A man holds an Olympic flag yesterday at the Bund. The Beijing Olympic torch relay will be held in Shanghai tomorrow and on Saturday when traffic limits will be enforced. Century Park and the Shanghai Science and Technology Museum in Pudong will be closed tomorrow.(Photo: Shanghai Daily)
BEIJING, May 22 -- The Shanghai leg of the Beijing Olympic torch relay will be held in the city tomorrow and on Saturday after being postponed during the nation's period of mourning for earthquake victims.

The Olympic flame will be passed on to Shanghai from Zhejiang Province this evening, local authorities announced yesterday.

The relay will pass eight city areas including historic sites, education and commercial centers as well as zones outside the downtown area.

More than 400 torchbearers will take part in the Shanghai relay.

The relay means there will be traffic restrictions and some transit bus lines will make detours or have their routes temporarily shortened.

The torch relay organizers will hold a news conference in Shanghai today, open to both Chinese and overseas media representatives.

China National Radio, the CCTV Olympic Channel, and local radio and TV stations will make live broadcasts of the torch relay from the launching ceremony at 8 a.m. tomorrow until the end.

As the relay continues on Saturday, sightseeing bus routes will also be affected, city tourism authorities said yesterday. Some services will be delayed, and others canceled.

Officials said people who have bought tourism tickets for Saturday can receive refunds before May 31 at all business sites of the Shanghai Sightseeing Bus Center.

The Olympic torch relay resumes its journey through China today at a container port in the eastern city of Ningbo, traveling across the Hangzhou Bay Bridge to Jiaxing. Later today the flame will be moved by vehicle to Shanghai.

It is unclear exactly how the route through the rest of China will be adjusted to make up for the delay this week.

After Shanghai, the torch and relay move to neighboring Jiangsu Province.

They are due to arrive on June 13 in Chongqing City and enter Sichuan Province, site of the deadly earthquake, two days later.

The torch will make a triumphant return to Beijing on August 6, two days before the Games' opening ceremony.

(Source: Shanghai Daily)


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Suzhou is one of China's most famous cultural and historical cities. It is located at the center of the Yangtze River Delta region, in the southeast part of Jiangsu province, west of Shanghai.

The total area of the city is 8,488 square kilometers including 1,650 square kilometers of urban area. The population at the end of 2006 was 6.1 million.

The city tree of Suzhou is camphor laurel. And the city flower of Suzhou is sweet osmanthus, which symbolizes grace, honor, friendship, love and fortune.

History

The written history of Suzhou traces back over 4000 years. During the Shang dynasty it was home to the "Gou Wu" people; in the Spring and Autumn Period, King Helu choose the city as his capital and named it the Great City of Helu. In 539 AD, the city was renamed Suzhou.

When the Grand Canal was completed, Suzhou found itself strategically located on a major trade route. As a result, the city has long an important city for industry and commerce on the southeastern coast of China.

Suzhou has been home to many renowned poets, artists, statesmen, thinkers and scientists such as Sun Wu, Fan Zhongyan, Shen Kuo, Tang Yin and Gu Yanwu.


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Located at the estuary of the Yangtze River, Nantong enjoys a reputation of "a pearl alongside the Yangtze River and East Sea" and "the primary window showcasing the prosperity of the Yangtze River Delta."

Nantong is located in the warm and wet monsoon subtropical region, and therefore experiences four distinct seasons. It now governs 4 county-level cities (Rugao, Tongzhou, Haimen, and Qidong), 2 counties (Hai'an and Rudong), 2 districts (Chongchuan and Gangzha), as well as the state-level Nantong Economic and Technological Development Zone.

Being both an ancient city with over 1,000 years of history and a modern city growing in economic prosperity, Nantong is one of China's first 14 coastal cities that opened up to the outside world. Connected with the Eurasia Bridge via railway, Nantong enjoys a geographical advantage. Many domestic and overseas destinations are within easy reach by means of both railway and water transportation. The Su-tong Yangtze River Bridge, which is currently under construction, will shorten the distance from Nantong to Shanghai to an hour's drive.

In terms of water transportation, Nantong Port is among the top 10 largest ports in China. All this makes Nantong a treasured land with unrivaled development potential in the Yangtze Delta Region.

In addition, Nantong boasts a golden coastline extending 436 km. It thus produces rich reserves of shellfish, including crab, clam, four-cornered clam, razor shell, and fresh-water snail, among others. Nantong clam exports account for 60% of China's total.


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Taizhou is located in central Jiangsu province, on the north bank of the Yangtze River downstream, bordering Yangzhou to the west, Yancheng to the north, and Nantong to the east, and faces the cities of Zhenjiang, Suzhou, Wuxi, and Changzhou across the Yangtze River. The city covers an area of 5,790 sq km, of which about 17% is rivers and lakes; it is renowned as "a land of fish and rice."  

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Situated on the lower reaches of the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River, Yangzhou is located in the middle of Jiangsu province. In 1982, Yangzhou was approved by the State Council as one of the 24 historical and cultural cities. The place is famous for its natural scenery of lakes and gardens as well as its historical relics of lacquerware and carved jade objects. In 1998, Yangzhou was awarded the title as the "Excellent Tourist City in China", with Shouxihu (the "Slim West Lake") and ancient Daming temple listed as one of the 4A-level scenic spots all over China.

The history of the city can be traced back to 486 BC when the Han Ditch as described to be the longest ditch was found by Emperor Fucha of Wu Kingdom. This project eventually led to the construction of the famous Grand Canal that stretched more than 1,000 miles linking the southern part with Beijing which is found at the northern part. The Grand Canal, aside from being known as the longest man-made canal, played a very significant role in shaping the economic and cultural development of the Jiangsu province. Without this canal, it would be difficult to transport the materials and commodities from one place to the other. It is in fact named as the "transport center of the nine provinces" in China. The outstanding value of the canal made it possible for the reunification of China as well as the preservation of the accurate document records which are already part of the world's heritage.

Yangzhou has a number of famous scenic spots and historical sites as well. One of Yangzhou's famous 1,500-years-old temple called the Daming Temple and the Fajin Temple built in memory of the renowned Monk Jianzhen, who was the main icon responsible for cultural exchanges as well as the spread of Buddhist doctrine between Japan and China. Also, a rare jewel of the city is the beautifully made West Slender Lake Park. The exquisite beauty of the lake looks like a Chinese painting.

Not only is Yangzhou famous for its scenic spots, but it is also culturally enriched. The oldest Grand Canal, mausoleums of the Han and Sui dynasty, historical sites of the Tang and Song Dynasty and a number of private gardens during Ming and Qing Dynasty can be found here. These historical sites have attracted numerous tourists from home and abroad. The artistic style of the classical gardens depicts the character of the Northern China as well as that of Southern China.

From the year 2000 onwards, Yangzhou periodically holds the Moon Culture Festival as well as the Flowery March Tourist Festival with the sole purpose of promoting the beauty of the city more to the people home and abroad.


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Nanjing is situated in the hilly areas of Nanjing and Zhenjiang in the lower reaches of Yangtze River,at 32:03N and 118:46E. It borders with the Yangtze River Delta to the east and the hilly areas of South Anhui to the west,adjacent to the water network of Taihu Lake in the south and the Jianghuai Plain in the north. With the "golden waterway" Yangtze River flowing through the city,it is 380km from the Yangtze River estuary to the sea,and about 300km to Shanghai,the largest city of China.

Nanjing is in the monsoon climate area of north subtropical zone,with clearly divided four seasons. Its annual average temperature is 16 degree centigrade,and the annual average precipitation 1034 mm.

Nanjing is one of important industrial bases in East China with strong industrial economic strength,accounting for about 1% of the country total in terms of gross industrial capability,and over 40% of the total economic volume of the municipality. Nanjing has a complete range of industrial sectors,with some outstanding components. Nanjing has built up a comprehensive industrial system with five mainstay industries of petrochemical,electronics,automobile,steel and power. information,petroleum and chemical and manufacture,covering 36 sectors of over 200 categories with more than 2000 major varieties.

(Credit: Nanjing Municipal Government)



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[ Last edited by ASHLEYTUNG at 2008-5-26 19:58 ]

Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province, is located in the center of China, situated between the Yangtze River and the Huaihe River. Geographically, Hefei has a great advantage, as it connects together various areas of the vast land of China. It is the center of transportation, culture, science, technology, education, economy, and politics of Anhui Province.

The total permanent population is 4.63 million. The city of Hefei governs four districts including Yaohai, Luyang, Shushan, and Baohe, and three counties, including Feidong, Feixi, and Changfeng. It also has municipal-level administrative rights to Hefei High-tech Industry Development Zone, Hefei Economy and Technology Development Zone, and Hefei Xinzhan Comprehensive Trial Zone. The total administrative governing area is 702,948 square kilometers.

Hefei is a city of light industry, with several internationally known companies producing merchandise here. Today, Hefei is green, known throughout China as an environmental friendly city, as well as one of the four major science and education bases in China.


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Huainan is situated in the mid-north of Anhui Province. The Huaihe River, which connects China's north and south, runs through the city. It has a total area of approximately 2,600 sq. km. and a total population of over 2 million.

Huainan has a long and storied history. One of its most famous attractions is Bagong Mountain, the site of the famous Feishui War between Qin State and Jin State in 383 AD.


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Wuhu is situated in the southeast of Anhui Province, on the south bank of the lower reaches of the Yangtze River. The Qingyi River runs through the city and connects with the Yangtze. It has a total area of about 3,300 sq. km. and a total population of over 2 million.

With a history of about 2,500 years, Wuhu features many historic sites.

Wuhu's humid subtropical monsoon climate means mild temperatures and plenty of sunlight and rain.


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Jixi County, located in China's Anhui Province, is a picturesque area surrounded by mountains and dotted by waterways. Famed for its high forest coverage rate (75.4%), it is a national model for green development.

The mountains surrounding Jixi are typically over 1,000 meters in height, with the tallest being 1,787.4 meters above sea level, located in the eastern part of the county. However, smaller landmarks also grace Jixi; in its southern end, a village stands a mere 125 meters above sea level.

136 natural rivers each at least 2,000 meters long flow through Jixi.

With its tropical climate, the region's annual average temperature is 15.9 degrees Celsius. Roughly 39 metals can be found in Jixi, including gold, silver, copper, tungsten, lead, and zinc.

Over 150 varieties of wild flora have been discovered here, including 27 strains of valuable species under national protection. In addition, a great many plants found in Jixi are used for medicinal purposes.



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Under the State Department's authorization, Huangshan was declared a city in November of 1987. Formerly under the jurisdiction of Huizhou District in China's Anhui Province, Huangshan itself now administers three districts, four counties, and Huangshan Scenic Spot.

In 2003, 1,469,0000 people resided in Huangshan.

The city is characterized by mountains, but plains also are a part of Huangshan's geography. With graceful waterways dotting the landscape, Huangshan is picture-perfect.

Numerous poems have been written about Huangshan, inspired by the area's natural beauty.


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Wuhan is situated in the middle of Hubei Province of China, the east of Jianghan Plain, and the intersection of the middle reaches of the Yangtze River and Hanshui River. The Yangtze River and Hanshui River divide Wuhan into three parts: Hankou, Hanyang and Wuchang, which are generally known as Wuhan's Three Towns.

Wuhan belongs to subtropical humid monsoon climate. There are sufficient rainfall and sunshine as well as four distinct seasons. Climate here is pleasant generally.

Wuhan occupies a land of 8494.41km2, most of which is plain and decorated with hills and a great number of lakes and pools. It has a population of 7,811,900 by the end of 2003.

Wuhan possesses strong economic and regional advantages. It connects the east with the west, channels the north to the south, and links rivers with seas by means of its developed water, land and air traffic.

(Credit: Wuhan Government Website)


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Yichang is located in the west of China's Hubei province, where the middle and upper reaches of the Yangtze River are divided. Because of this, Yichang is an important distribution center and transportation hub, known as the "Gateway to the Three Gorges."

Yichang has mountains in the west, and flat, fertile land in the east. Mountains account for 69 percent of the city, hills 21 percent and plains 10 percent.

Yichang lies between a middle subtropical zone and a northern subtropical zone. Spring and autumn are longer than summer and winter. The average temperature is 13.1-18 degrees Celsius.


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The Yueyang Pavilion is an ancient architectural treasure rested on the shores of Dongting Lake in Yueyang City, Hunan Province.

The three-storey, rectangular building overlooks the Changjiang River and the Dongting Lake with a height of 21.35 meters. Its unique location together with its spectacular traditional Chinese architectural flavor makes it a national spot of historical interest and a famous tourist attraction.

The age of the pavilion is disputed. However, it is generally believed that the pavilion was built more than 1,700 years ago. During the Three Kingdoms Period (220-280) the rudimentary form of the building was that of a parade (ceremonial) pavilion. It was then destroyed and rebuilt for many times. Its fame was greatly enhanced during the Northern Song Dynasty (960-1127) by the work of Fan Zhongyan, a great politician and writer. Since then, it has become a place of inspiration for both poets and writers, who have left many precious works and inscriptions.

Seen from a distance, the Yueyang Pavilion seems like a giant bird which is in flight. The red building with its yellow glazed roof tiles is a splendid and colorful sight. Views here are spectacular. You will see the pavilion glowing in the sunshine together with the drifting clouds as reflections on the glimmering surface of the Dongting Lake. You will also see the white sails of passing boats contrasting with the blue sky. Couplets and carved screens are hung on the wall inside the building providing the visitors with the history of this pavilion.


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