Category:Travel News

From ChinaTravelGuide

[edit] Two trains collided in Zibo, Shandong Province

update: As of 18:00 of May 2 Beijing time, the death toll has been confirmed as 72, and 416 were among the injured. Details at [1] (in Chinese) Sonia 00:57, 3 May 2008 (PDT)

update: The death toll has climbed to 70 and 416 were reported as injured so far. Preliminary investigations suggested the accident was caused by human error. Details at [2] Sonia 16:27, 28 April 2008 (PDT)

update: The death toll has climbed to over 60 and more than 400 were reported as injured so far. Sonia 23:06, 27 April 2008 (PDT)

Xinhua news confirmed that train T195 (from Beijing to Qingdao) collided with train 5034/5031 (from Yantai to Xuzhou) in Zibo, Shandong Province this morning at 4:43am Beijing time. About 10 carriages toppled into a ditch. The number of casualties stands at 43 deaths and 247 injuries so far, railway authorities confirmed. 51 of the injured people were in critical condition.

Train T195 derailed in Hejiacun village between Zhoucun (周村) and Wangcun (王村) on Jinan-Qingdao Railway (胶济铁路) and hit train 5034 going to Xuzhou from Yantai.

More details at http://china.org.cn/china/local/2008-04/28/content_15024569.htm and http://news.qq.com/a/20080428/001349.htm (in Chinese)

[edit] Tibet to reopen to tourists on May 1

Lhasa will reopen its tourism business starting from May 1, the Tibet Tourism Bureau said on April 3, 2008. Over 100,000 unemployed since March 14 in the tourism business in Lhasa will be brought back to work. Many have seen their business vanish since the deadly rioting broke out on March 14.

Tourism, the biggest industry in Lhasa, had come to a virtual standstill for three weeks. Lhasa welcomed more than 2.7 million visitors in 2007, and was looking forward to increasing the number by 30 percent to 3.3 million before the unrest. But the biggest unrest in decades has brought people's life in Lhasa into turmoil, and devastated numerous businesses. Many hotels had to evacuate guests and travel agencies were forced to cancel forthcoming trips.

Lhasa has since reopened its prominent Potala Palace on March 26, for the first time since it closed its door after the riot, a move the regional government said was to protect the safety of tourists and the landmark cultural heritage.

Last week China invited journalists from 17 media outlets from foreign countries as well as Taiwan and Hong Kong regions to see the aftermath of the riot. 209.159.64.4 18:31, 4 April 2008 (PDT)

[edit] 2008 China Snowstorm

The snow storm weather in China since Jan. 10, and has became China's worst winter weather in half a century. It has stranded over 5.8 million people [3] just before the Lunar New Year, which begins on Feb 7 this year. Chinese new year is China's biggest holiday, and many Chinese people take weeks off to celebrate the Spring Festival (春节). It's just as important in China as Christmas in the West. For many Chinese who migrate from the countryside to cities to work in factories, the holiday is the only time during the year that they return to their hometowns. More details at 2008_China_Snowstorm.