Zenspa Traditional Beijing in China

Zenspa takes a holistic approach to physical and spiritual well-being, providing a sanctuary for the senses. It is the first spa in mainland China to introduce Reiki treatment, naturopathic principles, floatation therapy, Ayurvedic Shirodhara therapy, clinical aromatherapy and Thai and Indonesia herbal therapy. At Zenspa, we offer nothing but the best. Quality products are sourced and imported from around the world.

New spa therapies regularly introduced. Innovative East and West fusion signature treatments are offered. Our staff members are highly trained and undergo regular educational updates to ensure the highest standards of industry knowledge and expertise. Our massage treatments are based on evolving techniques that have passed through the hands of many generations.

Drawing on Asian traditions from centuries ago, Zenspa has created health and skincare remedies using pure essential oils, herbs and spices with ancient curative powers. Using these natural therapies and their skills in the tactile arts, our therapists devote themselves entirely to the physical and spiritual well being of our guests. Yet above allthe personal touch remains as the core of our services. To us, each guest is an individual, and each spa treatment, a highly personal affair. Our therapists are constantly attuned, sensitive and responsive to your every need. Under their intuitive touch, simple sensory pleasures are reawakened, completing the experience that defines Zenspa.

[ Source : from zenspa.com.cn ]

Beijing Badachu Park (Ba Da Chu)

BaDaChu is a large park in the western hills of Beijing, about 8 kilometers south of XiangShan Park and about 25 kilometers from central Beijing. Well forested, the park covers an area of 250 Hectares.

BaDaChu Park is comprised of eight historic sites: Buddhist temples and nunneries, some still active, that are nestled in three mountain slopes in the Western Fragrant Hills.

Visitors can stroll from one temple to another, enjoying the beautiful scenery and admiring ancient pine, cypress, willow and gingko trees. Some of the trees in BaDaChu Park have been standing for over 600 years.



Although not as high as XiangShan, it is still quite a trek to the top of BaDaChu Park (460m), but a very peaceful and enjoyable one. There are good views of Beijing in the distance. A cable car is available for the journey up or down.

Especially popular in autumn when the hills turn red, BaDaChu Park in china is an attractive and peaceful place to visit all year round.

One can arrive in BaDaChu by bus or taxi from XiZhiMen or PingGuoYuan subway stations.

[ Source : from kinabaloo.com ]

A fairy land on earth in Huanglong

Boardwalks permit visitors to explore the natural beauty and, while walking at a relaxed pace, a round trip can be completed in an four enjoyable hours.

To enjoy the wonders of Huanglong Valley, you can choose either walking trail from the gate.

The trail from the left provides the full range of beauties of the valley, but it is more energy-consuming; the trail from the right saves a little on energy but it misses the sightseeing of those breathtaking waterfalls.

However, the 2,000-3,000 meter elevation can cause some discomfort, so you should make sure your walk is well-paced. Visitors can rest at the chairs positioned every hundred metres or so, and bottled oxygen is also sold at the gate of the valley to help the aged people overcome the AMS (Acute Mountain Sickness).

It takes about one and half hours to get to the Huanglong Monastery, the first Taoist building in the northwest Sichuan Province.

Quite close to the Huanglong Monastery you can find the Huanglong Cave. It is a natural ice cave which is the oldest of its kind in China. The cave contains different kinds of stalactites and stalagmites. The colorful lights have made the dark cave more attractive to visitors. However, the dropping water from the roof may also create a thrilling and even frightening atmosphere to the more timid visitors.

[ Source : from chinadaily.com ]

Harbin international ice and snow festival

The ice sculpture art exhibition for the 23rd China Harbin international ice and snow festival in Harbin, northeastern China's Heilongjiang Province, January 4, 2007 is expected to attract 9 million tourists, with estimated income of 5 billion Yuan.

This session of snow and ice festival take "a harmonious world" as a subject, and aims to promote international ties as China and South Korea, Canada, Russia cooperates to construct scenic areas made of ice.

People visit at an ice sculpture art exhibition for the upcoming the China Harbin international ice and snow festival in Harbin, northeastern China's Heilongjiang Province

Much more pictures after the jump.





[ Source : from spluch.blogspot.com ]

Birds vary songs by habitat

Just as the fairy tale of City Mouse and Country Mouse implies that mice have different lifestyles, new research in the real world indicates birds of a feather may have different voices depending on where they live.

The Lingque Zuibi, or Collared Finchbill in English, mainly lives in Myanmar, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand and China's Hong Kong, Hainan Province and eastern coastal areas. Courtesay of Zhejiang Nature Museum

Experts now believe that bird "languages" not only vary in different regions, but also show great differences in suburban and urban areas, China Central Television reports.

Yu Lijiang, professor at the Institute of Zoology under the Chinese Academy of Sciences, conducted research in the forested areas of Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province, by recording the songs of a rare bird named lingque zuibi last June.

Her latest research on recordings of this variety of bird showed that the song from such birds living in the downtown areas are more high-pitched and sharper, while suburban birds sing a deeper, more mellow tune.

After Yu returned to Beijing, she and other experts compared the sound spectra of the birds in the different cities. The difference was obvious. Yu told the Jinling Evening News she would visit the forested area again this spring for further study.

Her research will center on the causal relationship between the rare bird's different dialects and their heredity.

The Jinling Evening News why the city birds' volume is louder and the pitch is higher than those of the country birds. She attributed the difference to the environment. The countryside area is more spacious and less noisy, so birds need not send out high-pitched and loud sounds to communicate.

The experts said they were building a sound bank for all kinds of rare birds in China.

[ Source : from chinadailly.com ]

Year of the Pig no guarantee of good in china

Many couples are planning to have children during the next lunar year in anticipation of good luck, but the Year of the Pig baby boom may result in a rise in population that will affect children's future education, job prospects and even retired lives.

As the Chinese lunar New Year of 2007, also known as the Year of the Pig, approaches, lovers are rushing to wed and couples are planning to have babies. According to Chinese folk customs, the Year of the Pig is a year of good fortune.

According to Chinese folk customs, 2007 is the 'Year of Gold', one of the five elements, and also is the 'Year of the Pig', a sign on the Chinese zodiac. The pig is regarded as good luck for a good life. A 'Golden Pig' baby has the benefit of being born under two lucky signs.

Obstetrics and gynecology departments in hospitals are receiving rocketing numbers of women asking for pregnancy tests and examinations and the maternity, infant and domestic service markets are expecting a boost in business.

"Children born in 2000, the Year of the Dragon, are now suffering school enrolment problems," said a birthing expert in Kunming, Southwest China, the Dushi Shibao reported. China saw a baby boom in 2000 when people wanted their children to be born in the Year of the Dragon.

The expert worried that baby booms during the Year of the Pig and the 2008 Olympic Games will cause similar problems for children as the Year of the Dragon baby boom.

It's a good idea for couples to have a checkup to ensure they are healthy enough to have children, and those that are currently undergoing treatment should wait until the treatment is finished, Wang Tao, a doctor in Shenyang, Northeast China told the Shidai Shangbao. "Rushing to have children regardless of parental health is not a good idea," he said.

Wang said the health of a baby depends on the health of the parents and the quality of health care the mother receives during her pregnancy, and that the zodiac sign has nothing to do with it.

[ Source: from chinadaily.com ]

Flower covered wedding car

A bride poses for a picture with a car decorated with flowers in Nanning, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region January 7, 2007. A couple took pictures with their car to mark the wedding.


A child looks at a car decorated with flowers in Nanning, South China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region January 7, 2007. A couple took pictures with their car to mark the wedding.

[ Source : from chinadaily.com ]

Zhao Wei Young Chinese Star

Stage, screen and video star Zhao Wei, is fueling a mounting debate as she is slated to promote an anti-Japanese online game. The debate reflects the strained ties between the two Asian giants who have witnessed their relations hit the lowest point in decades

Zhao made her name by her tomboy performance style on the Huan Zhu Ge Ge, TV series adapted from the works of the popular Taiwanese romance novelist Chiung Yao. However, a photo taken for Fashion magazine in 2001 in which she is shown wearing clothes printed with the Japanese flag sparked nation wide criticism that painted Zhao as trumpeting Japanese militarism. Tensions eased after Zhao made a public apology stating in her letter of apology that she hadn't intended to cause offence and she would pay more attention to her behaviour and speech. Her agent defended Zhao saying she is only a model and has no control over what she is asked to wear.

It has been almost six years in china since the Fashion magazine incident occurred but it does not seem to have been forgotten.She is not qualified to be the representative of a patriotic online game. Her behavior has posed great detriments to Chinese people's feelings," commented an anonymous netizen on CRIonline.com.

Zhao's move has raised speculation that she wants to eliminate the impact of the incident and repair her reputation, but it seems that she has a long way to go.

Previous reports say she was to promote a patriotic online game on the eve of the anniversary named Guo Wei.

[ Source :from chinadaily.com ]

Enjoy Real Mountain Skiing

Beijing's puny artificial slopes can be a serious disappointment to skiing fans trapped within the suburban hills. However,if you head northeast into Heilongjiang,Jilin and Lianing provinces, you can find some natural slopes waiting for exploration.

Dongbei is China's coldest region with winter temperatures as low as At least three of the region's slopes are worth the trek.

The Yabuli Ski Resort is 195km east of Harbin, capital of Heilongjiang Province. The resort is a great place to test one's skills.Skiing down from its high level rails will be an experience you can be proud of.

The highest point of the resort is 1,375m with an average temperature of 10 At times,this can dip as low as 40 November to April is the slope's est season.

Ski trails

The Yabuli Ski Resort has 11 mountain ski runs for a total of 27km. The smallest slope is three degrees and the steepest is 18 degrees. Yabuli is China's only resor so far to conform to international standards. Besides mountain trails, the resort has special trails for high level, middle level and primary level ski fans, and langlauf trails.

Admission
10 yuan per person for entrance Equipment rental from Monday to Thursday
Normal: 230 yuan per person for half a day 380 yuan per person for a whole day
High quality: 240 yuan per person for half a day 390 yuan per person for a whole day
Clothes: 50 yuan for half a day 70 yuan for a whole day
Snowmobile: 60 yuan for ten minutes
Ski-Archery: 40 yuan for ten arrows

Professional coaching: 160 yuan for half a day 240 yuan for a whole day (for one to two persons)240 yuan for half a day and 360 yuan for a whole day (for three to six persons).

[ Source : from chinadaily.com ]

Fit for fat in Beijing

An overseas'posting,holiday or study tour can be an excuse to let the fitness routine slide. Everyone's heard of or experienced the situation where you come home a little heavier than you left-and we're not talking about the gifts in your suitcase

Here we were determined to be good hosts while you're in our town,and not let that happen to you We want to make sure the only thing that expands while you are here is your business network

We propose to do this by listing the most popular fitness trends from around the globe along with some local favourites and matching them with convenient and high-quality service providers right here in Beijing.So get your running shoes on and check out whats on offer.

Boxercise or Boxaerobics

An extremely physical form of exercise that mirrors the kinds of training Olympic boxers endure.Constantly moving,hands held in front of the face in the classic boxing stance,the exercise looks a lot like what a previous generation would have called'shadow boxing'.Because of the high level of aggression involved,proponents claim this physical regime helps them develop the sort of mental toughness associated with success in life.

Yoga

Yoga in beijing is actually a set of holistic spiritual beliefs,but most people know it purely for the exercise regime part of the system that takes the same name.Devotees will tell you that there are as many systems as there are people doing yoga,but in fact it is fairly easy to divide yoga into several different "schools" that have quite different emphasis. Characterised by its gentle stretches and subtle position changes,breathing exercises and minimal equipment, yoga can be practised well into old age.

[ Source : from chinadaily.com ]