Tuesday, December 2, 2014

Hello Kitty in China


Guests attend an inauguration ceremony of a Hello Kitty amusement park in Anji, Zhejiang Province.Picuture:  Reuters
Hello Kitty Park will be China's first large scale amusement park and is scheduled to open to the public on New Year's Day 2015.



Read more:

http://www.dramafever.com/news/first-international-hello-kitty-park-opens-in-china/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/travel/travel_news/article-2852877/It-s-not-quite-Disneyland-China-opens-bleak-looking-Hello-Kitty-theme-park-cost-230MILLION-build.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/11262368/Hello-Kitty-amusement-park-opens-in-China.html



Monday, November 24, 2014

Nagano Earthquake - November 22, 2014


A strong 6.7 earthquake damaged homes and injured residents of Nagano Prefecture this weekend. The hardest-hit area appeared to be Hakuba, which hosted events in the 1998 Olympic games. 



http://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2014/11/24/national/damage-worse-than-thought-in-nagano-earthquake/#.VHOGz4vF_a4

http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/22/world/asia/japan-earthquake/index.html

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/strong-quake-strikes-central-japans-nagano-city-27101019

Friday, November 14, 2014

Tai'erzhuang - Ancient Canal Town



Tai'erzhuang is renowned for its traditional architecture and water culture.

Located in Zaozhuang city of southwestern Shandong province, Tai'erzhuang has spectacular canal legacies, making it an important part of the application for the World Cultural Heritage list. The ancient town was established in the Han Dynasty (206 BC-AD 220), however did not really come alive until the Jia Canal was built during the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644).

For more details:
http://www.chinatoday.com.cn/english/tourism/2014-10/14/content_644578.htm

Thursday, November 13, 2014

U.S./China - New, reciprocal 10-year visa policy for tourists and business travelers

Yesterday, the first group of 10-year China visas were issued.


Read on:
http://shanghaiist.com/2014/11/13/china-issues-first-ever-10-year-visas.php
http://thepointsguy.com/2014/11/china-to-start-issuing-10-year-visas/



Tuesday, November 11, 2014

Presidents Agree - New Visa Policy for China

China visa policy set to change from a year-at-a-time basis.  
Click on the links below for more information.

President Obama and President Xi Jinping
Kim Kyung-Hoon | Reuters
http://www.cnn.com/2014/11/10/politics/visa-10-years-obama-announces/index.html
http://money.cnn.com/2014/11/11/news/economy/china-us-business-visa/index.html
http://online.wsj.com/articles/china-u-s-to-grant-each-others-citizens-longer-visas-1415617463
http://www.cnbc.com/id/102170430#.



Monday, November 10, 2014

President Obama in Beijing

President Obama is in Beijing attending the annual 
Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit (APEC).  
President Obama with Chinese President Xi Jinping and his wife, Peng Liyuan.

More details:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2014/11/10/apec-beijing-obama/18786007/

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thetwo-way/2014/11/10/363006417/two-striking-photos-from-todays-apec-meetings