ChinaDaily[971213-8]

[Chinese News]

China Daily

97 / 12 / 13 /

***************************************************************************
1. White beauty survives glacier
2. Some gorge sites will survive dam
3. Travel Notes (Page 5, Date: 12/13/97)
4. What's on (Page 6, Date: 12/13/97)
5. [INLINE]
6. [INLINE] __
***************************************************************************

White beauty survives glacier
THERE is a household Chinese saying "All crows are black."
White bears are believed to live only in the North Pole.
But in Shennongjia, Central China's Hubei Province, crows and
bears, together with many other animals not expected to be white,
are found to be white -- snakes, river deer, chamois, tortoises,
snub-nosed monkeys, serows and storks.
For researchers and tourists alike, the primitive forests of
Shennongjia spell too many mysteries closely linked with its
geological change.
Approximately 1.7 million years ago, because of a glacier of the
Quaternary Period, at least one-third of the earth's land mass was
covered with snow and ice about 1,000 metres thick, resulting in a
heavy loss of life.
Covering 3,250 square kilometres, Shennongjia fortunately escaped
the destruction of the glacier and became a haven to plants and
animals which have long perished elsewhere.
Home to 2,400 species of plants and 500 kinds of animals,
Shennongjia is a natural botanical garden and zoo.
In 1990, Shennongjia was listed in the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization's "Man and Biosphere"
project.
In Shennongjia, 29 plants generally referred to as "living
fossils" are found, including the dove tree, ginkgo and fir.
Endangered animal species, such as the snub-nosed monkey, leopard
and South China tiger, live there.
Shennongjia is also a natural medicinal herb garden. At least 60
of its 2,013 medicinal herbs have proven effective in preventing
and treating cancer and other diseases.
But what makes Shennongjia most mysterious is the possible
existence of the legendary "Wild Man," known as "Bigfoot" in the
West.
In the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), local chronicles recorded
the existence of the "Wild Man" in Shennongjia. Since then, about
360 people, including scientists, have claimed to have seen the
creature.
The "Wild Man" is described by most witnesses as a 2-metre-tall
creature with ape-like facial features and a body covered with red
hair.
Standing on two legs, it has no tail and usually leaves large
footprints on snow and in the fields, according to witnesses.
Although many claim to have seen the "Wild Man," nobody has ever
caught one, despite efforts by scientists.
Some scientists say the creature may be an unknown primate.
Shennongjia was not open to tourists until 1993. Last year, it
received 120,000 tourists. The number of tourists is expected to
reach 300,000 this year, said Xie Jilun, secretary of the
Shennongjia Forest Zone Party Committee.
A nice place for visitors to start their journey to Shennongjia is
Yichang, a city in Hubei. Yichang is the last stop for a
downstream trip through the Three Gorges, the most spectacular
scenery on China's largest river, the Yangtze.
Known for magnificent, tranquil and mountainous landscapes, the
Three Gorges section of the river is 201 kilometres long, of which
140 kilometres flow through Hubei.
From Yichang, it takes only about five hours to reach Shennongjia
by bus.
Most tourists visit Shennongjia from May to October, staying there
for one to four days.
Shennongjia now has several well-furnished hotels where
programme-controlled telephones are available.
In several towns in Shennongjia, there are amusement halls,
cinemas, shopping malls and free markets where medicinal herbs,
tea, root carvings and potted plants are sold.
There used to be a popular saying depicting foreign tourists'
experience in China as "visiting temples by day and sleeping by
night."
Although somewhat exaggerated, the saying revealed that many
foreign tourists do not understand Chinese culture.
In Shennongjia, however, everything is easy to understand as there
are no cultural relics. What permeates it is the naked beauty of
nature -- thick forests, streams, flowers, birds and fresh air.
Autumn is the most wonderful season in Shennongjia.
Adorned with plants and flowers of different colours, the
mountains look like a large oil painting. On the bottom is the
green grassland, above that is a large yellow arrow bamboo forest,
and above the bamboo forest are forests embellished with unknown
flowers.
Shennongjia is also known for its many inscrutable caves.
In one grotto which can hold at least 10,000 people, the
temperature varies so much that visitors can experience the four
different seasons. Glaciers fill another grotto even in summer.
Some caves are connected with subterranean rivers and abound with
fish. Each year, soon after the first spring thunderstorm, shoals
of fish rush out of them.
Because locals used to engage in fights to catch the fish, the
local government had to interfere, said Jiang Hong, assistant
governor of Hubei who takes charge of the province's tourism.
In some grottoes, many ancient animals' fossils have been found.
On December 17, 1995, a local farmer Wang Jiagui chased to a cave
a wild cat which was running off with one of his hens in its
mouth. This led to a major archaeological discovery.
It took only a month and a half to unearth 1,000 animal fossils,
broken bones, and objects used by the ancients in the Old Stone
Age.
The fossils and broken bones belonged to rhinos, giant pandas,
water deer, stegodons, snub-nosed monkeys, rhesus monkeys, sheep
and bears.
As most tourists do not dare to go deep into the primitive forests
of Shennongjia, they do not have the chance to see many animals.
For them, a trip to Shennongjia's specimen hall can be a kind of
compensation.
Covering 120 square metres, the hall displays specimens of
400-plus animals, birds, fish, butterflies and insects which exist
in Shennongjia.
They include the snub-nosed monkey, white bear, South China tiger,
wild boar, black bear, jackal, white stork and golden pheasant.
Also on display in the hall is a mosquito 40 millimetres long and
98 millimetres wide when its wings are spread. It is said to be
the largest mosquito in the world.
_____________________________________________________________

_Date: 12/13/97_
_Author: Huang Zhiling_
_Copyright© by China Daily_

***************************************************************************

Some gorge sites will survive dam
THE Goddess won't become a mermaid when the Three Gorges Dam
raises the water level to 175 metres by the year 2009.
The Goddess Peak, one of the famous 12 peaks rising on either side
of the Wuxia Gorge, is about 860 metres above the average water
level. The other 11, ranging from 800 metres to 1,210 metres above
sea level, will remain "intact," according to officials from the
Technical Committee under the Three Gorges Project Development
Corp.
If anything, they say, the peaks, the transformations of 12 fairy
ladies in local legends, will be closer to the once-tumultuous
river they have been commissioned to take care of.
But scenic spots along the Qutang Gorge have no such elevation to
save them. Meng Liang's Ladder, a Z-shaped series of holes
chiseled into the rock face, which are believed to be the remains
of an ancient plank path, and the Suspended Monk, a slightly
protruding rock to the east of the ladder, which looks like a
bare-footed monk being suspended upside down, will be submerged
when the water level rises.
Other submerged scenic spots will include the White-washed Wall, a
huge cliff face covered with carved inscriptions dating from the
Song Dynasty (960-1279), and some ancient cliff paths.
The town of Baidicheng, well-known to most through a poem composed
by a famous Tang Dynasty (AD 907-960) poet, Li Bai (AD 701-762),
is another tourist attraction that will be affected by the dam. As
the town is currently surrounded by water on three sides, the
rising water will eventually turn it into a small island.
In the Xiling Gorge, known for its perilous waters, it will become
difficult to tell where the Military Book and Sword Gorge are, and
where Ox Liver and Horse Lung Gorge are.
But most importantly, traditional Ming and Qing dynasties
residences in Xintan, a small town west of the Xiling Gorge, will
be swallowed during the second phase of the dam project between
1998 and 2003, when the water level will rise as high as 135
metres. Most are expected to be demolished, while only a few will
be moved out of the gorge area and rebuilt.
_____________________________________________________________

_Date: 12/13/97_
_Author: Ji Tao_
_Copyright© by China Daily_

***************************************************************************

Travel Notes (Page 5, Date: 12/13/97)
Mount Wutai
ONE of China's four famous Buddhist mountains, Mount Wutai is not
only a "mecca" for Buddhists throughout the country, but also a
tourist attraction for laymen.
Located in Shanxi Province's Xinzhou Prefecture, Mount Wutai
boasts 190 well-preserved Buddhist temples with more than 80,000
images of Buddha. There are more than 2,000 Buddhist monks and
nuns in the area.
In order to revitalize Buddhist culture and develop regional
tourism, the local government has organized a series of tourist
activities this winter, including enjoying snow scene tours,
skating, vegetarian feasts with monks and nuns, and a painting and
calligraphy contest.
Slavery and space
CHENGDU -- The Liangshan Yi Autonomous Prefecture provides
tourists with an opportunity to view aspects of the former
notorious slave system and China's space industry, which features
the cream of modern technology, in a single day.
Slavery prevailed in Liangshan, in Southwest China's Sichuan
Province, until the 1950s, and the prefecture is currently
attempting to take full advantage of its unique resources to
attract tourists.
Attractions include a local slavery museum, primitive forests,
high mountains and beautiful lakes, as well as the Xichang
Satellite Launch Centre, the only facility of its kind in China
open to visitors.
In 1996 alone, the centre hosted over 70,000 visitors curious
about China's fledgling space industry, with related earnings
standing at 5.38 million yuan ($648,000).
The local government is making great efforts to develop the local
tourism and plans to transform it into a pillar industry.
Local travel agencies have introduced a series of activities in
recent years to promote the local tourism industry, including
expeditions, tours and an international cross-country race.
(CD-Xinhua)
_____________________________________________________________

_Date: 12/13/97_
_Author: _
_Copyright© by China Daily_

***************************************************************************

What's on (Page 6, Date: 12/13/97)
EXHIBITIONS
Caricature show -- The Second Asian Caricature Tour Exhibition
will come to Beijing on December 17.
On display are 90 works by 11 artists from nine Asian countries.
From different angles, the artists mean to raise the public
awareness of disturbing issues including world population growth.
The event is organized by the China International Exhibition
Exchange Agency.
Time: 9 am-5 pm, December 17-21
Place: 111 Jiaodaokou Dongdajie, Dongcheng District
Tel: 6403-1631, 6401-5552
Abstract art -- More than 200 abstract oil paintings are on show
at the J. B. Studio on the east side of the embassy area.
Time: 9 am-5 pm, daily
Place: J. B. Studio, Guanghua Xili, Jianwai Dajie, Chaoyang
District
Tel: 6594-0161
Contemporary art -- Red Gate Gallery will host an exhibition of
original works by contemporary Chinese artists of the past 10
years.
On show are works by Su Xinping, Zeng Fanzhi, Guo Jin, Liu Qinghe,
Zhang Yajie, Wang Lifeng, Ai An, Zhou Jing, Zheng Xuewu and
Aniwar, who have been selected for the 1998 calendar and past
calendars.
Time: 11 am-6 pm, until December 31
Place: Level 3, China World Hotel, 1 Jianwai Dajie, Chaoyang
District
Tel: 6505-2266 ext 6821/5729
Modern oil paintings -- Zhang Xiaogang's oil painting show,
"Bloodline: The Big Family," will be held at the gallery of the
Central Academy of Fine Arts.
In this series, Zhang presented a style of charcoal portraiture
once very popular in China in the 1950s and the 1960s and chose
old photographs with strong local characteristics as his subjects.
The photographs were typical family portraits of the kind found in
most Chinese households.
From a historical point of view, Zhang depicts the uniformity of
people living during a specific period inviting the audience to
reflect on this period.
Time: 9 am-5 pm, December 14-25
Place: 5 Xiaowei Hutong, Wangfujing Street
Tel: 6528-4838
CONCERTS
Symphonic concerts -- Two symphonic concerts, "Sentiment from Silk
and Bamboo," will feature concerto works for traditional Chinese
music instruments.
The concertos incorporate traditional Chinese solo instruments
into Western-style symphonic orchestra, offering concert-goers a
unique experience in the integration of East and West.
The programme will cover "Dragons Fly and Tigers Jump (Chinese
percussion instruments)" by soloist Li Congnong, "Travel Across
Qinchuan (banhu)" by soloist Jiang Kemei, "Xiang Yu Taking Off His
Armour (pipa)" by soloist Zhang Yongyan, "A Tale of Bao Gong
(suona)" by soloist Feng Xiaoquan, "The God of Luo River (zheng)"
by soloist Lin Ling and "Diao Chan, an Ancient Beauty (bamboo
flute)" by soloist Zeng Shaobin.
The concert will be accompanied by the National Opera and Ballet
Theatre of China.
Time: 7:30 pm, January 10, 1998
Place: Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Beixinhuajie, Xicheng District
Time: 7:30 pm January 17
Place: Century Theatre, Nanliang-maqiaolu, Chaoyang District
Tel: 6466-4810
New Year's Concert -- China's three major symphony orchestras --
China Philharmonic Orchestra, the Shanghai Philharmonic Orchestra
and the Beijing Philharmonic Orchestra -- will present a '98
Beijing New Year's Eve Concert at the Great Hall of the People.
An army of famous Chinese musicians will display their talents at
the concert including conductors Chen Zuohuang, Chen Xieyang and
Tan Lihua; pianist Liu Shikun; violinist Yu Lina; and tenor singer
Mo Hualun.
The programme includes popular Chinese music pieces "Ode to the
Red Flag," "The Pearl of the East," "Butterfly Lovers" and "The
Torch Festival." Meanwhile, the concert will present a group of
Western classical music pieces familiar to Chinese music fans.
Time: 8 pm, December 31
Place: The Great Hall of the People, west of the Tian'anmen Square
Tel: 6618-1426, 6615-7879, 6517-1021, 6517-1024
Russian songs -- Cheng Zhi and Wang Xiufeng will lead the chorus
featuring Russian songs, sung by the chorus of the Song and Dance
Ensemble of the Political Department of the Chinese People's
Liberation Army.
Familiar songs include "Red Plum Flowers Bloom," "Path," "Night at
the Moscow Suburbs," "Weaving Girls," "Harbour's Night," "Holy
War," "Youth League's Song" and "We Toast."
Time: 7:30 pm, December 14.
Place: Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Beixinhuajie, Xicheng District
Tel: 6605-5812
Military music -- The Military Band of the Chinese People's
Liberation Army will hold a military music concert for the coming
New Year.
Yu Hai will conduct.
Time: 7:30 pm, December 17.
Place: Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Beixinhuajie, Xicheng District
Tel: 6605-5812
Selected songs -- A series of concerts will be held.
Folk songs include "On the Golden Hill of Beijing," "Emotional
Earth," "The Sun Rises on the Prairie," "Ode Song," "Toast Song,"
"On the Songhua River" and "Sing while Beating the Drum."
Time: 7:30 pm, December 21, 22, and 23.
Place: Beijing Concert Hall, 1 Beixinhuajie, Xicheng District
Tel: 6605-5812
Tea and jazz -- The Wide Angle Jazz Band will perform on the
second floor of Sanwei Bookstore.
Audience members can enjoy hot tea, cold beer and cool jazz at the
teahouse.
Time: 9-11 pm, every Friday.
Saturday night at Sanwei Bookstore is a night for Chinese folk
music. Enchanting Chinese melodies will flow from the Chinese
dulcimer, zither and bamboo flute.
Time: 8:30-10:30 pm, every Saturday
Place: Sanwei Bookstore, 60 Fuxingmennei Dajie, Xicheng District,
across the street from Cultural Palace of Nationalities.
Tel: 6601-3204
EVENT
Sounding the Bell -- The Beijing Ancient Bells Museum will hold a
grand evening party on New Year's Eve in western Beijing.
Visitors are welcome to spend the night with their families at the
Great Bell Temple, participating in a series of cultural
activities.
They can watch Yangko dance, martial arts, lion and dragon dances,
ethnic minority dances, and bianzhong (chimes), sample snacks or
buy New Year souvenirs like scrolls and handicrafts.
They can also gain extensive knowledge about ancient bells from
home and abroad and the process of founding a bell.
Time: 9:30 pm-0:00 am, December 31
Place: Beijing Ancient Bells Museum, A31 Beisanhuan Xilu, Haidian
District
Tel: 6254-1972, 6255-0819, 6255-7566
STAGE
Peking Opera -- To commemorate the 150th birthday of Tan Xinpei, a
renowned Peking Opera guru, the Grand Chang'an Theatre will
present eight sought-after operas from Friday.
Performers include the disciples of Tan School and more than 50
celebrated artists from eight provinces and cities.
Highlights of the operas:
December 13: Yang Silang Visits His Mother (Si Lang Tan Mu): An
episode from the Yang Family Generals, this story takes place in
the Song Dynasty (960-1279)
December 14: Meeting of Heroes (Qun Ying Hui), one of the episodes
from the famous classic novel "The Romance of the Three Kingdoms."
Borrowing the East Wind (Jie Dongfeng), an episode from the Battle
at Chibi fought during the Three Kingdoms Period.
December 15: Chang Ban Po, also an episode from the Three Kingdoms
Period.
December 16: Lian Huan Tao
Time: 13-16
Place: Grand Chang'an Theatre, 7 Jianguomennei Dajie, Chaoyang
District
Tel: 6510-1155, 6510-1308
Pop from Sweden -- Look Twice from Sweden will perform to mark the
fifth birthday of the China Central Television Overseas Centre.
Look Twice was set up in 1993 by Imre and Wincent. The two young
men both favoured dance and pop music, and established their
reputations with such danceable numbers as "Shake That Rump,"
"Move That Body," "Mr Dance and Mr Groove" and "That's the Way (I
Like It)."
Their performance include "Heartbeat," "Victim," "Feel the Night,"
"Me and My Boys," "Good Vibration" and "All the Ladies."
Time: 7 pm, December 13-14
Place: College Students Gymnasium, Beisanhuan, west of Jimen Qiao,
Xicheng District
Tel 6615-1655, 6232-6655 ext 1524
_____________________________________________________________

_Date: 12/13/97_
_Author: _
_Copyright© by China Daily_

***************************************************************************

[INLINE]
[INLINE]

Updated on September 24, 1997

[INLINE]

[INLINE]

_[1]The 15th Party Congress_

_[2]Sep. 12 - Sep.18, 1997_

[INLINE]

[3][LINK] _[4]General Secretary Jiang Zemin's
Report to the 15th Party Congress_
[5][LINK] _[6]New Party Leadership elected,
Top Leaders' Profiles_
[7][LINK] _[8]Communique of 15th CPC Central
Committee's First Plenum_

[INLINE]

Feedback: [9]cd...@chinadaily.net

_Copyright by CBnet ®, China Daily Information_

References

1. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtg124.html
2. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtg124.html
3. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/report.html
4. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/report.html
5. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtgb46.html
6. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtgb46.html
7. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtgb09.html
8. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/15/engtgb09.html
9. mailto:cd...@chinadaily.net

***************************************************************************

[INLINE] __



[1][LINK]

[2][LINK]

[3][LINK]

[4][LINK]

[INLINE]

_Chinese, U.S. Presidents Hold Press Conference _

WASHINGTON, October 30 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Jiang
Zemin and U.S. President Bill Clinton have agreed that China
and the United States should strengthen cooperation in
building a strategic partnership oriented toward the 21st
century, with a view to promoting world peace and
development.
This was stated by Jiang during a joint press conference by
the two presidents Wednesday.
The two presidents also shared the view of holding regular
visits between the two countries' heads of state,
facilitating a Washington-Beijing presidential communications
link, triggering the mechanism of a regular exchange of
visits by foreign ministers and other cabinet officials, as
well as strengthening cooperation in economic, scientific and
technological, cultural, educational fields and in law
enforcement.
Jiang described his talks with Clinton as "constructive and
fruitful," and believed that his ongoing visit could attain
the goal of enhancing mutual understanding, broadening common
ground, developing cooperation and building the future.
The two presidents also agreed to handle bilateral relations
and differences in line with the principles of mutual
respect, non-interference in each other's internal affairs,
equality and mutual benefit, and seeking common ground while
putting aside differences.
Clinton said that Jiang's visit to the United States gave
them the opportunity and the responsibility to build a future
that is more secure, more peaceful, more prosperous for both
peoples.
The two countries share a profound interest in a stable,
prosperous and open Asia, and a strong interest in stopping
the spread of weapons of mass destruction and other
sophisticated weaponry, Clinton said.
He said he agreed to move ahead with the U.S.-China agreement
for cooperation concerning the peaceful use of nuclear
energy.
In both China and the United States, trade has been a
critical catalyst for growth, and China is the fastest
growing market in the world for America's goods and services,
Clinton said. He also said the United States would "do
everything possible to bring China into the World Trade
Organization."
Referring to the Taiwan issue, Jiang said that China wishes
to effect the peaceful reunification of the motherland by
means of implementing Deng Xiaoping's concept of "one
country, two systems."
But China is not committed to giving up the use of force in
this regard, he said, adding that this does not target the
Taiwan compatriots, but direct against the foreign force
interfering in Taiwan affairs and against the scheme that
would attempt to separate Taiwan from China.
On the human rights issue, Jiang said the current world is a
rich and diverse one, and concepts on democracy and human
rights and on freedoms are relative and specific ones.
Therefore, they should be determined by the specific national
situation of different countries.

References

1. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/visit/report.htm
2. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/visit/d1-jiang_j15.htm
3. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/visit/comment.htm
4. http://www.chinadaily.net/cndy/history/visit/backgrnd.htm

***************************************************************************