China Travel News
Archaeological Finds
Archaeologists have discovered four caves in Miyun County outside Beijing that provide new information on early man.
The caves are on the south side of the Yunfeng Mountain at a location slightly higher than the surrounding countryside. The biggest is just over 5 meters long, 3 miters wide and 2 meters high; and the smallest 3 meters long and less than 2 meters wide. All of them have earthen beds, a cooking area with chimney and a niche for a lamp.
Archaeologists are still trying to determine the date of the caves.
Tablet Museum in Qufu
A museum housing tablets from the dynasties of Han (206 BC - 220 AD) and Wei (220 - 265 AD) was recently opened in Qufu, Shandong Province.
Qufu is the birth place of Confucius. It has preserved the most Han Dynasty tablets.
Many rare tablets are displayed in the museum, including a liqi tablet, known as the first tablet of the han Dynasty, and the Zhang Menglong Tablet, which represents the most advanced skill in stone carving of the Wei Dynasty. Also exhibited in the museum are some tablets from later dynasties.
West Xia Dynasty Museum Opens in Yinchuan
The West Xia Dynasty Museum, the first of its kind in China, has opened in Yinchuan, capital of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
The Dangxia ethnic minority established the dynasty in 1038. Yinchuan was the capital of the dynasty, which was conquered by the Yuan Dynasty in 1227.
The museum, which features numerous cultural artifacts, is divided into six sections dedicated to political, legal, military, social and economic, culture and economic affairs.
The museum is located in the West Xia Imperial Tomb zone, home to the nine imperial tombs and over 200 others holding remains of members of the imperial family.
Hangzhou Tea Culture Exchanges Center Set to Open
A new Tea Culture Exchange Center will soon open in Hangzhou. The center is the second phase of the Chinese Tea Museum to promote international tea culture exchanges and seminars.
The center is located on the southern slopes of Jiqing Hill near West Lake, the home of famous Dragon Well Tea. It has a conference hall equipped for simultaneous interpretation, a computerized information center and an exhibition hall.
The center also has a tea garden to facilitate research and experiments conducted by tea experts and scholars.
Flights to "Shangri-la" from Kunming Available in 1999
A 45-minute direct flight from Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province, to Diqing, also known as "Shangri-la," will be put into operation this year. By then, roads leading to Shangri-la will be improved. At present, it takes two days from Kunming to Diqing by car. In addition, an express way from Kunming to Dali and a highway from Dali to Lijiang are under construction.
"Shangri-la" is the peaceful and idyllic paradise where man lives in harmony with nature described in James Hilton's novel Lost Horizons. Experts confirmed that the place is located in Diqing Tibetan Autonomous Region on the Northwest Yunnan Plateau. It has a beautiful natural environment including snow-capped mountains, steep canyons and widing rivers. Many ethnic groups live side by side in the region. People there are very friendly and the place is filled with religious atmosphere.
The local government is making a 5-year-plan to develop and improve Diqing's infrastructures to attract more tourists. Many hotels and restaurants have been opened.
World Horticulture Expo '99
World Horticulture Expo'99 is scheduled to be held May-October 1999 in Kunming, capital of Yunnan Province. So far 57 countries and 17 international organizations have signed up for the event. The Expo will include courtyard gardens with combinations of traditional culture and modern civilization, a rich display of plants and flowers, landscapings, envionmental and ecological balance protection exibits and books.
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