenheim Museum in Bilbao, Spain, the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles, the DZ Bank Building in Berlin, and the Serpentine Gallery Pavilion in London. 

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Korean pop group Girls' Generation meets press

Yoon A (L) and Yu Ri, members of South Korea's pop group Girls' Generation attend a press conference for foreign media in Seoul, capital of South Korea, on Nov. 1, 2010.

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Hundreds of families get housing help in E China city

Residents of Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province, wait for their turn to select a home from a list of low-rent houses in a new residential compound, on Nov 1, 2010. Jinan began a round of low-rent housing distribution on Monday, with some 198 families selecting their houses. State-owned houses are being rented out at modest prices to low-income families who do not have proper housing in the cities. 

Liu Hengzhang, a migrant worker in Jinan, sheds tears of joy after selecting his new home.

Chen Benheng, who is in a wheelchair, receives approval for getting a low-rent house in Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province, Nov 1, 2010.

 Residents of Jinan, capital of East China's Shandong province, wait for their turn to select a home from a list of low-rent houses in a new residential compound, on Nov 1, 2010.

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Tusi Kingdom awoken after 800 years of 'deep sleep'

Workers are busy in excavating the site of the old Tusi city. The small picture shows some golden decorations unearthed from the tombs of the old Tusi city.
Recently, the old Tusi city at Yongshun County of Hunan Province, which was just selected as National Archaeological Site Park in the first batch, has drawn much more attention because of its deeper excavation.

For a better and systemic protection to the old Tusi city, Archaeology and Research Institute of Hunan Province launched another large-scale excavation to the site since Sept. 1 after being approved by China's State Administration of Cultural Relics in April this year. It is learned that the current excavation is going to be finished at the end of December this year.

According to historical records, the old Tusi city was the capital of Tusi's political power as well as the political, military, economic and cultural center of Tujia people who were under the rule of Tusi, the chieftain or the emperor of Tujia people, from the year of 1135 to 1727.

Explanation:

Tusi Political System: It is a special political system with well-established rules, which was carried out among feudal and ethnic minorities living in mixed areas in the period of Yuan, Ming and Qing Dynasty in ancient China, and Tusi was the title of its chieftain, like an emperor.


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Students take part in masquerade in Halloween

A girl makes pumpkin lamps with her parent during a Halloween activity at a shopping mall in Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 31, 2010.

 People show up pumpkin lamps made by themselves during a Halloween activity at a shopping mall in Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Oct. 31, 2010. 

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