Shuanglang – Little Known Secret Paradise

On By Paul1 Comment
Shuanglang nestling on Erhai

Shuanglang, a Bai Minority town,

across from Dali in Yunnan, nestling on the shore of Erhai Lake, is one of China‘s most laid-back destination.

With poetic scenery and tranquil guesthouses, the small fishing village of Shuanglang has become a favourite escape from urban living for those know.

An idyllic hideaway 

Many of you may know of the tourist-thronging Dali & Lijiang in Southwest China’s Yunnan Province. But few of you may have heard of Shuanglang Village. This is an idyllic place & China’s hidden little treasure which few have come to know.

For over a thousand years, the local Bai Minority people here have made their living fishing in the lake. But the past 10 years have brought in a change to life. The small tranquil village is now popular with visitors looking to unwind and enjoy a slower tempo.

Boating pleasure

Old alleys and traditional architecture made for pleasant wanders. And it’s easy to take a boat out on the lake or just kick back and do very little.

Surrounded by mountains on three sides, Shuanglang village hugs the scenic Erhai lake. The weather here always seems perfect, making it a great retreat anytime of the year. It is also home to some of the most romantic boutique guesthouses in China.

Filming taking place . . .

Baxun, Shuanglang village chief & owner of the first such guesthouses, said,”A guesthouse is not a hotel. It’s much more personal. The decoration varies in different guesthouses. Each and every one of them represents the owner’s unique style.” There are more than 120 guesthouses now, offering much choice for a comfortable stay. Most face the lake and have decks providing breath-taking views.

A tourist said,” I like staying here. It feels like home.” And many really do make this their other home. In fact, many of the guesthouses are opened by the once “outsiders”.

Xiaoyun and her husband, “We wanted to find somewhere peaceful to live,” came to Shuanglang in 2009 from Beijing, and fell in love with the quiet village. The couple later quit their jobs to set up their own guesthouse here. “We had traveled to many places around the country. The air, clouds, people . . . we just love everything here.”

As elsewhere in China, change is coming to Shuanglang. Several new guesthouses have been built in anticipation of future visitors. With the influx of bar, restaurants & people, the mood of the village will no doubt change. Hopefully it will be a few years before this hidden gem becomes a mini-Lijiang.

English: Erhai - Lake of Dali (Yunnan) - North...
English: Erhai – Lake  (Yunnan) – Northern part (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

For the present, tranquillity & peace exist. Before long these may not persist!

Life of Contrast in India

On By Paul1 Comment

Taj Mahal

Present India, an emerging economic power on the heels of China, is pathetic when you examine the extremes of living conditions behind the scene. Its glossy picture is dimmed largely by the mass of poverty, ignorance, religious & social taboo & social indignity . . . the list goes on.

India is a huge mass of land of huge contrasts. The very best exist alongside the worst. Materially India is poor but spiritually rich. Human degradation is witnessed at an unprecedented scale in India, for example, children pressed into low paying jobs, with the untouchable shunned by the society. Religious taboo & language barrier add on more hindrances to economic advancement.

On the brighter side, one may also witness heights of moral ascendancy and the wealthy splashing & displaying their vast wealth by the way they live. India is renowned for its great temples & palaces. India also boasts of the second largest pool of engineers and scientists in the world. Its 50% illiteracy rate is among the highest in the world too.

The Upsides & Downsides of life is far too many to be adequately covered by the scope of this writing. Suffice for me to show the contrasting aspects by way of pictorial slide presentations here:

Young Girl documents Slum Life in India – YouTube

Slides on the Upsides of Life (including the Downsides)

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Lives of great disparity & extreme
Bridging the gap would be slim
The challenge ahead is great
If India were to make the grade!

Ordos City, Inner Mongolia, China – New but Deserted

On By PaulLeave a comment

 See the new City of Ordos in Inner Mongolia, China where the crowning of Miss World 2012 took place. It was won by

Miss China Yu Lien Xia.

Look at the architecture of the new hall and stadium which is comparable with the best in the world.

Ordos in Inner Mongolia with the second highest GDP after Shanghai has its wealth through the vast resources of coal exploitation.

The government has built an entire new Ordos City.

All buildings virtually sold but unoccupied – held mainly by investors for investment. In China, nobody ever loses in real estate, at least not on a consistent basis. So they keep on building & investors with cash to spare to spare keep on buying.

Nobody has yet moved into the new City of Ordos, but investors are waiting patiently . . . only a question of time, they believe.

At present, of course there isn’t any existing economic activity, except some 30 Km away in the old city of Ordos.

With characteristic & unique style of architecture, reflecting the Mongolian past traditional life, Ordos City will prove to be a great tourist attraction in the days ahead.

There are also monuments dedicated to the great Genghis Khan, the historical conquerer in the era gone by.

Melissa Chan of Aljajeera in 2009 made this report, which as shown below in YouTube video:

Mongolians traditionally used to live in tents & will need time to get used to modern living.

Slideshow of Images of Futuristic Buildings  

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

This is nothing compared to what is projected ahead! 

By 2025, China will build TEN New York-sized cities.

The scale and pace of China’s urbanization promises to continue at an unprecedented rate. If current trends hold, China’s urban population will expand from 572 million in 2005 to 926 million in 2025 and hit the one billion mark by 2030. In 20 years,China’s cities will have added 350 million people, more than the entire population of the United States today. By 2025, China will have 219 cities with more than one million inhabitants, compared with 35 in Europe today and 24 cities with more than five million people. Also, 40 billion square meters of floor space will be built – in five million buildings. 50,000 of these buildings could be skyscrapers – the equivalent of ten New York Cities.

So what’s happening in Ordos is rather insignificant when compared with the greater picture of China!

Stratosphere Casino Hotel Tower, Las Vegas

On By PaulLeave a comment

  Not a gambler nor a casino junky, but . . .

Are you a hero or zero?

A daredevil adventurer, a thrill-seeker

Or simply an adrenaline junky.

Stratosphere Casino Hotel Tower in Las Vegas awaits you!

Protruding 1,149 feet into the Vegas skyline, the iconic Stratosphere Tower is the tallest freestandingobservation tower in the United States and one of the most exciting attractions among Las Vegas resorts. The exceptional Vegas resort hoteloffers one-of-a-kind thrills you can’t find anywhere else in Las Vegas, including the world’s highest thrill rides. Their newest thrill, SkyJump Las Vegas, is a controlled free fall that sends you jumping off the 108th floor of their Vegas resort tower at a scream-inducing speed. So, if you’re an adrenaline junky, a thrill seeker, or a daredevil – our Vegas resort tower is the place for you.

Three of the highest craziest rides in the world – “out-of-this-world”!

Las Vegas Stratosphere Insanity Ride – the second highest thrill ride in the world. A massive mechanical arm extending out 64 feet over the edge of the Stratosphere Tower at a height of over 900 feet.


Ever played on a giant teeter-totter, 866 feet above the ground? With the X-Scream, you can! Its space age, yet simplistic design resembles a massive teeter-totter or a Vegas roller coaster unlike any other ever seen. X-Scream propels you and several other riders headfirst, 27 feet over the edge of the Stratosphere Casino, Hotel & Tower. Try not to scream when you go over the edge — you don’t want to scare the other riders! After being shot over the edge, you’ll dangle weightlessly above the Las Vegas Strip before being pulled back and propelled over again for more. X-Scream definitely gives Stratosphere a kick!

How about a Vegas amusement park ride that touches the sky?

Strap into the Big Shot and prepare to be shot 160 feet in the air at 45 miles per hour as you overlook the majestic Las Vegas Valley. In a matter of seconds, the Big Shot thrill ride catapults 16 riders from the 921-foot high platform up the Tower’s mast to a height of 1,081 feet and down again. Before you catch your breath, you’ll be shot back up again at forces unmatched by other Vegas thrill parks! Experience a gut-wrenching four ‘G’s of force on the way up, and feel negative ‘G’s on the way down as your legs dangle in the Las Vegas skyline.

Whether you seek affordable accommodations, winning casino action, delicious dining, or live entertainment, you won’t be disappointed with your stay at Stratosphere. Many choose the Stratosphere for the best Las Vegas Strip hotel deals—but that’s just the beginning. Their rooms and suites are first rate and packed with amenities, including free access to this world famous Tower, Level 8 Pool and 24-hour Fitness Center.

Slides of more images  

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Since its opening in 1996, the 1,149-foot-tall Stratosphere Tower has captured the attention of celebrities and tourists alike. Set at an astounding 869 feet high with a 360-view of the city, the Stratosphere’s outdoor observation deck is the tallest of its kind in the country.

The deck is so high up that you can see helicopters at eye level. But even riding in one of the helicopters can’t compare to the thrill of the Stratosphere rides, which overlook the Strip from the top of the tower

While Las Vegas is the ultimate party destination, there are quite a few people who visit exclusively for the thrill rides. The Stratosphere offers three out-of-this world rides sure to get you screaming.

If these rides seem too intense, there’s no need to miss out on all the fun. Visitors can still watch their adventurous friends on the rides from the 857-foot high indoor deck.

There’s something for all ages.

The best time to come out to the deck is near sunset. Guests can admire the rainbow of colors in the sky followed by the lights illuminating the city just minutes after.

For the romantics how about an evening with a view, wine and dine at the Top of the World restaurant. This restaurant features a moving floor which takes a complete hour to rotate a full 360 degrees. After dinner, guests can relax in the intimate setting of Romance Lounge.

Our two nights stay on 8 & 9 of August 2012 is quite an experience. However our golden years cannot match up with the bronze years of the youth to participate in those “space-age” rides!

Vagrancy Problems in Cities

On By Paul2 Comments

 

 

 

When visiting the Independence National Historical Park, a United States National Historical Park in Philadelphia that preserves several sites associated with the American Revolution and the nation’s founding history in the summer of 2012, we saw this couple sleeping on the public bench. Here’s the picture:

 

This was early in the morning & the Park daily activities were beginning to stir and they were totally oblivious to the awakening environment.

 

Homelessness is severe and growing in cities the world over and certainly not the kind of image any city would want to project. Except for Singapore, that “spit & span” city of the world, most other cities have a fair share of such problems.

 

In Taipei, I have seen people sleeping in shopping centre car parks. In Hong Kong, under the bridges & just about any sheltered areas are targeted. In Perth, a generally clean city where I live, parks & public places are not spared. You would expect that cities in developed countries would be spared when compared to the squalid slums of the third world countries.

 

From East to West

 

Vagrants have found their niche to rest.

 

 Slideshow

 

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

 

Especially in downtown areas, one category of homelessness is especially problematic: Vagrants sleeping on benches, panhandling, relieving themselves in public, bathing in library restrooms – and costing taxpayers a lot of money.

 

Non-profits and volunteers are working diligently to address the problem, providing food, beds, rehabilitation programs and jobs counseling. But shouldn’t the government be burdening with such responsibilities?

 

In Guangzhou, China, the city authorities have taken the negative approach of constructing concrete spikes under the spaces of bridges to prevent homeless people from sleeping there, much to the annoyance of the city’s citizens.

 

Arrest & jailing the offenders is no deterrent for the hard core. They call it “three hots and a cot.” This is an expensive approach but to no avail. Some spent one or two nights, some spent weeks or months there, all at $60 per night. Most were back on the streets in a day or two.

 

With more homeless people flocking to big cities, the government should take a more humane approach to provide adequate care for those who live at the bottom rung of society, instead of leaving them alone or even expelling them numerically without any sense of human compassion.

 

Vagrancy problems are being perpetuated needlessly without any well planned strategy. In all cases, city authorities have learned that charitable organisations with their well intended “enabling” programs do not address the homeless’ plight. Enablingcomes in the form of hot meals in several locations, official tolerance of sleeping in public places, short jail stints, a shortage of rehabilitation programs and well-intended but gullible people who respond to panhandlers.

 

Robert Marbut, a top US consultant who has studied homelessness, has this to say: “We don’t help the homeless by enabling them.” Marbut’s approach is simple: Stop making it so easy to be a vagrant; make it more desirable for vagrants to seek help; and then redirect resources to assist them in a better calculated effort.

 

A transformation program will be to include education, rehab or training program to become more productive, shelter buildings & rigorous law enforcement.

 

Despite existing good programs, in the wake of economic misfortune many more are being left homeless – jobless men and women, often along with children – and in genuine need of help.

 

Achieving a humane, open and inclusive society where the vagrants are treated as equals still remains a challenge that requires the wisdom of the government.

 

When targeting to prevent homeless people from sleeping in public places, government can sometimes take the extreme step. For instance, in Guangzhou sharp concrete spikes were built under the city bridges. Too many homeless people used to congregate there under the bridges and some even cooked there posing danger.

 

Concrete spikes under under bridges or flyovers are a waste of land. Hong Kong sets a good example in making use of these lands to build main bus stations for passengers to easily recognize or garbage sorting stations.

 

In living day to day, under today’s living conditions with growing economic & social problems, unemployment & home foreclosures, life is difficult enough as it is. Why make it so hard for them to survive or force them into a life of crime?

 

In the final analysis, which is more important, people’s lives or the city’s image or appearance?

English: Homeless man sleeping at the bus stop...
English: Homeless man sleeping at the bus stop in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

English: Homeless man, Tokyo. Français : Un sa...
English: Homeless man, Tokyo. Français : Un sans abri à Tokyo. Español: Persona sin hogar, en las calles de Tokio. Türkçe: Evsiz adam, Tokyo. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

 

 

TOMORROW is NEVER Promised

On By Paul2 Comments
Alone at Sunset/ryndws 

Let’s begin TODAY with a heart of gold

Even though you have a broken soul

Before we meet God for all eternity

May you have love, peace & charity!

Usually in the quiet hours of the morning or late into the night (or rather in the unholy hours of the night), I would have my quiet moments, solitude . . . moments to ponder & contemplate. Very often too when I’m having the “writer’s block” . . . lacking inspiration to write, I would look on to Perth City’s lights from my humble dwelling place . . . and there as with the sparkle of city’s lights, ideas begin to flow & inspiration grow.

This morning was different. At about 6.00, I received this beautiful email from a dear old friend “Roger” (his nick name known only to me) whom I joyfully caught up with after an absence of a lapse of over 40 years. I thought that rather than forwarding it through the usual emailing channel, I could share this with friends far & wide, distant or near, old or new, young & old, male or female in my WordPress blog.

As with the golden sun  in the evening setting

There’s no assurance of the rising in the dawn awakening!

May I suggest that as you read every line, ponder deep & hard, memorise & internalise as with all the good years of your life . . 

tomorrows-never-promised

TOMORROW is NEVER PROMISED . . .

One day a woman’s husband died, and on that clear, cold morning, in the warmth of their bedroom, the wife was struck with the pain of learning that sometimes there isn’t “anymore”. No more hugs, no more special moments to celebrate together, no more phone calls just to chat, no more “just one minute.” Sometimes, what we care about the most gets all used up and goes away, never to return before we can say good-bye, say “I love you.”

So while we have it, it’s best we love it, care for it, fix it when it’s broken and heal it when it’s sick. This is true for marriage . . . And old cars . . . And children with bad report cards, and dogs with bad hips, and aging parents and grandparents. We keep them because they are worth it, because we are worth it.

Some things we keep — like a best friend who moved away or a sister-in-law after divorce. There are just some things that make us happy, no matter what.

Life is important, like people we know who are special. And so, we keep them close!

I received this from someone who thought I was a ‘keeper’! Then I sent it to the people I think of in the same way . . . Now it’s your turn to send this to all those people who are “keepers” in your life, including the person who sent it, if you feel that way. Suppose one morning you never wake up, do all your friends know you love them?

I was thinking . . . I could die today, tomorrow or next week, and I wondered if I had any wounds needing to be healed, friendships that needed rekindling or three words needing to be said.

Let every one of your friends know you love them. Even if you think they don’t love you back, you would be amazed at what those three little words and a smile Jcan do. And just in case I’m gone tomorrow.

I LOVE YA!!!

Source: iuli72an
TehSext
Source: Alraunie
Source: donjuki

End not in loneliness & solitude

Live not a life of bitterness & unforgiveness

LET GO & LET GOD RULE YOUR SOUL!

Beijing, Paris, London & New York

On By Paul2 Comments

The Cities above are so placed in an alphabetical order

and not by any means on an arguably competitive basis

 

In hindsight, having travelled to Beijing, Paris, London & New York, the four major metropolitan cities in the world, I just can’t begin to take stock as to which city I like best. I guess each one has its own unique attractions to offer and likely too because of differing love & interests, each individual will have have a different opinion.

I asked my wife for her choice of the appealing attractions of each place and she indicated the following:

Beijing

Forbidden City

The magnificent Forbidden City is the largest & the best-preserved imperial palace complex in the world. It has 9,999 rooms during the flourishing period, just one room short of the number that ancient Chinese belief represents ‘Divine Perfection.’ It is surrounded by a moat six metres deep & a ten-feet high wall. For five centuries, this palace functioned as the administrative centre of the country.

The Great Wall of China

The Great Wall of China is one of the ‘Eight Wonders of the World’ and is enlisted in the World Heritage Directory. This immense wall was built to keep out invaders as well as to retain the inhabitants. It spans five provinces from Shanhaiguan Pass in the east to Jiayuguan Pass in the west, looking like a gigantic dragon across deserts, grasslands and mountains. In the downtown area of Beijing, it is possible to climb Badaling Great Wall.

Tiananmen Square

The solemn and respectful Tiananmen Square is the largest central city square in the world, which serves not only Beijing’s symbol but also the whole of China. This immense courtyard is surrounded by a variety of significant edifices such as the Tiananmen Tower, Great Hall of the People, Mao Zedong Memorial Hall, Monument to the People’s Heroes and National Museum of China.

Paris

Paris

Eiffel Tower


Probably the best known landmark in Europe, the Eiffel Tower is the symbol of Paris and one of the city’s must-see attractions. You can climb up the stairs or take the elevator after waiting in the (long) queue.

Louvre Museum


One of the not-to-miss sights in Paris is the Louvre Museum, possibly the most famous museum in the world with a fabulous collection. It is housed in the Louvre Palace, once home to France’s Royal Family.

Notre Dame Cathedral


The Notre Dame de Paris is one of the first Gothic Cathedrals ever built.

Construction started in 1163 and lasted for almost two decades. From the lookout at the north tower you have a great view over the city.

London

Big Ben


The Clock Tower of the Palace of Westminster, known as the Big Ben, is one of London’s most famous landmarks. At the time the tower was built in 1858 its clock was the largest in the world.

Tower Bridge

London’s Tower Bridge is one of the most recognizable bridges in the world. Despite being disliked by many when it was built in 1894 the bridge soon became one of the London’s most famous landmarks.

Piccadilly Square

Piccadilly Circus is a busy square in the heart of London. It is famous for the fountain that was installed here at the end of the 19th century and for the neon advertising that turned the square into a miniature version of Times Square or Beijing’s Tiananmen Square.

New York

Empire State Building

Tired of staring up at New York City skyscrapers? Check out the view of New York City from atop the Empire State Building. The Empire State Building is a classic New York City attraction, and offers visitors wonderful views of New York City and the surrounding area.

Statue of Liberty”   The Statue of Liberty was a gift to the United States in honor of the friendship established during the French Revolution. The Statue of Liberty has become an American symbol of freedom and welcome to the immigrants who come to the USA looking for a better life. While the interior of the Statue of Liberty is closed for improvements, you can still visit Liberty Island and nearby Ellis Island.

Grand Central Terminal   Renovations since its opening in 1913 have turned Grand Central into more than just a hub for transportation — there are shops, dining and more available to visitors. Grand Central is both an essential transit hub and a beautiful example of Beaux-Arts architecture.

China Reshaping the World with its Giant Infrastructure Projects

On By Paul3 Comments

An old Chinese saying goes like this: “If you want to be rich, you must first build roads.”

Economy maybe said to be slowing down

but the rumbling is still being heard loud & clear!

In the Grand Prix, when others stall, you roar!

And, boy, have they built some roads & other mega infrastructure. In the past year, we’ve seen the world’s longest sea bridge, the world’s longest gas pipeline and a high-speed railway that’s left everyone else in the dust — literally.

The resultant infrastructure push is incredible. A list of 108 super projects is floating around China as we picked out the 45 coolest ones to showcase here.

From highways spanning the continent, to the largest wind power base in the world, to a modern Silk Road that links Europe and India, to new cities in the desert, building & conglomerating 9 giant cities in the Pearl River Delta Region into one megalopolis in excess of 50 million, China is showing what it really means to do big things.

$102 MILLION: The Pingtang Telescope will be the world’s largest radio telescope when completed in 2016

Here in this slideshow is the presentation of the selected projects:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

$176 MILLION: Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Laboratory conducts China’s major scientific projects and is the country’s most expensive research facility

$200 MILLION: The Guangzhou Opera House is one of the three biggest theaters in China, designed by architect Zaha Hadid

$368 MILLION: The Hainan power grid project is China’s first underwater cross sea power grid and will link the southern island of Hainan to mainland China

$473 MILLION: The Qinling Tunnel is the longest highway tunnel in China

$717 MILLION: The Kashgar-Hotan Railway connects all the cities and towns of the southwestern Tarim Basin

$760 MILLION: China Central TV Headquarters is a loop of six horizontal and vertical sections covering 1,551,837 ft.

$900 MILLION: The Tianhuangping hydroelectric project is the biggest in Asia and plays a vital role in providing power supply in eastern China

$1.1 BILLION: The Shanghai World Financial Center Project is home to the second highest hotel in the world – the Park Hyatt Shanghai is on the 79th floor

$1.3 BILLION: The Baltic Pearl Project is China’s largest foreign development project and consists of residential and commercial properties outside St. Petersburg, Russia

$1.7 BILLION: The Wuhan Tianxingzhou Yangtze River Bridge is a combined road and rail bridge across the Yangtze River in the city of Wuhan

$1.7 BILLION: The Nanjing Metro Line was completed in 2005 and is used by almost 180 million people a year

$1.8 BILLION: The Shanghai Yangtze River Tunnel and Bridge is the fifth longest cable-stayed bridge in the world

$1.9 BILLION: The Chengdu Shuangliu Airport will handle 35 million passengers annually

$2.12 BILLION: The Wuhan Railway Station serves the world’s fastest trains at 217 mph

$2.2 BILLION: At 128 stories, The Shanghai Tower will be the tallest skyscraper in China and the second tallest in the world when completed in 2014

$2.2 BILLION: The Qinshan Nuclear Power Phase II will add to the Qinshan plant and have the most nuclear reactors of any site in the world

$2.88 BILLION: The Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Plant is the first nuclear power station in northeastern China and will reach 45 billion kWh annually

$3 BILLION: The Great Gabon Belinga iron ore mine is China’s largest African mining operation

$3.3 BILLION: The Tianjin offshore drilling rig is China’s national base for offshore oil development

$3.5 BILLION: The Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal is the largest single construction project in China and the third largest building in the world

$4.5 BILLION: Lingang New City, a planned city to be completed in 2020, will house almost 1 million people

$6.3 BILLION: The Xiangjiaba Hydro power Project is expected to be completed by 2015 and generate 31 billion kwh annually

$5 BILLION:The Shanghai-Hangzhou maglev project will create the fastest inter-city train in the world at 280 mph

$6.3 BILLION: The Beijing South Railway Station is Asia’s largest railway station

$6.5 BILLION: China is one out several countries that signed a contract to re-construct the ancient “Silk Road” linking China and India with Europe

$6.76 BILLION: Xiluodu Dam will be the third tallest dam in the world and second largest hydro-power station in the country.

$7.89 BILLION: The Su-Tong Yangtze River Bridge is the world’s longest cable-stayed bridge

$8 BILLION: The Shanghai Yangshan Deep Water Port Project will handle the largest container ships in the world

$8.3 BILLION: The Nigerian Railway Modernization Project is China’s largest overseas project

$10.2 BILLION: The Yangjiang Nuclear Power Station in Guangdong province will be the biggest nuclear power plant in China

$10.2 BILLION: The Guangdong Yangjiang Nuclear Power Station will be China’s newest power plant when completed in 2013

$10.7 BILLION: The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge project will connect two huge regions when completed in 2016

$12 BILLION: The Hainan Wenchang Space Center launch project will be the country’s newest launch center

$14 BILLION: The Harbin–Dalian High-Speed Railway will serve the first high speed train in northeast China

$16 BILLION: Hangzhou Bay Bridge is the world’s longest cross-sea bridge project

$18.2 BILLION: The Jiuquan Wind Farm will be the largest wind power base in the world when completed in 2013

$23.1 BILLION: The Kunming New International Airport will be China’s 4th largest aviation hub

With no room for expansion at the current Kunming Wujiaba International Airport, the local government decided to build a new airport tentatively called Kunming Xiaoshao International Airport. With the completion of the new Kunming, the old Kunming will be demolished and all operations will be transferred from the old to the new.

$33 BILLION: The Beijing Shanghai High Speed Railway is the world’s longest high-speed rail project

$44 BILLION: China is one out of 32 countries who signed an agreement for the construction of highways to span the continent and reach Europe

$45.4 BILLION: The Ningxia’s Ningdong Energy and Chemical Industrial Base will double the province’s GDP and generate $30.3 billion after the planned 2020 completion

$62 BILLION: The South-to-North Water Diversion Project is expected to divert 44.8 billion cubic meters of water to the north by 2050

$306.7 BILLION: The “Turn the Pearl River Delta Into One” will result in an urban “mega-city” bigger than Wales

$458 BILLION: The Tianjin Harbor Industrial Zone is one of the largest chemical ports in the world

Other Great Chinese Infrastructures worth ment

$2.6 billion: China’s construction of the Libyan coastal railway project $4.5 billion: Guangzhou Nansha Lair shipbuilding base project $5.0 billion: Niger oil project$5.4 billion: Changxing Shipbuilding Base will be the world’s largest shipbuilding base project $7 billion: Sudanese oil project $7 billion: China’s construction of the Algerian East-West Highway Project $10.7 billion: Baosteel million-ton steel base project in Zhanjiang East Island$11.7 billion: Rural Market Project $20 billion: Portland Oilfield Sinopec investment $26.8 billion: Tianjin ethylene project $38 billion:  Zhangzhou and Fuzhou-Xiamen railway projects $77.5 billion: Super markets projects $77.5 billion: Liaoning Hongyanhe Nuclear Power Project $237 billion: State Environmental Protection Eleventh Five-Year Plan $800 billion: Zhejiang Sanmen nuclear power project $900 billion: Northern Energy and Chemical Base project$1 trillion: Tianjin Binhai New Area investment.

Even more are listed – There are just too many to list them all.

Care to add up the costs of these projects yourself?

Is China building faster than the market can keep up?

 

White Tigers

On By Paul2 Comments

 

White Tigers
White Tigers (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

(Chimelong Xiangjiang Safari Park Guangzhou, China)

A great animal theme park & resort

is a must-see destination.

In 2005, it was awarded as a national AAAA scenic spot.

It’s home to some 130 rare white tigers.

White Tigers do not exist in the wild, they are purposefully inbred in captivity to meet the demand of the paying public. The kind of severe inbreeding that is required to produce the mutation of a white coat also causes a number of other defects in these big cats.

The same gene that causes the white coat causes the optic nerve to be wired to the wrong side of the brain, thus all white tigers are cross eyed, even if their eyes look normal. They also often suffer from club feet, cleft palates, spinal deformities and defective organs.

YouTube video below:



Located in the biggest city Guangzhou in south China, Chime-Long Xiangjiang Safari Park is the biggest animal theme park in Asia, covering an area of 130 hectares. Chime-Long Xiangjiang Safari Park combines science research, tour and science education, aiming at “protecting wildlife and natural resources”. Since it opened to the public in 1997, the park has already received over 10,000,000 tourists.

Chime-Long Xiangjiang Safari Park is also known as the heaven of animals, as there are 460 species, among them there are many international endangered animals. For example, there are more than 130 white tigers born in Chime-Long Xiangjiang Safari Park, which covered over 50% of the whole amount of this species on earth. Besides the white tigers, there are white lions, white kangaroos, red-headed Cranes, Flamingos, Pygmy Hippos, polar bears and so on.

The park is the best place for tourists who are keen to be close to nature & animals. Inside the park, visitors could get as close as they can to the animals, feed the animals by their own hands, as well as take photos with the animals.

 Slideshow of more white tigers:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

It is a great family holiday destination.


And white tigers are such a great attraction.

There are also a good many white tigers to captivate you in the confinement round the resort hotel restaurants.

World’s Tallest Hotel – The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong

On By Paul1 Comment

 

Situated on top of the International Commerce Centre, Ritz Carlton Hotel offers spectacular views across the waters to the skyline of Hong Kong Island.It perches on floors 102 to 118 and has 312 rooms all with city and harbour views.

International Commerce Centre
International Commerce Centre (Photo credit: jimbowen0306)

The hotel offers six restaurants, a sky-high spa with floor-to-ceiling windows and an indoor infinity pool overlooking the iconic harbour.

 Spectacular: The Ritz Carlton Hong Kong (centre) became the tallest hotel in the world

The Ritz-Carlton Hong Kong officially became the world’s tallest hotel – and the fourth highest building in the world – when it opened its doors to the public in 2011.

Herve Humler, president of luxury hotel chain said the building was a landmark hotel which was the culmination of many years of hard work ‘We have been able to create truly spectacular so we can welcome our guests not just to the tallest hotel in the world, but also to one of the very best hotels in the world,’ he said. ‘We are taking luxury to new heights in every sense.’

Special Features:

It has taken years to build the hotel which also has a shopping mall. Other hotel’s facilities include state-of-the-art technology including WiFi, iPod docking stations, Blu-ray DVD players and flat screen TVs. There are three restaurants on the 102nd floor, including Tin Lung Heen, which is a Chinese restaurant serving refined Cantonese cuisine; Tosca, an Italian restaurant which offers Southern Italian cuisine and the very stylish The Lounge & Bar with fire pits and open kitchens.

In addition, there is a chocolate-themed lounge named The Chocolate Library on 103rd floor and a stylish patisserie located on 9th floor. Managers say the jewel in the crown is Ozone, located on the hotel’s 118th floor.

It offers contemporary Asian tapas and signature cocktails to a backdrop of incredible views as well as the chance to drink on the world’s highest al fresco terrace.

The hotel has an ESPA on site which is located on the 116th floor.

 

 

 

It’s clearly seen from the vicinity of West Kowloon Cultural Centre.

Iconic: The building towers over other skyscrapers nearby.