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.

    BEIJING/TAIPEI, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) — A memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by the financial regulatory authorities of the Chinese mainland and Taiwan took effect on Saturday, paving the way for financial cooperation across the Taiwan Strait.

    The MOU focuses on supervisory cooperation in fields of banking, securities, futures and insurance. It provides for thresholds and preferential policies for both sides to enter each other’s market.

    The MOU is expected to bring about new bank branches, stake subscription and acquisition chances for the two sides’ investors in each other’s market.

    Following the MOU, seven Taiwan bank offices in the mainland can be upgraded as branches. They have operated in the mainland for more than two years.

    Many mainland banks also expressed wishes to open branches in Taiwan, including the Bank of China (BOC), Industrial and Commercial Bank of China, China Construction Bank and China Merchants Bank, according to the Taiwan authorities.

    Zhao Rong, the BOC spokeswoman, said the bank had already completed the preparatory work for establishing its Taiwan branch.

    The bank would submit its application documents as soon as detailed regulations regarding financial cooperation between the mainland and Taiwan come out, Zhao said.

    The Taiwan authorities also relaxed requirements for mainlander to invest in Taiwan’s stock market.

    And for the initial stage, the aggregate ceiling capital for investments into Taiwan stock market by mainland’s qualified domestic institutional investors (QDII) should not exceed 500 million U.S. dollars, said the Taiwan authorities on Friday.

    SHANGHAI, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) — Shanghai World Expo coordinators are considering a plan to exhibit the changed landscape of Haitian capital Port-au-Prince before and after the earthquake, to make a stronger presence of the country to the world.

    ”We plan to present the views of the quake-devastated capital before and after the earthquake in the Haitian Hall to call for more attention and supports from the international community for its reconstruction,” said He Lihua, an exhibition official

    ”We have made initial agreement with Courtney Rattray, deputy representative of the Caribbean countries to the Expo, and we are soliciting opinions from the Haiti authorities,” He said.

    ”No answer has come yet,” He added.

    Member states of the Caribbean Community will have a joint participation in the Expo. The pavilion has been completed, in which Haitian hall covers about 250 square meters.

    ”We will guarantee the participation of Haiti at the Expo as originally planned,” said Zhou Jun, head of the exhibition department under the Bureau of Shanghai World Expo Coordination.



Chinese President calls on whole nation to support Shanghai World Expo

Hu Jintao (L front), general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, Chinese president and chairman of the Central Military Commission, shakes hands with workers and personnel who work for the construction of the Shanghai World Expo park in Shanghai, east China, Jan. 15, 2010. Hu Jintao paid a visit here to inspect the preparation of Shanghai World Expo on Jan. 15. (Xinhua/Ju Peng)

    SHANGHAI, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) — Chinese President Hu Jintao Friday called on the Chinese people to pool their strength and resources to make sure the Shanghai World Expo a success.

    With just 106 days to go before the Expo opening on May 1, Hu visited the Expo site Friday during an inspection tour in Shanghai. Full story

Special Report:  Expo 2010 Shanghai China  

    BEIJING, Jan. 16 – A pavilion for Shanghai Expo 2010 will become China’s first public building to have zero-carbon emissions, China National Radio reported Saturday.

An artist’s rendition of the zero-carbon emission building complex (Xinhua Photo)

    The building complex will be powered by solar, wind and water energy. Food scraps also will be used to produce electricity through decomposition.

    The complex, built by environmentally friendly materials, will house a lecture hall, a restaurant, an exhibition hall and six model rooms.

    Chen Shuo, general coordinator of the project, told reporters that the building mainly demonstrates a way of dealing with climate change.

    ”After the Expo is over, it will become China’s first zero-carbon museum,” Chen said.

    (Source: Chinadaily.com.cn)

Special Report:  Expo 2010 Shanghai China  

    FUZHOU, Jan. 16 (Xinhua) — Seven people were killed and three injured after a minibus plunged off a hillside in east China’s Fujian Province Friday, local authorities said Saturday.

    The accident occurred at 7:19 p.m. in Gande town in Anxi County, leaving seven dead, including three children, said the Anxi county government.

    One of the injured who suffered from severe blood loss is in stable condition, according to doctors.

    All the passengers in the private minibus are relatives, the government said.

    The local authorities have launched an investigation into the accident.