Discover China

The first China International Ancient Town Exposition will be held in Beijing from 16-18 December. There are 5,000 ancient towns that are older than 1,000 years in China, and currently only 180 of them have been explored and developed and most of them need to be protected for their profound cultural heritage. Find out more in the People’s Daily Online articles First China International Ancient Town Expo will open and China says protection of ancient towns urgent task.

Hangzhou’s famous West Lake gained World Heritage listing at a UNESCO meeting in Paris. Find out more in the CNTV News story West Lake Cultural Landscape inscribed on World Heritage List.

Kishore Rao, director of the World Heritage Center of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), has praised China’s efforts in supporting world heritage protection – read more in the China Daily article UNESCO praises China for protecting world heritage.

A large Western Han Dynasty royal tomb has been discovered recently in Heze City of Shandong Province. Archeologists have concluded that there is a good chance that the tomb belongs to one of the princes in the Western Han Dynasty living some 2000 years ago. Find out more in the CNTV Culture Express Story Ancient royal tomb discovered in Shandong, China.

In August I will return for another trip to Shenzhen – it will be great to be back! This time I will fly direct to Shenzhen Airport on one of Hainan Airlines new international flights to Shenzhen. As well as enjoying the hospitality of the five-star Hainan Airlines, traveling directly to Shenzhen saves time over my previous visits where I have had to fly to Hong Kong airport and then travel across the Hong Kong SAR (Special Administrative Region) boundary to Shenzhen. From Shenzhen Airport there is then easy access to locations across Shenzhen following the opening of the extension of Metro Line 1 to Shenzhen Airport and other new lines and line extensions.