Sabrina's Blog

Summer Biscuit- Chufa Cake

2011-07-06T00:57:00.000-07:00

Ingredients: Pared chufa, white sugar, egg white, lard and the fruit of Chinese wolfberry.
Characteristics: This dish is white and looks like snowflakes. With the fruit of Chinese wolfberry decorated among them, it appears very beautiful. This sweet cuisine tastes tender like tofu and is suited for both the old and the young.
Effect: Chufa is used to reduce fever and the fruit of Chinese wolfberry helps the liver and kidney.

Cherries - Summer's Flavor

2010-07-05T23:11:00.000-07:00

After this long winter and spring, cherries are now in season, which are one of the first fruits to appear. These days, the fruit peddlers' carts are piled high with mountains of cherries, some vendors taking time to bunch them together in a sort of bouquet.

The bright magenta red cherries and the golden yellow skin are as beautiful and alluring as glossy adverts for nail polish and lipstick in the pages of fashion magazines. The sea of cherries on vendors' carts on the streets of Beijing remind me of my visit to Pike Street market in Seattle several years ago. It was early summer and the market was loaded with Bing cherries, the most popular sweet variety.

This variety of cherry was developed at the Lewelling Nursery in Salem, Oregon, which was known as the Cherry City because of its fine display of cherries at their annual Cherry Fair. I was surprised to read that the Bing cherry was named after a Chinese helper who worked at the nursery.

Bing cherries are the sweet blackish cherries for eating while the smaller Early Richmond, Montmorency and Morello cherries are the sour types for cooking. The last category is a hybrid, a cross between sweet and tart cherries, such as Duke and Royal Anne, which are ideal for both eating and cooking.

The cherry is native to the Black Sea area, but the ancient Chinese are said to have been the first to cultivate cherry trees. The fruit was perfected by the Greeks and Romans, who planted cherry trees across Europe.

The Romans planted cherry trees as a staple for the Roman armies, but the Japanese grew them purely for their beautiful blossoms. It was said that a fifth century Japanese emperor drank his sake under a cherry tree every day. Today, people from around the world visit Japan during springtime to take pictures of the blossoming cherry orchards.

This is the best time to get your dose of fresh cherries as the supply is plentiful and the prices are good. Cherries are selling for between 8 yuan to 15 yuan per jin (1 jin equals 500 g) depending on the size.

Cherries are grown around the Beijing area, in Yantai, Shandong province and Chongqing. The type of cherries we have here are not like the sweet juicy cherries in the United States, but are tart like amarelle-type cherries, with a yellow flesh and clear juice.

The morello, sometimes also available in China, is another type of red-fleshed sour cherry with red juice. Both are perfect for baking or cooking to make a delicious syrup.

Panda Babies Arrive at Beijing Zoo

2010-07-05T20:14:00.000-07:00

Beijing Zoo sees the arrival of a pair of panda babies at about 10 am on July 5.

They were the first pandas to be born at the zoo since 2003, according to Beijing Times.

One of the twins is still at the zoo, being cared for by its parents, while the other was sent to Ya'an in Sichuan province where its parents, Gugu and Yinghua, were born.

Pandas typically care for one twin and abandon the other, necessitating the move.

"The 109-gram baby panda sent to us, which does not yet have a name, is probably a male but its gender cannot be definitively worked out by us until it is around three years old," a worker with the Ya'an-based China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda told local media.

The baby panda in Sichuan is being fed with milk from its grandmother that the center had collected and frozen. Baby pandas need breast milk to improve their immunity during the first three days of life.

The baby panda will eventually be sent back to the zoo, once it has developed.

The mother panda and her baby in Beijing are receiving care from experts in the delivery room at the zoo and will not meet tourists for the time being, according to a worker at the zoo.

The Chinese Dragon Boat Festival

2010-06-08T01:12:00.000-07:00

The Dragon Boat Festival is a Chinese lunar holiday, occurring on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month (June 16, 2010 this year). It is a significant holiday celebrated in China, and the one with the longest history. While many stories regarding its origin abound, the most popular and widely accepted version regards Qu Yuan, a minister during the Warring States Period (475 - 221 BC).

Origin

At the end of the Zhou Dynasty, the area we now know as China had fallen into a state of fragmentation and conflict. While the Zhou dynasty had ruled for several centuries, several other states, originally feudal domains, tried to carve out their own kingdoms. The state of Qin would eventually emerge the victor and unify all of China under one rule for the first time in history.

Qu Yuan served as minister to the Zhou Emperor. A wise and articulate man, he was loved by the common people. He did much to fight against the rampant corruption that plagued the court-- thereby earning the envy and fear of other officials. Therefore, when he urged the emperor to avoid conflict with the Qin Kingdom, the officials pressured the Emperor to have him removed from service. In exile, he traveled, taught and wrote for several years. Hearing that the Zhou had been defeated by the Qin, he fell into despair and threw himself into the Milou River.

As he was so loved by the people, fishermen rushed out in long boats, beating drums to scare the fish away, and throwing zong zi into the water to feed braver fish so that they would not eat Qu Yuan's body.

Zong Zi

The traditional food for the Dragon Boat Festival, Zong zi is a glutinous rice ball, with a filling, wrapped in corn leaves. The fillings can be egg, beans, dates, fruits, sweet potato, walnuts, mushrooms, meat, or a combination of them. They are generally steamed.

Dragon Boat Race

The Dragon Boat Festival is celebrated by boat races in the shape of dragons. Competing teams row their boats forward to a drumbeat racing to reach the finish end first.

The boat races during the Dragon Boat Festival are traditional customs to attempts to rescue the patriotic poet Chu Yuan. Chu Yuan drowned on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month in 277 B.C. Chinese citizens now throw bamboo leaves filled with cooked rice into the water. Therefore the fish could eat the rice rather than the hero poet. This later on turned into the custom of eating tzungtzu and rice dumplings.

The celebration's is a time for protection from evil and disease for the rest of the year. It is done so by different practices such as hanging healthy herbs on the front door, drinking nutritious concoctions, and displaying portraits of evil's nemesis, Chung Kuei. If one manages to stand an egg on it's end at exactly 12:00 noon, the following year will be a lucky one.

Sakura Road in Wuhan University

2010-04-12T19:46:00.000-07:00

SPRING is often trumpeted as the best season to visit Wuhan University when the sakura (cherry blossom) is in full bloom. Rising temperatures and rain pave the way for the first sakura blooms which herald the arrival of Spring.

The road lies below the Science School and the former library. The road is neatly lined with strong Sakura trees. From March to the early April each year, Sakura blooms vigorously, but only lasts a week. After that the road is thickly carpeted with Sakura petals. Each year during flowering of Sakura, the road is crowded with constant streams of tourists.

There is another Sakura scenic in Wuhan that is Moshan Hill of Wuhan’s East Lake Scenic Area where Wuhan Sakura Festival is held each year. It is a highlight to appreciate Sakura in the evening. Set off by colorful lights and white snow, Sakura will be more charming and attractive this year.

Price of admission ticket: 10 Yuan per person

Traffic: take tourist line 401 and get off at the stop of Wuhan University. Go into the entrance of the campus and walk ahead along the street to a pond and then turn left to the avenue till you arrive at Sakura Road and the former library.

Tips to Help You Eat Healthy

2010-03-30T19:28:00.000-07:00

Recently, I suddenly realise that I should have a healthy life style. Because the sub-heathy problems are obsessing me, though I am just 20+ years old.

Thanks to my friend that giving me a soybean milk machine as my wedding present. Last weekend, I went to supermarket to buy all kinds of whole grains, including Brown Rice, Whole Barley, Black Rice, Millet, sorghum and Sweet Rice... Then I choose 3 or 4 from them to make multi-soybean milk as dinner everyday.

Following are some other tips for eating whole grains:

* To eat more whole grains, substitute a whole-grain product for a refined product - such as eating whole-wheat bread instead of white bread or brown rice instead of white rice. It's important to substitute the whole-grain product for the refined one, rather than adding the whole-grain product.

* For a change, try brown rice or whole-wheat pasta. Try brown rice stuffing in baked green peppers or tomatoes and whole-wheat macaroni in macaroni and cheese.

* Use whole grains in mixed dishes, such as barley in vegetable soup or stews and bulgur wheat in casserole or stir-fries.

* Create a whole grain pilaf with a mixture of barley, wild rice, brown rice, broth and spices. For a special touch, stir in toasted nuts or chopped dried fruit.

* Experiment by substituting whole wheat or oat flour for up to half of the flour in pancake, waffle, muffin or other flour-based recipes. They may need a bit more leavening.

* Use whole-grain bread or cracker crumbs in meatloaf.

* Try rolled oats or a crushed, unsweetened whole grain cereal as breading for baked chicken, fish, veal cutlets, or eggplant parmesan.

* Try an unsweetened, whole grain ready-to-eat cereal as croutons in salad or in place of crackers with soup.

* Freeze leftover cooked brown rice, bulgur, or barley. Heat and serve it later as a quick side dish.

Give up Laptops or Not!

2010-03-28T18:54:00.000-07:00

Nowadays, more and more office people feel pains from backs, necks and shoulders. The most important reason is using computers for a long time.

According to market-research firm IDC, sales of laptop computers passed desktops in the U.S. for the first time ever this fall. That's bad news.　　

Laptops are inherently unergonomic--unless you're 2 feet tall, says physician Norman J. Marcus, a muscle-pain specialist in New York City.　　

When you work at a computer, the keyboard should be at elbow height, so your upper and lower arms form an angle of 90 degrees or more and your forearms are supported by armrests. The monitor should be roughly at eye level so you can lean back in a chair with back support.　　

But most users simply set their laptops on a desk or table. The keyboard is too high, which makes your arms reach up, your shoulders hunch and your wrists bend down. The monitor is too low, which pulls your head and neck forward and down and puts a strain on your back.　　

That's OK if you use your laptop occasionally, for short periods. But if you use one for hours at a stretch--as do millions of college students, business travelers, telecommuters, video-gamers and growing numbers of office workers--you're setting yourself up for muscle problems that can make your entire upper body hurt.

Ergonomics experts have warned about laptop problems for years--mostly in vain. People continue to abandon bulky desktops in favor of the ever-sleeker, lighter portables. And WiFi connections let us use laptops anywhere--in bed, on the floor--in all kinds of contorted positions.　　

People think, How can a mouse or a keyboard hurt you?'' says Thomas Caffrey, founder of Myofactors LLC, which does ergonomic consultations for factories and offices (including The Wall Street Journal). But poor technique can significantly overload the anatomy over time."　　

A wrong position can cause pain and stiffness in the neck, shoulders, back and arms, as well as headaches, pains in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and carpal tunnel syndrome, in which pressure on wrist nerves causes tingling and numbness in the hands.

Chinese Paper Cutting

2010-02-23T19:11:00.000-08:00

Paper-cutting is a very distinctive visual art of Chinese handicrafts. It originated from the 6th century when women used to paste golden and silver foil cuttings onto their hair at the temples, and men used them in sacred rituals. During the Chinese Festivals like the New Year, paper cuttings are used to adorn entrances of buildings and homes to bring good luck and fortune.

They have special significance at festivals and on holidays. At the New Year's Festival for example, entrances are decorated with papercuttings which are supposed to bring good luck.Papercuttings used to be used as patterns, especially for embroidery and lacquer work.

Though small piece of paper is, it can reflect many aspects of life like prosperous atmosphere, healthy persons and harvest year, etc. Some is even drawned from stories representing common goals and expects to happiness.

The main cutting tools are simple: paper and scissors or an engraving knife, but clever and deft craftspeople are remarkably good at cutting in the theme of daily life. When you look at items made in this method carefully, you will be amazed by the true to life expressions of the figure's sentiment and appearance, or portrayal of natural plants and animals' diverse gestures. Patterns of chrysanthemum display the curling petals, pied magpies show their tiny feathers and others such as a married daughter returning to her parents' home, or young people paying a New Year call to their grandparents.

People find hope and comfort in expressing wishes with paper cuttings. For example: for a wedding ceremony, red paper cuttings are a traditional and required decoration on the tea set, the dressing table glass, and on other furniture. A big red paper character 'Xi' (happiness) is a traditional must on the newlywed's door. Upon the birthday party of a senior, the character 'Shou' represents longevity and will add delight to the whole celebration; while a pattern of plump children cuddling fish signifies that every year they will be abundant in wealth.

Chinese Lantern Festival 2010

2010-02-23T17:06:00.000-08:00

The Lantern Festival is a traditional Chinese festival since Han Dynasty more than 2000 years ago. In the early Tan Dynasty (618-907AD), it was called the Shan-Yuan Festival, because of Taoism. in the late Tan Dynasty, it was called the Yuan-Xiao Festival. It was called Lantern Night in the Sun Dynasty (960-1297 A.D.). The Lantern Festival was used in Ching Dynasty (1644-1911 AD).

According to the Chinese calendar, the night of January 15th has the first full moon of the New Year and marks the end of the Chinese New Year festivities.

Chinese people traditionally celebrate this occasion with the Lantern Festival in which beautiful lanterns (and nowadays electric lights) of all shapes and sizes are lit, fireworks are set off, lantern riddles are devised and guessed and people eat Yuan Xiao together while appreciating the full moon.

The lantern displays can be found in the town center square and temples. Usually. there is the lantern competition at the temple. Traditional lanterns are made by paper. They can make the lantern tuning around by the heat circulation from the candle inside. Today the light of the lantern is from the electricity. People like to design lantern using zodiac animals, historical figures, saint and gods of Taoism or Buddhism. Certainly, the current year's animal symbol of the Chinese calendar is most popular subject. Using the computer tool today, they can design the lantern with different movements, the different colors of light and even using the laser light with special visual and sound effects.

Customs of the Lantern Festival

1. Eating Yuan Xiao
It is well known that Lantern Festival is also called Yuan-Xiao Festival. This is because Chinese eat Yuan-Xiao on this day. This custom originated from the Eastern Jin Dynasty in the fourth century, then became popular during the Tang and Song Dynasty.

Yuan-Xiao just like Tang-Yuan . They are made of sweet rice flour into sticky glutinous balls. They can be filled in with sesame, red-bean or peanut butter paste. Usually, they are severed with sugar water. But some people still make salty Tang-Yuan.

The difference between Yuan-Xiao and Tang-Yuan is the way they are made and cooked. This is because that Chinese in different geographic area prepare the food in different way. Chinese call the one they eat on Winter Solstice Day is Tang-Yuan. The one they eat on the Lantern festival is called Yuan-Xiao.

2. Lantern Riddles

Guessing lantern riddles is a popular addition to the Lantern Festival that appeared during the Tang Dynasty. As you would imagine, the game is to write riddles and have other people try to guess them. This is a popular social part of the Lantern festival and provides great exercise for the brain!

3 Best Nourishing Soup in Winter

2009-11-03T19:11:00.000-08:00

It is the best time for us to nourish our bodies in Autumn and Winter all year. Although we are always in strong stress, we should not forget to nourish ourselves. Here I recommend you 3 nourishing soup, which make you have a nice winter.

Almond Pearl Tofu Soup
Effects: Relieving constipation, Whitening skin.
Materials: Large almond 10g, Tofu 150g, Pearl Powder 1 to 3g, glucose powder 15g.

Peanut Pettitoes Soup
Effects: moisturizing the skin and increase elasticity.
Materials: Peanut 80 g, Zhushou 300 g, yam 50 g
Seasoning: Salt, Onion, Ginger, Cooking wine
Shouwu Pigeon Eggs Soup
Efficacy: supplement liver and kidney, Hair Tonic
Material: fleece-flower root 5 g, Rehmannia 3 g, Pigeon Eggs 50 g, Mushroom 10 g.
Seasoning: Salt

Gourmet in Hongkong

2009-05-04T20:38:00.000-07:00

Hongkong is the top fashion city, where integrate the western and eastern cultures, in the world. So you can enjoy the all different kinds of delicious food here.
Tutto by Habitu

All Italian dishes are the combination of the traditional style and the new ideas and elements, creating an innovative feature of Italian cuisine. The "Tutto" comes from "Total" in Italian, which means the restaurant can provide a wide variety of Italian food, Italian food culture to us all.
Bi Fengtang

Bi Fengtang (Typhoon Shelter) is a small harbor in the Hong Kong Victoria Harbor originally. There are mainly fishermen, whose specialty is seafood. They have the unique way of preparing a series of sea there. The "Ship Porridge" is one of the most popular dishes there.
Japanese-style Beef

The Japanese-style Beef is the speciality in Longhuang Restaurant in WTC More. The attraction of this restaurant is its location, where you could enjoy the beautiful scenery of Victoria Harbor.

Picking up Strawberries in Nanjing

2009-04-07T19:20:00.000-07:00

Picking up strawberries, which is a kind of fruits that could make the spring close to us, with family is so popular in this spring. Put a strawberry at your lips, your will find that spring is fair for every one.

In Nanjing, Jiangxin island is one of the most popular place for visiters to pick up strawberries. On last weekend (the traditional festival - Qingming, which is for people to go outside and enjoy the greenery of springtime, and also to tend to the graves of departed ones.), many nanjing people go there to enjor the delicious fruits and spring.

In these strawberry bases, the average price is from 16 rmb/kilo to 40 rmb/kilo. In average, there are 1,500 kilo strawberries to be picked up in each base.

The 10 Most Romantic Honeymoon Destiny of the World

2009-02-22T18:07:00.000-08:00

Iguazu Falls - Argentina & Brazil
Iguazu Falls stretches 2700 meters in semi-circular-shaped, which is made of 275 small waterfalls. It will undoubtedly be a heart-pounding place for lovers.

Bali- Indonesia
Because of its beauty and luxury, Bali is one of the most romantic travel spot.

Venice - Italy

Venice is a city in northern Italy, the capital of region Veneto. Together with Padua, the city is included in the Padua-Venice Metropolitan Area Venice is called "Queen of the Adriatic", "City of Water", "City of Bridges", and "The City of Light".

You can take a punt in the narrow waterway to enjoy the beautiful scenery. If you go there on Valentine's Day, you can also experience the unique Venice Carnival.

Bora Bora - Polynesia, Franch
Bora Bora is the third of the latest Seven Wonders islands of the World. It is an excellent romantic place for you to have a high-quality honey moon vacation in the edge of the dark blue ocean.

Alps - Swiss
Switzerland is always a honeymoon destination, where there is not only picturesque country scenery, but also the spectacular Alps. Is there some reason to reject it?

New York - America
You could enjoy that walking in the Central Park in summer, kissing your lover in the Times Square, or overlooking the hurry world from the the top of Empire State Building.

Santorini - Greece
You could see the most beautiful sunset of the world in Santorini. It is the best choice for singleton to find his or her right man in the spectacular sunset.

Saint Lucia - Caribbean
It is a pop choice for newlywed to have honey moon in Saint Lucia, especially for those who want to experience Caribbean-style wedding. The island's natural beauty, like a magnet, attracts people in love.

Ring of Kerry - Ireland
There are not only pastoral scene of both villages, but also bustling and noisy cities in beautiful Ireland. The above picture shows the Scariff island of Ireland.

Paris - France
Paris is always in the ranking list of the most romantic place in the world. Each year, the city attracts tens of thousands newlywed to come here to enjoy the its beauty.

Nanjing Four Star Luxury Toilet in Use

2009-02-17T19:13:00.000-08:00

Since mid-February 2009, the first four-star luxury public toilets will be put into use in a small garden of Confucius Temple in Nanjing City, Jiangsu Province. It is reported that the luxury toilets are rebuilt on the base of a common public toilets to cater for the creation of National 5A scenic spot of Confucius Temple Qinhuai landscape level with and to respond to the "difficult to go to the toilet" complaints in the Confucius Temple Area. This toilet covers an area of more than 100 square meters, and cost 400,000 yuan. And it will be free to public.

The public toilet is made up with the men's and women's room and the hall. There are basins that made by blue and white porcelain, sliding door with wood sculptures in Ming-Qing Dynasty and sensor hand-dryers in toilet. And all types of signboards and nameplates are translated in 4 languages including Chinese, English, Japanese and Korean. In the hall, there are also central air conditioners, LCD TVs and fauteuils. Since it was put into use, many people came here to have a try.

Three Holy Places for Watching Peach Flower in South China

2009-02-17T17:17:00.000-08:00

As the saying goes: "Flowers bloom in March, and flourish in April." So it is the best season to watch flowers in these two months. Whether it is in the mountains, forests or beside the farmland, and whether peach, plum, cherry or rape, as long as you close to them, you will be covered with an aroma of spring. And telling you that spring is beginning.
Longquanyi in Chengdu

Chengdu Longquanyi District can be said to be the most undulating terrain for watching peach flower in domestic. It is about half an hour journey from Longquanyi to Chengdu. Every time in the mid of March, International Peach Festival will be hold at Peach Trench, which is located on Longquan Mountain. Although the mountain is not so majestic, it is also a unique scenery in Chengdu Plain.

In March, more than 17 million peach blossom bloom over all the mountain. So it is so comfortable for you that rely on a bamboo chair under the peach the blossoms, drink a cup of green tea and enjoy the warm sunshine.

Romantic Taohuayuan in Changde

Taohuayuan is described as a utopia by the poet Tao Yuan-ming of Eastern Jin Dynasty. It is fictional, but it has its place, and is located in Taoyuan County, Hunan Province. The Peach Blossoms Festival is hold on Mar. 28th every year. In the florescence of March, more than 10 thousand peach blossoms bloom just like a piece of mariculous and clouful Yun Brocade, including pink, white, light red, plain and red . Strolling along the cobblestone paths around peach forest, you will see a beautiful landscape paint with a brook, that named Peach Brook, and a stone arch bridge, that named Qionglin Bridge across the brook. It makes you feel in the paradise that the fresh green matches the peach red.

Peach Garden in Foshan

Foshan city is in Guangdong Province, so that the spring always come early. In January each year, the peach flowers of 3000 acres will bloom in the garden. Because it was cold in this srping festival, the peach florescence delayed. But now, the peach blossoms of Nanguo Garden all bloom like a piece of red Brocade, which will last to March.

A Transparent Toilet in London

2009-01-18T17:34:00.000-08:00

The toilet is one of the most private and intimate space in everyday life, but there is recently a transparent toilet in British capital - London. So driven by the curiosity, I went to check it out. Going out from Westminster subway station, then walking along athe straight road before the Parliament Building, you will find Tate Art Museum beside the Thames River. It is said that the odd toilet is there. But I can't find it at first. Suddenly, I catch a glimpse of a shining cuboid beside the Artbrit Street. What is that? When I near it, I find that the odd thing, be made of 4 pieces of glass fall to the ground and 1 piece of ceiling glass, which covers 2 square meter with no decoration. That is the transparent toilet.

I saw an elderly couple deliberately stopped at the toilet, then then old woman went into it, but came out quickly. I was a little bit puzzled, so just went into it. I found that although it is small, there are all facilities where it should have. I was indeed shocked by the transparent glass wall. You could watch every thing around it, including passengers and buildings. At this time, a little boy, with his nose close to th glass, peep from outside curiously. I hurried to wave hands to him, but found that he couldn't see anything. So I set my heart at rest. Actually, the glass is a special kind that you could see anything from inside, but see nothing from the outside.

Grandpa's Nail Hook

2009-01-14T17:56:00.000-08:00

In everyday life, whether you are bothered with how to hammer a nail? This grandpa's nail hook, which award Bronze Prize in Muji Award, will help you turn it in to easy. These nails have a sheath covering them with a slight angle at one end that allow the nails to easily be hammered in to the wall without bending.The nails are then all secured at the same angle and length every time.

The designer said that his grandfather nonchalantly pounded nails into posts and hung various things on them. So that things didn't fall off these nails, he unconsciously pounded them in at an angle. To us, these felt like the most rational sort of hook you could get. While a simple nail would have sufficed, the designer made a few alterations, which strucked him that if some one could secure a nail at a set angle and length every time, then he could have beautiful hooks anywhere he could pound a nail in.

Travel with Hsu Chi to Hokkaido

2009-01-13T23:39:00.000-08:00

Before I saw the movie "If You Are the One", Hokkaido is always my dream that I am mad about its white snow and warm springs. Hokkaido is the northern one of the 4 most biggest islands in Janpan, the four seasons of which are all refreshing and comfort, especially for winter that is covered by a silvery white snow. Due to its marine climate, it will make you feel warm instead of cold in winter here.

Sapporo, the cultural and political center of Hokkaido, is Japan's fifth largest city. Sapporo's "Snow Festival" is the biggest one in Japan, which is celebrated at downtown Chase Park on February every year. During the Snow Festival, there will show you the large snow sculptures from all of the world, matched with hazy neon lights.

Hokkaido is a real paradise for those warm spring-lovers. Because of its unique topography, the warm spring quantity of which is the highest in Japan, such as the Snowy Mountain, the beads Hill, Asahidake, and so on. have amazing hot springs . These are some unique style hot spring hotels, combined with gourmet cuisine, that make you feel happy and carefree.

Clock Tower, a symbol of Sapporo and the important cultural relics in Japan, was built in 1878 in Sapporo Agricultural School theater. Sapporo City is divided into two parts,the north one and the south one, by Odori Park, where the white Charming Lanterns Festival is held in the end of every year and Ice Festival is held in February.

Spring Festival Transportation in China

2009-01-11T19:56:00.000-08:00

Jan. 11, the beginning of the Spring Festival Transportation of 2009 in China, will last about 40 days. Wang Yongping, the Spokesman of Railway Ministry, said that there is still a great pressure on the Spring Festival transportation that the passengers population will reach 188 million, which will increase 8% than the same period of last year; the daily average population will reach 4.7 million.

Jan. 12 - the second day of Spring Festival transportation in China, there is a rapid growth of railway passengers flow, which is mainly students and workers.

Reporters on the 11th from the Railways Ministry was informed that there is a rapid growth of railway passengers flow in Beijing, Guangzhou, Shanghai and Hangzhou area. It is expected that the passenger population will attach to 300 thousand at Beijing Station and Beijing Western Station today, while in Guangzhou Station it will arrive at 170 thousand. Earlier, China Railway adjusted train diagram, and expanded of the spring transport capacity, which would reach 2,920,000 everyday. During the Spring Festival, the national railway ministry plans to open 1413.5 pairs of trains, which is 142 more than the last year; while open temporily trains 319 pairs, which is 8 more than last year.

Beijing and the Three Northeast Provinces are the Most Favoritest Travel Spots in 2009 Spring Festival

2009-01-05T18:00:00.000-08:00

2009 Spring Festival is getting closer and closer. The reporter learned from major travel agencies in Dongguan city that the the overall price of the domestic tour of Spring Festival in 2009 remains stable. Beijing and the north-east line are considered the most popular domestic tours lines of the Spring Festival in 2009, which prices have rised, but the increase remained at 10%. Now the fuel costs becomes lower, so that the increases is about 5%.

Beijing Tour is still the most favoritest in the next Spring Festival

At present, travel agencies in Dongguan released most of the Spring Festival domestic tour routes in 2009. Many citizens apply to travel agencies, especially for the Beijing and North-East Line. According to Chen Zijiang, deputy general manager of China Travel Service in Dongguan, at present the travel agency had received more than 100 members to Beijing for Spring Festival travel. Similarly, Beijing line is the most closed-off in the every weekend meeting of Dongguan MNB.

Those the most popular lines which price fluctuations do not exceed 10%, usually remain higher prices. The domestic tour lines in 2009 Spring Festival have no exception. Take Beijing line as an example, the five-day quote of the Spring Festival temple fair, "Bird's Nest", passion skiing and the Great Wall in 2008 Spring Festival is 2536 yuan, while the quote of the current Spring 2009 is 2996 yuan. Chen Zijiang said that the price of Beijing line raise about 10%. However, with the fuel costs became lower, overall prices just increase by 200 yuan and the maximum increase will be 5%.

The prices of Northeast line and Hainan line rise

Snow sight of the Northeast is also popular in Dongguan. Take a 6-days line for an example, the price is usually only 3800 yuan, but it willrise to 5800 yuan in the Spring Festival. The Ice Show of the Northeast provinces began from December 25 and would continue to one-month. During this period, the air tickets fee and the price of northeast line began to rise.

This situation also happened in the Hainan tour line. Although the prices remain stable with the prices of the same with period of last year, but it has been rised 50% . In normal times, the room fee is about 1,500 RMB, but it will rise to more than 4000 RMB in the Spring Festival.

Celebrating Christmas Day in China

2008-12-23T17:24:00.000-08:00

Christmas Day is an annual holiday celebrated on December 25 that marks and honors the birth of Jesus of Nazareth. People often celebrate from December 24 - the Christmas Eve.

Modern customs of the holiday include gift-giving, church celebrations, and the display of various decorations—including the Christmas tree, lights, mistletoe, nativity scenes and holly. Santa Claus (also referred to as Father Christmas, although the two figures have different origins) is a popular mythological figure often associated with bringing gifts at Christmas.

As the Christmas approaches, department stores, shopping malls, official buildings will be decorated with Christmas trees (Christmas trees are usually decorated with paper chains, paper flowers, and paper lanterns), colorful lights and even Chinese lanterns. Christmas carols can be heard over the noise of the crowds and the Chinese "Father Christmas" helps to make the scene complete.

It is different from the weaterners that the Chinese family often skips the large meal - Christmas tree, but everyone still exchanges gifts. Exchanging Christmas Cards and Gifts is a very important part of Chinese Christmas Day. It is a chance to strengthen the relationships between friends, families and loved ones by exchanging Christmas cards and gifts. For many young Chinese people, Christmas Day is more like another Valentine’s Day rather than the family-get-together of western counties. They invite their loved ones for celebratory dinner, exchange gifts and enjoy a romantic night.

Chinese Christmas Day is also an occasion to share goodwill and be generous to people in need like orphans, lonely old people, the sick and homeless people. Many Chinese people will bring gifts to orphanage, Old People’s Home and hospitals to encourage these people.

As in western culture, Christmas day was a time to spend with family. Judy recalls sitting down with relatives to a large meal on Christmas day, but it could be served at either lunch or dinner. Instead of turkey, her father would prepare foods such as roast barbecued pork, chicken, and soup with wood ears. Reminiscing, she says the meal had more in common with a Chinese New Year's banquet than a traditional Christmas dinner.

Do You Hear of "Air Condition Tent"?

2008-12-16T23:21:00.001-08:00

As we are know, when we are camping, we should take some anti-cold clothes or quilts. Have you ever think of that your tent could be fit with an air conditioner as the above picture? It sits on three bricks in the rear door. But not every one could fit an air conditioner anywhere. There's three things you must consider before installing an air conditioner in your tent:

1. The air conditioner must pull no more than 6 or 7 amps.

2. The extension cord must be rated for 15 amps or more.
3. The extension cord must be rated for outdoor use.

And you should note that the plug is inside the tent to keep it out of rain and the 50 foot extension cord running from the air conditioner to the campsite's electrical outlet pole in the right background.

There is a reason for that. Plug-in electrical connections generate heat. You don't want the tent end of the extension cord to get hot to the touch. Slighty warm is ok; hot is dangerous. Buy a low-amperage air conditioner and a high-amperage extension cord. Tents make dandy bonfires.

The unit, shown in the photo, pulls 5.3 amps. It's a Daewoo Model WM-501, rated 5,150 BTU. I picked it from several different brands because it pulled the least amps. In fact, those units, all in the 5,000 BTU range, pulled from 5.3 to 8+ amps.

5,150 BTUs are more than enough. The tent is a huge 9-man tent, and even on the hottest Delta afternoon it's cool and comfortable inside. In fact, you never have to turn the control knob past "Low Cool." At night, you turn the thermostat just high enough to cycle the compressor every once in a while. To do otherwise is like sleeping inside a refrigerator.

The air conditioned tent could allow you to do things you couldn't do before.

- You can now sleep late in the mornings. The hum of the fan and compressor motors drowns out the sounds of morning birds and insects. Ever noticed that morning birds are happiest when you have a hangover?

- On hot afternoons, you can now use your computer in the tent. Before, you should had to find someone willing to loan me the use of their air conditioned room and their electrical outlets. Now you put a roll-up table in a corner of your tent and use the table like a desk, notebook computer and Zip drive on its top and powered via a regular extension cord.

If you camp somewhere without electrical outlets, a wildlife management area primitive campground, for example, you can't use my air conditioner. But you can use your computer and Zip drive. The Bluesmobile is equipped with a diode-isolated auxiliary battery. You could install it behind the driver's seat because of no room under the hood.

A Perfect Way To Brighten Your House Up

2008-12-15T18:07:00.000-08:00

Whether you are new to decorating or are an old hat, I want to bring you the information you need to create a beautiful home. Many people find color to be intimidating and are afraid to experiment with it when decorating. But color is one of the most important tools a decorator has at their disposal.

Why not thinking about recovering your light switches and other electrical outlets! It's a fun and unexpected way to bring color, whimsy, and of course light into a space. Here I will show you some interesting ways.

You may not think of a light switch plate covers as an ideal starting point for the redesign of your space. However, professional designers have been known to choose a color palette from any interesting piece of art, even what you could use to cover your lights.

Light switch plate covers come in all different styles, textures, colors and patterns. Shopping online will return a plethora of options for your selection. A great way to begin is to perform a keyword search for them. You will instantly be given a list to many different interesting sites. You can then start to narrow down all those options by adding in search words that describe what you are really looking for such as 'modern', 'country', 'Victorian', etc.
If you are searching for a specific kind of light switch plate covers, you may also have luck searching for keywords like "wallplate" and "switchplate" as these are also commonly used terms.

This is also a great opportunity to get the entire family involved in a craft project together. If you are up for it, try making your own light switch plate covers using clear contact paper, glitter, glue, scissors, and various decorations. With the kids, it will be fun to make special light switch plate covers that are decorated as part of a holiday celebration or gift idea.

Light switch plate covers aren't just for the younger generation; there are many different styles available for a more sophisticated crowd. Try copper, brass or other metals to compliment a modern décor. Many of the metal options on the market have been created from molds of real antique plates that have been taking from historical homes. Also, try natural prints, floral, or paisley prints for a more relaxed but grown-up feel.

So, light switch plate covers no longer have to be those boring boxes on the wall. Remember to have fun and keep your eyes open for new and interesting selections for gift and décor ideas.

Colorful Yunnan Tour

2008-12-10T18:45:00.000-08:00

Lijiang is a prefecture-level city in northwestern Yunnan Province, 527 km from the provincial capital Kunming. Jade Dragon Snow Mountain, located ten miles from Lijiang, has one of the closest glaciers to the equator. The mountain peaks at 18,000 feet above sea level at the Shanzidou peak which looks like a snow-covered dragon. To the west of Lijiang the River of Golden Sand - the Jinshajiang (or Upper Yangtze) - makes a sharp turn north at Shigu and from here to the next major river valley - the Lancangjiang (Upper Mekong) - mountains predominate.

Lijiang has a population of 1,040,000 and is the main region inhabited by Naxi Group. The Bai, Yi, Miao, and other ethnic minorities accounted for 58%, Lijiang is therefore with very different and colorful ethnic customs. Naxi ancient music is known as the "Chinese classical music living fossil" . In its long history, the local residents have established their splendid Dongba Culture which has absorbed aspects of the culture of Tibet and the Central Plains along the middle and lower reaches of the Yellow River. The various souvenirs marked with these Dongba hieroglyphs are very popular with visitors from home and abroad.

Dali is located on a fertile plateau between the Cangshan mountains to the west and Erhai lake to the east. It has traditionally been settled by the Bai and Yi minorities. It is also the capital of the Dali Bai Autonomous Prefecture.
The long history and splendid culture of Dali left us rich cultural relics. Cangshan Mountain, Erhai Lake, Butterfly Spring, and the Three Pagodas of Chongsheng Temple are praised as Dali's leading scenic areas.

Ethnic minorities have inhabited Dali for generations, with the Bai Minority making up the majority of Dali's population (65%). The customs of the ethnic minorities bring charm to daily life in Dali. Each spring, celebrations and festivals bring the city to life. Celebrations such as the March Street Festival and Butterfly Fest provide excellent opportunities to learn about local folk customs. Dali city has attracted many tourists from abroad. There is a famous street called "Foreigner Street" around Huguo Road.

The Xishuangbanna sees Golden Peacock as its symbol. Dai town of Xishuangbanna is the hometown of Golden. Xishuangbanna looks like a elegant and beautiful picture: the dense forests, the leisurely walking elephants, flying peacock, magnificent countryside, whirling Feng Weizhu, areca arch , The Dai's bamboo bulding, Golden Temple pagoda, and Dai women's graceful figure...

Following with "Mei Lanfang" to Chase for the Lost Beauty

2008-12-10T17:14:00.000-08:00

Mei Lanfang(梅兰芳), Shang Xiaoyun (尚小云), Cheng Yanqiu (程砚秋) and Xun Huisheng (荀慧生) were known as Four Great Dan in the golden era of Peking Opera. Mei really a culture hero. The new moive "Mei Lanfang" gave us an opportunity to touch the classic tradition and the culture of Beijing Opera. It also gave us an opportunity to clean up our souls at these artistic Masters' hometown.
Mei's House in Taizhou, Jiangsu

With a history of over 2100 years, Taizhou enjoys the reputation of "Ancient County in Han and Tang Dynasties and Famous District alongside the coast of the Yellow Sea". Through ages, it has seen gatherings of great talents and famous merchants. Roaming about the streets in Taizhou, you could feel its thick culture history.

Cheng Yanqiu's House in Beijing

Beijing - the place where Peking Opera was born. On top have a visit of Hutong Tour by pedicabs，enjoying the real life of the Beijing residents and Peking Opera.

Xun and Shang both come from Hebei province. Xun is best known for his portrayal of huadan roles, women who tended to be more vivacious or even of questionable character. In addition to Shang's singing, he was known for his dance and acrobatic skills.

Fasion Christmas LED Light

2008-12-08T22:57:00.000-08:00

It turns out some Christmas trees are more green than others. More and more people seeking to conserve energy are increasingly switching their high-voltage holiday displays to more efficient LED lighting systems.

Christmas Day is coming, we see that many holiday tree is decorated entirely with LED lights instead of the old-fashioned incandescent lights, and about half of the city's other light displays have been converted, too. More over, with less electricity needed, many people are seizing the opportunity to indulge their holiday spirit in bigger LED displays.

The technology of LED, or light emitting diodes, has grown in popularity because it uses about 10% of the energy consumed by incandescent bulbs. Rather than heating a filament inside each bulb, LED lights use a chemical compound that requires much less electricity.

The newer lights also are more durable, lasting as much as 100,000 hours, compared with traditional bulbs that often burn out after just 1,000 hours.

I think most people of the world watched the broadcast of the opening ceremonies from the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, yeah? What a sight it was! Five thousand years of Chinese history flowed on a huge LED scroll that unrolled to chapters of China's 5,000-year civilization.

The old incandescent bulbs required so much power that the holiday display often blew out fuses. Along with such practical concerns, LED lights are helping the environment by conserving energy.

Only Love Traveling in Zhangjiajie in Winter

2008-12-03T18:31:00.000-08:00

In different season, Zhangjiajie will show you a different landscape. All things are recovered in the spring; the summer with lush trees; blue sky and fresh air in autumn; in winter, Zhang jia jie will give you a unique feeling that all montains and tree are covered with white snow. What a spectacular sight!

In recent years, some of the newly developed area are becoming the favorite of winter visitors. Forwording from the Zhangjiajie Wulingyuan scenic spot about a few hundred meters, then look up and you could see an unparalleled majestic elevators (326 meters tall), which is called "Eiffel Tower of China", is built along the cliff. The modern architecture will give you a heartquake. As long as you go into the transparent elevator, it will move up with 3 meters per second. And it will only take 116 second to go to the top - Xian jie of Yuan jiajie.

In winter, you could enjoy the absolutely beatiful sight "Red maples match white snow" at the newly developed scenic spot of Zhang jiajie by Bailong Stairs. After the end of November each year, the mountain tops of Yuan jiajie will be covered by a thin layer of white snow, just like wearing white hats. Comparing with the few red maples at the forane mountainsides, the senic will absolutely impact your vision.

Tips: 3-day traveling in Zhangjiajie is a better choice. On the first day, you could visit the traditional scenic spot - Jin Bian Brook. On the second day, you could go to Yuan Jiajie. And if you have time, you could visit Tianzi Mountain to enjoy the spectacular snow sight. On the last day, you could visit Dragon King Cave and Tianmen Mountain.

The price of Traveling to Europe Goes to the Lowest

2008-12-03T17:39:00.000-08:00

For the financial crisis and turmoil in Thailand, the travel agencies, airlines and hotels all decide to cut down their profits to give the lowest price of European traveling to sttract tourists. All European travelings are less than 8000 RMB, such as 5799 RMB to travel in Paris and 6399 RMB to travel in Switzerland.

For a long time, the quotes of European Tour are always more than 10,000 yuan. So that the European Tour is a luxury for many people. Not long ago, Beijing Caesar International Travel agency, which mainly offers European tours for many years, reduce the price for the first that 7999 RMB to traveling in Germany for 8 days.

When people are being amazed at 7999 yuan, the price of the European Tour again brush to "low." Huayuan International Travel Agency, another famous one in Beijing, offers traveling freely to 8 cities in Europe that "Traveling in Paris Free" is only 5799 yuan. The same with many other European cities such as London, Rome, Frankfurt, Munich, Athens, and so on, the price is not more than 6399 yuan.

Traveling market goes into a "winter".
According to a recent statistics of China National Tourism Administration Beura, the population of traveling to Hongkong, Macao and Taiwan is only 1,880,000, which has a 15.1% year-on-year decline. For travel agencies, this figure seems to prove that winter comes.

Five Must-have Tools for Gardeners

2008-11-26T23:50:00.000-08:00

Gardeners know that you need sun, water, soil, seeds, and plants to make a garden grow. Plus, you also need a few garden tools.

There are many different types of tools available to use in the garden. A newbie gardener often has a hard time deciding what to get. While the type of gardening you’ll be doing will influence your decision, I think there are certain tools that are essential for large and small gardens, no matter what you are growing.

Here are my top five gardening tools that every gardener should have.

1. Long-handled, three-pronged cultivatorIf there was one tool I couldn’t do without, it’s a three-pronged cultivator. This tool combines the digging ability of a large-bladed hoe with the weeding ability of a small-bladed hoe. I can weed, dig trenches, plant transplants, hill potatoes, and even scratch my back with this implement (just kidding). I like the long-handled version because there’s less strain on my back, and it’s easier to smooth a raised bed or dig a long furrow using a longer handle.

2. Long-handled shovelFor digging holes and moving mulch, soil, and soil amendments, there’s nothing like a shovel. The best all-purpose type is the long-handled, round-headed, metal-blade shovel with a slightly pointed tip. The handles can be wooden or metal. The long handle makes it easier to dig holes for trees and shrubs and move soil. Short-handled versions are best for working in tight places, such as trenches. Look for shovels with a good-sized step, enabling you to push it into the soil more easily.

3. Hand trowelMost garden tasks in small gardens and containers can be managed with a hand trowel. Look for ergonomically designed models, which often have a soft comfort grip, are well balanced, and have a sturdy metal blade. They are perfect for planting, smoothing the tops of small beds, and digging up tough weeds, such as dandelions.

4. Hand prunersIf you have any shrubs, roses, and woody perennials in the yard, then hand pruners are a must. Choose bypass pruners over the anvil types. Bypass pruner blades cut by scissoring past each other. They make for a cleaner and more efficient cut. Good hand pruners can cut branches up to 1/2 inch in diameter. Purchase a type that fits your hand size and that’s comfortable to use, especially if you have many plants to prune.

5. Garden cartIf you have a 1/4-acre sized yard or larger, you’ll need some form of a garden cart or wheelbarrow to move plants and materials. I like garden carts because the two wheels give the cart more stability than the traditional wheelbarrow. You can load gardening tools, soil, fertilizer, plants, mulch, and weeds in the cart and, because of the balance, moving the load isn’t difficult. Plus, they’re great for sitting down in if you need a rest after a hard bit of digging.

Overlooked Fat Loss Factors

2008-11-17T18:24:00.000-08:00

We're often told that losing weight is a simple mathematical equation of calories in, calories out. Burn more calories than you eat and you’ll lose fat. However, is it really that simple? The truth is that the actual “number” of calories you consume is not the only factor that affects your fat-loss efforts. Here, I will show you five other things that should be considered when determining the effect of your diet on your waistline, primarily overlooked fat loss factors. Incorporate this knowledge into your workout and nutrition routines and soon you'll be ripped like Ryan Reynolds -- and attracting the Angelina Jolies and Kim Kardashians of the gym for it.

1- The thermic effect of the food you eat

The thermic effect of food (TEF) measures the amount of energy that is required to support the processes of digesting, absorbing and assimilating food nutrients as well as the energy expended as a result of the central nervous system's stimulatory effect on metabolism when food is ingested. Of the three macronutrients, protein carries the highest thermic effect. Eat more protein; burn more calories.

2- The fiber content of the food you eat

Due to its chemical makeup, fiber is classified as a carbohydrate; however, it is unlike other carbohydrates in that it is an indigestible nutrient. Even though each gram of fiber contains four calories, these calories will remain undigested and will not be absorbed. Therefore, if you were to consume 300 calories of red beans (a food in which nearly 1/3 of the caloric content is from fiber), approximately 100 of these calories would pass through your intestinal tract undigested.

3- The glycemic and insulin indices of the food you eat

The glycemic and insulin indices are scaled numbers that refer to how quickly a particular carbohydrate source enters the bloodstream as sugar and how much insulin is needed to rid that sugar from the bloodstream, respectively. Generally speaking, there is a positive relationship between the two; the quicker sugar enters the bloodstream, the more insulin is needed to rid that sugar from the bloodstream. When high levels of insulin are present within the blood, fat burning is brought to a screeching halt, which is anything but desirable for those whose goal it is to obtain a lean, muscular physique. Don't let this be an overlooked fat loss factor.

4- The different macronutrients present in the food you eat

Although insulin's primary function is to shuttle glucose (sugar) into skeletal muscle, it also carries many other nutrients to their respective storage sites -- this includes lipids (fat). Since carbohydrate ingestion stimulates a large insulin response and fat ingestion gives rise to blood lipid levels, when the two are consumed together, they promote the greatest fat storage.

5- The size, frequency and time of the meals you eat

Large, infrequent meals tend to promote storage of the ingested nutrients, as the body is unsure as to when the next feeding will take place. Conversely, consuming smaller, more frequent meals will result in an increase in metabolism and utilization of the ingested nutrients. Also, ingesting a large amount of carbohydrates before bed spikes insulin, deters nocturnal thermogenesis and increases fat storage during sleep. On the contrary, consuming a great deal of calories early in the day does not bring about this problem; rather, these calories are likely to be used as energy to support daily activities.

Camping Tips

2008-11-16T22:59:00.000-08:00

Below are some ideas to help with finding the best seasonal campground and campsite for your needs.

Electricity:
Will it be metered or included? If it is metered, who owns the meters? If you are dealing directly with the local Electric Company, as opposed to the campground, then you might have to pay a "set-up" fee, plus pay minimum balances during the winter months.

Pump Outs or Sewage:
Find out how much a pump-out will cost or will sewage be included. In NH, a new environmental law requires that all seasonal sites must have a sewage hookup.

Solar Energy Camping Products:
The solar lamp comes fitted with a miniature compass on its base and is great for any outdoor adventures, at home or away. With three PV cells down its spine and sides, and a flat sturdy base for placement, this robust torch can be left outside in the sunshine all day to feed off of the sun's energy. The energy converted by the solar panels is fed into a transmitter and stored behind 5 super bright LEDs.

Camping Tools:
Whether you're building a campfire or trying to start a fire in your own fireplace to get toasty next to on a winter night, a kindling tools will come in handy, such as axes, mauls, blades, bottle openers, screwdrivers, pliers and other useful gadgets. Wire saws are useful when backpacking because they weigh only a few ounces. They're good for cutting small pieces of wood.

If you travel in winter, try not to cook (or boil water) in the camper. Excess moisture can lead to condensation around windows and doors. We wrapped 3 of our large windows with plastic sheeting (two sided tape) and that helped with the moisture too. We didn’t have too bad of a condensation problem, but we were told to crack a window or vent every hour or so to release any excess moisture.

I hope some of these ideas will be helpful to you. Seasonal camping can be the perfect vacation solution for some families.

7 Good Reasons for Traveling Tibet in Winter

2008-11-06T19:43:00.000-08:00

1. Enjoy the sunshine at the bank of Lhasa River

Choose a family inn at Xianzu island. Every morning when the first ray of sunshine permeates your window, what you need to do is just rely on the balcony and drink a cup of milk tea. With the music, you could overlook the far off mountains and enjoy the fresh air.

2. Taste the colorful life.

See the kowtowing believers at Jokhang Temple and how those pretenders deceiving.

3. See the sunset at the Potala Palace.

The best place to view is the hillside oppsite the lahsa river.

4. Have a Tibet new year.

At Tibetan New Year, the Shoton Festival, Sagadawa Festival, the Qugui Festival, Fairy Festival, and the Festival of Su Youhua Lights, you will not only be able to enjoy the exhibition ceremony of the Buddha, pilgrims, Chao Chuan-law, but also can watch the Tibetan opera performances, puppet shows, lanterns, Duige competition, traditional dancing and so on. You will have a deep impress with the lively and happy Lhasa.

5. Looking for the relation between human and architecture.

Indulge your camera traveling in these Tibetan architectures, it will help you to have a peaceful mind at some time.
6. Obsessed with small alley.

The soul of Lahsa is those alleys that hide around Jokhang Temple. Under the glittery light, hiking around the alleys, you will feel the mysterious of Lahsa.

7. Hitting in the sweet tea house.

If you never hiking around those old alleys, never tasting the sweet tea and Tibetan nuddle with Lhasa people, you will not recognise the real Lahsa.

12 Simple Ways to Supercharge Your Brain

2008-11-02T22:32:00.000-08:00

Have you ever felt exasperated when you bumped into someone at the store but absolutely couldn't remember their name? Sure, it happens to all of us.

Despite being the strongest computer on the planet, our brains do lapse. It's hard to blame them really. As humans, we spend much of or existence stuffing our brains with stuff.

No matter how powerful our brains are, they need recuperation time to be kept in shape. Think of it as a tune up for your brain. Skipping brain maintenance is as silly as the person wandering the parking garage because they forgot where they parked. Is that you? Are you that person? If so, fear not; we are all that person at some point.

Now I am not a brain surgeon and I am not going to suggest you do anything surgical or dangerous. I am however an astute student of human behavior so I always look for simple ways to super charge my brain.

Here are some things you can begin doing as soon as today to begin the great brain tune up:

Eat Almonds

Almond is believed to improve memory. If a combination of almond oil and milk is taken together before going to bed or after getting up at morning, it strengthens our memory power. Almond milk is prepared by crushing the almonds without the outer cover and adding water and sugar to it.

Drink Apple Juice

Research from the University of Massachusetts Lowell (UML) indicates that apple juice increases the production of the essential neurotransmitter acetylcholine in the brain, resulting in an increased memory power.

Sleep well

Research indicates that the long-term memory is consolidated during sleep by replaying the images of the experiences of the day. These repeated playbacks program the subconscious mind to store these images and other related information.

Enjoy simple Pleasures

Stress drains our brainpower. A stress-ridden mind consumes much of our memory resources to leave us with a feeble mind. Make a habit to engage yourself in few simple pleasures everyday to dissolve stress from your mind. Some of these simple pleasures are good for your mind, body and soul.

-Enjoy music you love
-Play with your children
-Appreciate others
-Run few miles a day, bike or swim
-Start a blog
-Take a yoga class or Total Wellness routine

Exercise your mind

Just as physical exercise is essential for a strong body, mental exercise is equally essential for a sharp and agile mind. Have you noticed that children have far superior brainpower than an adult does? Children have playful minds. A playful mind exhibits superior memory power. Engage in some of the activities that require your mind to remain active and playful.

-Play scrabble or crossword puzzle
-Volunteer
-Interact with others
-Start a new hobby such as blogging, reading, painting, bird watching
-Learn new skill or a foreign language

Practice Yoga or Meditation

Yoga or Meditation relives stress. Stress is a known memory buster. With less stress, lower blood pressure, slower respiration, slower metabolism, and released muscle tension follows. All of these factors contribute significantly towards increases in our brainpower.

Reduce Sugar intakeSugar is a non-food. It’s a form of carbohydrate that offers illusionary energy, only to cause a downhill slump once the initial burst has been worn off. Excess intake of sugar results in neurotic symptoms. Excess sugar is known to cause claustrophobia, memory loss and other neurotic disorders. Eat food without adding sugar. Stay away from sweet drinks or excess consumption of caffeine with sugar.

Eat whole wheat

The whole wheat germs contain lecithin. Lecithin helps ease the problem of the hardening of the arteries, which often impairs brain functioning.

Eat a light meal at night

A heavy meal at night causes tossing and turning and a prolonged emotional stress while at sleep. It’s wise to eat heavy meal during the day when our body is in motion to consume the heavy in-take. Eating a light meal with some fruits allows us to sleep well. A good night sleep strengthens our brainpower.

Develop imagination

Greeks mastered the principle of imagination and association to memorize everything. This technique requires one to develop a vivid and colorful imagination that can be linked to a known object. If you involve all your senses - touching, feeling, smelling, hearing and seeing in the imagination process, you can remember greater details of the event.

Control your temper

Bleached food, excess of starch or excess of white bread can lead to nerve grating effect. This results in a violent and some time depressive behavior. Eat fresh vegetables. Drink lots of water and meditate or practice yoga to relieve these toxic emotions of temper and stressful mood swings.

Take Vitamin B-complex

Vitamin B-complex strengthens memory power. Eat food and vegetables high in Vitamin B-complex. Stay away from the starch food or white bread, which depletes the Vitamin B-complex necessary for a healthy mind.

Nanjing Hotel Rates Increase For World Urban Forum

2008-11-02T17:22:00.000-08:00

According to data from Ctrip.com, the rates of Nanjing hotels have increased because of the World Urban Forum IV and the third World Historical & Cultural Cities Expo are to be held in Nanjing.

During these events, four- and five-star hotels in Nanjing increased their rates to different degrees. The rates of the four-star hotels increased by about 10% and averaged between CNY400 and CNY500; and the rates of three-star hotels and budget hotels remained the same level as ordinary days, while the rates for some of five-star hotels went up by a higher rate, due to tight supply.

The World Urban Forum is hosted by the United Nations Human Settlements Program every two years. The first three forums were held in Nairobi in Kenya, Barcelona in Spain, and Vancouver in Canada.

World Urban Forum

2008-11-02T17:16:00.000-08:00

The World Urban Forum was established by the United Nations to examine one of the most pressing issues facing the world today: rapid urbanisation and its impact on communities, cities, economies and policies. It is projected that in the next fifty years, two-thirds of humanity will be living in towns and cities. A major challenge is to minimize burgeoning poverty in cities, improve the urban poor's access to basic facilities such as shelter, clean water and sanitation and achieve environment-friendly, sustainable urban growth and development.

The World Urban Forum is a biennial gathering that is attended by a wide range of partners, from non-governmental organisations, community-based organisations, urban professionals, academics, to governments, local authorities and national and international associations of local governments. It gives all these actors a common platform to discuss urban issues in formal and informal ways and come up with action-oriented proposals to create sustainable cities.

October 31st 2008—Cities are the drivers of economic expansion, but population growth, migration and other factors such as climate change are exacerbating the problems of city life.

Roughly 10,000 people are attending the World Urban Forum in Nanjing, China next week to determine ways of making city living more harmonious and productive. How can “heartbreaking” slums become cleaner, kinder, greener places even as more and more people move to cities?

That’s a key question for policy-makers, development practitioners and non-governmental organizations seeking sustainable solutions to urban dilemmas at the World Urban Forum in Nanjing, China, November 3 to 6.

Beijing Ready to Host ASEM7

2008-10-23T23:17:00.000-07:00

The Seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM 7) will be held in Beijing 24-25 October 2008. The summit will be the first gathering of leaders of 45 ASEM partners since its second round of enlargement in 2006.

Flags of countries participating the seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM7) flutter from lamp posts at the Tian'anmen Square in central Beijing, October 23, 2008.

The overarching theme of ASEM7 is 'Vision and Action: Towards a Win-Win Solution'. At the summit ASEM leaders will focus their discussions on political, economic and social and cultural issues, including issues related to sustainable development. The Summit will provide a good opportunity for expanding and deepening dialogue on an equal footing and mutually-beneficial cooperation between Asia and Europe to ensure win-win progress for the benefit of peoples of ASEM partners.

Tips for A Better Night's Sleep

2008-10-23T02:06:00.000-07:00

Generally, it has been assumed that the need for sleep does not decrease with age, but rather that other factors gradually come to interfere with our ability to sleep through the night.

Older individuals, for instance, are at greater risk not only for developing medical and psychiatric disorders but also for taking medications that can disrupt sleep. In spite of these influences, however, it may be that an actual biological deterioration of the sleep drive might also be playing a role.

A new study published in the journal Current Biology has been able to shed some light on this puzzle of sleep and aging. The researchers, who wanted to determine the maximal sleep capacity of both young and older persons, arranged for groups of younger adults (ages 18 to 32 years) and older adults (ages 60 to 76 years) to lie in bed for 12 hours during the night and for another 4 hours in the afternoon.

The subjects tended to sleep significantly longer at the beginning of the experiment, presumably because they were making up for a sleep debt accrued during their usual daily sleep routines. When the sleep patterns stabilized, however, the younger adults were capable of sleeping for much longer times — an average of 8.9 hours daily — than were the elderly people, who got only 7.4 hours daily. This 1.5-hour difference in maximal sleep capacity is impressive.

If your biological drive for sleep seems to have decreased, make sure that you are following the kinds of routines and behaviors that will give you the best chance of getting as much refreshing sleep as possible. Here are some examples of good sleep hygiene:

- Make sure that you're going to bed early enough to allow yourself to get an adequate night's sleep.
- As your bedtime approaches, develop a relaxing routine in the evening — don't keep busy until the moment before you expect to fall asleep.
- Avoid watching TV in bed.
- Sleep in a cool, relatively dark room.
- Consider going to sleep to the sound of white noise, either from a bedside fan or a machine that generates calming sounds.
- Increase your exercising, but don't do it so near to bedtime that it gets your adrenaline flowing and keeps you awake.
- Limit your daily intake of caffeinated beverages and avoid them completely after lunchtime.
- Avoid alcoholic beverages.

China Sees Ecotourism on the Rise

2008-10-21T19:24:00.000-07:00

After more than a decade's development, China's tourism, which has been dotted by negative comments from environmentalists and preservationists, now sees a new possibility: ecotourism.

Norbert Trehoux of Marseilles-based TEC, a consulting agency specializing in the tourism, transport and environmental sectors, is convinced this niche sector could attract well-heeled foreign visitors to less developed parts of China hoping to leverage their natural beauty to generate much-needed income.

Yet he admits the industry faces some pretty tough obstacles.

"In China there is a national policy -- they want to develop ecotourism. But today, the definition of ecotourism is not the one we have in Western countries," he told the Foreign Correspondents' Club of China.

Provinces such as those in the scenic southwest, including Yunnan and Sichuan, are at the forefront of this push.
Still, many supposed ecotourism resorts which have been developed are far from rural idylls, Trehoux said.
"It's more like Disneyland," he added. "You don't go there to be quiet and to relax or to trek. They are more like theme parks. Some have small zoos, and lots of restaurants. This is ecotourism today in China."

Tourism is already big business in China, generating more than 1 trillion yuan ($146.4 billion) in revenues last year, according to the official Xinhua news agency.

Though there are no exact figures for the ecotourism segment, a government-sponsored push for rural tourism -- usually involving staying with farmers -- has become popular in China in recent years.

That gives Trehoux hope that in future more and more Chinese will opt for ecotourism, as opposed to the mass tourism in groups generally favored at present.

"The market is changing. There are Western influences everywhere, and China is going greener," he said. "I met some Chinese people in Shanghai, and they don't want to travel like their parents. They are fed up with the flag, and the microphone. They don't want this any more."

Ecotourism in China is also attracting some well-known international boutique chains. Singapore's Banyan Tree runs an award-winning hotel in a remote, Tibetan part of Yunnan which incorporates many aspects of the local culture.

While the government's aim is currently to attract wealthy Westerners to these types of places, Trehoux said that ultimately Chinese will comprise the majority of customers.

"They want to attract Western tourists, but in 20 years time they won't care about Western tourists. They will have high-end Chinese tourists. They will have people who are prepared to spend thousands to spend a night in a remote place," he said.

Get Hold of Best Kebab Sandwiches

2008-10-21T19:06:00.000-07:00

Sandwiches, which have meat, vegetables and also bread, seem to contain all neccessary nutrients people need to fulfill a busy day. So here come three eateries where people can grab the best ever kebab sandwiches.

*Anadolu Turkish
A true Turkish delight, Andaolu's kebabs are rock solid, loaded with the hearty chunks of well-spiced meat that have made this dish an international sensation. The price (starting around 25-30 yuan) is astounding and the fact that Anadolu stays open until the crack of dawn elevates this kebab to the upper echelon of drunken munchies–A+.
Add: 4-7 Hengshan Lu 衡山路4-7号Tel: 021-5465-0977

*Haya's Mediterranean Cuisine Mediterranean
There are several reasons why you should be noshing on Haya's delectable kebab sandwiches, none of which is more noteworthy than the chicken schwarma (46 yuan sandwich, 60 yuan meal). This schwarma, true to the Israeli favorite, consists of shaved chunks of delicately seasoned roasted chicken. Add fries, veggies and, if you're smart, a glob of hummus and you've got magic in a pita.
Add: 415 Dagu Lu 大沽路415号 or 2/F, 3219 Hongmei Lu 虹梅路3219号2楼Tel: 021-6295-9511 (Dagu), 021-6465-1166 (Hongmei)

*Greek Taverna Mediterranean
If there is one reason to go to Thumb Plaza, it is Greek Taverna's chicken gyros (35 yuan sandwich, 50 yuan meal) stuffed with fries, veggies and garlic tsatsiki. Shanghai is conspicuously lacking in quality Greek offerings, so a good gyro, even one all the way in the nether regions of Pudong, is nothing to sneeze at. Why they only have chicken and pork but not lamb gyros is a mystery for the ages, but we'll settle on the chicken for now.
Add: Unit 41 Thumb Plaza, 199 Fangdian Lu 芳甸路199号大拇指广场41铺Tel: 021-5033-7500

The First Selling Tickets at Water Cube after Golden Weeks

2008-10-20T18:14:00.000-07:00

Yesterday (19th Oct.) 9:00 a.m., Water Cube begins to sale tickets after golden weeks. One ticket remains for 30 yuan, but the daily selling limit is 20,000.
The tickets are only for Oct. 19 to 21, and visit time will be from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.. One person could only buy 2 tickets for the max, children below the height of 1.2 meters can visit for free. The West Gate of the water cube is the wicket, the South Gate is for entrance, and the North Gate is for Exit.

In order to prevent looting tickets, the ticket office of Water Cube did not disclose the news of selling tickets for individual before. Yesterday, around 8:30, they put up the ticket selling information around Water Cube, but they did not receive any notice whether they would sell tickets for tourists after 21th of this month.

It is appoved that the measure of putting up ticket information provisionally didn't prevent looting tickets. At 4:00 p.m. yesterday, when the tickets are sold out from the ticket office of Water Cube, there are many people huddled at the entrance selling tickets. The ticket of 30 yuan is sold for 80 yuan the highest, and 45 yuan for the lowest.

"The Water Cube is now transformed for business use." the staff of the entrance office of Water Cube said. The official Olympic swimming pools have been pumped out, and the fountain pipes are being installed at the bottom of the swimming pools in order to prepare a large-scale water, sound and light combined concert. There are only training pool and diving pool with water in Water Cube, so the audience can only be entered from the eastern side of the stands to visit.

Change Your Light Bulb, Flatter Your Face

2008-10-15T23:04:00.000-07:00

Do you know the sacret that why the camarerman always can make you look "good" every time? Ok, I will tell you. The sacret is great lighting. Anybody who has seen television or film production up close knows that it takes longer to light a scene than to do almost anything else. And there’s a reason to take the time: Great light can make people look gorgeous. Bad light can make them disappear. A new kind of light that would make everybody look fantastic, even late at night: LED bricks.

LED bricks are just square arrangements of LEDs, or Light Emitting Diodes. And you have probably seen LED lights in tons of places — on the tail lights of most modern cars (replacing bulbs that wear out quickly vs. the average 50,000-hour life of an LED), for example, or at stoplights, where the traditional bulb has been replaced by hundreds of little points of LED light. And if you watched the Olympics, you saw millions of LED lights shining wild, crazy colors on the outside walls of the Aquatic Center.

These LEDs could theoretically shine up to 16 million different colors… including a special color that is the "healthy glow" of this story’s title. More on the secret color, and how you can use it, in a moment.

First, though, the results: It worked. My bride, Carrie, said, “Yes.” My new in-laws, as far as I could tell, were happy. And in spite of my groomlike nerves and my citylike pallor, I looked pretty good. So did everybody else. And here’s the kicker — it saved money on our electric bill.

Yes, LEDs use much, much less electricity. Here are the numbers: An LED produces about 400 percent more light (the unit of measurement is called a “lumen”) than a regular light bulb. And it uses half the electricity to power it. Even better, when you dim an LED, it uses even less juice. Plus, unlike conventional light bulbs, LED lighting can be focused. What does that mean? It means LEDs can throw light exactly where you want it — this may sound trivial, but if you’re thinking about saving money, it’s actually a very, very big deal.

Here’s why: If you look at a regular, round, 60-watt light bulb, you see that the light flies outward from it in all directions — up, down, left, right, at all angles. That’s nice, I guess, but if you have a light bulb in a lamp on your desk, for example, you only want light on your desk. Not on the ceiling. Not in your eyes. So you put a lamp shade around the bulb. Great! Pretty! And, if it’s a Tiffany lamp shade, expensive! But there is a big irony: You’re now powering an entire light bulb and blocking about 50 percent of the light, on purpose!

It gets even more ridiculous when you look at recessed lights, which are often found in the ceiling of your kitchen or bedroom. A solid 40 to 50 percent of your light is now lighting … the insulation in the floor above you.
Then, add this maddening fact: Ninety percent of the energy used to power a normal light bulb is lost as heat. Yep, Edison was a genius, but only 10 percent of the electricity in the system he created (and which you paid Con Edison for) is actually turned into light. This is why you have to turn off a light bulb for a while before you can put your hand on it — all that heat is wasted energy.

All right, enough beating up on conventional lighting. Here’s the alternative, followed by the secret “beauty” color. First, the solution: LED lighting for the home is emerging as a viable, and cost-effective, alternative to conventional bulbs. And they can make a much, much warmer light than CFLs (compact fluorescents — those twisted light bulbs). CFLs throw light with all the warmth of a meat freezer.

LEDs take the 120 volts of alternating current (AC) that comes into your house and, using small transformers, drop the current down (often to 24 volts) of DC, or Direct Current. Those transformers lose only about 10 percent of the power in the conversion. Then, the rest of the electricity runs the LED, which lights your room, again, using only about half the electricity required for the old bulbs.

In other words, when the night goes, the more you should throw a little more pink into the mix. Just turn up the color. With LEDs you can do that. And everybody will look fantastic. Even me.

The Best Viewing Period of Xiangshan Maple Leaves

2008-10-14T20:27:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, Maple Leaf Festival of the Xiangshan Park is openning. Maple Leaf Festival will continue to the 9th next month. During the period, in order to ease traffic pressure, the park consult with the traffic control department that opened a one-way down the mountain-lane --- Jie wangfu Road (from Jinyuan Holiday Hotel to Xiangshan South Road).

One staff of Xiangshan maple leaves phenological observations group said that due to the abundant rain of Beijing this year, maple leaves grow better than last year and the best viewing period will reach more than 20 days. It is expected that the best viewing period will last from the end of October to early November.

One staff of Xiangshan Park said that the travel population is expected to break 70,000 per day during the best viewing period of Maple leaces. So Xiangshan Park remind visitors to take buses here as much as possible at that time.

Reporters learned that the Xiangshan Red Leaf Festival will be held from October 15 to November 9. Admission fee: 10 RMB. During the eight days, the visitors who have the yearly, seasonly and monthly commutation tickets can only visit park at 6:00 to 9:00 and 16:00 to 18:30 a day.

The Best palce for viewing are Jingcui lake, Xiangshan Temple, Heshun Gate, Yuhua Hill and Xiangwu Grotto. The Jingcui Lake is the nearest place to watch the best.

Beijing Government Website Publishes Beijing Visitors Guidebook

2008-10-14T18:30:00.000-07:00

"Essence of Beijing", a comprehensive 200 page visitor's guide to Beijing, is produced by the govenment of Beijing introducing the Beijing's culture heritage sites and popular destinations. The book is designed to help visitors feel more comfortable exploring the city. Every chapter of this book is put online that be helpful for visitors to look at what has been added.

The visitor's guide introduces Beijing for those who are arriving for the first time and is a free service of eBeijing.

The guide is divided into ten chapters, each of which represents a cultural area. Each area is described in a one day walking tour, with descriptions of cultural, historical, and other interesting sites along the route.

The guide is unique in Beijing for its use of several media formats together to serve visitors.The multiple publication channels include of a paperback guide convenient for walking tours, a mobile site which offers on-the-spot information about a location once a visitor has arrived, and a detailed online website guide which can be accessed from a web browser.

China Big Attraction for US - Poll

2008-10-09T18:50:00.000-07:00

The Great Wall is the most recognized symbol of China among Americans, a survey released on Monday by US-based Perspective Resources Inc (PRI) has claimed.

Entitled "A Study of American Perceptions of China" the survey attracted 2 million US citizens, all aged 18 or above, with different social and education backgrounds. They were asked 10 questions about China.

When asked what they most associated with China, 49 percent said the Great Wall, followed by the Beijing Olympics (36 percent), rice and food (34 percent) and dragons (32 percent).

When asked to say which words they most associated with the country, the most popular answers were "highly populated", "government or Communism", "culture or history" and "red".

The most famous Chinese people are Jackie Chan, Bruce Lee, Mao Zedong, Confucius, Jet Li, Yao Ming, Buddha, Lucy Liu, Genghis Khan and Chow Yun-fat, the survey found.

When asked what are the most popular Chinese dishes, nearly 60 percent said it was rice or fried rice. Others mentioned egg rolls, noodles, wonton soup, fortune cookies, egg drop soup and stir-fried food.

When it comes to places to visit, Americans think of Beijing, the Great Wall, Hong Kong, Shanghai, the Bird's Nest, Forbidden City, Tibet and Tian'anmen Square, the revealing survey said.

Twenty-two percent of those surveyed also mentioned Singapore, which they thought was a Chinese city.
Chinese brand names are least familiar with Americans who named Samsung, Toyota, Nissan and Nike, which are not Chinese at all.

Forty-two percent of people surveyed said they could not name any Chinese brands, although 87 percent said they had used products made in China such as clothing, electronics and toys.

Asked about the most important issues in China, 39 percent said civil rights and freedom.

Others mentioned a wide range of topics such as population control, pollution, Communism and Capitalism, the economy, labor issues, sweatshops, low quality products, US debt to China and Tibet.

The survey also found that 49 percent of respondents were interested in Chinese history and culture, while 53 percent said they hoped to someday visit China.

The survey's margin of error was within 5 percent, according to PRI.

Set up in 1973, PRI has clients such as Cable News Network, General Electric, AT&T, VISA and American Airlines.

The survey was commissioned by the Blue Ocean Network International Communications Committee, a media organization that aims to promote better understanding of China among Westerners.

Arranging Your Home Lighting

2008-10-08T20:20:00.000-07:00

Arranging your home lighting is always a high priority whether you are moving into a new house of simply looking for a way to improve your current home. There are plenty of decisions that need to be made. Where should you put the lights? How much light is needed to fit the decor and mood of the room? Even what style of lighting goes best with your furnishings? Chandelier is one of the accessories that can add beauty to the interior of the house. It will bring elegance and appeal to your house, it will also add sparks and to a room and more permanent than lamps that can move around. But of course for the chandelier can add beauty and will work well by properly positioning the chandelier.

There are a lot of things you need to consider before choosing a chandelier. First thing to consider is the size. Size of the chandelier and the size of the room should be proportion. If you put a small chandelier in a big room, it will just look isolated. And if you put a big one on a small room, the room will then look crowded. So before you choose chandelier you should select one that will fit you room.

You need to be creative in searching for crystal chandelier that will add beauty and spark on a room. You should be careful in choosing the right one because there is a lot of variety to choose from. Crystal chandeliers styles are complicated, large, modern, and authentic. It can also bring some sentimental scents and value to a home.

When you are trying to choose one for your dining room, proportionality of the room and the chandelier is very important. You should measure the length and width of a dining table and if your dining table is circular measure the diameter. Measurements are very important to know if a certain chandelier can fit your dining area. The diameter should be twelve inches shorter than the dining table's width.

Before installing it, you should check the electric box that will support the new light of your chandelier. We all know that it has a lot of lights and bulbs. Make sure that your electric box can support and supply enough wattage on each lamp or lights on the chandelier. If electric box can support the chandelier it will cause electrical overload and can cause fire.

If you are deciding to install yours over the dining table, make sure that the crystal chandelier is position at the center of the dining table. And it should be 30 to 33 inches apart from the top of the dining table and at the bottom of the chandelier. This will prevent head bumps on the chandelier and to avoid accident.

Consider also the bulb that you will use for your chandeliers. Since chandelier requires a numbers of bulbs, select bulbs that has a low wattage rating. And as soon as you put the right bulb, it will give you sufficient light and will balance the brightness of a certain room.

Given that crystal chandelier gives beauty and elegance to a room, you should have a proper maintenance to sustain the beauty that it brings on your house. You should clean your chandelier once in a year, but before cleaning it, you need to turn off the bulb for about 10 minutes before cleaning it. This will avoid burnt hand and will safety you to some injuries.

Construction Material of the Great Wall

2008-10-08T00:34:00.000-07:00

As we all know, the Great Wall is the treasure of China - even the world. It really is a great masterpiece of mankind, with its beautiful scenes and grand construction. What many people may not know, however, is that in different periods of Chinese history the material of the Great Wall is different in different areas.

Before the use of bricks, the Great Wall was mainly built from earth, stones and wood. Due to the large quantity of materials required to construct the Great Wall, the builders always tried to use local sources. When building over the mountain ranges, the stones of the mountain were exploited and used; while in the plains, earth was rammed into solid blocks to be used in construction. In the desert, even the sanded reeds and juniper tamarisks were used to build the Great Wall.

Before and during the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC), because the earth buildings could withstand the strength of weapons like swords and spears and there was low technology of productivity, the Great Wall was basically built by stamping earth between board frames. As such, only walls of plain earth or earth with gravel inside were built. No fortresses were constructed along the wall, nor bricks used in the construction of gates at the passes. Some of the walls were even made only from piles of crude stones. Around Dunhuang City in Gansu Province, Yulin City in Shaanxi Province and Baotou City in Inner Mongolia, sites can still be found from the Great Wall of Qin, the Great Wall of Han and the Wall of Zhao. The Wall of Zhao was built during the Warring States Period using board frames, and the layers of earth can still be clearly seen.

During the period following the Han Dynasty (202BC-220AD), earth or crude stones were still popular building tools. The construction material did not reach a new level until the middle of the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644); however the principle of using local material was maintained. Three hundred million cubic meters (393 million yards) of earthwork were used in the construction of the Great Wall, and with the appearance of large brick and lime workshops, some parts were also built with these new materials.

Bricks were used in a lot of areas during the Ming Dynasty, as well as materials such as tiles and lime. Attempts were always made to produce the materials locally, so kiln workshops were established to burn the crude material. In a construction team there was Material Supply Department. For example, in Juyongguan Pass names of supply departments such as kiln workshops, stone ponds and material supply departments were recorded. Some materials, such as the timbers for the construction of the passes, did have to be transported from outside areas when there were none available locally. Bricks were more a convenient material than earth and stone as their small size and light weight made them convenient to carry and thus quickened the speed of construction. Bricks are also the ideal material to bear the weight. According to a sample experiment experiencing gravity and erosion over a hundred years, the compressive strength, resistance to freezing and absorbency of the bricks of the time are similar to today's common bricks. A huge brick from a hundred years ago showed a high level of technological skill for that time. For further ease of construction, different shapes of brick were also burned and made to stuff into different positions. Stone, however, still has its advantages.

Stones cut in rectangular shapes were mostly used to build the foundation, inner and outer brims, and gateways of the Great Wall. In the Badaling section, the Great Wall is made almost entirely of granite, some of green and white stones and some of white marble. The stone material was found to better resist efflorescence than bricks.

It is not only because of the high level of productivity of the time that hard material like bricks and stones were used in the construction of the Great Wall, but also because of the development of weapons. Before the Ming Dynasty, the Great Wall was built from board frames and, although not very solid, could withhold simple weapons like swords, spears and bows. But during the Ming Dynasty, gunpowder became available. The musket, blunderbuss and cannon appeared. Due to the use of these weapons, more solid bricks and stones were required to build a stronger Great Wall.

The Great Wall of China embodies the great systems of defense created during the wars of the time; moreover it indicates a great achievement in architecture.

Launch of Shenzhou-7 Manned Spacecraft

2008-09-26T19:03:00.000-07:00

Shenzhou 7 was the third Chinese human spaceflight. This mission commenced as the second phase of Project 921. Three crew members inside a Shenzhou spacecraft were launched on September 25, 2008 at 21:10 CST on a Long March 2F (CZ-2F) launch vehicle. The mission is scheduled to last three to five days. Shenzhou 7 began to unpack and assemble the indigenous Feitian extra-vehicular activity (EVA) suit at 10:20 a.m. yesterday in preparation for the first spacewalk.

As of 11:51 a.m. on Sep 26, the spaceship has made 11 orbits around the earth as scheduled. Physical conditions of the three astronauts who are in duty shift, all stay normal. Zhai Zhigang and Liu Boming took on assembling in the orbital module while Jing Haipeng stayed in the re-entry module to keep an eye on the vessel operation.

5 Essential Weight Loss Foods

2008-09-17T22:30:00.000-07:00

There are many fad diets that promise to help you lose weight in almost no time at all. After two or three weeks on the diet you find yourself losing enough to be able to brag to your family and friends about it, and you're so optimistic that this new lifestyle will be your ticket to a smaller waistline that you start to browse the stores for new clothes.
You continue to lose weight for another couple of weeks, and then something happens: you start to feel sluggish, you begin craving something that your diet absolutely forbids you to have, or the general sense of optimism begins to transform itself into a feeling of constriction, frustration, and even dietary imprisonment.
You decide to have just one snack, or spend just one day eating whatever you want with the intention of going back to the diet the following day. What happens then, is that you feel such satisfaction from that treat that the entire effort falls apart and you put the weight back on in practically no time at all.
Does this scenario sound at all familiar?
Diets are very hard, as is the feeling of being overweight. Many of these fad diets may promise instant and significant weight loss results, but most of them rely on depriving your body of certain nutrients and disrupting the natural function of your body's metabolism. Chinese medicine considers obesity to be partly the result of declining function of the metabolic fire of the kidney network and a diet that provides a well-balanced array of nutrients is the key to losing weight in a healthy way. What follows are five foods that will help you restore your body's ability to use energy and help you become your healthy weight.1. Millet: A well-balanced diet should consist of whole grains instead of refined grains like white rice and pasta, and millet is a beneficial and delicious staple of this category of food. This non-glutinous grain is over 10-percent protein, has high amounts of fiber and B-complex vitamins, and because it isn't an acid forming food, is easy to digest.
2. Asparagus: When losing weight, it's important to favor chlorophyll-rich foods, including asparagus. Asparagus is a nutrient-rich vegetable packed with folate, vitamins A, C, and K, and fiber. Asparagus also contains a carbohydrate known as inulin (not to be confused with insulin) that promotes healthy bacteria in the large intestine - which in turn promotes a healthier digestive function.
3. Pomegranates: Eating a balanced diet to lose weight should include eating fresh fruits, and pomegranates are a wonderful example of a healthy, nutritious fruit that has antioxidant properties and will help prevent cancer. While the benefits of drinking pomegranate juice have gained a lot of attention recently, you will be more likely to lose weight by eating the fruit fresh to increase your fiber intake and keep the calories down.
4. Pine Nuts: Pine nuts are the edible seeds of pine trees and are considered an essential ingredient in the tasty Italian mixture pesto. Chinese medicine uses pine nuts to improve gastrointestinal tract and digestive functions, and pine nut oil is even used for appetite suppression. Pine nuts and other nuts are a tasty part of a well-balanced diet intended for weight loss.
5. Green Tea: It has been found that consuming large amounts of coffee and caffeine can lead to food cravings, increase one's appetite, and induce stress-related eating. Green tea is a wonderful alternative to coffee in that it does provide a little caffeine but also contains beneficial antioxidants. So drink up!A healthy diet also includes lean proteins like chicken breast, legumes such as lentils, and other whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. While fad diets may promise a large amount of weight loss in a short period of time, there's almost a guarantee that you will put that weight back on-and then some!
Eat five smaller meals a day, avoid processed foods, chew more slowly, and incorporate more healthy foods into your diet-starting with these five.
I hope this article helps you find foods that can aid in your weight loss goals! I invite you to visit often and share your own personal health and longevity tips with me. May you live long, live strong, and live happy!

This article is quoted from Yahoo.

Legend of Mid Autumn Festival

2008-09-10T22:56:00.000-07:00

There are many beautiful legends about the moon in China. the most popular one tells how a goddess named Chang'e flies to the moon.

A long, long time ago, a terrible drought plagued the earth. Ten suns burned fiercely in the sky like smoldering volcanoes. The trees and grass were scorched. The land was cracked and parched, and rivers ran dry. Many people died of hunger and thirst.

The King of Heaven sent Hou Yi down to the earth to help. When Hou Yi arrived, he took out his red bow and white arrows and shot down nine suns one after another. The weather immediately turned cooler. Heavy rains filled the rivers with fresh water and the grass and trees turned green. Life had been restored and humanity was saved.

One day, a charming young woman, Chang'e makes her way home from a stream, holding a bamboo contaiver, A young man comes forward, asking for a drink. When she sees the red bow and white arrows hanging from his belt, Chang'e tealizes that he is their savior, Hou Yi. Inviting him to drink, Chang'e plucks a beautiful flower and gives it to him as a token of respect. Hou Yi, in turn, selects a beautiful silver fox fur as his gift for her. This meeting kindles the spark of their love. And soon after that, they get married.
A mortal's life is limited, of course. So in order to enjoy his happy life with Chang'e forever, Hou Yi decides to look for an elixir of life.He goes to the Kunlun Mountains where the Western Queen Mother lives.

Out of respect for the good deeds the has done, the Western Queen Mother rewards Hou Yi with elixir, a fine powder made from kerndls of fruit which grows on the tree of eternity. At the same time, she tells him:If you and your wife share the elixir, you will both enjoy eternal life. But if only one of you takes it,that one will ascend to Heaven and become immortal.

Hou Yi returns home and tells his wife all that has happened and they decide to drink the elixir together on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month when the moon is full and bright.

A wicked and merciless man named Feng Meng secretly hears about their plan.He wishes Hou Yi an early death so that he can drink the elixir himeslf and become immortal.His opportunity finally arrives. One day,when the full moon is rising, Hou Yi is on his way home from hunting. Feng Meng kills him. The murderer then runs to Hou Yi's home and forces Chang'e to give him the elixir, Without hesitating, Chang'e picks up the elixir and drinks it all.
Overcome with grief, Chang'e rushes to her dead husband's sied, weeping bitterly.Soon the elixir begins to have its effect and Chang'e feels herself being lifted towards Heaven.

Chang'e decides to live on the moon because it is nearest to the earth. There she lives a simple and contented life. Even though she is in Heaven, her heart remains in the world of mortals. Never does she forget the deep love she has for Hou Yi and the love she feels for the people who have shared their sadness and happiness.

Another legend explained the role of the Old Man on the Moon, the Divine Match-maker. The Chinese believed that marriages were made in Heaven but prepared on the moon. The Old Man on the Moon tied the feet of young men and women with red cords for marriage. Thus a maiden made offerings and prayed to him during the Mid-Autumn Festival, hoping that some day she would ride in the red bridal sedan chair.

Moon Cakes: A Mid-Autumn Delicacy

2008-09-10T20:47:00.000-07:00

Today, Chinese people celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival with dances, feasting and moon gazing. Not to mention mooncakes. While baked goods are a common feature at most Chinese celebrations, mooncakes are inextricably linked with the Moon festival. Traditional fillings include lotus seed paste, jujube paste or sweet bean paste. The cakes are usually sliced into thin wedges and served with tea as a holiday snack; they are very rich and dense, so a small wedge is enough to satisfy. Moon cakes date to at least the 14th century. They represent the moon and symbolize the gathering of friends and family.

More elaborate versions of mooncakes contain four egg yolks (representing the four phases of the moon). Besides lotus seed paste, other traditional fillings include red bean paste and black bean paste.

While in the past mooncakes took up to four weeks to make, automation has speeded up the process considerably. Today, mooncakes may be filled with everything from dates, nuts, and fruit to Chinese sausages. More exotic creations include green tea mooncakes, and ping pei or snowskin mooncakes, a Southeast Asian variation made with cooked glutinous rice flour. Haagen-Daz has even gotten into the act by introducing a line of ice cream mooncakes in Asian markets.

Given the difficulty of making them, most people prefer to purchase their mooncakes instead of making them.

Mid Autumn Festival

2008-09-10T20:19:00.000-07:00

One of the most important traditional Chinese festivals, the Mid-Autumn Festival (this year celebrated on Sept. 14) falls on the 15th day of the eighth lunar month, around the time of the autumn equinox (usually September 22). Many refer to it simply as the "Fifteenth of the Eighth Month." It is a time for families to be together, so people far from home will gaze longingly at the moon and think about their families.

This day is also considered a harvest festival since farmers have just finished gathering their crops and bringing in fruits from the orchards. Overwhelmed with joy when they have a bumper harvest and quite relaxed after a year of hard work, they feel it is a time for relaxation and celebration.

Food offerings -- including moon cakes, apples, pears, peaches, grapes, pomegranates, watermelons, oranges, and so on -- are placed on an altar set up in the courtyard. of all these foods, moon cakes and watermelons (cut into the shape of a lotus) are indispensable for the Mid-Autumn Festival. Bathing in the silver moonlight, the families will sit together and take turns to worship the moon, chatting and sharing the moon offerings.

Have a Perfect Manicure at Home

2008-09-07T23:23:00.000-07:00

Don't have time to run to a salon for a perfect manicure? Treat yourself to an at home manicure.

Pretty manicured nails can easily be attained at home without spending the time and money at a salon. Some key manicure products and a little bit of time is all that is needed for an at home manicure. Sit down and relax to your favorite movie or favorite television show and enjoy some much needed "me" time.

Manicure Tools needed: Nail polish remover, cotton balls, nail clipper and nail scissors, nail file, bowl, nail brush, cuticle clipper, orange stick, cuticle oil, hand cream, nail strengthener, clear nail polish, color nail polish.

At Home Manicure Tips:
1. Start by taking off any remainder nail polish. Use cotton balls and nail polish remover. Nail polish remover can be very damaging to your nails, try to use a nail polish remover that is acetone free. Another option would be to use a salon brand nail polish remover, they work a lot better and remove the polish very easily.
2. The next step is to shape your nails. If your nails are weak or damage it would be better to keep them short. Use a file for this step unless the nails are very short and you need to trim off a lot with scissors or clippers before. Remember to file your nails filing in one direction to prevent damage to your nails.
3. Clean your nails with a nail brush and soak for a couple of minutes to soften your cuticles.
4. Next take an orange stick with a tiny piece of cotton wrapped around it and push back cuticles. If you have hangnails or rugged cuticles, clip them with cuticle scissors. Massage cuticles with cuticle oil and apply hand cream.
5. Use the nail polish remover one more time and remove any oil or lotion that may remain on your nails from the previous step. This will help your nail polish to stay longer and better.
6. Apply a base coat or nail strengthener, depending on what you need. Never forget this step if you enjoy dark polishes, this will help prevent staining. For a simple look, you can stop now.
7. Pick out your favorite color of nail color and apply two light coats.
8. Last but not least, apply a clear nail polish or top coat to help make your at home manicure last longer.

French Manicure: Don’t rush off to the salon if you prefer a French Manicure. Available at any beauty store is a French Manicure kit. Inside the kit will be White and Natural nail colors plus strips that stick to the nails to paint the white on the tips of the nails.

Sanqing Mountain

2008-09-04T23:51:00.000-07:00

If you want to find a good mountain, follow the Taoists. Eager to find a tranquil place to cultivate themselves and to meet the immortals, they are regular visitors of beautiful mountains.

Sanqing Mountain in Jiangxi Province, although not very well-known to many people today, was regarded as a sacred place for Taoists in the Tang Dynasty period (618-907), when Taoism was at its most popular. The mountain remained very popular among people seeking immortality until the 18th century, when Emperor Qianlong preferred Buddhism to Taoism.

Sanqing Mountain's fame as a Taoist resort has faded, but its natural beauty remains. Stay on the mountain for a day, and you will understand why ancient Taoist master Ge Hong (284-364) made pills of immortality here more than 1,700 years ago.

With beautiful clouds, mist and strange-shaped pine trees, Sanqing Mountain is a fairyland far from the hustle and bustle of city life.

The mountain is shrouded in mist for about 200 days each year. On misty days, dense fog envelops the mountain completely and makes you think you are wandering in the clouds. Once in a while, wind blows away the mist, and a stiff, imposing peak suddenly appears right in front of you. Sometimes you can even see the fog creep up on you, gently penetrating the pine trees on the cliff.

About 80 percent of Sanqing Mountain is covered by primeval forests. More than 2,500 kinds of plants exist here, most of which can be used to make traditional Chinese medicine.

Because it has plenty of clouds, the mountain is an excellent place to watch the sun rise and set. Huge clouds become splendidly red, as if half the sky were on fire.

Pine trees on Sanqing Mountain are as beautiful as those on Huangshan Mountain in Anhui Province, where they are regarded as the most beautiful in China. Many pine trees on the mountain are more than 100 years old. Many years of exposure to wind, sunshine and rain have twisted their branches and wrinkled their trunks and bark, which has given them strength and charm like old men's wisdom.

A 500-year-old pine tree on the 1,500-meter-high Yutai platform is a good example of the mountain's pine trees. The tree is 1.1 meters in perimeter and three meters in height. Its branches twist like a snake, while its roots are anchored deep in the narrow gaps between rocks.

Like most mountains, the most beautiful view is from the summit of Sanqing Mountain, though the 1,800-meter-high mountain peak has remained inaccessible to ordinary tourists until recently because it is very rugged and steep.

In 1995, a cable car was built to take tourists up to about 1,600 meters high. From 1,600 meters to the peak, a concrete path was built along the sheer rock face. Walking on the path -- said to be the highest tourist trail in the world -- is an exciting experience. On one side the cliffs rise sheer above you, while on the other side a deep valley falls below you. But for the handrail, one would easily fall a thousand meters to the foot of the rock face.

Travel tips
To go to Sanqing Mountain, take a train to Shangrao or Yingtan station in Jiangxi Province and transfer to the mountain by bus. There is no direct train from Shenzhen and you have to take a train in Guangzhou Railway Station or East Guangzhou station.

Recommended trains: K48, which starts at 9:14 a.m. from Guangzhou Railway Station and arrives at Shangrao at 1:46 a.m. the next morning; K210, which leaves Guangzhou Railway Station at 2:58 p.m. and arrives at Shangrao at 7:43 a.m. the next day, and 2091, which leaves Guangzhou East Railway Station at 1:12 p.m. and arrives at Yingtan at 5:47 a.m. the next morning.

To watch sunrise, stay near Yuntai Platform. The best seasons for watching sunsets are autumn and winter, when there is less rainfall.

Take warm coats with you even in summertime, as it might be quite cold in early mornings and late evenings.

The area is famous for its local fish, chicken, tea and pears.

Yellow Mountain

2008-09-04T00:46:00.000-07:00

Yellow Mountain is a blend of the majesty of Taishan Mountain, the ruggedness of Huashan Mountain, the cloud of Hengshan Mountain, the flying waterfall of Lushan Mountain, the bizarre rock of Yandangshan Mountain and the beauty of E'mei Mountain. Mt. Huangshan is famous for its four supreme sights: strange pines, grotesque rocks, the sea of clouds and hot springs in the world. It has the reputation of being "China's strangest mountain".

Legend has it that Huangdi, the famous Emperor from ancient times, lives at Huangshan as a supernatural being. There are hundreds of peaks and thousands of ravines in the Yellow Mountain area and 72 of which have been given names. The Heavenly Capital Peak, The Lotus Flower Peak and the Brightness Peak are the three major peaks and all rise more than 1,800 meters above sea level.

Yellow Mountain covers an area of 1200 square kilometers, with a well developed scenic area of 154 square kilometers. Yellow Mountain is a blend of the majesty of Taishan Mountain, the ruggedness of Hushan Mountain, the clouds of Hengshan Mountain, the flying waterfall of Lushan Mountain, the bizarre rock of Yandangshan Mountain and the beauty of E'mei Mountain. 2 lakes, 3 waterfalls, 16 springs and 24 brooks also show their beauty. Yellow Mountain is famous for its "four wonders"-odd-shaded pines, grotesque rocks, the sea of clouds and the hot springs in the world. Xu Xiake a noted Chinese geologist from the Ming Dynasty who has visited Yellow Mountain twice, said "Don't visit Yellow Mountain after you have been to the other for Mountains, and don't visit other four mountains after traveling Huangshan".

Choosing Outdoor lighting - 3

2008-09-02T23:16:00.000-07:00

Providing good outdoor lighting can offer added security as well as extend your outside parties or other activities well into the night. Adding outdoor flood lighting will also enhance the beauty of your home and increase its value. There is a wide selection of decorative outdoor lighting from which to choose. Before beginning your project, consider these valuable tips.
Step1
Contact your local municipality on code requirements and adhere to these closely.
Step2
Call the electric company to arrange for them to mark any areas with underground wiring prior to your dig.
Step3
Purchase lighting fixtures that are comprised of approved properties and made for outdoor usage. Look for the Underwriter's Laboratory seal.
Step4
Obtain a ground fault interrupter to stop the current should the hot wire become compromised in any way.
Step5
Disconnect the power source to prevent electrical shock.
Step6
Ground the cable and lighting fixtures.
Step7
Dig your trench at least 2 feet deep to protect your cable. If there is above ground exposure use a conduit to prevent weather damage. Local codes may require the entire line be protected. Consider key placements for your fixtures and direct them away from the home. Prevent glare by using lower watt bulbs. Test your angles to make sure you are not flooding your neighbors yard or the street with your flood lights.

You can create many other different effects without much investment if you take the time to plan your lighting blueprint as carefully as you do your landscaping. Find interesting features in your landscape and use light to accent them at night. Do keep in mind that light pollution has become a serious consideration when lighting at night. Keep the lights low, and angle them so that they do not disturb neighbors or local wildlife.

Choosing Outdoor lighting - 2

2008-09-01T22:45:00.000-07:00

Consider solar powered lights for walkways and paths. Solar powered stake lights are an extremely budget conscious option for path and safety lighting. You can buy them in sets of four or six at your local home and garden store for as little as $30. Installation is as simple as driving a stake into the ground. There are no wires, and no drain on your electric bill. Most are powered with a battery backup for those days when there's not enough sun to power the lights.

Consider safety first. Decoration is wonderful, but your first concern should be safety. Use motion sensor lighting to illuminate dark areas on your property without having lights glaring all night long. Do not skimp here – your safety is vital. Do, however, check with your insurance company. You may get a break on the premiums for making safety improvements.

The second safety issue is illuminating pathways and steps to avoid falls and injuries. Path and stair lighting can be very decorative and attractive. One inexpensive option for stairway lighting are strips that fit along the edges of the risers. The light is indirect and shines down on each step so you and your visitors can see where you're putting your feet.

Less is definitely more when it comes to outdoor lighting. Avoid garish, overbright lights. An additional benefit to using fewer lights is a savings of wattage, and, in turn, expenses; both up front and in long term maintenance.

Backlighting and low lights can add drama to a bland landscape. Choose a feature to highlight and use a single light behind it to cast it in silhouette. If you shine lights through a tree, the overall effect can be truly dramatic.

Don't be afraid to be tacky. Twinkling fairy lights may be overdone, but a single strand of tiny white Christmas lights twining a potted patio plant or edging the patio deck can be surprisingly effective.

Turn to unusual sources. For instance, instead of using overhead or spotlighting for your patio or deck, rely on battery or solar operated table lanterns on your patio tables. Light your outdoor space just as you would your indoor space, taking into account ambient light and task lighting. Do not light what doesn't need lighting.

Driveway lighting serves two purposes. It should illuminate paths and walkways so that your guests and family can make their way safely from vehicle to house, and it should outline your driveway enough that drivers can navigate it safely. Consider walkway lights along the edges of the driveway, especially if the driveway is edged with stones, bushes or raised flowerbeds.

Funny Refrigerator Magnet

2008-09-01T22:20:00.000-07:00

These whacky, and funny mini refrigerator magnets are sure to give you a smile in the morning, or every time you go and open up the ice box door. They make great additions to greeting cards, and gifts. These look great on any metal surface.

Refrigerator magnets are a fun way to dress up an otherwise ordinary refrigerator. Not only are they decorative, refrigerator magnets are also a very useful tool for posting notes, pictures, and other lightweight items.

Mood Magnets provide a humorous and fun way to express yourself. The Mood Swinger Refrigerator Magnets are available in 4 versions, each with a distinct set of mood swing. Our custom magnets provide an excellent way to increase awareness by engaging your customers and associating emotions with your brand.

These funny fridge magnets also make a unique gift idea for that mood swinger we all know so well. Even they will appreciate this funny gift. Each refrigerator magnet version comes with a large magnetic frame and a themed collection of funny face mood magnets. Perfect for work, home, and school. These refrigerator magnets are not only fun and stylish, but also strong enough to hold your papers and pictures to any metal surface

Choosing Outdoor lighting - 1

2008-08-31T22:44:00.000-07:00

There are many good reasons to light your property at night, not the least of which is safety. Beyond safety, though, there are other considerations. Outdoor lighting can completely transform the look of your home after dark. Outdoor lighting has a reputation for being expensive to install and maintain, but it does not have to be. Here are some tips to help you make the most of your budget to install outdoor lighting that makes a statement and turns your home into a nighttime showpiece in your neighborhood.

Evaluate your resources and power sources. If you keep your lighting close to the house, you can save on installing new power outlets and additional wiring. If you do need to install wiring and outlets, there are do-it-yourself kits that you can install on your own. If you opt to install your own and you're not a licensed, experienced electrician, though, do have your work inspected by one before using it.

On the same note, check with your local code authorities before adding any outdoor power sources to be sure that you adhere to regulations. Nothing turns a cheap job into a huge expense faster than fines for violating local ordinances.

Beijing Lacquer

2008-08-28T22:36:00.000-07:00

Beijing Lacquer engraving, also called "lacquer carving" is one of Chinese traditional arts and crafts. The lacquer ware is decorated with exquisite engravings, has a radiant luster, elegant shape, and the pieces are usually resistant to humidity, erosion and heat. The technique involves applying a natural lacquer on a wooden surface, then engraving delicate designs on the lacquer.

Traditional Chinese lacquerwork has a time-honored history. It was proved to be used early in the Xiayu Period over 4200 years ago. Lacquer engraving technique is derived from the Tang Dynasty and experienced improvement in the Ming and Qing Dynasties on the basis of inheriting the styles prevalent in the Song and Yuan Dynasties. It had the golden age in the Ming Dynasty when the technique of lacquer engraving reached such a high level that in Beijing, the capital of the Ming Dynasty, a government-run lacquer engraving workshop named "Orchard Plant" was specially established, which was specialized in making lacquerwork for the imperial court. Afterwards, being inherited and developed by lacquer engraving handicraftsmen in Beijing, lacquer engraving technique attained continuous improvement and was finally developed to be a kind of industrial arts with distinctive Beijing features.

With solemn designs, sedate colors and exquisitely engraved decorations, the lacquerwork perfectly integrates the fine characteristics of lacquer and the ancient exquisite engraving craft. It is endowed with supreme artistic values and is an oriental treasure and artistic prime exclusively possessed by China.

Beijing Cloisonne

2008-08-27T20:51:00.000-07:00

Cloisonne is a unique art form that originated in Beijing during the Yuan Dynasty, which we know it has nearly thousands-year history already. It culminated during Jingtai period in the Ming dynasty. It gains the fame "cloisonné" by the main color of blue.

The design of cloisonné is made by pinching fine and oblate brass wires, weld them on the copper body, then fill in color ceramic glaze and burn it. The products are dazzlingly brilliant resplendent and magnificent, with strong, soberminded, gorgeous and elegant characteristic. They include vases, bowls, plates, wine sets, smoking sets, lamps and lanterns, sugar bowls, spice boxes, trophy cups, birds and beasts, etc. more than 60 kinds. We may say, the technique of cloisonne is used not only the bronze crafts, but also the porcelain crafts, meanwhile, fetching in plenty of traditional and carving technique, which is the combination of Chinese traditional arts.

Trust me! When you come to Beijing, this is another thing that you should not miss.

Peking Duck

2008-08-26T23:32:00.000-07:00

Along with the grand view of the Great Wall, travelers to Beijing shouldn't miss trying the Peking Roasted Duck. To enjoy the famous duck, the restaurant Quan Ju De(全聚德) is the best choice for you. It has multiple outlets in Beijing. The old restaurant first opened in 1860. The duck here is said to be the best in Peking, and the service is very good as well.

Peking Duck is always served in well-cut slices. The whole duck must be sliced into 120 pieces and every piece has to be perfect with the complete layers of the meat. Normally there are many dishes served with the duck, including a dish of fine-cut shallot bars, a dish of cucumber bars and finally a dish of paste-like soy of fermented wheat flour. Without these the dainty duck is surely in the shade.

When first served Peking Duck I hesitated to take up my chopsticks, not knowing what to begin with. There is a knack to it: first, pick up a slice of duck with the help of a pair of chopsticks and dip it into the soy paste. Next, lay it on the top of a thin cake and add some bars of cucumber and shallot. Finally, wrap the stuff into a bundle with the sheet cake (a thin pancake). The real secret of Peking duck's flavor lies in your carefully nibbling away at the mixture. You will find all the different ingredients very compatible. Of course, beer is the popular drink for the dinner. It helps to fade away the greasiness of the duck. But it is not necessary to order extra soup, for the duck-bone soup is always included in your order. It will be served as the rear dish for the dinner.

During the 16-days-Olympics, the Beijing delicacy Peking duck as a favorite amongst athletes stay in the Olympic Village. A spokeswoman for the Olympic Village reported at a press conference that the supply of the duck dish was doubled from 300 birds per day to 600 to satisfy the demand of the 10,000 or so athletes living the village.

Beijing Olympics Closing Ceremony

2008-08-25T22:43:00.000-07:00

After the last 16 days of sporting extravaganza, 2008 Beijing Summer Olympic games - the worlds biggest sports event comes to the end.

The gala began amid a display of fireworks that form a huge circle in the sky which symbolizes the complete success of the Beijing Games.In traditional Chinese culture, circle is a symbol of perfection, harmony and renewal.

Following are some pictures about this ceremony.

Lighting Your Way

2008-08-24T23:18:00.000-07:00

Outdoor lighting is so important in a few aspects: for Safety and for Orientation. Many of us work during the day and do not arrive home until near or after dark. However, your landscape can be used and enjoyed during the evening by utilizing an outdoor landscape lighting system in your property. And outside light installations can actually create a new way of looking at your home by becoming part of the decor itself. There are some basic things you can do to add charm to your yard, here are a few and you can read more in my articles.

Your landscape could benefit in multiple ways with the installation of an outdoor lighting system. With a properly installed system that utilizes the right light in the right way, yet also done with a creative flair, your property would literally glow with beauty come nightfall. A lighting system for your landscape has some other benefits as well. Do you find your garden looking rather bare during those sparse winter months? A few well-placed lights can highlight the architectural side of those bare trees. Do you feel nervous during that after-dark walk from your car to the front stoop? A well-lit landscape makes for a significantly safer property. Treating your landscape to an outdoor lighting system will add many useful features to your property. This is a very popular trend: by using recessed lights, lanterns, and lamps, you can now see your landscape at night. While the lights themselves can remain invisible, your plants and trees become highlighted, giving them a unique nighttime look.

The most important benefit of landscape lighting, safety, is also one of the most overlooked. Not only are burglars warded off by a well-lit property, it makes you feel safer when you're outside at night, which gives you peace of mind. Having a lighting system also keeps you safe from yourself. With some path lights illuminating your way, you are less likely to trip over the flagstones, or run into the arbor. A landscape lighting system helps provide safety from others and your own occasional clumsiness.

Outdoor landscape lighting enhances buildings architectural features, gardens, walkways, patios and decks. Your property can be enjoyed at all hours of the day and any time of the season.

Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony – the Best Experience of My Life

2008-08-21T23:18:00.000-07:00

BEIJING Olympics Opening Ceremony, held in the National Stadium known as the Bird’s Nest, was attended by thousands, and watched by millions more on television. Below are some highlights of the nearly 4-hour performance.

The opening was an artistic mix of performance and light depicting China's 5,000 years of history.

Fireworks shot off across the Chinese capital as thousands of drummers, acrobats, martial artists and dancers performed under a light display at the National Stadium. Children representing each of the 56 ethnic groups in China marched out into the stadium, called the "Bird's Nest" because of its notable appearance.

Dancers merged with objects that depicted China's ancient Silk Road, its Great Wall and ancient imperial past. Acrobats swirled around a giant sphere, depicting China's ambitions in space.

Twenty-nine colossal footprints, created by firework explosions in the sky and symbolizing the successive summer Olympics, traveled all the way along the central axis of Beijing, from the ancient city gate of Yongdingmen in the south to the futurist steel-framed Bird's Nest.

Sparkles fell into the stadium and "lit up" a huge LED screen that showed the Olympic five rings. Embraced by "flying fairies" in shining costumes, the five rings, also made up with LED beads, were lifted in the air before the unbelieving eyes of some 91,000 spectators.

To the melodious rhythm of the song "A hymn to the motherland," the Chinese national flag was ushered in the stadium, and hoisted with the excited and proud home crowd singing the national anthem loudly.

The Drum Performance in Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony

2008-08-20T23:53:00.000-07:00

Everyone was impressed by the amazing rhythmic rumble of 2,008 percussion drums that produced a pulse-pounding start at the beginning of the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic game. The drums also turned into a giant set of cascading LED lights, shuffled from one end of the Bird's Nest to the other, as a roaring crowd climbed to its feet. There was something primal yet elegant and powerful about the drums at the start. However, very few people can recognize the drum inside or outside China. Indeed, it is a modern variation of an ancient instrument called Fou (缶).

Indeed, Fou is not originally a music instrument. It is indeed a large pot like container to store wine or other liquid. Since most Fous are made by earth, few of them have make it to today after thousands of years. You can find one made by bronze in Shanghai Museum as the photo below. It must be used by aristocrats since it is covered by gold.

The Fou used in the opening ceremony is indeed quite a departure from the original Fou. First, it is in fact a drum, or a Fou-shaped drum. If you hit a Fou with the force shown by the actors, the Fou will be pieces. Second, Fou was not considered a real music instrument, or a musician's instrument, even in its hay days. However, it is often used to show the warm welcome of the host in a party.

"I have attended 10 Olympic Games inaugurations and had never seen an opening with such a display of technology. It was impressive. I really congratulate the Chinese people who have always been highly regarded by Mexico," Vargas – a Mexico director said.

The Application of LED in Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony

2008-08-19T23:23:00.000-07:00

Did you happen to catch broadcast of the opening ceremonies from the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing? What a sight it was!
Five thousand years of Chinese history flowed on a huge LED scroll that unrolled to chapters of China's 5,000-year civilization. "Whales" swam in the tank-like inner walls of the stadium. Human beings roamed on an elevating "globe", and dancers dressed in bright costumes formed a brightly-lit "Bird's Nest".
"We have combined creativity with the most complicated technologies in Olympic history to maximize the visual and sensory impact on the audience," said Yu Jianping, technical team leader for the opening.
Light-emitting diodes (LEDs) were installed across the 20,000-square-meter National Stadium, better known as the Bird's Nest, to create an ideal multimedia environment, with storage cells backing up electricity supplies.
An LED screen 147 meters long and 22 meters wide was laid at the center of the ground, and about 44,000 colorful LED beads were embedded with a distance of 600 millimeters between each two.
Tiny LED beads were also embedded on the costumes of performers who fan out to create a falling starry sky and a brightly-lit Bird's Nest.
Four years ago Athens opened the Games with a dreamlike Aegean Sea. Today, Beijing opened a scroll to present China's history.

Tips for Home to Save Electricity

2008-08-18T23:45:00.000-07:00

We've all heard often enough that it's time to start thinking and saving electricity. We're depleting the Earth's resources in record amounts, and it's becoming more and more clear that we need to start thinking in terms of protecting and preserving the Earth and her resources when we build.
I suppose we could take the position that every little bit helps. I can't deny that no matter how much or how little we save, it is better than doing nothing!

1.Turn off devices that you're not using
That seems obvious, but how many times do we forget? And it's not just inside lights. Do you leave the porch light on when you go out for dinner and a movie? Over the long run, you'll save money by installing a motion sensor to turn the light on when you come home. Timers are also available to replace switches, so that the lights will go off after a preset time.
And there really aren't many electrical devices in a home that need to be left on 24/7. In my own case, just the fridge stay on all the time. That's about it.

2. Don't heat or cool to extremes
No matter how much you hate the heat (or cold), you'll save a lot of money if you keep your house around 28° - 29° in the summer and about 21° or so in the winter. I keep my house right at 28° during the summer and 21° (a much more pleasant temperature) in the winter. If you don't feel comfortable at those economical temperatures, adapt your clothing. It's your house, you can wear cut-offs or a sweatshirt if you like. And you'll love the money you save haha...

3. Lower water heater temperature and put it on a timer
You'll save energy by lowering the temperature of your water heater. Many times the heater runs just to maintain a tankful of water at a temperature much higher than you'll ever use.
Installing a timer on your electric water heater is one of the best ways to save big bucks on your electric bill; that is, once you take care of the "simple" methods such as adding extra insulation to the tank and lowering the water heater temperature. For most families, that's in the morning and the evening. No need in running the heater when everyone's asleep or at work or school.
I think the best way is changing your electric water heater to a solar water heater.

4. Use electricity on off-peak time
Off-peak time means 21:30-7:00 every day. During this period, the cost of electricity is half.

Tears in Bird's Nest

2008-08-18T00:34:00.000-07:00

Liu Xiang, our most popular track athlete, withdrew from the 110 meters hurdles at the 2008 Summer Olympics. He walked off the track after a false start by Qatar's Mohammed Issa Al-Thawadi. I felt very sad when I heard about this news. It is said that he had been suffering from a pre-existing injury to his right Achilles tendon, the same injury that forced him to pull out of a race in New York on May 31, 2008.

It was unknown that his pre-existing injury was so severe, but it quickly became apparent as he looked to be in agony when he got in the blocks for the race. His coach Sun Haiping was very emotionally unstable in the subsequent press conference, coming to tears numerous times. Sun told reporters afterward that Liuxiang has been hampered by a tendon injury for six or seven years. "We worked hard every day, but the result was as you see and it is really hard to take," Sun said. Yes, it is incredible to all of Chinese people. But we could understand him and will support him at all times. I hope and pray that he could recover as soon as possible.

Choosing the Right Bath Accessories

2008-08-14T23:07:00.001-07:00

If you want to draw the attention to the look of your bathroom, you have to accessorize. Choosing bathroom accessories such as shower enclosure and cabins is not easy. The right accessories can make or break any interior design scheme, which is why designers place such emphasis on having the right accessories. If your accessories are wrong, it can spoil the whole look of a place. In the bathroom, the right accessories are even more important, as many people regard this area of the home as their own personal space somewhere they can shut out the world and truly be themselves. This means that it pays huge dividends to spend the time that it takes to have the right accessories.

When it comes to your bathroom, having the right bath accessories not only says something about the design of your house, it says something about you, personally. The bathroom is one of the most personal spaces in any house and, therefore, it should not only reflect your personality, it should give you comfort and happiness when you are in there. The right bath accessories help you to personalize your bathroom in a way that no other design tool can.

There are now specialist retail outlets and online stores that are dedicated to providing you with the right accessories for your bathroom. The most popular lines in bath accessories at the moment are towels and mirrors. The type of mirror that you have in your bathroom can make the space appear smaller or larger it can echo aspects of the decor in other areas of your home or it can look as though it shouldn't be there. So, it pays to take the time and care to choose the right mirror for your bathroom. Towels are very popular, not only for their primary purpose, but as bath accessories in their own right.

Towels can give your bathroom that look of luxurious comfort. Thick, fluffy towels that fit with the rest of your color scheme are an essential part of any well designed bathroom. Large, fluffy towels speak of luxury in ways that no other accessory can hope to match.

Bath accessories cover all aspects of the extras that are needed in most well designed bathrooms. Some suppliers have whole ranges of accessories, from shower room to soap dishes, all meant to compliment each other and to ensure that your bathroom fits in with the rest of your decor. These range from serviceable chrome bins, shelves and shower heads with white linen, to frothy pink bath mats, shower curtains and toilet roll holders. It's up to you to decide what best suits your needs and the rest of your home design.

You can also install a large cabinet at the end of your sink. Set a microwave and mini-fridge in it. You'll need something to keep that wine cold while your relaxing.

When choosing your carpet be sure to get a natural color you might want to chance you color later on and not the carpet. The sink, counter, stool and tub should all match too but try not to have the same colors as your flooring. To much of one color will make the your room dull and not exciting to be in. It will also make you depressed sometimes if everything is the same color. So, mix and match. When choosing your tile make sure it is small maybe 1x1. The small the tile the less change you have of slipping when getting out of the tub and down the steps.
Some stores and sites have expert help on hand to assist you in choosing the right bath accessories that fulfill your needs and fit in with your design scheme. If you're not sure which products are right for you, professional advice can be invaluable in helping you to make the best choices. Not sure whether your shower curtain fits in with the rest of your bathroom? Then consult the experts. They will be able to advise on the best color and style mixes. You'll find out how choosing the right bath accessories can update the most tired looking bathroom and help it to fit in with the design in the rest of your home.

Bath accessories can change the whole look and feel of your bathroom. They can make the difference between a cold and uninviting space to a warm and welcoming one. So, if you are looking for an inexpensive way to update your bathroom and make it more inviting choose the right bath accessories.

The Summer Palace

2008-08-14T01:01:00.000-07:00

The last scenic spot of Beijing I want to share with you is the Summer Palace. It is a typical Chinese garden, and is ranked amongst the most noted and classical gardens of the world. It is also a monument to classical Chinese architecture, in terms of both garden design and construction. Borrowing scenes from surrounding landscapes, it radiates not only the grandeur of an imperial garden but also the beauty of nature in a seamless combination that best illustrates the guiding principle of traditional Chinese garden design: “The works of men should match the works of Heaven”.

The Summer Palace landscape, dominated mainly by Longevity Hill and Kunming Lake, three quarters of which is under water. Centered on the Tower of Buddhist Incense (Foxiangge) the Summer Palace consists of over 3,000 structures including pavilions, towers, bridges, and corridors. The Summer Palace can be divided into four parts: the court area, front-hill area, front-lake area, and rear-hill and back-lake area.

Front-Hill Area: this area is the most magnificent area in the Summer Palace with the most constructions. Its layout is quite distinctive because of the central axis from the yard of Kunming Lake to the hilltop, on which important buildings are positioned including Gate of Dispelling Clouds, Hall of Dispelling Clouds, Hall of Moral Glory, Tower of Buddhist Incense, the Hall of the Sea of Wisdom, etc.

Rear-Hill and Back-Lake Area: although the constructions are fewer here, it has a unique landscape, with dense green trees, and winding paths. Visitors can feel a rare tranquility, and elegance. This area includes scenic spots such as Garden of Harmonious Interest and Suzhou Market Street.

Court Area: this is where Empress Dowager Cixi and Emperor Guangxu met officials, conducted state affairs and rested. Entering the East Palace Gate, visitors may see the main palace buildings: the Hall of Benevolence and Longevity served as the office of the Emperor, the Hall of Jade Ripples where Guangxu lived, the Hall of Joyful Longevity, Cixi's residence, the Hall of Virtue and Harmony where Cixi was entertained.

Front Lake Area: covering a larger part of the Summer Palace, opens up the vista of the lake. A breeze fluttering, waves gleam and willows kiss the ripples of the vast water. In this comfortable area there are the Eastern and Western Banks, the Seventeen-Arch Bridge, Nanhu Island, and so on. On the western bank float six distinct bridges amongst which the Jade-Belt Bridge is the most beautiful.

In the end, give you some tips. One is the best season to come here is April to October. The other is the Summer Palace is now under large scale restoration and refurbishment. Attractions such as Foxiangge (the Pavilion of Buddhist Fragrant) and Paiyunge (the Pavilion of cloud) are also under renovation. So you should adjust your traveling schedule:-) All the 5 scenic spots that I introduced these days are all the best famous spots in Beijing. Next I will introduce another charming city – Nanjing in Jiangsu province, where I live in now.

The Temple of Heaven

2008-08-12T22:45:00.001-07:00

Today I will introduce you the Temple of Heaven. It is also a worthwhile visiting place in Beijing. It is much bigger than the Forbidden City and smaller than the Summer Palace with an area of about 2,700,000 square meters. The Temple was built in 1420 A.D. during the Ming Dynasty to offer sacrifice to Heaven. As Chinese emperors called themselves 'The Son of Heaven', they dared not to build their own dwelling,’ Forbidden City' bigger than a dwelling for Heaven. It is the largest group of temple architecture in China and also the largest heaven- worshipping building in the world.

The Temple of Heaven is enclosed with a long wall. The northern part within the wall is semicircular symbolizing the heavens and the southern part is square symbolizing the earth. The northern part is higher than the southern part. This design shows that the heaven is high and the earth is low. In imperial days, the Chinese people believed that the sky was incircular shope and the earth was square. On the basis of this tranditional concept, the circle was widely adopted in the design of the temple's main building. It is in accord with people's imagination of heaven.

Built as a place of worship, the temple is different from any other imperial structures. There are two parts in the temple zone - inner part and outer part. The main buildings of the Temple lie at the south and north ends of the middle axis line of the inner part. The most magnificent buildings are The Circular Mound Altar (Yuanqiutan), Imperial Vault of Heaven (Huangqiongyu) and Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest (Qiniandian) from south to north. Also, there are some additional buildings like Three Echo Stones and Echo Wall.Almost all of the buildings are connected by a wide bridge called Vermilion Steps Bridge (Danbiqiao) or called Sacred Way.

The Circular Altar has three layered terraces with white marble. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties (1368 A.D. - 1911 A.D.), the emperors would offer sacrifice to Heaven on the day of the Winter Solstice every year. This ceremony was to thank Heaven and hope everything would be good in the future. The Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest is a big palace with round roof and three layers of eaves. Inside the Hall are 28 huge posts. The four posts along the inner circle represent four seasons-spring, summer, autumn and winter; the 12 posts along the middle circle represent the 12 months; and 12 posts along the outer circle represent 12 Shichen (Shichen is a means of counting time in ancient China. One Shichen in the past equaled two hours and a whole day was divided into 12 Shichens). The roof is covered with black, yellow and green colored glaze representing the heavens, the earth and everything on earth. The Hall has a base named Altar for Grain Prayers which is made of three layers of white marble and has a height of six meters.

The Vermilion Steps Bridge connects the Hall of Prayer for Good Harvest and the Imperial Vault of Heaven. The south end of the Bridge is lower than its north end. The emperors in the past believed that they could go to heaven through this Bridge, which is why this bridge is also called Sacred Way. A Yu Route and a Wang Route are on two sides of the Sacred Way. The former one is only for the emperors to walk on and the later one is for the princes and the high officials to pass.

Another interesting and famous place for you to visit is called Echo Wall owning special feature. The wall encloses the Imperial Vault of Heaven. Its perimeter is 193 meters.

If you and your friend stand at the east and the west roots of the wall respectively and you whisper a word, then your friend will hear clearly what you say. Isn't it interesting? The phenomenon utilizes the theory of sound wave.

The Great Wall

2008-08-11T23:07:00.000-07:00

Today I will talk about the Great Wall in Beijing, which includes some famous sections: the Badaling, Huanghuacheng, Mutianyu, Jiankou, Gubeikou, Jinshanling and Simatai sections. But I want to introduce the Badaling section here.

As we all know that the Great Wall is a symbol of Chinese civilization, and one of the wonders that the Chinese people have created. Badaling Great Wall is virtually the most representative part. So if you want to experience the culture and enjoy the beauty of the Great Wall, meandering along the bricks of the Badaling Great Wall is your first choice.

Badaling Great Wall is situated in Yanqing County, over 70 kilometres (43 miles) north of Beijing. It is the most well-preserved section of the Great Wall, built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644). This section with an average altitude of over 1,000 meters (3,282 feet) is the outpost of the Juyongguan Pass. The mountain slope is very steep and the roads are tortuous. These features made it a military stronghold. Badaling Great Wall is like a strong dragon winding its way along the mountain ranges.

The Great wall originally functioned as a fortification. As early as the Qin Dynasty (221BC-206BC), Qinshihuang, the first emperor of Qin Dynasty unified the whole nation and began to build the Great Wall to protect China's borders from the intrusion of the northern nomadic tribes. Most parts of the preserved Badaling Great Wall were built and reinforced during the Ming Dynasty to defend the capital against the intrusion of these Mongolian people. The structure of the wall consists of huge bar-stones and bricks. The inside of the wall has been formed by tampering earth and small stones, which makes the wall very firm and strong. Internally, the wall is about six meters (20 feet) wide, which would allow horses to gallop five abreast. A number of small holes have been drilled on the wall to allow archers to shoot arrows. There is a barrel-drain and a moat both inside and outside the wall. In a word, military fortification has been paramount in the consideration of every wall detail.

Badaling Great Wall was the earliest part of the great Wall opened to tourists. It has drawn tens of millions of tourists both from home and abroad. More than 370 foreign leaders and celebrities have visited there.

Travel Tips:
1. The cable car can take the tourists to the fourth balefire tower, 40 Yuan/ person for one trip and 60 Yuan/person for a return trip. If you do not want to enter the Great Wall Park and want to take the cable care only, buy the round way ticket, namely, the 60 Yuan ticket for the cable car, because at the end of the cable trip on the mountain you will not get off the cable car except you go through the park.

2. The Badaling Great Wall was built on a very sharp and sheer slope. In such a windy place where temperature is normally a few degrees lower than in the city, t is highly suggested that bring a good windproof jacket along and put your high heels away. Best shoes for climbing the Great Wall are apparently good quality sneakers.

Introduction of Tiananmen Square

2008-08-11T00:02:00.000-07:00

Today I will introduce you the Tiananmen Square. Located at the center of Beijing City is Tiananmen Square - the largest open-air square in the world, where you can visit Tiananmen Tower, Monument to the People's Heroes, Great Hall of the People, Mao Zedong Memorial Hall and watch the daily national flag raising ceremony early in the morning (the time varies subject to the sunrise). The above picture shows you the Tiananmen Square before the national flag rising ceremony. Thousands of people come to the Square every day. It is the must place to visit in Beijing City.

The Tiananmen Rostrum, standing to the north of the Tiananmen Square, precisely in the south – north central axis of Beijing, was the main gate to the Forbidden City-Palace museum for emperors of Ming and Qing dynasties. The magnificent gate has five passages. During the Ming and Qing Dynasties, the passage in the middle leading to the Forbidden City was particularly reserved for the emperor himself. The emperor went through the central passage on the way to the altars for rituals and other religious activities, for instance. The high-ranking government officials and the empresses, concubines, princess and princesses could only enter the Forbidden City through the side passages, while the ordinary subjects were banned from entering the Forbidden City. That's why the palace complex is called" Forbidden City".

The granite Monument to the People's Heroes is just at the center of the Tiananmen Square. Built in 1952, it is the largest monument in China's history. ‘The People's Heroes are Immortal' written by Chairman Mao is engraved on the monument. Eight unusually large relief sculptures show to the people the development of Chinese modern history. Two rows of white marble railings enclose the monument, simple and beautiful.

West of the Square is the Great Hall of the People. This building, erected in 1959, is the site of the China National People's Congress meetings and provides an impressive site for other political and diplomatic activities. Twelve marble posts are in front of the Hall which has three parts--the Central Hall, the Great Auditorium and a Banqueting Hall. The floor of the Central Hall is paved with marble and crystal lamps hang from the ceiling. The Great Auditorium behind the Central Hall seats 10,000. The Banqueting Hall is a huge hall with 5,000 seats.
Mao Zedong Memorial Hall is at the south side of the Square. This Hall is divided into three halls and our dear Chairman Mao's body lies in a crystal coffin in one of the halls surrounded by fresh bouquets of various famous flowers and grasses.

Another important place for the tourist to visit is the China National Museum at the east side of the Square. It just came into existence in 2003 and is a combination of Chinese History Museum and Chinese Revolutionary Museum. This National Museum faces the Great Hall of the People. Inside the Chinese Revolutionary Museum are a lot of material objects, pictures, books and models to present the development of modern China. The Chinese History Museum shows a large number of cultural relics illustrating the long history and glorious culture of China from 1,700,000 years ago to 1921 when the last emperor left the throne.

Five Star Red Flag-the Chinese national flag, flies high in the sky above the Square. To see the guard of honor raise the Flag is a must for the tourist visiting Beijing City. You have to get up very early and arrive at the Square before sunrise. Only by doing so can you see the ceremony clearly as there are crowds of people attending the ceremony every day.

Share my traveling experiences in Beijing

2008-08-07T23:25:00.000-07:00

Today is 8th Aug, 2008. A major international multi-sport event - 2008 Summer Olympic Games is being celebrated in Beijing. Beijing is becoming the focus of the world. Except for ten thousand, five hundred athletes, I think there are a huge number of travelers will come to Beijing. So here, I will share my traveling experiences with you.

Beijing has abundant tourist resources, with more than 200 scenic spots open to visitors throughout the world; good examples are the Forbidden City – the largest royal palace in the world; the Temple of Heaven where the emperors paid their devotional admiration to the Heaven hundreds of years ago; the imperial garden – Beihai park; the important holiday resort of the royal family – Summer Palace; the most magnificent defense project on this globe – the Great Wall as well as the Mansion of Prince Gong – the largest Siheyuan (the compound with houses around courtyard). Beijing has 7, 309 listed historical sites of varying importance, among which, 42 are at the national level, 222 are at the municipal level. At present Beijing boasts 456 star rated hotels with a total of about 84, 000 guest rooms. The 456 travel services in Beijing have more than 5,000 professional tourist guides who speak 21 languages and serve visitors from every corner of the world. In 2000 Beijing had received 2.821 million tourists from abroad, with total tourism revenue of about 2.77 billion US dollars. Beijing is listed by the National Tourism Administration as one of the Superior Tourist Cities in China.

Today I will talk about the Forbidden City. Lying at the center of Beijing, the Forbidden City, called Gu Gong in Chinese, was the imperial palace during the Ming and Qing dynasties. Now known as the Palace Museum, it is to the north of Tiananmen Square. Rectangular in shape, it is the world's largest palace complex and covers 74 hectares. Surrounded by a six meter deep moat and a ten meter high wall are 9,999 buildings. The wall has a gate on each side. Opposite the Tiananmen Gate, to the north is the Gate of Divine Might (Shenwumen), which faces Jingshan Park. The distance between these two gates is 960 meters, while the distance between the gates in the east and west walls is 750 meters. There are unique and delicately structured towers on each of the four corners of the curtain wall. These afford views over both the palace and the city outside. The Forbidden City is divided into two parts. The southern section, or the Outer Court was where the emperor exercised his supreme power over the nation. The northern section, or the Inner Court was where he lived with his royal family. Until 1924 when the last emperor of China was driven from the Inner Court, fourteen emperors of the Ming dynasty and ten emperors of the Qing dynasty had reigned here. Having been the imperial palace for some five centuries, it houses numerous rare treasures and curiosities. Listed by UNESCO as a World Cultural Heritage Site in 1987, the Palace Museum is now one of the most popular tourist attractions world-wide.

Construction of the palace complex began in 1407, the 5th year of the Yongle reign of the third emperor of the Ming dynasty. It was completed fourteen years later in 1420. It was said that a million workers including one hundred thousand artisans were driven into the long-term hard labor. Stone needed was quarried from Fangshan, a suburb of Beijing. It was said a well was dug every fifty meters along the road in order to pour water onto the road in winter to slide huge stones on ice into the city. Huge amounts of timber and other materials were freighted from faraway provinces. Ancient Chinese people displayed their very considerable skills in building the Forbidden City. Take the grand red city wall for example. It has an 8.6 meters wide base reducing to 6.66 meters wide at the top. The angular shape of the wall totally frustrates attempts to climb it. The bricks were made from white lime and glutinous rice while the cement is made from glutinous rice and egg whites. These incredible materials make the wall extraordinarily strong.

Since yellow is the symbol of the royal family, it is the dominant color in the Forbidden City. Roofs are built with yellow glazed tiles; decorations in the palace are painted yellow; even the bricks on the ground are made yellow by a special process. However, there is one exception. Wenyuange, the royal library, has a black roof. The reason is that it was believed black represented water then and could extinguish fire.

Nowadays, the Forbidden City, or the Palace Museum is open to tourists from home and abroad. Splendid painted decoration on these royal architectural wonders, the grand and deluxe halls, with their surprisingly magnificent treasures will certainly satisfy 'modern civilians'.

How to Cut Home Electricity Cost

2008-08-06T23:38:00.000-07:00

Did you know that you can lower your monthly utility bills by reducing the amount of regular electricity that you use at home? Most family homes spend around a third of their energy budget on heating water for daily uses. Heating water for showers, baths, cleaning clothes and a host of other things is done by electricity or gas supplied by utility companies.

You know, the average electric water heater serves a family of four uses 6,400 kilowatt-hours of electricity per year, and release eight tons of CO2, according to the University of Wisconsin's Solar Energy Laboratory. That's more than a typical automobile! Gas-fired heaters release about two tons of CO2 a year.

Solar water heaters are very reliable and can work in any climate. There are several different types, including those with pumps and those that work passively. You'll need a storage tank and some type of solar collector. Some homeowners use the devices exclusively (sometimes with a gas or electric tankless water heater as a backup), while others pair them with other systems as pre-heaters.

The good news is that home solar water heating systems cost an affordable $1,500 to $3,500, and pay for themselves in four to eight years. Why not schedule one into your next renovation?

If you want to convert your home to solar power, there are a few things that you should consider. How much energy do you use in your home? What types of appliances would you need to power? Do you have a good location to place the solar power panels?

Purchasing a good, reliable solar power kit is the first important step to converting your home to solar power. If you purchase a kit that comes together the installation will be much easier, then you won't have to worry about trying to figure everything out and buy the individual pieces that are needed.

If you haven't decided where to place the panels, you should consider putting them on the roof because it is a great place that is still discreet. The roof is closer to the sun so it makes it an ideal spot for them-- the panels will need to be directly in the suns rays so that they can gather energy from the sun, then transfer that energy to a converter to store the energy until it is needed. It is very important to make sure that the solar power panels are placed in a location where they will be in direct contact with the sun as much as possible. Look at the surroundings around your house to avoid placing the panels in a spot that is covered by other buildings or over-hanging branches.

The advantage of converting your home to solar power is to help protect the environment. Fossil fuels that are used such as coal and oil pollute the air and harm the environment, but the solar power kits have no negative effects on the environment.

If you decide that you want to help protect the environment by converting your home, make sure that you purchase a good solar power kit that includes all of the necessary parts. It is a very easy process and you will be thrilled with the results!

Great dining enjoyments in Qingdao

2008-08-05T01:28:00.000-07:00

Qingdao, a coastal city on the Yellow Sea on East China’s Shandong Peninsula, is famous worldwide for its famed Tsingtao Beer, but another constant delight of locals and a beautiful memory for tourists is the city’s excellent seafood cuisine.
Seafood choices abound in Qingdao, and its residents’ cooking skills have been highly regarded for centuries. Trepang, abalone, sea snails, clams, oysters, squid, shrimp and crab dishes are common choices whether at a seaside snack bar, in one of the city’s many excellent “ordinary” restaurants or fine dining at a luxury hotel. Clams are a local favourite, and many people like to cook at home. Clams can accompany cold dishes, be served in a hot soup, or prepared as spicy fried dishes. Delicious and nutritious soups are also highly recommended.
Because of Qingdao’s rich seafood resources and its culinary legacy, there are special seafood fish dishes for each time of the day. Trepang is considered indispensable for local fine dining.
Some of the best places to sample the freshest seafood are found in fishing villages in the city’s mountainous Laoshan District. The seafood there is often fresh-caught, good to eat and relatively inexpensive. Summer and autumn are the best seasons to visit Laoshan. Its scenery, temples and seaside amusements make this a place for unforgettable sightseeing and dining experiences.
Another delightful place well-worth visiting is the Yunxiao Lu Food Street. Seafood there is reasonably priced and comes in a wide variety. Dumplings (jiaozi) with tasty seafood fillings are quite popular.
Newcomers to the area and its cuisine, however, should take special care of their stomachs. Often, an appetite is easily satisfied, but such pleasures can come at a price; the stomach sometimes suffers. Since vinegar can help protect the stomach and make the seafood more delicious, remember not eat too much at once, and ask for some vinegar and vegetables with your meals. Try especially pucai, a vegetable grown in ponds. Pucai is crisp and nutritious, and it is treasured by local residents.
But, since Qingdao is an exceptionally diverse city, because of its unique history and culinary history, if you get bored with seafood, there are many other treats available. On May 1¨C7 each year snacks from home and abroad are featured for tasting on Qingdao’s Huiquan Square; the 2007 instalment will be part of the Eighth China Food Festival. Chefs from more than 20 countries will show off their best dishes, and lectures on healthy dining will be given by experts.
Beer lovers look forward to August in this famed beer-producing city, because this is the time for the Qingdao International Beer Festival. Beer is a big part of life in Qingdao, and if you visit at other time of the year, the newly opened “Dengzhou Lu Beer Street” is ready to welcome you. The street is home to the original Tsingtao Beer Factory, established about a century ago by German residents in Qingdao. There are now about 40 beer bars and restaurants lining the nearly 1,000-metre-long street. Of special note, all the buildings on the street are in the late 19th century¨Cearly 20th century European-style. Fresh beer produced in the factory is available daily in the area’s bars, the freshest in the city. At the Tsingtao factory, the Tsingtao Beer Museum contains a detailed history of Tsingtao Beer and its production processes. Here you can sample the best in beer with others from around the world.