¡¡GUIYANG, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) — At least seven people were confirmed dead after a moderate earthquake jolted the juncture area of three counties in southwest China’s Guizhou Province Sunday, earthquake authorities said Monday.

    The quake, measuring 3.4 on the Richter scale struck at 5:37 p.m. Sunday, according to China Earthquake Administration.

    At least one person was missing and nine others injured, including two seriously, said the Anshun City Emergency Management Office. All the injured are receiving treatment at hospital.

    With a depth of about 7 km, the epicenter was detected at 25.6 degrees north latitude and 105.8 degrees east longitude in a juncture area between Guanling Buyi and Miao Autonomous County, Zhenning Buyi and Miao Autonomous County and Zhenfeng county, according to China Earthquake Administration.

    The quake triggered landslides at two sites, causing casualties, according to the administration.

    GUIYANG, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) — Three people were killed after a moderate earthquake measuring 4.0 on the Richter scale jolted southwest China’s Guizhou Province Sunday, local government said.

    URUMQI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) — Text messaging services began to resume Sunday for mobile phone users in northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, six months after the July 5 riot in the regional capital of Urumqi.

    The services were “gradually” restored since midnight Sunday, said an official with the information office of the regional government.

    Local residents sent text messages to their family members and friends as soon as they got the news.

    The access for Xinjiang residents to two websites, namely xinhuanet.com and people.com.cn, were restored on Dec. 28, followed by access to another two portal websites, or sina.com.cn and sohu.com, on Jan. 10.

    Other services had also been resumed, including online banking, online securities trading, online student enrollment and text messages of weather forecast, the official said.

    Internet connection and mobile phone text messaging services were cut in some areas of Xinjiang after the deadly July 5 riot, in a move to quench the riot quickly and prevent violence from happening again.

    The move proved to be effective in dealing with the riot and maintaining stability of the region. However, it also brought inconveniences to people’s lives, the official said.

    CHANGSHA, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) — China’s investment in water conservancy projects reached a record high of 142.7 billion yuan (20.9 billion U.S. dollars) in 2009, Minister of Water Resources Chen Lei said Sunday.

    The total spending more than doubled the investment of 65.54 billion yuan in 2008.

    Among last year’s spending, 63.7 billion yuan were from the central budget while the rest from provincial-level governments, Chen said.

    The massive investment last year had pushed forward maintenance and upgrading of 6,124 reservoirs around the country, and helped nearly 61 million people gain access to safe drinking water, said Chen.

    Between 2008 and 2009, the country added another 1.17 billion cubic meters in its water storing capacity and improved irrigation systems on 57.7 million mu (about 3.84 million hectares) of farmland, said Chen.

    In 2009 alone, another 3 million kilowatts were added to the installed capacity of rural hydro power plants, bringing the total capacity to 54 million kw. The annual power output exceeded 150 billion kilowatt-hours.

    URUMQI, Jan. 17 (Xinhua) — Having plagued by blizzards and cold snaps over the past weeks, Altay in the northern part of northwest China’s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, however, is bringing fun to locals with snow nearly 50 cm thick on average on its pastures.

    Altay, boasting one of the longest history of skiing with ancient rock paintings discovered there depicting skiing activities dating back to 12,000 years ago.

    To mark one of the origin places for skiing around the world, awinter ski festival is being held at Mount Jiangjun ski run in Altay. The festival has attracted 105 people of Kazakh and Mongolians ethnic groups from all parts of Altay and neighboring areas to strive for the 5th Champion of the traditional Kazakh-style skiing.

    Last week saw 1 meter of snow fall in some areas of Altay, with temperature touching the low point of minus 42 degree Celsius.

    However, such snow and coldness did not dispel local people’s passion for skiing and other fun in winter. Apart from the above-mentioned contestants, thousands of tourists and ski fans have been tempted to the ski run.

    Guo Dandan, the first Chinese style-ski world champion, said that the ski run was one of the best ones in China, and the snow condition there was of world-class.

    Altay Mountains are situated on the conjunction of China, Kazakhstan, Russia and Mongolia and in the very center of Asia. The far distance away from oceans makes the area cold, but less windy, which allows the perfect conditions for skiing.

    In ancient days, people of the local Kazakh ethnic group used the ski-boards for hunting, and the tradition has been passed on to present day.

    According to Nils Larsen, an American expert having documented skiing in the Altay Mountains since 2005, use of single pole and horse furs in the bottom of ski board make the traditional Kazakh-style skiing in Altay stands out in the sport worldwide.

    ”There are also some traditional ski styles in Russia and some of the Scandinavian countries, but the one in Altay is probably the best retained. And Altay itself is such an interesting and beautiful place, I have kept coming back every year since the first time I was here,” said Nils, who is trying to make his second documentary about skiing in Altay Mountains.

    Actually, there is more than ski in Altay. Since 2003, ice-engraving has gradually become a very important part of life in Altay winter. There are more than 50 pieces of ice-engraving works exhibited this winter. The illuminations at night make the ice sculptures look even more beautiful. Lots of local families enjoy the icy art works on the spot.

    ”The snow this year was probably the heaviest I’ve ever seen. Indeed it has caused troubles to some extent. But I love snow and winter, since it brings more fun,” said Murat, a 17-year old Kazakh who went for the ice-engraving park with his family.

    BEIJING, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) — Due to another cold front, most parts of China will see snow, rain and temperature drops up to 18 degrees Celsius in the next three days, the National Meteorological Center (NMC) said on Saturday.

    According to the forecast, a strong cold front will hit northern part of Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Sunday night and then move eastwards to China’s central and eastern regions, along with strong winds, temperature drops and snow.

    Temperatures might drop 8 to 12 degrees Celsius in Xinjiang, Gansu Province, northern part of Qinghai Province and western part of Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, up to 14 to 18 degrees Celsius in certain areas.

    The cold front will bring rain to Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, Guangdong Province, Sichuan basin, northern part of Guizhou Province and southern part of Yunnan Province, according to the forecast.