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

A time to remember and give thanks........

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

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

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/

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#.

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