Chengdu: Holiday in central China for culture, food and nature

( original article from http://malaysia.travel.yahoo.com )

By Yahoo! Newsroom

If you like Sichuan food, then Chengdu is the place for you. But this central Chinese city has so much more to offer than just food even if its dishes are among the most famous and spiciest of China’s cuisines.


Sichuan cuisine is world renowned.


Chengdu offers an unbeatable combination of wildlife and culture along with its food and traditional tea houses. Located in Sichuan province, central China, Chengdu is the first stop to the Tibetan highlands. Visitors can use Chengdu as a base to see Tibetan culture in mountain villages and even to visit Tibet by train or a direct flight to Lhasa.

It is also the gateway to China’s famous giant panda reserve. Nature lovers from all over the world are drawn to Chengdu for the rare chance to see the giant pandas in their natural habitat. The Panda Research Base is home to 60 giant pandas and a colony of red pandas. The giant panda is an endangered species and the park is the only place in the world where the chubby black-and-white pandas can be seen close up, surrounded by bamboo, the panda’s main source of food, and in its mountain habitat.

Chengdu is also a city of culture. The Qingyang Temple complex is one of the most famous Taoist temples in China. Built during the height of Taoism during the Tang Dynasty in the 7th century, the temple expanded throughout the centuries. One of the highlights is the Eight Trigrams Pavilion, a square pavilion with a glazed dome.

The capital of the Qin Dynasty, Chengdu is believed to be one of the oldest cities in the world, dating back as much as 4,000 years.

Among the sights to see in Chengdu are:
Visit:

Qingyang Temple is the most famous temple in Chengdu.

Chun Xi Street is the city’s hip district where you can find designer stores and local boutiques. Snack on “long chao shou”, a local dumpling in a spicy red sauce which is characteristic of Sichuan food.

Qingyang Temple: Don’t miss breathtaking views from the Eight Trigrams Pavilion.

Sanxing Dui Museum: See spectacular Shang Dynasty jade, gold and bronze pieces at this memorial to the ancient Shu culture of the Yangtze River which goes back some 4,000 years.

Chengdu Panda Breeding and Research Centre where aside from watching and photographing pandas from a distance, visitors can have their photo taken next to a panda for around $14.

Wander around Jinli Ancient Street, a colorful peddler market street with temples, a river and bridges.

Sichuan Opera: A visit to the famous opera is a must. Between the fire breathing performers, traditional Chinese music and singing and elegant dancers, the evening is bound to be a cultural treat.

Eat:
Experience eating at a local tea house in Chengdu.

Wenshu Yuan: A picturesque alley full of eateries that specialize in traditional Chinese dishes made entirely from vegetarian ingredients. There are a range of eateries in the quaint alley and the ambiance is enhanced by performers playing traditional musical instruments such as the Chinese harp.

Jinli Ancient Street: Here you can try Sichuan street food at a variety of stalls renowned for selling spicy snacks made from fresh ingredients.

Tea houses: One of the nicest is in a pagoda at Du Fu Cottage, the former home to one of China’s most famous poets. Watch locals play mah-jong and sip Longjing Tea. Another favorite teahouse is Shu Feng Ya Yunm, near Qingyang Temple. A visit to this traditional teahouse often requires an advanced booking.

Veranda Bridge Restaurant: Splurge at this Sichuan-style restaurant which is one of the most expensive in Chengdu and reputed to have the best food. The restaurant is located on an ancient bridge so expect a magical evening.

Make a side trip to:

The panda sanctuary is situated near the Bi Feng Gorge.

Luodai: A visit to this ancient town can be done in just a day. The charming town is inhabited by the Hakka minority and it takes just an hour to get there. There’s a replica of the Great Wall of China nearby.

Bi Feng Gorge: About two hours from Chengdu, there are some lovely walks along the stunning gorge with views of waterfalls and rivers. Located near the panda sanctuary, this is the giant panda‘s natural mountain habitat in all its glory.

Hailuogo Glacier: This national park is about a 9 hour drive from Chengdu. As the name suggests, the scenery of steep mountain slopes is stunning.

Danba: Spend a few days in this village high in the mountains where you can experience Tibetan culture. See distinctive Tibetan houses and marvel at the magnificent views. Visit ancient stone watchtowers that date back almost 2,000 years and the remnants of a Chinese castle. It takes about 10 hours to get to the region but some of the trains have sleeper cars.

China's Hottest Cuisine Yes, it's spicy. But what exactly makes Sichuan food so special?

(original article from http://online.wsj.com/)



By MITCH MOXLEY

CHENGDU—Chef Zhou Shizhong's chopping knife is poised for the kill.

"You have to be quick," he tells his class, a soft-shelled turtle squirming under his palm. "Or else it'll keep hiding."

A tiny head appears. An expert slash to the neck. A squirt of blood. Students squeal and snap photos with their mobile phones as Chef Zhou whisks the twitching turtle into a wok of boiling water.

"Poor thing," a student says. "So cruel," laments another, covering her mouth and giggling.

I'm attending class at the Sichuan Higher Institute of Cuisine on the outskirts of the provincial capital, where about 50 students, dressed in paper hats and forest-green aprons, are watching a master at work. Standing beside a tray of ingredients including bean sauce, cooking wine and MSG, Chef Zhou, a 21-year veteran of the kitchen, guides students through the steps of preparing Sichuan classics: spicy chicken, pork with rice chips and braised turtle with potatoes—which, it turns out, is quite tasty.

These squeamish students, and the 8,200 others who are enrolled in the college—including about 15 foreigners—are training for careers as chefs and restaurant and hotel managers. Expressed more grandly, they're being groomed to serve as ambassadors for what's often considered China's best cuisine.

Last March, Sichuan's capital was designated a Unesco City of Gastronomy, Asia's first. Forget Paris or Tokyo—the world's only three official gastronomic cities are Popayan, Columbia, Östersund, Sweden, and Chengdu, best known for its nearby panda center. The designation is part of Unesco's Creative Cities Network, which seeks to promote social, economic and cultural development in urban centers around the world. To be declared a gastonomic city requires meeting rigorous criteria—a well-developed cuisine that uses local ingredients, a vibrant community of chefs and traditional restaurants, a tradition of culinary practices and cooking methods that have withstood technological advancements and more.

The Institute played a big part in achieving Chengdu's designation, with its professors helping to write the application. Now, it's sending students abroad, part of a larger effort to promote Sichuan cuisine to the world.

American photographer James Wasserman and I recently set out to find out what, exactly, makes Sichuan food so special. We discovered a city where eating is always an adventure, where you rarely go wrong by closing your eyes and pressing your finger on a menu, and where food is a source of cultural pride.

Sichuan food is renowned for its intense, spicy flavors, owed to the liberal use of chili peppers, numbing Sichuan peppercorn, bean paste and garlic. Westerners are familiar with versions of some classic Sichuan (also spelled Szechuan) fare—think kung pao chicken. But the cuisine features some 5,000 dishes, the vast majority seldom tasted beyond China's borders.

The province is hoping to change that by increasing Sichuan food's appeal abroad and by promoting Chengdu as a tourist destination not just for pandas, but for steaming plates of braised turtle as well.

Chengdu's Vice Mayor, Wang Zhonglin, has said he is "vigorously devoted to a food-culture industry," and the city recently hosted its seventh China International Food Tourism Festival, promoting Sichuan cuisine to delegations from 22 countries.

Sichuan even boasts its own food museum. Built in 2007, the Chengdu Sichuan Cuisine Museum cost 100 million yuan (US$15 million), covers 12,000 square meters and features more than 3,000 bronze, pottery, porcelain and wood cookers dating back 2,000 years.

Our first night in town we check out Xiaotan Douhua, a little place not far from our hotel. Opened in 1924, this hole-in-the-wall popular with locals offers 33 combinations of noodles and soft tofu, the choices written on wooden tablets hanging on the wall. I ask the chain-smoking chef, Li Xi Chao, to recommend some dishes. "I like them all!" he replies.

We take the advice of the old lady at the counter and order bowls of san zi dou hua, a tangy mixture of tofu, strips of fried dough and soy beans in a spicy-sour broth; dou hua cao zi mian, thin noodles with tofu and chopped onion; and a plate of buttery-tasting chopped beef with coriander and garlic. The dishes blend perfectly, not overpowering but with enough bite to make our foreheads' sweat. The san zi dou hua, in particular, is a triumph.

For a light lunch the next day we stop at Wen Shu Yuan temple's vegetarian restaurant, where we eat a refreshing meal of cold tofu in soy sauce and oil, and fresh greens with walnuts—a nice palate-cleanser after last night's spice.

One of the requirements of the Unesco designation is a wet market, and Chengdu has several. We venture to a major market in the Qing Yang district, where we snack on sweet-potato noodles and fresh spring rolls before browsing the market's many offerings. Shoppers wander among buckets of frogs (illegal, my interpreter says), fish and eels and tables of skinned rabbits and dozens of bean pastes. Stalls offer pickled peppers, ginger, radishes, tofu and stacks of fresh vegetables. There are numerous brands of MSG on offer, including Wang Sho Yi Chicken Essence Seasoning, whose label features a smiling cartoon chicken giving a thumbs-up. And then there are the likes of pig brain, duck gizzard and cow stomach and throat—all popular additions to fiery Sichuan hot pot.

Based on several recommendations, we visit Jin Li Street, famous for its xiao chi ("small eats"). This turns out to be a disappointment. We try bean thread noodles with shredded cucumber and carrots in a spicy-sweet sauce; "fish fragrant" pork slices with steamed lettuce and cloud ear shreds; and a mysterious dish of sour vegetables and meat pieces. We finish it off with a dessert-like item named "three big bombs"—balls of glutinous rice flour the chef bounces off a table fitted with bells.

It's hit-and-miss—I get the feeling this street is just a bit too touristy for great dining. James takes particular offense at the mix of spicy and sweet in the combined dishes. "My tongue's going crazy right now," he says.

The next night we dine with Taylor Gregson, a 27-year-old from Vermont who spent last summer studying Sichuan cooking at a local college. We meet at Wen Xiang Old Courtyard, where Mr. Gregson tells me about his course over a dinner of shredded pork, stir fried vegetables, spicy boiled fish and dry pot mushrooms with tea leaves.

Mr. Gregson, the only foreigner in his class, "was thrown in from day one," learning three new dishes a day and, for homework, perfecting knife skills and flipping dirt in a pan. The highlight? "When I finally cooked something that tasted good."

Mr. Gregson is one of a short but growing line of foreigners seeking out Sichuan's secrets. British author Fuchsia Dunlop, author of "Shark's Fin and Sichuan Pepper: A Sweet-Sour Memoir of Eating in China," was the first foreigner to attend the Sichuan Higher Institute of Cuisine and has helped introduce the province's fare to an international audience.

Ms. Dunlop says it's a misconception to label Sichuan food as simply spicy. In fact, the cuisine offers a "bouquet of flavors," she says, with gradations of spice combined with other tastes, such as sweet and sour (curiously called "lychee flavor") and ginger juice. "They like to say '100 dishes has 100 different flavors.' You never get bored."

As China continues to open, Ms. Dunlop says, more people are realizing just how good Sichuan food is. "In China in general people tend to be very obsessed with food, but in Sichuan there is a sense they have something marvelous here," she says. "It's really a moment for Chinese regional cuisines to come out to the world."

While the world takes notice of Sichuan, the province is also learning from the outside world. (This isn't new: Chili peppers were introduced by the Spanish, via Latin America, some 400 years ago.) In Chengdu, several restaurants—including Gingko, Zi Fi and Yunmen Emerald Restaurant—are combining Sichuan classics with modern and molecular cooking.

Meanwhile, the Sichuan Institute sends about 150 students a year to work in the U.S., Europe, Singapore, the Middle East and elsewhere, part of what Chef Zhou tells me is a mutually beneficial cultural exchange. The students pay 30,000 yuan ($4,550) for the opportunity (which the college says they'll make back in six months) and work in both Chinese and Western restaurants. Many of the students go on to open Sichuan restaurants abroad, while others bring back techniques and ingredients that are introduced into local dishes.

Fan Dong Yun, a 20-year-old culinary arts student, is in a special class that prepares students to go abroad. Next June, he will have his first internship—on a cruise ship, he hopes. He says he's excited to meet cooks from other parts of the world and to exchange recipes.

Mr. Fan tells me he's fond of all types of food, but when I ask his favorite, he scoffs: "Sichuan food, of course."

$5 flights on AirAsia sale

(original article from http://www.aviationrecord.com)




By Honey

AirAsia is promoting travel to destinations like London, Paris, Tokyo, Bangkok, Mumbai, and Bali with its AirAsia’s World Domination Sale.

This sale lowers fares across most of its network, starting January 17 until February 6, 2011, for travel between July 1 and September 30, 2011. Fares start from as low as $5.

Routes on AirAsia’s new Flight Transfer Service, which allows guests to connect more easily between flights, are on sale including Melbourne to Kuala Lumpur from $199*, London (Stansted) from $429* and Mumbai from $289* one way.

From Perth, AirAsia has sale fares to Kuala Lumpur from $149*, Mumbai, Chengdu and New Delhi from $239* and London from $379* one way.

Fares from the Gold Coast to Kuala Lumpur start from $199*, Chengdu from $289* and Hangzhou from $309* one way.

There are also dozens of destinations on sale from AirAsia’s Kuala Lumpur hub, including Kota Bahru, Langkawi and Penang from $5*; and Medan, adang and Singapore from $12* one way.

One way fares from Kuala Lumpur to Bangkok, Jakarta, Ho Chi Minh start from $19*; Krabi from $26*; Bali from $33*; Hanoi and Chiang Mai from $46* and Tianjin and Chengdu from $65*.

Flights to Mumbai and New Delhi start from $69*; Taipei from $87*; Seoul from $138*; Tokyo from $156*, London from $207* and Paris from
$225* one way.

“AirAsia’s latest big sale really spoils travellers for choice when it comes to choosing their next holiday destination,” AirAsia X head of commercial, Darren Wright said.

“You really can see more of the world easily with AirAsia as our network continues to grow with new routes such as Paris and improvements like our Flight Transfer Service.”


AirAsia’s Flight Transfer Service allows guests to book all the way to their end destination and avoid immigration queues when connecting
between flights at the airline’s hub in Kuala Lumpur.

The new system is available for selected flights on AirAsia X long haul routes covering China, India, Taiwan, UK, Australia, Japan and Korea.

AirAsia's network covers 139 routes across 76 destinations throughout Asia, Australia and Europe.

Old Chengdu restored to its glorious past

( original article from Sat, Jan 15, 2011
My Sinchew/Asia News Network )

 
 


JINBAO, China - A city steeped in history will always leave a long-lasting impression in people.
The district of Jinbao in Chengdu, China, boasts hundreds of years of history, and some of the old quarters there indeed are worth preserving, such as the "Shorty Stores," the ancient temple and war entrenchment, among others.

These wonderful relics from a bygone era have the potentials of being gazetted as heritage buildings.

The wealth of cultural legacy painstakingly preserved by the Chinese government plays an important role in luring tourists from around the world to the city of Chengdu. One of the amazing things about this burgeoning city is the preservation of the "Broad Alley" and the "Narrow Alley."

"Broad Alley" and "Narrow Alley" are two streets each about a hundred metres long. It has been said that the streets are at least 400 years old.

According to the records, the Qing imperial court dispatched troops to southern China in in 1718, and more than a thousand soldiers were stationed around the place.

Today, these two alleys have been given a new lease of life while their erstwhile appearances restored to their glorious past. Residents living in these alleys have got used to the quiet and peaceful ambience there despite rapid changes taking place in the vicinity over the centuries.

The "Broad Alley" and "Narrow Alley" not only epitomise the ancient yet youthful city of Chengdu, they are also leaving behind indelible memories among the people of Chengu.
The hallmark of Old Chengdu, "Broad Alley" and "Narrow Alley" should be included in the itineraries of backpack travellers visiting the capital city of Sichuan.

Whether you are a local resident, an outsider or merely a foreign visitor, the moment you step inside one of these two quaint little alleys and spend some time sipping a cup of hot tea, you can feel that time has been turned back to the Old Chengdu centuries ago.

If properly restored, the two rows of "shorty stores" along Dugong Street boasting a few hundred years of history, are bound to lure the tourists to come here and savour the life of yesteryear.

If this invaluable historical legacy can be kept, restored, preserved and immortalised, they can make Jinbao a truly memorable place for future generations of residents to rekindle their city's glorious past.

China 'Developing Military Spacecraft'

(original article from http://english.chosun.com)

China is making progress in building an "upper-atmosphere" jet fighter, an official said last week, adding to a flurry of speculation about China's growing air power.

Hong Kong's Ming Pao daily on Tuesday said Shaanxi TV last Saturday quoted acting provincial governor Zhao Zhengyong as saying China has "succeeded in the test flight of a prototype aircraft that can fly through the atmospheric layer." Zhao was visiting a state-run aircraft corporation at Xi'an high-tech industrial development zone.

The channel showed images of a prototype space fighter being assembled whose outward appearance was almost identical to a U.S. pilotless upper-atmosphere military spaceship, the X-37B, the daily said.

The U.S.' pilotless upper-atmosphere military spaceship, the X-37B /Courtesy of the U.S. Air Force

In April last year, the U.S. successfully tested the X-37B, which is about a quarter of the size of existing spacecraft.

The daily said China's development of the aircraft was leaked to the pres like recent stories about its new stealth fighter dubbed the J-20, but authorities were "deleting all Internet posts about the space fighter."

The Ming Pao and the Zhongguo Pinglun (China Review), a news website in Hong Kong, posted an article headlined "China succeeds in spacecraft test flight in tandem with U.S. X-37B" until early Tuesday, but no mainland Chinese media websites mentioned anything about it.

Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said that in a meeting with Chinese President Hu Jintao on Tuesday he expressed concerns about China's test flight of a prototype of the J-20 during his visit. But Hu assured him the timing is not related to his visit, he added.

China's official Xinhua news agency reported a J-20 took off around 12:50 p.m. and landed at 1:11 p.m. after a successful flight of about 18 minutes on Tuesday." It showed 23 stills of the fighter flying over an urban area or in maintenance.

Gates' visit achieved maximum exposure for the images. The U.S. defense secretary had earlier said the Chinese stealth fighter would not be ready until about 2020.

englishnews@chosun.com / Jan. 12, 2011 10:57 KST

Chinese J-20 Stealth Fighter Takes Flight

(original article from http://www.ainonline.com)

By: David Donald

January 11, 2011
Military Aircraft

The prototype of China’s J-20 fighter made its first publicly witnessed flight on January 11 from Chengdu’s factory airfield. The aircraft, which lifted off at 12:50 p.m. local time and landed 18 minutes later, was accompanied by a two-seat J-10S during its flight. The event was witnessed by high-ranking officials, who arrived from Beijing in two VIP Boeing 737s. Initially the flight was scheduled for January 7, but bad visibility in the Chengdu region forced its cancellation.

The appearance of the J-20, China’s first stealth fighter, and its first flight has fueled speculation in many areas. How many prototypes have been built? What are its engines? Was this the first flight? Photos leaked online just last week show a single aircraft engaged in taxi trials with two distinct engine nozzle types; unreliable eyewitness reports have said there are two aircraft, but there is no photographic proof of this.

Speculation on the engine type has centered on the Saturn AL-31FN and the WS-10G with Honglin FADEC system, with the latter seen as the most likely for the aircraft that made the public first flight. However, the high degree of finish of the aircraft, as well as the fact that the flight was undertaken in front of high-ranking dignitaries and in the full view of the general public, has led to suggestions that another “first flight” might have taken place previously at another, more secret location.

It seems likely that the event at Chengdu was timed to coincide with the current visit to Beijing of U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates, and the imminent visit to Washington, D.C., by Chinese president Hu Jintao.

10 trips for every type of traveler

(CNNGo) -- While it's true that most travel destinations aren't like haute couture -- "in" one year and "out" the next -- there are some points on the map particularly worth visiting in 2011.
For good reasons, this is the year to mount a camel, trip through Palau's underwater psychedelia and -- yes, you can -- tackle the mighty Himalayas.
Here's a planner for the year's best trips.

Best adventure trip: Everest base camp
The thrill of high-altitude trekking in Nepal was once available only to a gung-ho few. Recently, the journey has become more accessible.
In April 2011, co-host of international television show Word Travels and travel writer Robin Esrock will lead a trek to the Everest Base Camp with World Expeditions.
The journey begins in Kathmandu Valley and ascends through Sherpa villages to Tengboche Monastery, where awestruck hikers get panoramic views of the rock star mountains of the Himalayas: Tawache, Everest, Nuptse, Lhotse, Ama Dablam.
Hikers will traverse part of the treacherous Khumbu Glacier, followed by an ascent of Kala Pattar (18,192 feet), before stopping at Everest Base Camp.
"In Nepal, acclimatizing is going to be key, as is exercising for several months beforehand to ensure your body can take it," Esrock cautions. "Wearing in your gear is a must, although those incredible Sherpas will no doubt be worth their weight in stardust."
The World Expeditions hike to Everest Base Camp runs April 4-24, 2011, and begins in Kathmandu.
Price is $2,768 per person, including food, trek pack, porters and accommodation.

CNNGo: Where to be, when to go, what to do in 2011

Best foodie trip: Chengdu, Sichuan province, China
In August 2010, the Sichuan capital of Chengdu was honored as a UNESCO City of Gastronomy.
That same month on Twitter, American TV host Andrew Zimmern could barely contain his enthusiasm for the budding food scene. He uploaded a photo of local dumplings that could be mistaken for giant jellyfish. Chengdu's meat market was packed with every type of dried pork, including pig skin face.
For those less adventuresome, an easy first stop on the Chengdu food safari is the bustling Chuan Chuan Xiang hotpot restaurant. Here, meat and vegetables are cooked together rather than piecemeal. (Chuan Chuan Xiang, 45 Double Bridge Road, Chengdu)
Another Chengdu favorite: Grandma Jin's Handmade Noodles (Xiaojiahe St, Chengdu), where hand-pulled "bedspread" noodles resemble a large and chewy sheet. The most popular order is noodles topped with spicy red braised beef.
Located near Wen Shu Temple, the intimate BuddhaZen hotel is highly rated on TripAdvisor and other web forums. The spacious rooms go for $64-$76. (BuddhaZen hotel, B6-6, Wenshufang Street, Qingyang District, Chengdu)

CNNGo: 10 food and drink trends for 2011

Best road trip: Ireland clockwise
The endless highways of North America or Australia are inviting, but in 2011, the Emerald Isle makes for a more mystical (and affordable) setting for a long, freewheeling drive.

Ireland native Herbie Brennan is the bestselling author of more than 100 books, many with themes of mystic exploration.
For a short trip, Brennan recommends driving 32 kilometers (about 20 miles) northwest from Dublin to Newgrange.
"It is probably the most spectacular megalithic site on the planet, beating Britain's Stonehenge," he says.
Far more satisfying is a ten-day, 1,320-kilometer (820-mile) Ireland clockwise road trip starting from Dublin. First big stop is Kilkenny, a preserved medieval village, followed by a session with the Blarney Stone.
The route takes in Kerry's 4,000-year-old stone forts, majestic Cliffs of Moher and rugged Connemara, then zips back around to Belfast. Along the way you'll get your fill of sodden bogs, picturesque towns, Irish music, charming country pubs and, yes, green, green, green hills.
Visitors can lease a ride from Dublin-based Argus Car Rentals for as low as $10 a day (See what we mean about affordable?) Go Ireland lists rates and specials for hotels all over the country.
How to make the most of the drive?
"Visit the country pubs and talk to people," advises Brennan. "Or rather, listen. With the Irish it's difficult to get a word in edgeways."

Best eco trip: Borneo
Described by Charles Darwin as a "great luxuriant hothouse made by nature for herself," Borneo is one of the world's most eco-diverse zones. For now.
On Sipadan Island, the most famous island off Borneo, divers can swim with exotic creatures -- batfish, clownfish, lionfish, harlequin ghost piefish. To get there, fly to Kota Kinabalu or Tawau, then continue for one hour by car to Semporna for a boat launch.
Animal lovers can play with primates at Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, a rehabilitation center that re-trains the displaced animals for life in the jungle. The sanctuary is reached by bus or taxi, a 23-kilometer (14-mile) ride from Sandakan town. (Sepilok Orangutan Sanctuary, Batu 14, Jalan Labuk Sandakan Sabah, admission $10.)
Selingan Island is home to green and hawksbill turtles that creep onto the beaches after dark to lay their eggs.
Since access to Selingan Island is restricted, joining a day tour is the best option. There are several tour operators at the floating village on the Sandakan waterfront. A guided tour and overnight stay from Journey Malaysia begins at $280.
Another way to help preserve the island's future: stay at an ecolodge. North Borneo's Sukau Rainforest Lodge has its own generators and uses solar-heated water. Down south, Rimba Orangutan Eco Lodges offer rainforest strolls and wooden boat rides.

Best tropical island trip: Palau
In 2010, Palau withdrew support for Japanese whaling, called for an end to shark finning and became the third country worldwide to ban the bottom-trawling fishing method of dragging nets across the sea floor.
That commitment to marine health put the Pacific Island nation on the 2010 Ethical Traveler's list of 10 best destinations in the developing world.
With ongoing eco-initiatives in 2011, Palau is preserving its reputation as a destination for undersea exploration.
Jellyfish Lake is famed for the millions of harmless gold jellies that pulse through its waters. To reach the lake, take a 45-minute boat ride from Koror to Eil Malk island. Highly regarded Sam's Tours offers a full day of diving and snorkeling for $139. (Sam's Tours, P.O. Box 7076, Koror, Palau)
Sam's also operates land tours of the "big island" Badeldoab, best known for its 98-foot high Ngardmau Falls. Also of note: ancient stone monoliths and WWII gun emplacements. Sam's Tours has $150 day trips.
The only hotel with its own beach is the Palau Pacific Resort. Rooms with oceanfront views begin at $280, and the hotel is conveniently located in the business district of Koror. (Palau Pacific Resort, PO Box 308, Koror 96940, Palau)

Best budget trip: Morocco
Owing to a certain Humphrey Bogart film, many think of Morocco as a mysterious and extravagant place. However, once travelers touch down in North Africa, the sightseeing costs are surprisingly bearable.

In Marrakesh, foodies can fill up at the vegetarian Earth Café for $5-$8 (Earth Café Marrakesh, N 2, Derb Zawak, Riad Zitoun Kedim, Medina, Marrakesh). The restaurant is known for its fresh juices and generous portions of flavorful food, such as pastille (savory pie) and amlou, a thick almond dip.
A camel trek is a classic Moroccan experience that won't break the bank. For $20, travelers can ride up the Sahara dunes at sunrise and catch a glowing red view of the desert.
At sunset, your Ship of the Desert ambles to a desert hotel, where you can relax and listen to live Berber drumming.
To access the Camel Tours takeoff point, take a bus from Bab Doukala station in Marrakesh to Rissani; it departs at 3 p.m. and arrives 7 a.m., and costs $21. Guides will then transport you to the Erg Chebbi dunes.
The Riad Charlott has four-star-quality rooms for $98-$183. Visitors enter a classic courtyard and are greeted with mint tea and biscuits, and rose petals on the bed. (Riad Charlott, Derb Sidi Ahmed Bennacer, Kaat Bennahid, Marrakesh 40000, Morocco)
Morocco's best hostels and riads (family run guesthouses) are ranked in this article.

Best gambling trip: France
Gambling in France is a classy affair, with nearly 200 upscale casinos around the country populated by elegant socialites imbued with the highbrow 'tude of the Riviera.
In February 2011, the France Poker Series finals play out at Cercle Haussmann's 25 tables. (Cercle Haussmann, 22 rue de la Michodière, 75002, Paris)
Blackjack originated in 17th-century Paris, and Cercle Wagram's paneled walls and chandeliers keep the old-time feel. (Cercle Wagram, 47 avenue de Wagram, 75017, Paris)
The casino in Divonne-les-Bains, a spa town bordering Switzerland, is the largest in France. Gamblers can choose between French and English roulette, and shift from Texas hold 'em to stud poker. (Domaine de Divonne, Avenue des Thermes, 01220 Divonne les Bains)
Lorraine's Casino de Contrexéville was established in 1900, its Baroque architecture inspired by the Paris Opera House. The casino recently added a hall for nearly 200 slot machines. (Domaine de Contrexeville, 13 Rue de Metz, 88140 Contrexéville)

Best trip with kids: Vancouver, Canada
Prettiest big city setting on the planet? Vancouver, British Columbia, has got to be in that discussion.
And the scenery isn't just for show -- in British Columbia, kids can wet their pants over the towering Coast Mountains while getting up close to wild animals, such as whales, eagles, sea lion and deer.
"Outdoor activities, like hiking and kayaking, are available right from the city, and at fairly affordable rates," says Asta Mail, a marine biologist at Vancouver Science World.
Mail recommends a walk in Richmond Nature Park, which has four easy trails totaling seven kilometers in length. The "Nature House" has a small collection of live animals and an active beehive. (Richmond Nature Park, 11851 Westminster Highway, Richmond, BC)
After catching age-appropriate buzzes on Tim Hortons famous coffee and/or donuts, families can hit Deer Lake Boat Rentals to rent canoes, rowboats or pedal boats for about $17 an hour, while blue herons, beavers, turtles and other creatures dart between the lily pads. (Deer Lake Boat Rentals, 5435 Sperling Ave., Burnaby, BC)
Several kid-friendly music and theater festivals are slated for summer 2011.
The popular Children's Festival moves to Granville Island for the first time in 2011, increasing the number of performers and stage capabilities. The May 30-June 5 lineup includes Al Simmon's Juno Award-winning musical comedy.

Best revolutionary trip: Che Guevara's Route, Bolivia
Because of its high, isolated plateaus and devout, indigenous population, Bolivia is sometimes called the "Tibet of South America."

The trails are welcoming to backpackers, and the living is easy: trekkers can eat and sleep well for $25 a day.
On one of those trails, modern history buffs can relive a Che Guevara journey on "La Ruta Che," which follows the guerrilla fighter's path as he tried to advance a socialist revolution in South America.
Swiss Bolivian Adventures (Swiss Bolivian Adventures, Avenida Mariscal Santa Cruz, Handal Center Planta Baja, Oficina 6, La Paz, Bolivia) offers three- and six-day tours of the trail, beginning at $125.
From Santa Cruz, the path leads to the Vallegrande laundry where the leader was exposed, to Abra del Picacho where his guerrillas fought, and finally to La Higuera, the site of Guevara's execution in 1967. The route is fine for beginners.
Hostels such as Jodanga in Santa Cruz are tailored specifically to backpackers. The communal atmosphere and Spanish lessons let fellow trekkers meet and exchange info.
A bed in the dorm is $10; a private bathroom and room with air-conditioning is $31 a night. (Jodanga Backpackers Hostel, El Fuerte N0 1380, Barrio Los Choferes, Santa Cruz, Bolivia)

Best volunteer trip: Cambodia
In November 2010, the Cambodian bridge stampede that killed hundreds drew attention to both the country's beauty and incessant troubles.
"Cambodia faces problems of health, corruption, poverty and lack of education," laments Chi Lo, a travel blogger and volunteer at the Women's Media Centre.
Opportunities for visitors to help Cambodians are plentiful. Visitors can do human rights work, dig wells and latrines and teach everything from English to hospitality to hairdressing.
Travelersphilanthrophy.com has tips on giving responsibly.
Star Kampuchea's volunteer programs are four to 24 weeks long, with volunteers working 30-40 hours per week. The organization helps visitors acquire visas (about $43) and connect with host families. Cost begins at $770 per month; an independent stay is $490 per month. Training begins the first and third Monday of each month. (Star Kampuchea, No. 67, Street 123, Sangkat Toul Tompoung 1, Khan Chamkar Morn, Phnom Penh)

For more volunteer vacations check out these 6 inspiring trips in Asia.

© 2009 Cable News Network Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved

China Stealth Jet 'Leak' Viewed as Intentional

(original article from Wall Street Journal)

By JEREMY PAGE

BEIJING—Fresh video and still images of China's supposed stealth fighter prototype have emerged online, fueling speculation among military officials and experts about why the secretive military would suddenly allow the curtain to be lifted on such a sensitive project.

Despite China's tight Internet controls, Chinese bloggers have posted dozens of images of the J-20 online in the week leading up to a long-delayed visit by Robert Gates, the U.S. defense secretary, who arrives in Beijing Sunday on a mission to repair military ties.

WSJ's Adam Horvath and Simon Constable discuss video purported to be of a new Chinese stealth fighter jet that has emerged online, and has raised concerns of a potential rival to the U.S. F-22.

Several Chinese bloggers have also posted what appear to be firsthand accounts of the J-20 conducting high-speed taxi tests—one of the last stages before a test flight—at the Chengdu Aircraft Design Institute in western China.

The Chinese government and military have maintained silence on the apparent tests, which suggest that China is making faster-than-expected progress in developing a potential rival to the U.S. F-22—the world's only fully operational stealth fighter.
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Yet Chinese bloggers described in detail Friday how Chinese officials had arrived at the airfield in motorcades and private jets to inspect the J-20 and pose for photographs wearing the pilot's helmet and sitting in the cockpit.

Many of the bloggers, some of whom appeared to be at the scene, said they had expected the aircraft to make its first test flight Friday, and were disappointed when the visiting officials dispersed without the J-20 taking off.

China's state media, meanwhile, sent mixed signals by quoting foreign media reports on the aircraft, and reactions to those reports from Chinese defense analysts, without actually confirming or denying that the tests were taking place.
Air Show China 2010


On display at Air Show China in Zuhai late last year: this CIA-style drone with missiles.

Some experts suggest that this is China's way of responding to U.S. demands for greater transparency about its military build-up—one of the key issues overshadowing Mr. Gates's trip and a state visit to the U.S. by Chinese President Hu Jintao later in January.

Others suggest the images' publication is designed to send a message that China is emerging as a global military power even faster than most U.S. officials and experts have predicted—including Mr. Gates himself, who downplayed China's stealth fighter prospects in 2009.

Another theory is that the images were directed more at a Chinese audience in response to a recent agreement between Russia and India—China's two biggest neighbors and former military adversaries—to jointly develop a stealth fighter.

Most experts agree, however, that it is no accident that the pictures were published just before Mr. Gates arrives in China to meet his counterpart for the first time since military ties were suspended in January last year over U.S. arms sales to Taiwan.

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CJET
Associated Press

Photos that appear to show a prototype of China's J-20 stealth fighter, here seen after an apparent runway test on Wednesday in Chengdu, have appeared on blogs and websites despite Beijing's tight Internet controls.

Chinese authorities routinely delete politically sensitive material from the Internet, and often detain those who post it, but appear to have allowed most of the discussion and images of the J-20 to appear on military and aviation enthusiasts' blogs and websites.

The J-20 was until recently so secret that it did not have an official name and was known as the J-XX among Western defense and intelligence officials and experts.

"If anyone can keep a secret, it's China. This week's J-20-fest wasn't an accident," wrote Greg Waldron, deputy Asia editor of GlobalFlight.com, in his blog on the website of Flight International magazine.

"There are two possible reasons for the easy access the world is getting to the J-20. Either A) the country is trying to be more open, or B) they are trying to send a message," he said.

Global View Columnist Bret Stephens analyzes the stealth fighter and China's growing firepower.

Gareth Jennings, aviation desk editor at Jane's Defence Weekly, said: "You definitely get the sense that it's being, not exactly stage-managed, but they're clearly not upset about the images being out there."

China does have a track record of gradually declassifying military programs by allowing occasional images to appear online, according to Douglas Barrie, senior fellow for military aerospace at the International Institute for Strategic Studies.

"The timing is interesting as India is an obvious peer competitor," he said. "The officially sanctioned leakings may have been intended for a domestic audience to say: 'It's not just the Indians who'll have one of these; we do too.'"

However, he said there may have been a "mischievous element" in allowing the images' release just before Mr. Gates's visit.

Mr. Gates cut funding for the F-22 in 2009, predicting that China would not have any such planes by 2020 and only a handful by 2025.

A few months later, He Weirong, the deputy head of China's air force, announced that China's first stealth fighters were about to undergo test flights and would be deployed in "eight or 10 years."

U.S. defense and intelligence officials now say they expect China to start deploying the aircraft by around 2018.

Vice Adm. David J. Dorsett, the U.S. director of naval intelligence, told reporters this week that China was advancing faster than expected in some areas, although he said he could not tell from the J-20 pictures when it would be fully tested and operational.


Images that appear to show Beijing's prototype stealth fighter jet during a 'taxi test' at a facility in western China.

"They've entered operational capability quicker than we frequently project," he said, according to an account of the briefing on the U.S. Navy's website.

"We've been on the mark on an awful lot of our assessments, but there have been a handful of things we've underestimated."

He said China's military was becoming more open, but not enough to reassure the U.S. about how it plans to use its new capabilities, which include an aircraft carrier and an antiship ballistic missile, both of which are expected to be deployed in the next year or so.

"Over the years, the Chinese military doctrine was 'hide and bide': hide your resources and bide your time," he said. "They now appear to have shifted into an era where they're willing to show their resources and capabilities."

Meanwhile, military aviation experts were scrutinizing the J-20 images to see what, if anything, they could tell about the aircraft's capabilities.

WSJ's Rebecca Blumenstein explains to Simon Constable new photos indicate the possibility that the Chinese military has developed a new stealth fighter jet, confirming fears of a military buildup.

They can tell little about its stealth capability, as that depends not just on its shape, but on the composite materials it is made from, the paint that covers it, and the technology that it carries on board.

However, they are hoping to be able to tell if it is using a Chinese engine, as China has been trying for years to develop its own models to replace the Russian ones that it either imports or produces under license to power almost all its jet fighters.

Some aviation experts said the images suggested that there were either two prototypes undergoing tests, each with a different kind of engine—possibly one Russian and one Chinese — or that two types of engine had been tested in the same prototype.

The J-20 is expected to be China's first "fifth-generation" fighter, meaning it will likely have radar-evading stealth capability, the ability to cruise at supersonic speeds without using fuel-hungry afterburners, and the capacity to take off and land from a short runway.

—Yoli Zhang contributed to this article.

Air China Offers transit tourism services to passengers passing through Chengdu

Air China has launched its first transit tourism services for international travelers, giving those with time to kill transiting through Chengdu Shuangliu Airport a chance to experience a fascinating part of China.

Air China's Chengdu transit services provide passengers with a range of useful tourist services, marking an important step in the development of Air China's Chengdu hub strategy and of Chengdu as a tourist destination. Passengers can enjoy numerous benefits including tourist information, advice on cultural experiences and discounts on tailored city tours, as well as free dining coupons and airport resting areas.

The flight transit services will initially be available on international routes between China and Karachi, Pakistan, and Bangalore in India from December 23 to March 31, 2011. Passengers flying from Bangalore or Karachi (CA426 and CA946) to Chengdu Shuangliu International Airport, or the return flights (CA425 and CA945), and will transit to other cities within 48 hours can take advantage of the services. On arrival, they just have to visit the Chengdu Tourism Experience Center near Gate 10 on the first floor of Shuangliu airport, where they can get free coupons just by showing their passports, electronic boarding passes or itineraries.

The Chengdu Tourism Experience Center also provides information such as tourist maps of Chengdu, introductions to well-known tourist attractions, and recommendations for tourist routes, local cuisine and leisure activities. All the materials are in Chinese, English and French, giving passengers from overseas the chance to make best use of their time in Chengdu.

Air China is China's only national flag carrier and a Star Alliance member. With a fleet of over 280 Airbus and Boeing aircraft, Air China's 264 routes serve 29 countries and regions. Thanks to the airline's admission to the Star Alliance, Air China's route network, with Beijing as its hub, includes 1,160 destinations in 181 countries. Air China now has over 14 million members in its frequent flyers program.

Off the rails: High speed rail sleepers from Shanghai to Chengdu are inexplicably luxurious

By Elaine Chow in News on January 3, 2011 4:30 PM

On January 11, in just about a week, new trains on the Shanghai-Chengdu and Shanghai-Chongqing high speed lines will begin operation... and boy are they aiming for a much higher income level than the citizens who normally ride the rails. New cars are equipped with the "most luxurious soft sleepers" in China, and a ticket for these first class cabins costs 2330 RMB (after 30% off!).

So what do you get for the cost of two nights at the Portman Ritz Carlton? A 15-hour trip in a cabin with two berths, a couch and a wardrobe. That's right, you're still sharing a room, but each berth is equipped with an individual video-on-demand TV, air conditioner, headphones and an adjustable lamp.

In comparison, a normal soft sleeper has four berths and costs between 980 to 1165RMB (depending on which route you're taking). How much is a flight between Shanghai and Chengdu (or Chongqing)? Around 700RMB on Ctrip for a three-hour journey.

Not surprisingly, the luxury soft sleepers have come under a lot of criticism. Since the route is commonly used by migrant workers trying to return home (especially during Spring Festival), people have complained that using up necessary train cars for unneeded luxuries is of detriment to everybody.

From the Global Times:

Hu Xingdou, an expert in China-related issues at the Beijing Institute of Technology, said that transportation improvements should take into account the real needs of the general public.

“Satisfying the needs of the low and middle-income class is the most urgent issue, rather than showing off unnecessary luxury decoration of a train carriage,” Hu said.

He suggested that the authorities should add more trains and new lines - such as express and direct lines - as passengers care more about speed and reasonable comfort rather than a luxurious train experience.

So who's actually going to buy these seats? After lambasting them for being completely useless for tourists ("Who wants this luxurious experience on a train? It is dark outside at night and sightseeing is almost impossible.") and business people ("In this day and age, a business person won’t spend a couple of hours on a train."), sociologist Gu Jun could only come up with one possibility:

“Perhaps some passengers that are afraid of traveling by air would lavish more than 2000 Yuan on such bullet sleepers,” Gu Jun said.

Hey, who knows? An estimated 20% of adults suffer from aviatophobia, maybe now with this service - the richer ones are finally, for the first time, able to travel in style to central China?

A Panda City- An Excerpt From Chengdu A City Of Paradise By Jack Quian

It was spring, 1936, Ruth Harkness a fashion designer and a socialite in Manhattan, New York, un folded a map of China drawn by the Operations Command of the Royal Army of Britain in her upper-city apartment. Her figers were moving slowly westward from Shanghai along Yangtze river, searching carefully for a city. Bill her late husband and outstanding explorer, had told her that this city was located in a basin on eastern edge of the Chinghai-Tibet Plateau, not far from the other end of the Yangtze river...

Seventy years later, it was also spring, Danny and I googled this city and nearly 3,000,000 items appeared on the computer screen...
This city is Chengdu with an area of 12,400 square kilometres and a population of about 11,000,000. It is just teh biggest provincial capital in west China, but also the only city in the history of China whose name remain the same for 3,000 years since the establishment.

Chengdu was the starting point of China’s famous southern Silk Road, which ran past Ya’an, Lushan, Xichang, Panzhihua to Zhaotong, Qujing, Dali, Baoshan, Tengchong, Dehong in Yunnan province, then entered Burma and Thailand, and finally arrived in India and the Middle East: thus Chengdu was the most importsnt stopping place along this bridge between Chinese culture and worls civilizations.

In Chinese “cheng” means “ success or successful” and “du”, “big city or capital.” This “Successful City” not only boast a long history, but also holds an annual position: latitude 30 degrees north. A An imaginary circle marked out by geographers, it never theless posesses a magic power that no other longitude or latitude could possibly rival. It is on this circle that the highest mountain, mount Everest, and the lowest tranch, Mariana Trench lie: and it is on this circle that the Yangtze River, The Mississippi River, The Nile River, and the Euphrathes River all pour into the sea. It is also a mysterious circle, on which stand the pyramids and Sphinx of Egypt, the “god of fire and kindlings” mural in the Sahara Desert of North Africa, the Bermuda Triangle in the Caribbean Sea, The Hanging Gardens Of ancient Babylon, Mount E’mei. Mount Huang, Mount Lu of China. It was on this circle that the four civilizations of acient China, ancient Babylon, ancient Egypt, an ancient India all developed. Why are there so many coincidences? We felt even more puzzled and curious than ever when another wonder- the Sanxingdai-Jinsha civilization created by the Shu people in Chengdu Plain of latitude 30 degrees north-was discovered...So many unsolved mysteries throuh the ages have kindled many people’s interest in and even fascination with this city...

Chengdu Bids Farewell To Temporary Residence Permit

Source: Global Times
By Jin Jianyu

The Chengdu government in China's Sichuan Province announced Thursday that residence permits will replace temporary resident permits for migrant workers in the city from January 1, as part of its new population management strategy.

In many cities in China, a temporary residence permit is the only legal identity document for migrant workers. These documents were introduced in 1984 in Shenzhen, and migrant workers who only hold such a permit cannot enjoy the same residential rights as permanent residents.

According to the Chengdu Residence Permit Management Regulation, which will be implemented January 1, more than 3 million migrant workers in Chengdu will gain more residential rights regarding health care insurance, education, employment, transportation and more.

Migrant workers who live in Chengdu for more than one month can apply to the local government for a residence permit free of charge. They can then apply to become permanent residents once they meet specific requirements, such as ownership of an apartment of at least 70 square meters in Chengdu.

"The residence permit will make us feel more like a local resident in Chengdu," Deng Shaoneng, a migrant who works as an automobile salesman in the city, told the Global Times."

"We won't need to pay more for our kids to go to school anymore," he said. "And we will be able to enjoy more medical insurance and will not have to apply for insurance reimbursement back home."

Deng has worked in Chengdu for six years since he went to university in the city. He said the new policy means that he may make his dream of becoming a permanent Chengdu resident become reality one day.

But the inclusion of all the migrant workers into the city's population of 11.2 million permanent residents will also present a challenge regarding resources.

Liu Jun, deputy director of the Chengdu Bureau of Public Health, said the government would invest more into the healthcare sector, the Chengdu-based West China City Daily reported Friday. And Zuo Rongjun, deputy director of the Chengdu Education Bureau, also said that the children of migrant workers who possess the residence permit, will also be able to enjoy equal education rights as local students.

"Chengdu is setting a good example for other big cities concerning the residence permit system," Lu Jiehua, an expert on population-related issues at Peking University, told the Global Times.

Lu said the new system means that the local government's role will change from that of an administrator to a public service provider, which is the trend of all of the country's local governments.

But Lu also said that whether migrant workers will really benefit from the policy depends on the implementation as, for example, it is the companies who decide on the insurance benefits that they offer their employees.

"Nobody usually knows if the company provides all the insurance as required by the regulation," he added.

And Lu suggested that the authorities should increase supervision and implementation of the regulation.

Since March 2008, this residence permit system has been implemented in more than ten cities in China, including Changchun in Jilin Province and Shenzhen.