Snapshots of life in Xinjiang

A woman sells traditional snacks of Uygur ethnic group on the streest in Zepu County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 17, 2011. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

A baby wearing traditional costumes attends a wedding ceremony of a Uygur family in Zepu County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 17, 2011. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

An old man of the Uygur ethnic group has his hair cut in Zepu County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 18, 2011. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

A man sells traditional snacks of Uygur ethnic group on the streest in Zepu County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 17, 2011. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

Several girls from Uygur ethnic group perform a local dance in Zepu County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 18, 2011. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

Boys of Uygur ethnic group compete in a game in Zepu County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 18, 2011. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

Two acrobats of Uygur ethnic group perform in a scenic spot in Zepu County, northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, Oct. 19, 2011. (Xinhua/Wang Song)

Zepu County in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region is an area mostly inhabited by people of Uygur ethnic group. The natural sceneries, traditional customs and and life styles there all deliver a strong sense of the Uygur culture.

Travel back in time at Tang Dynasty poet cottage

Du Fu Thatched Cottage is an idyllic 24-acre (97,000 m2) park and museum in honour of the Tang Dynasty poet Du Fu at the western outskirts of Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province. In 1961, the Chinese government established Du Fu Thatched Cottage as a national heritage site. Du, along with Li Bai, his contemporary, is considered one of the greatest poets in China.

California dreamin'

San Diego's low-key, attitude-free chic makes for a perfect weekend getaway if you are on a West Coast vacation.

In the middle of a bright, sunny day with endless blue sky and barely a hint of humidity, a stroll up San Diego's 5th Avenue in the Gaslamp District ends in a run-in with a local.

It's hard to figure out if she's the neighborhood crazy, the neighborhood drunk, or just a friendly denizen checking up to make sure visitors hit the hot spots. A whiskey-roughened voice rings out from a doorway.

"You here for Comic-Con?"

"Yes and to visit as well. First time."

"Liking San Diego so far?"

"Yes, very much."

"Going to the House of Blues?" Clearly, the live music club is a personal favorite of the mystery woman.

"Maybe."

"Nice!"

It's the "nice" that seals the deal and makes the encounter a memorable one. Without any further fanfare, she bids farewell and takes the next left.

That's a little bit of San Diego in a nutshell. In many ways San Diego is similar to Sapporo or Chicago. Its laid-back residents are not the types to feel threatened by glitzier cousins like Tokyo and Los Angeles. If they wanted to live in those cities, they would. And it's easy to understand why they choose not to relocate. If you're in the area and are looking for a four-day urban getaway, you can't do much better than San Diego.

It is one of the biggest cities in the United States, but in many ways it feels like a small town - just with more cars and people. Nestled on one of the West Coast's most beautiful bays, the city is blessed with friendly locals rightly proud of their town culture, a great independent art scene, major-league spectator sports as well as abundant participatory activities, waitresses that are paid to have attitude, and a climate that's nicer than just about anywhere.

Peak season in California's most southerly city - it's around 30 minutes to Mexico - is July, when the enormous and somewhat defining event of the San Diego calendar unfolds: the aforementioned trade fair, Comic-Con International.

Each July for the past 40-odd years, the Nerd Herd has turned the city into a bigger party than it can be on any other weekend, and in the last decade or so, Hollywood types have figured out the value that CCI buzz can inject into box-office receipts and television ratings. For that weekend, San Diego becomes a star-watching spot akin to LA.

But there's far more to San Diego than its status as geek Mecca. It's Pacific Coast location makes it a sailing hub, and it's a few hours from the state's prime wine regions at Napa and Sonoma, with some less-known wine mini-regions much closer.

San Diego is served by most major hotel chains, but it does have a handful of boutiques all its own. A good place to root yourself, say on a Thursday, is Se San Diego, located at the top end of the historic Gaslamp.

Friday is a casual day, so if San Diego's major tourist attractions are on the card, this is a good day to do it. The zoo and Balboa Park are well worth a trip, but it's easy to sit back and let the city's low-key atmosphere wash over you. A diverse range of outstanding Mexican food dots the culinary landscape, and a day of zoo-ing will work up an appetite.

San Diego's food scene gave the world the taquito, and you can try one at El Indio, the city's oldest Mexican diner. For the evening, the adventurous and chatty should make a trip to the Gaslamp's Dick's Last Resort, on 4th Avenue, a must for an end-of-week wind-down.

Down to earth and occasionally raucous, Dick's is the kind of place that has long communal tables where the stranger you're sitting beside will at least be an acquaintance after a few hours.

For Saturday, try a more elegant day out starting with any of the independent art galleries.

Finally, perhaps the best way to get a good overview of the city is from its gorgeous harbor; sailboat and yacht charters are easy to come by. A Sunday afternoon cruise around the bay can be as long or as short, as open or as intimate as your budget demands.

Cape Town named World Design Capital

Photo taken on July 4， 2010 shows the bird's-eye view of Cape Town， South Africa. (Xinhua File Photo)

CAPE TOWN, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- South African scenic city Cape Town has been named World Design Capital for 2014, becoming the first African city to win the award, according to news reaching here on Wednesday.

Cape Town beat Dublin of Ireland and Bilbao of Spain to become the World Design Capital, said News24, a local news outlet.

Cape Town's bid was based on creating an inclusive city by using design thinking in its urban development plans, said the report.

The announcement was made on Wednesday morning at the International Design Alliance (IDA) Congress in Taipei, according to the report.

The World Design Capital 2014 title will result in a year-long program of design-focused events that will see design used for social, economic and cultural transformation.

Cape Town Executive Mayor Patricia de Lille accepted the award on behalf of Cape Town and the African continent, saying that 2014 will be the celebration of 20 years of democracy in the country.

"It is an honor for me to be addressing you here today as mayor of the first African city to be named a World Design Capital. A city belongs to its people and it must be designed for and with them and their communities. For many years, people have been applying innovative solutions to our challenges. They have been using design to transform various aspects of life. But they have often been working without an overarching social goal in mind.

"The World Design Capital bid process and title have helped to bring different initiatives together and have made us realize that design in all its forms, when added together, creates human and city development," De Lille said.

"The World Design Capital designation gives cities like Cape Town additional motivation to actively think of transformative design in development plans. We look forward to learning from other cities that are using design as a tool for transformation, including past winners Torino, Seoul and Helsinki and our fellow short-listed cities, Dublin and Bilbao. We are honored to have been considered with them."

Inside world's largest cave in Vietnam

Photo shows the scenery inside Hang Son Doong in Vietnam. The cave is the known largest cave in the world. (Photo: ycwb.com)

Revolutionary road

Models of Lu Xun and some of his associates in the Lu Xun Museum. (Jiang Jiani/GT)

Former residences of Lu Xun and Qu Qiubai (right). (Jiang Jiani/GT)

A long thoroughfare lined with many high-end department stores and upscale restaurants, Sichuan Road North is well-known as a commercial hub in Hongkou district. However, the area is a haven not only for shopaholics but also for culture lovers, particularly those with a penchant for nostalgia.

Here the modern meets the old, and East meets West. The road features a number of former residences of renowned Chinese cultural icons including writers and movie stars. Meanwhile, two Protestant churches are also located here, offering Christian worshippers some respite from the bustling street life outside.

However, although the area centering around Sichuan Road North is rich in cultural heritage, not everything is being preserved as well as it should be.

Famous residents

Among the former residents is the writer Lu Xun (1881-1936) who lived here for the last three years of his life and is buried in Luxun Park (2288 Sichuan Road North), which was named after him.

The Lu Xun Museum (free to the public from 9 am to 5 pm, 200 Tian'ai Road, 6540-2288) is also located in the park exhibiting over 80,000 artifacts associated with the great writer. The multimedia showroom on the second floor features many photos of Lu's daily life. His wife Xu Guangping and son Zhou Haiying have also donated some private letters to the museum.

A 10-minute-walk far from the museum is Shanyin Road, lined with French platane trees and which was also home to Lu Xun (No.9, Lane 132 Shanyin Road). Opened to the public in 1951, the three-story villa features red bricks and tiles with a small yard in the front. Lu moved here with his family in April 1933 and paid a rent of 45 taels of silver (equivalent to almost 8,000 yuan or $1,253 in today's money) per month.

The house was remodeled by Xu Guangping in the early 1950s, and most of the furniture pieces there are original items. On the first floor are the living room and dining room where Lu exhibited some of his own photos and paintings. The couple lived on the second floor and here Lu translated many foreign works. Used as a sanctuary for many dissidents, the top floor contains a guest room as well as the bedroom of Lu's son, Zhou Haiying.

Lu's contemporary and peer, the writer Mao Dun, lived in a similar villa at No.6, Lane 132 Shanyin Road, while Qu Qiubai, who led the Communist Party of China in the late 1920s, lived opposite at No.12, Lane 133 Shanyin Road. However, both of these two buildings are now privately owned and not open to the public.

Just a stone's throw from these residences is the former Uchiyama Bookshop (2/F, 2050 Sichuan Road North) which was run by a Japanese man Kanzo Uchiyama, who was a friend of Lu's and a Christian evangelist. The bookstore was established in 1917 and moved to the crossing of Shanyin Road and Sichuan Road North in 1929. A place to promote progressive ideas and to harbor local revolutionaries, the bookstore published many works that espoused revolutionary ideals. It was finally closed by the Kuomintang in 1945.

Pray for us

Intersecting Sichuan Road North, Duolun Road is an unassuming street that is also known as "Culture Road" by local residents. The Hongde Church at 59 Duolun Road (5696-1196) is funded by local congregation members and the Presbyterian Church in the US. This is reputed to be the only Protestant church in China that was built in a traditional Chinese architectural style. Except for the huge red crucifix and the Chinese slogan "God loves everyone" on the exterior, the building resembles a traditional Chinese temple with two stone lion sculptures standing in front of the door. 

Services here were suspended during the decade-long Cultural Revolution (1966–76) but restarted in 1992. Two years later, it was listed as one of Shanghai's "renowned historic buildings." The church is open to the public from 9 am to 4 pm daily with services at 7:30 am, 9:30 am and 7 pm on Sundays. A prayer meeting is held at 7:30 am on Thursday every week. 

Not far from Hongde Church is Jingling Church (135 Kunshan Road, 6324-3021) completed in 1924. The three-story building covers more than 1,600 square meters and can seat more than 1,500 people.

Its congregation included the famous Soong sisters, Soong Ai-ling, Soong Ching Ling, and Soong Mei-ling. The husband of the latter, Kuomintang leader Chiang Kai-shek, was baptized in this church and married Soong at the same altar.

Apart from the Sunday worship service, Jingling Church also organizes a lot of activities during the week, such as a scripture reading class at 1:15 pm and youth fellowship at 7 pm on every Wednesday. On Thursday, the church hosts prayer meeting and bible study at 7 pm.

Saudi Arabia Pavilion to receive individual visitors

Photo taken on Oct. 23, 2011 shows an interior view of the Saudi Arabia Pavilion in the Expo Park in Shanghai, east China, Oct. 23, 2011. (Xinhua)

Visitors stroll around on the spiral staircase to appreciate the scene inside the Saudi Arabia Pavilion in the Expo Park in Shanghai, east China, Oct. 23, 2011. (Xinhua)

People visit the roof garden of the Saudi Arabia Pavilion in the Expo Park in Shanghai, east China, Oct. 23, 2011. (Xinhua)

The Saudi Arabia Pavilion, as one of the most popular pavilions during the Shanghai World Expo held from May 1 to October 31 last year, reopened to the public on Sept. 28, 2011.

After the one-month trial run only for group reservation, the pavilion will receive individual visitors as of Oct. 28. Donated as a gift from Saudi Arabia to the city of Shanghai, Saudi Arabia Pavilion is the first foreign pavilion to reopen to visitors.

Top 10 autumn getaways without the kids

Napa Valley, California

Parents breathing a sigh of relief now their kids are back at school might feel they could use a little break from the domestic world. Why not take off with your partner – so long as your grandparents don't mind watching over the little ones while you jet off!

In the spirit of parental sanity, online travel adviser Cheapflights (www.cheapflights.com) offered its Top 10 destinations to grab a cocktail, kick back and relax without the little rascals.

1. Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Thanks to Vegas, we know there's plenty of fun to be had in the desert, but nothing comes close to Dubai, the adult playground in the hot Arab sands.

From the world's largest man-made islands to the entrancing gold markets and underwater hotels, everything in Dubai is bigger, better and more luxurious.

Feel free to spend some time being overwhelmed by shopping malls and markets known as souks, then tee off at world-renowned golf courses, stop at the only Formula 1 theme park and kick up some fun with a Jeep ride into the sand dunes.

2. Lunenburg, Nova Scotia

In 1995, the old town of Lunenburg on Canada's east coast was deemed a UNESCO World Heritage Site because of its survival as a British colonial settlement.

This quaint coastal village off Mahone Bay is the perfect place to book a bed-and-breakfast or small cottage and explore the history, do a little kayaking or simply unwind and let Lunenburg's small-town charm and tranquil seaside views win you over.

When looking for things to do, visit Bluenose, the world-famous wooden racing schooner, check out the Fisheries Museum and learn about the men who navigated the Atlantic, then head to the Ironworks Distillery for artisan spirit tastings.

3. St Lucia, Antilles

Home to the grand Piton mountains, the world's only drive-in volcano and warm crystal blue waters, St Lucia is an ideal Caribbean getaway for any relaxation-seeking couple. For a quick and rewarding hike, check out the Saltibus Waterfall Trail, which leads you through mountaintop rainforests to several picturesque waterfalls, perfect for cooling off.

If you're not interested in leaving the beach, take advantage of renowned scuba and snorkeling or hop aboard a sailboat and cruise around the island.

4. Napa Valley, California

Even though early autumn is Napa Valley's most popular season, we still think it's the best time to take part in the harvest festivities known as Crush. It's one of the Valley's most exciting times: Napa boasts more than 200 vineyards, world-renowned spas and a dense population of Michelin-rated restaurants, so there are plenty of opportunities for you and your significant other to spoil yourselves. The scenery alone is worth the trip, and we recommend viewing it from a hot air balloon or the Napa Valley Wine Train, which stops at several vineyards.

5. Portofino, Italy

The words "Italian Riviera"are usually enticing enough to dust off the suitcases, and Portofino is considered to be the most beautiful harbor of them all.

What was once a quaint fishing village is now a popular boating and yachting destination. The best place to stay is on a boat, and there are plenty of exquisite restaurants and high-end boutiques that line the harbor. If sleeping on dry land is more your style, travel the sea by water taxi to other towns along the Riviera, including Genoa and San Fruttuoso. And, if you haven't seen enough breathtaking scenery, head up to Castello Brown to check out the beautiful views and stunning gardens.

6. Cozumel, Mexico

Cancun might have a reputation for college kids, foam parties and a heavy late-night scene but on the island of Cozumel, just a short distance away, it's a different story.

Aside from observing beautiful surroundings, hang out at the beach, getting in some scuba diving, activities like tennis and yoga, or catching up on some reading. Best of all, there are plenty of resorts on the island that only accommodate adults, so you don't need to deal with anyone else's rugrats.

7. Stirling, Scotland

Packed with history, lush rolling hills, charming bed-and-breakfasts, and plenty of outdoor activity, there's a little something for everyone. Whether you're a history or Braveheart buff or not, The National Wallace Monument, in honor of William Wallace, is a must see. Then tour the Old Town Jail, visit Stirling Castle and check out the Old Bridge. If golfing is on the list, you won't be disappointed with the abundant greenways throughout the flawless landscape.

8. Valle Nevado, Chile

Since good skiing in summer months is hard to come by, think about heading South to Valle Nevado in Chile, where it's still winter – if you've got a chunk of time to spend.

It's considered the best ski resort in South America, and is comparable to something you might experience in the Alps. Valle Nevado even offers world-famous Heli-skiing and boarding for those needing a bigger rush.

9. Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida

Conveniently located between Jacksonville and St. Augustine is the famed Ponte Vedra Beach. You may think the only thing Ponte Vedra has to offer is a ridiculous golf scene – which it does – but that's not the sole reason to visit this swanky coastal community.

When not teeing off, visitors take full advantage of exquisite spa treatments offered at several multi-diamond spa resorts, hit around the tennis ball, stop off at beautifully manicured beaches, check out quaint and unique shops, and partake in other activities you indulge in when the kids aren't around.

And no Ponte Vedra Beach experience goes without a look into the Spanish colonial history stretching back as far as 1513.

10. Lavaux, Switzerland

There's evidence to suggest that Lavaux's vineyard terraces were used during the Roman Empire, and they have now been inducted as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Settled along the coast of placid Lake Geneva are a string of small villages connected by the grapevines of the ancient terraces. Travel between the villages by foot, stopping for picnics and wine tastings or take the train, which stops in many small towns.

Manzhouli, the go-between city of border tourism

The newly constructed church in Manzhouli serves as the main venue for a festival showcasing the wedding traditions in China， Russia and Mongolia. (Photo: CRIENGLISH.com/Duan Xuelian)

A statue of a Russian family of three fathers， a mother and a child， carrying shopping bags is located in the business district of Manzhouli to mark the increasing number of Russian shoppers in Manzhouli. (Photo: CRIENGLISH.com/Duan Xuelian)

The fairytale-like colored Russian style architecture standing beside the Matryoshka Doll Square is the Russian Art Museum. The Matryoshka Doll Square exhibits matryoshka dolls in various shapes and sizes. (Photo: CRIENGLISH.com/Duan Xuelian)

BEIJING, Oct. 20 (Xinhuanet) -- If it were a person, then Manzhouli would be a matchmaker, or the go-between. Three hundred years ago, when the Tea Road is in its heyday, Manzhouli was where merchants from inland Chinese cities sold tea to Russian buyers.

Today, trade has extended in such diversity and scale that almost all the shops in the city are marked by bilingual signs in Mandarin Chinese and Russian.

This transformation has been witnessed by Guo Yuanping, general manager of the Huaxia International Travel Service Company. He says it was to be expected, because "Manzhouli is a shopping paradise for Russians who live near the border."

Over 70 percent of the travel company's Russian customers are here to shop, Guo added. As one of the ten Manzhouli-based travel agencies authorized for international travel operations, Guo's company receives more than 70 thousand Russian tourists each year.

During the peak times in July and August, the company has to extend its opening hours from 7:00 am to 10 pm.

One of the company's Russian partners, Dolgopolova Yulia, whose hometown Krasnokamensk is only one hour and a half's drive from Manzhouli, spends four weekdays working in Manzhouli on average. As a tour guide, she brings 30-40 Russian tourists to Manzhouli regularly on Wednesdays and Fridays.

"Manzhouli is also my hometown now," Yulia said through her Chinese translator.

Indeed, Manzhouli is so accommodating to Russian tourists that the border inspection station in Manzhouli is open around the clock to ensure convenient entry. Local stores, ranging from modern shopping centers to family boutiques all willingly accept Russian Rubles as payment.

The latest statistics show that 99 percent of foreign tourists in Manzhouli are from Russia. The city is connected with Russian cities including Chita, Irkutsk, Krasnoyarsk and Ulan-Ude by air and a cross-country railway which links Moscow and Beijing runs through Manzhouli on a weekly basis.

As Russian tourists consider Manzhouli an ideal shopping destination, Chinese visitors are finding the border city the perfect place to experience foreign lifestyles.

With gaudy baroque style buildings bordering the streets, Russian restaurants serving Borscht (red soup), black bread and baked salmon, shops selling Russian crafts such as wine glasses and gem-decorated hand mirrors, and perhaps most significantly, travel agencies offering tours to border cities in Russia, Manzhouli couldn't be more attractive to Chinese tourists.

In March, 2008, Manzhouli resumed the customs procedures which grant Chinese tourists permission to cross over the border and travel to Russia with an effective visa.

"There are two ways to attain the visa, one is applying it through your local embassy, the other is to register at the travel agencies in Manzhouli which will help tourists apply for a temporary visa valid only within the travelling dates," explained Huang Guoqing, deputy director of the Manzhouli Tourism Bureau.

The special visa policy has essentially boosted the tourism industry in Manzhouli. According to Huang, domestic tourists to Manzhouli reached 3.542 million by September, 2011, a nearly ten percent increase over last year's number.

To play its advantage to the fullest, Manzhouli has been organizing international events in conjunction with Mongolia and Russia.

Every year around Christmas in December, Manzhouli is turned into a festive venue for the Ice and Snow Festival and the China-Russia-Mongolia Beauty Pageant. A festival featuring food delicacies from China, Russia and Mongolia is also held in June. This year a new theme event is introduced showcasing the wedding ceremony traditions in China, Russia and Mongolia inside the newly completed church in the suburbs of the city.

In 2009, tourism officials from Mongolia visited Manzhouli and other cities along the Tea Road intended to renew the historical business road as an international travel route, Huang Guoqing said. "On the Tourism Bureau's part, we have been actively participating in the research of the Tea Road travel route, it would be another significant promotion of Manzhouli's historical and cultural resources once finished," he said.

Although Manzhouli's tea export has shrunk substantially, there are many small businesses thriving on Russian buyers.

Hu Jianbao, owner of the Southern Tea House in downtown Manzhouli, said that half of his customers are Russians.

Russian customers' knowledge on Chinese tea has also broadened. "They (Russian customers) used to only buy black tea, but in recent years, more and more Russian buyers are inquiring about different categories of tea such as Tieguanyin and Dahongpao," Hu said. He established his tea business in Manzhouli in 1997 and now he has made friends with many Russian patrons.

In this modern tea trader's eye, the cause of spreading Chinese tea and tea culture is far from fulfilled.

Pyramids of Giza

A tourist poses for a picture with the Sphinx at the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo October 19, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Tourists take pictures at the Sphinx and the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo October 19, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Souvenirs are seen as tourists visit the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo October 19, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Tourists visit the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo October 19, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Tourists visit the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo October 19, 2011.[Photo/Agencies]

Asian tourists pose for pictures at the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo October 19, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

A man pulls a camel carrying a tourist at the Pyramids of Giza in Cairo October 19, 2011. [Photo/Agencies]

Tourist numbers have plummeted, dealing a blow to the millions of Egyptians whose livelihoods depend on the 14 million or more visitors who once came to Egypt annually, providing one in eight jobs in a country beset by high unemployment.

Enchanting autumn scenery in Jiuzhaigou

Photo taken on Oct. 20, 2011 shows the autumn scenery in Jiuzhaigou, a renowned tourist resort in southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

Photo taken on Oct. 20, 2011 shows the autumn scenery in Jiuzhaigou, a renowned tourist resort in southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

A tourist wearing a costume of the Tibetan ethnic group pose for photos in Jiuzhaigou scenic area, a renowned tourist resort in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 20, 2011. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

Photo taken on Oct. 20, 2011 shows the autumn scenery in Jiuzhaigou, a renowned tourist resort in southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

Photo taken on Oct. 20, 2011 shows the autumn scenery in Jiuzhaigou, a renowned tourist resort in southwest China's Sichuan Province. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

A tourist takes photos of the five-color pond in Jiuzhaigou scenic area, a renowned tourist resort in southwest China's Sichuan Province, Oct. 20, 2011. (Xinhua/Ma Ping)

Photo taken on Oct. 20, 2011 shows the autumn scenery in Jiuzhaigou, a renowned tourist resort in southwest China's Sichuan Province.

Int'l circus festival kicks off in N. China

More than 200 acrobats from 17 countries and regions have participated in a major international circus festival that kicked off on Saturday evening in north China's Hebei Province.

Acrobatic artists from Russia, the United States, Canada, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Australia, France and other countries will present 30 performances during the 13th China Wuqiao International Circus Festival (CWICF).

Acrobatic Swan Lake, which is dubbed as "the most beautiful acrobatics and the most dangerous ballet", was staged at the opening ceremony in Shijiazhuang, capital city of Hebei.

The major activities of the nine-day festival include an international circus competition, forums on world circus and circus art exchanges.

The judging committee for the competition is made up of 10 foreign experts and two Chinese scholars. The prize for the top award, Gold Lion, will be 50,000 yuan (7,835 U.S. dollars).

Known as "oriental acrobatic arena," the event was originated in 1987 and is held every other year.

Taking friendship, exchange, prosperity and development as its theme, this year's festival is co-organized by the Ministry of Culture and the Hebei provincial government.

The repertoires will feature different cultural backgrounds and national styles, contain various acrobatic skills and highlight the characteristics of modern circus art, said Bian Faji, chairman of the judging committee.

The CWICF, named after the birthplace of acrobatics -- Wuqiao County of Hebei, is considered one of the three most famed acrobatic competitions in the world along with the Monte-Carlo International Circus Festival in Monaco and the Festival Mondial du Cirque de Demain (the World Festival of the Circus of Tomorrow) in France.

13th China Wuqiao Int'l Circus Festival kicks off

Acrobats perform during the 13th China Wuqiao International Circus Festival in Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province, Oct. 22, 2011. More than 200 acrobats from 17 countries and regions will take part in performance as well as competition during the nine-day festival which kicked off on Saturday. The festival is named after the province's Wuqiao County, the famous birthplace of acrobatics. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)

Acrobats perform during the 13th China Wuqiao International Circus Festival in Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province, Oct. 22, 2011. More than 200 acrobats from 17 countries and regions will take part in performance as well as competition during the nine-day festival which kicked off on Saturday. The festival is named after the province's Wuqiao County, the famous birthplace of acrobatics. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)

Acrobats perform during the 13th China Wuqiao International Circus Festival in Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province, Oct. 22, 2011. More than 200 acrobats from 17 countries and regions will take part in performance as well as competition during the nine-day festival which kicked off on Saturday. The festival is named after the province's Wuqiao County, the famous birthplace of acrobatics. (Xinhua/Yang Shiyao)

Acrobats perform during the 13th China Wuqiao International Circus Festival in Shijiazhuang, capital of north China's Hebei Province, Oct. 22, 2011. More than 200 acrobats from 17 countries and regions will take part in performance as well as competition during the nine-day festival which kicked off on Saturday. The festival is named after the province's Wuqiao County, the famous birthplace of acrobatics.

Xi'an show comes to a fine blooming end

XI'AN - The International Horticultural Exposition 2011 Xi'an ended on Saturday after 178 colorful days in the capital of Shaanxi province in Northeast China.

More than 15 million tourists from home and abroad visited the exposition during its 178-day run, easily beating the target of 12 million, according to Zhang Jianzheng, spokesman of the Xi'an municipal government and deputy director of the expo's executive committee.

Co-hosted by the Shaanxi provincial government, the State Forestry Administration, the China Trade Promotion Council and the China Flower Association and sponsored by the Xi'an municipal government, the 41st world expo officially opened on April 28 in Xi'an Chanba ecological zone, across 418 hectares, including a water area of 188 hectares.

It boasted 470,000 square meters of planting area concentrating more than 700 kinds of flowering plants, according to Yuan Li, general engineer of the expo's technology department.

Zheng Haixia, a retired official from Baoji in western Shaanxi, said the expo grounds were so attractive she came back four times.

During the expo, Xi'an experienced a 44.5 percent increase of total visitors, and tourism revenues jumped 41.9 percent, Zhang said.

The expo site will now be rebuilt as a park, to be completed and opened to the public in April, 2012. There will be no admission charges.

Yang Liuqi, Party secretary of Xi'an Chanba ecological zone, said the new park could become the most influential theme park in China.

1,200-year-old village with 17 residents

A village in Mengxian county, Yangquan city of North China's Shanxi province, has just 17 residents. The village is called Dapin by local residents. [Photo/CFP]

Residents of Dapin village stand in front of a group of houses, Oct 15, 2011. [Photo/CFP]

The 1,200-year-old Dapin village sits against a hill, Oct 15, 2011. [Photo/CFP]

A villager rests on a stone step in Dapin village, Oct 15, 2011. [Photo/CFP]

Stone steps connecting every household are paved in Dapin village, Oct 15, 2011. The village has great value in both tourism and cultural research, said Gao Feng, vice director of Cultural Relics and Tourism Bureau of Mengxian county. [Photo/CFP]

A man smokes outside his house in Dapin village, Oct 15, 2011. [Photo/CFP]

A village in Mengxian county, Yangquan city of North China's Shanxi province, has just 17 residents.

The village is called Dapin by local residents. The houses in the village are built by stone on mud with more than 40 courtyards and some are about 1,200 years old, according to Gao Feng, vice director of Cultural Relics and Tourism Bureau of Mengxian county.

It has no doctors, pharmacies or shops and few people get sick, according to some local residents.

The village residents range from 50 to 88 in age, as all the young people are working or living away. The left-behind elders live a peaceful life by farming.