ChinAfrica presents selected Chinese cities with a brief introduction about what makes them interesting,and what makes them tick

LOCATED in the northwest of southwest China＇s Yunnan Province, Lijiang has two faces - one scenic, and the other urban. Its multifaceted nature makes it a perfect Valentine＇s Day destination for sun-seeking couples and singles alike.

ChinAfrica presents selected Chinese cities with a brief introduction about what makes them interesting,and what makes them tick

YichangTHE city of Yichang can attest that not all excit- ing sports are modern. Each year, it hosts the China Dragon Boat Rally, which draws teams from all over the country to compete in traditional dragon boat races.

ChinAfrica presents selected Chinese cities with a brief introduction about what makes them interesting,and what makes them tick

At Yellow Crane Pavilion in the west My old friend says farewell In the mist and flowers of spring He goes down to Yangzhou These lines penned by Li Bai,the most famous poet in Tang Dynasty（618-907）,have aged well：even in this era,it＇s a good idea to visit Yangzhou in the spring.Throughout all the ages,in fact,Chinese poets have lavishly praised Yangzhou in their writ-

ChinAfrica presents selected Chinese cities with a brief introduction about what makes them interesting, and what makes them tick.

Changsha APPRECIATING red maples during their peak of color is one of the most sought-after activities in many East Asian countries, During the fail foliage season, travelers deluge spots with picturesques views of the colorful favorites. In China, the most famous of these coveted spots is Yuelu Mountain in Changsha City.

ChinAfrica presents selected Chinese cities with a brief introduction about what makes them interesting,and what makes them tick

ZhangjiajieALTHOUGH Guilin has always been the default option for foreign travelers touring China, in recent years more people have begun to recognize the charm of another scenic destination called Zhangjiajie, a city with spectacular views located on the northwestern border of Hunan Province.

ChinAfrica presents selected Chinese cities with a brief introduction about what makes them interesting, and what makes them tick

A burning town, or seeming so, Three thousand furnaces that glow Incessantly, and fill the air With smoke uprising, gyre on gyre, And painted by the lurid glare, Of jets and flashes of red fire.

ChinAfrica presents selected Chinese cities with a brief introduction about what makes them interesting,and what makes them tick

Yan＇an JULY 1 is the rounding anniversary of the Communist Party of China （CPC）. For those interested in modern Chinese revolutionary history, Yah＇an in northern Shaanxi Province is a good travel destination during this important anniversary.

ChinAfrica presents selected Chinese cities with a brief introduction about what makes them interesting,and what makes them tick

ACCORDING to the Chinese lunar calendar, Chinese people celebrate the Spring Festival in January 2012, which is earlier than usual. In modern Chinese cities, the festival＇s atmosphere has been fading in recent years. But for those who want to witness age-old celebrations in a traditional setting then the city of Pingyao is a perfect choice for tourists.

ChinAfrica presents selected Chinese cities with a brief introduction about what makes them interesting, and what makes them tick

UrumqiURUMQI, the capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Au- tonomous Region in northwest China, has a significant population of ethnic minorities. There are two major groups in the city - the Han and the Uygur - but Urumqi is also home to Kazakhs, Kyrgyz, Mongols and Hui Muslims. The strong colorful ethnic lifestyles and local customs are quite attractive to visitors taking in the city＇s traditional architecture, food, clothing and festivals.

ChinAfrica presents selected Chinese cities with a brief introduction about what makes them interesting, and what makes them tick Tai’an

TAI＇AN is optimal destination for people traveling through China in October. The autumn month marks when Chongyang （Double Ninth）, an important traditional Chinese festival, is typically celebrated. The festival is observed on the ninth day of the ninth month, according to the Chinese calendar, and is a time to remember and pay tribute to family ancestors.

ChinAfrica presents selected Chinese cities with a brief introduction about what makes them interesting,and what makes them tick.

FOR those who want to tour the largest city in northeast China,September is a perfect time.On August 31.the 12th National Games opened in Shenyang.In addition to watching the games,visitors can explore the city,which has a history spanning more than 2,000 years. Shenyang＇s history can be traced back as far as the Warring States Period（476 BC - 221 BC）.It＇s famous as the birthplace of the Qing Dynasty（1644-1911）,China＇s last dynasty.In 1625, Nurhachi,the first Qing emperor,established the capital in Shenyang,and changed its name to ＂Shengjing.＂ As a result,Shenyang houses one of China＇s two best-preserved imperial palace complexes and two emperor tombs.

ChinAfrica presents selected Chinese cities with a brief introduction about not only what makes them interesting,but what makes them tick

Shenzhen FOR art enthusiasts,Shenzhen,located in southern Guangdong Province,is a prime December destination. The city-wide festival "Creative December" this month features more than 40 events,including an art market,exhibitions and design contests.As the center of China’s design in-

Numbers

S13 bin China＇s planned investment in exploration of o and gas resources in 2013

Books

China At The Crossroads： Sustainability, Economy, Security and Critical Issues for the 21st Century This collection of essays gives readers a glimpse of China＇s future. The book provides well-reasoned answers to some of today＇s most burning ques- tions about where China is headed in areas ranging from political reform and rule of law to a pathway to democracy in China.

Deep in Thought

The stress and strain of life weighs heavily on the faces of these street market folk as they go about their daily business.

Books

China-Africa Health Collaboration in the Era of Global Health Diplomacy By the Institute for Global Health, Peking UniversityThis book collects 13 articles that, together, offer a systematic and historical review of China＇s health cooperation with other develop ing countries, especially those in Africa. It also looks into experi ence cooperating in specific areas, such as maternal and child health, medical staff resources, and drug distribution, and analyzes the current health situation of African countries and the future of South- South cooperation in health-related areas.

Briefs

Protecting Overseas Workers The Ministry of Commerce is calling for China＇s export of labor services to be better regulated, as Chinese enterprises expand quickly overseas and an increasing number of workers are sent abroad. ＂According to the country＇s first regulation of exported labor, the ministry will work with other related government organizations and local governments to establish a means of cooperation and stronger supervision of enterprises that send workers abroad,＂ said Chen Deming,