Xi'an Tourism Promotion Reception

Xi'an is one of the oldest and most historic city in China. If we can figuratively say that China is a big tree, then Xi'an is its root.

A delegation of 10 from Xi'an Tourism Administration Bureau came to London. They held a promotion reception at Regent Street Holiday Inn last night.

Kang Lifeng, Depute Director of Xi'an Tourism Administration told me the main purpose of their visit this time is to promote Xi'an tourism as well as to say thank you for all the travel agencies in the UK.

According to Chinese official statistic, there were 50,000 people from the UK paid a visit to China in 2006. The increasing amplitude of tourists from the UK to China is 25%.

Xi'an is the hometown of Terra-cotta. Apart from that, there are also another 6 gigantic museums.

It is the headwaters of the Yellow River, which Chinese people call 'mother river'.

It is also the starting point of the Silk Road.

Kang said :" I hope there will be more British people come to Xi'an to experience the history, the life and the humanity."

Carey Fletcher, the Director of China Holidays Ltd predicted that the Chinese tourism will reach its peak in 2009 after the Olympics. He, himself, is very looking forward to seeing the fireworks.

Xi'an Tourism

German Taste in London

If you are a big fan of German pork hocks, fried sausages or beer, from today you don't have to get them from Germany, but in London.

The first German Christmas market at southbank opened today.

Between the London City Hall and the Tower bridge, you can see the market and smell the taste of German Christmas.

Mrs. Smith said:"The food is lovely. I wish it was here last year."

"The food is just apart of this market. It is a fabulous chance to experience and to learn more about Germany." said the organiser, Mr. Aicher.

The market is scheduled to run till Saturday 22 December.

No allowrance for carbon monoxide poison from gas regulator

OFGEM, the Gas Regulator said, " there will be no allowances made for the cost of dealing with carbon monoxide poisoning. "

A new study from GMB trade union shows that about 4 people per week are poisoned by carbon monoxide in 2006.

In year 2006/07, there were 150 exposure insidents in total. 123 of them were carbon monoxide exposure and of which 8 were fatal.

Gary Smith, GMB national secretary of energy told me: "Government must step in and instruct the Regulator to put public safety in this potentially very dangerous industry as the number one priority."

Can we really say 'bye' to plastic bags

From San Francisco to Tokyo, from South Africa to Australia, the global movement to ban plastic bags is growing persistently. Now it comes to London.

The BBC says according to a survey, 60% of those who took part in the London Councils consultation support a ban on using traditional plastic bags.

Mr Brown said supermarkets had already promised to reduce the "environmental impact" of plastic bags by 25 per cent over the next year.

Sainsbury held its first 'make a difference' weekend last Saturday and Sunday. It is said 74 tones of plastic bags have been saved.

However, some people still think that using plastic carrying bag is handy, convenient and most important, it is FREE. It has become a part of people's daily grocery shopping.

The proposal also introduces a 10p charge on all bags. Charlie from Telford says: "it looks to me more like cynical profiteering while telling the public how wonderful they are..." Will this 10p make a significant difference? We need to wait and see.

Pearl Awards 2007

The mysterious winners of the 4th Pearl Awards unveiled at Royal Festival Hall on 1st November.

The Prince of Wales attended the awards ceremony to recognise the achievements of "unsung heroes" among Britain's Chinese community.

Florence Ji Dong Qiu, founder of the Sino-Anglo Culture Exchange Association, Lawyer Dominic Lee and Stanley Tse, boss of See Woo Chinese food Supermarket were the three mysterious “unsung heroes” of the 4th Pearl Awards.

After the announcement, ten-year-old piano prodigy Niu Niu and classical guitarist Xue Fei Yang gave a performance accompanied by the English Chamber Orchestra.

Chinese ambassador, Madam Fu Ying and other Chinese overseas representatives also attended the awards.

In recent years, there is big number of Chinese people coming to settle in the UK. The bilateral co-operation between the UK and China has also been strengthened in many areas.

The Prince recognised this in his speech, "China and the UK will continue to work increasingly closely in the years ahead – not least with the transfer of the Olympic Games from Beijing to London and I am pleased to say that I have, over the last year or so, established a number of charitable initiatives in partnership with Chinese colleagues to encourage our two great countries to work together and learn from each other."

Click here for more information