Japan opens door to individual Chinese tourists

The National Tourism Organization of Japan said Tuesday it has persuaded its government to issue visas to individual Chinese tourists from Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. It indicated a further opening of Japan’s tour market to people who previously could only visit the country with tour groups. The new policy, which takes effect July 1 following a one-year trial, covers individual travelers from all over China. Visa applicants need to certify however that they have a minimum annual income of 250,000 yuan.

Israel opens tourism office in Beijing

Israel, which views China as a major source of tourists, recently opened its first tourism office in Beijing. The country gained “approved destination” stat from the Chinese government in September, a permit that allows organized groups from China to visit Israel.

German region seeks Chinese investors

Germany’s North Rhine-Westphalia (NRW) region recently sent a delegation of 20 people to Beijing for a dialogue with the government and to find more Chinese investors.

Snapshots of China at sleep

“Before you click through my large collection of photos, you should not forget what you hear and read daily in your home country’s media about China’s boom,” Bernd Hagemann said on his site sleepingchinese.com.

Guilin home to ‘Flying Tiger’ Park

Guilin will soon become home to an aviation park to commemorate the US “Flying Tigers” air squadron who helped China fight the Japanese in World War Two.

Gov limits derivative trades by state-owned enterprises

The State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission tightened rules Tuesday on the conditions under which central state-owned enterprises could use financial derivatives.

Burned girl receives foreign skin grafts

Six-year old Wang Dan from Shi’en, Hubei Province, is now wearing foreign skin. The girl was the recipient of skin grafts provided by the Euro Skin Bank last Saturday to repair severe burns that had destroyed 70 percent of her skin.

Horseman to start Beijing – London ride

After finishing a year and a half’s solo horseback ride from Russia to China, Li Jing is preparing to saddle up for an even longer trip to London next month. This tie he will be joined by British and Chinese companions.

Quake ruins closed to cars for construction

By Zhao Hongyi
 
Beichuan, the small county hit hardest by last year’s deadly quake in Sichuan Province, halted tourism to its ruined downtown and nearby sites last weekend. The local government said trips to the ruins could be too dangerous as the rainy season approaches.
 
More than 10,000 tourists have flocked to the ruins each week since [...]

New subsidy helps orphans move out on their own

The municipal government is turning its attention to an aging orphan population with a new subsidy of 150,000 yuan for each that will be available from next month, the Beijing Municipal Bureau of Civil Affairs said.