China's Top Ten Seaside Cities

In March 2009, China's top 10 seaside tourist cities were unveiled in an online survey conducted jointly by sohu.com, a leading Chinese Internet portal, and Enjoy World, a popular electronic tourist magazine. Tourism experts, journalists, independent travelers, and more than one million netizens voted Sanya, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Zhuhai, Rizhao, Xiamen, Beihai, Dalian, Haikou and Ningbo as their favorite seaside destinations.In March 2009, China's top 10 seaside tourist cities were unveiled in an online survey conducted jointly by sohu.com, a leading Chinese Internet portal, and Enjoy World, a popular electronic tourist magazine. Tourism experts, journalists, independent travelers, and more than one million netizens voted Sanya, Qingdao, Qinhuangdao, Zhuhai, Rizhao, Xiamen, Beihai, Dalian, Haikou and Ningbo as their favorite seaside destinations.

China's Top Ten Seaside Cities

By staff reporter ZHANG XUEYING

Traditional Resorts

Of the 10 cities, Sanya, Haikou and Qinhuangdao are traditional destinations for millions of urbanites seeking to escape the summer heat of inland cities.

China's First Higher-education Institute for Tea Study to Open Next Year

Construction of China's first higher-education institute for tea study kicked off in Anxi, hometown of Chinese oolong tea, on November 12, with authorities aiming to have it ready to welcome students from autumn of 2012.

The college, in China's eastern Fujian province, will offer undergraduate courses for tea study majors under Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University.

Lan Siren, rector of the university, said Chinese tea firms are in dire need of elite sales, management and business development talents. The college will cope with the demand.

He said over half of the 500 million-yuan (78 million U.S. dollars) investment for building the institute came in donations from Anxi-born Chinese.

The county produces around 45,000 tonnes of tea leaves each year, or one third of the mainland's total oolong tea production. Tieguanyin, the best oolong tea variety produced in Anxi, is among the the most popular Chinese farm brands with foreigners.

Source: Xinhua

Lion Dance

Lion dance-- southern form(舞狮--南派)

The lion, in Chinese eyes, is king of the animals, a symbol of strength, courage and good fortune. In traditional festivals like the Spring Festival and on joyous occasions including weddings and inaugurations, people imitate lions in the lion dance to ward off evil spirits and bring good luck. The dance is performed by a symbolic lion or lions accompanied by three musical instruments – drum, gong and cymbal. Movements and rhythm are coordinated, and each of the lion's actions is associated with its own particular beat. Variations and elaborations on the basic beats keep the dance complex and the audience transfixed. All over the world it is recognized as representative of Chinese culture.

Kaiping Watchtower Houses

An increasing number of travelers are heading for Kaiping, a small city 122 kilometers southwest of Guangzhou, to see the 1,833 fortress-fashioned residences scattered around 15 towns.

Kaiping watchtower houses have become the hottest tourist attraction in China since being placed on the United Nations World Heritage List this June.

Kaiping Watchtower Houses(开平碉楼)