Exploring South Fujian culture
台湾大学生研习闽南文化
Photo by Yao Fan



The 4th Cross-Straits University Students' "South Fujian Culture Study" Summer Camp has opened at Xiamen University. Sixty students from eight Taiwanese universities will study South Fujian culture for nine days through lectures, social customs investigations, folk opera attendance, and visits to places of historical interest.

 

 

Economics

Round trip to Hong Kong costs only RMB 550
香港游来回只需550元
From July 15, Xiamen SEZ Transportation Group Egret Island Long-distance Company will provide direct Xiamen-Hong Kong highway transport for passengers, with two departures per day. The fare for a round trip, which is around RMB 550 and less than half of the lowest air fare, is expected to bring more visitors to Hong Kong during the summer vacation.

ABB contributes to power supply in Jiangsu
ABB厦门力助江苏电力
ABB, the leading power and automation technology group, announced recently that ABB Huadian High-Voltage Switchgear (Xiamen) Co., Ltd. has won contracts totaling RMB 85 million ($10.2 million) to supply 110 kV gas-insulated switchgears (GIS) apparatus for six substations in Suzhou, Wuxi and Xuzhou in East China's Jiangsu Province.ABB Huadian High-Voltage Switchgear Co., Ltd., located in Xiamen, has already provided around 100 domestic transformer substations, most of which are central substations in different regions of the country, with high voltage apparatus.

Price of second-hand commodity housing averaged RMB 3, 198 last month
上月二手房均价3198元
Despite the recent slight drop in prices in the commodity housing market, the transaction price of second-hand housing continues to be stable, with the price in June rising about RMB 200 over the average price of RMB 2,999 in May.

Local per capita GDP reaches RMB 40, 146
厦门人均GDP40146元
The social evaluation indexes which have just been compiled by the city's Statistics Bureau indicate that Xiamen's per capita GDP has reached the level of medium-developed countries and regions. Divided among the city's permanent population, the city's per capita GDP in 2004 topped RMB 40,146, equivalent to USD 4,850 at the current exchange rate, higher than other developed cities in the country. According to recently released statistics, per capita GDP was USD 4,300 in Beijing and USD 4,347 in the Yangtze Delta Area.

Maersk to open two new transoceanic routes
马士基新增两条远洋航线
On July 8 and 9, Maersk Sealand opened two new transoceanic routes from the Port of Xiamen: Route AE8 from Xiamen to Europe and Route TP9 from Xiamen to North America. The two routes will be served by the shipping giant's 12 large-scaled container vessels.

Xiangshan Int'l Yacht Wharf scheduled for completion in 2009
香山国际游艇码头2009年建成
The city's National Land && House Property Bureau has announced the public auctioning of the land use rights for Xiangshan International Yacht Wharf. Under the auctioning rules, the successful bidder must complete the construction of their project before February 7, 2009. Upon its completion, the Xiangshan Int'l Yacht Wharf will become the largest yacht wharf in China and the first high-end integrated tourist area in Xiamen.

 

 

Society

Herbal medicines ward off summer heat
草药抗酷暑
Sales of herbal medicines have been surging recently, leaping 20-30% over the preceding months. Many local people are brewing herbal medicines as drinks or using them to stew meat and duck for better taste and to ward off the burning summer heat.

Tea-making talents eagerly sought in labor market
茶艺人才成市场宠儿
Several Xiamen-based teashop owners who recently traveled to Anxi to recruit graduates in tea culture came back empty-handed. It's reported that the 18 graduates from the Anxi Tea Art School have received 250 job offers. Industry insiders point out that such a situation indicates that tea-making talents are in severe short supply.

Shopping malls refrain from selling alcohol & cigarettes to minors
大卖场禁向未成年人售烟酒
Major shopping establishments in Xiamen, including Xin Huadu and Trust-Mart, have put up signs reading "sales of alcohol or cigarettes to minors prohibited" in their outlets. In the past two days, a daily average of 10-20 minors attempting to buy alcohol or cigarettes were declined.

Government contemplates paying for premarital physical exams
婚检考虑政府埋单
Since the abolishment of mandatory premarital physical checkups, the number of people who voluntarily request such exams has plummeted, a trend that has alarmed the city's medical circles. Local medical authorities say that they will take up measures to reverse the trend by striving to incorporate premarital physical checkup into the public health system.

Yundang Lake to be 1.5 meters deeper after desilting
清淤后筼筜湖将加深1.5米
The largest-ever desilting project for Yundang Lake will kick off at the end of this month and be completed by March next year. The project, costing RMB 80 million, will remove 1.33 million cubic meters of silt from the lake. Upon the completion of the desilting project, the average depth of Yundang Lake will be increased by 1.5 meters, and the perennial problem of odor from the lake will disappear.

Summer camp opens to catch wrongly written words
"找错别字夏令营"开营
Over 100 schoolchildren from Siming District recently gathered at the No. 2 Experimental Elementary School for the opening ceremony of the Language && Letters Summer Camp. Its theme involves identifying wrongly written words and substandard word usage. These "word policemen" will soon patrol local streets for corrective action.

 

City News
Edited by Lily

Beijing 北京

Most buses to use clean fuel in 2008
2008多数公交车使用环保燃料
90 percent of public buses and 70 percent of taxis will be clean vehicles by 2008. Since 1999, the Chinese government has encouraged research and development on clean vehicles, including cars using clean fuel or alternative fuels, electronic cars, hybrid cars, and fuel-cell cars. In 2004, China consumed 292 million tons of crude oil, 123 million tons of which were imported. Nationwide, vehicles used up one third of the country's total oil consumption.

IOC suggests slowing Olympic construction
世界奥委会建议放慢场馆建设
When it comes to preparing for the Olympics, Beijing is no Athens. Whereas the Greek capital's preparations for last year's games went down to the wire, Beijing is sailing along. But International Olympic Committee officials had to convince Beijing to slow down, warning that finishing venues too early could incur huge maintenance and financing costs. Beijing expects to spend $2 billion on venues, but has earmarked a further $24.2 billion for new subway lines, roads, and other infrastructure. With the IOC's help, Beijing's Olympic organizers are hoping to get the most for their money.

Rules for traffic control assistants
交管助理员有章可循
Beijing officially issued a set of regulations to supervise traffic control assistants. The regulations set down hiring procedures, work evaluation, education and training, uniform and equipment requirements, and the responsibilities of the traffic control assistants. Beijing's police force has proved insufficient for the city's traffic control, which has expanded rapidly.
Beijing's traffic control assistants are mainly staffed by laid-off workers, veterans and security personnel. The regulations will standardize appropriate behaviors.

Shanghai 上海

Preparations for building offshore wind-power stations
海岸风力电站备建就绪
Shanghai is bracing for an offshore wind power project with a designed capacity of 100,000 kw. Scores of wind-driven generators, each with an installed capacity of 3,000 kw, will be built for the project in the next five years. As a mega-metropolis with a shortage of energy supply, it is imperative for Shanghai to use more renewable energy. It is forecast that 20 million kw/h of power will be generated by windmill projects in Shanghai this year.

UPS to create Shanghai air hub
美货运巨头欲建空中货运枢纽
United Parcel Service, the US delivery giant, said its plans to invest US$ 500 million (HK$ 3.9 billion) in China over the next two years as it establishes an international air hub in Shanghai. The Atlanta-headquartered courier and logistics company signed a memorandum of understanding with the Shanghai Airport Group to form a hub at Pudong International Airport, which is set for completion in 2007. The facility will boast an express handling unit, sorting and cargo handling facilities, and improve area and ramp handling operations.

California Pizza Kitchen debuts
加州厨房比萨登场
California Pizza Kitchen, home of the "Original BBQ Chicken Pizza" and other innovative hearth-baked pizzas, opened its first restaurant at 109 Retail Plaza in the West Tower of Shanghai Center. California Pizza Kitchen is a leader in California-style cuisine and is widely known for innovative menu items. Goat cheese, avocados, bean sprouts, and spicy Thai sauces are just some of the ingredients to top CPK's creative pizzas.

Guangzhou 广州

Fried foods most frightening
油炸食品最令人生畏
Fried foods have the worst food safety reputation, according to a survey on food safety. Residents listed fried foods, meat, synthetic flavorings and wines as the foods they were most skeptical about eating. The survey showed that 20 percent of residents suffered from various diseases and economic losses caused by unclean food. Most residents have confidence in large supermarkets, but are very suspicious of products from small booths.



Elevator maintenance sparks row
电梯维护引发争议
A dispute over rights to elevator maintenance had led to improper maintenance causing frequent elevator breakdowns. The dispute between elevator manufacturers and real estate companies was responsible for the frequent breakdowns. Elevator companies wanted to keep the right to maintain elevators to increase profits while real estate companies wanted to contract maintenance out to cheaper sources. Guangzhou classifies elevator maintenance firms by three categories: A, B and C. Less than 10 firms have A qualifications. Many property developers used low-quality firms rather than firms with A qualification to save money.

Chongqing 重庆

Scholars to be hired at a salary of 100, 000 yuan
高校年薪10万广募学者
Twelve universities in Chongqing, including Chongqing University and Southwest China Normal University, have decided to hire twenty scholars from home and abroad at a salary of 100 000 yuan per year (insurance and other benefits not included). Candidates for the positions in the natural and social sciences will require a doctoral degree, as well as demonstrated ability, achievement, and further potential in their field of research.

Seven new international air routes to be opened
新辟7条国际航线
Oriental Airlines announced seven new international air routes from Chongqing to Vancouver, Los Angles, Paris, Sydney, Melbourne, New Delhi, and Bombay commencing operation July 8. Passengers from Chongqing to the above cities will first have to take a flight to Beijing or Shanghai, where they will pass through customs inspection.

Hong Kong 香港

Security arrangements to be upgraded
加强应对恐怖事件防控
Hong Kong's Immigration Department has received 56 requests for help from Hong Kong residents following the explosions in London. All of the requests are related to unsuccessful attempts to contact their family members or friends in the United Kingdom. Contact has been established with 21 of the residents concerned, and there is no information indicating any casualties involving Hong Kong residents so far.

Universities seek strong ties
与内地高校加强合作
Since 1997, universities in the city have been keen on building strong ties with organizations of various types on the Chinese mainland. The scope of cooperation has been wide, including the training of talents, establishing study centers, and joint operations in university administration. Offering common programs and running joint academic training centers are also becoming regular modes of cooperation between Hong Kong and mainland institutes.

Summer Resource Show
夏季商品展销会开锣
The Summer Resource Show for Gifts, Houseware && Toys 2005 was held in Hong Kong on July 6th. An exhibition hall decorated with rural themes stressed the harmonious relationship between humans and nature.



Taipei 台北

Twin towers to highlight Taipei by 2011
2011年台北将添双子厦
Taipei City will have its own twin towers - comparable to the Petronas Towers in Kuala Lumpur and the former World Trade Center in New York - by 2011. Both towers will have a height of over 60 stories, making them the second tallest buildings in the city after Taipei 101, which is 508 meters in height and has 101 floors. The towers will be linked to the future Taipei-CKS Airport Express Rail Station and the Taipei Main Station by a series of underground tunnels.

New Party leader delivers speech at People's University
新党领袖人大演讲
The aim of the trip to the Chinese mainland by Taiwan's New Party delegation is to promote the nation's revitalization and arouse patriotism and nationalism among the young generation, remarked the party's chairman Yok Mu-ming while delivering a speech at the People's University of China. He headed a delegation to the mainland with the theme of commemorating the 60th anniversary of China's victory over the war against the Japanese aggression.


Vocabulary
compile 汇编
mandatory 强制性的
perennial 常年的
odor 气味
switchgear 开关设备
nail 规定
memorandum 备忘录
avocado 鳄梨
aboriginal 土著的
indigenous 原汁原味的