Discover China

On 19 May China celebrated it’s first National Tourism Day to promote tourism and tourist initiatives throughout the country. This is a great initiative, with China having so much to offer tourists – after my five trips to China I have many wonderful experiences and seen many outstanding sights, but I have only really seen a tiny proportion of China’s endless attractions. The date of 19 May was chosen for National Tourism Day as it commemorates the day when China´s ancient travel book writer Xu Xiake began writing his masterpiece “Travel Notes of Xu Xiake” in the Ming Dynasty.

Centered around a nation-wide Trade Fair and with the concept of making opportunities and celebrating creativity and culture, the mission of the 7th China (Shenzhen) International Cultural Industries Fair (ICIF) is to promote China’s cultural industries on an international level. ICIF 2011 is being held from 13-16 May 2011.

Chinese folk temples and local halls share many characteristics, especially on the outside. However, as James Baquet explains in the Shenzhen Daily article Temples vs. halls, the interior of the building will betray its true purpose.

The discovery of a group of tombs in northern Shanxi Province might help researchers discover an ancient kingdom never known before. Find out more in the CNTV Culture Express story Discover a new ancient kingdom in Shanxi Province.

High-flyers from around the world recently traveled to the home of the kite for a special event, Li Jing reports in the China Daily article Blowing in the wind.