Sichuan -Tibet Highway: Haizishan - Zhubalong Section Opened to Traffic
On September 25th, the Haizishan - Zhubalong Section of Sichuan -Tibet Highway (318 National Highway) was formally opened to traffic, which would greatly improve the transportation between Sichuan and Tibet.
Sichuan - Tibet Highway, reputed as the 'Road Geological Museum' and 'Western Magical Road', is blessed with most beautiful scenery en route. However, it is in bad condition and easily exposed to natural disasters. So the Department of Transportation invested CNY 1.58 billion and initiated the regeneration project on it in 2003.
Haizishan and Zhubalong are respectively located in Daocheng County and Batang County of Garze Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture in Sichuan. The renovated road is 127 kilometers (79 miles) long, with a speed limit of 30 kilometers (18.6 miles) per hour. It is said that the whole lines of two Sichuan-Tibet Highways (317 & 318) is expected to be rebuilt as the Haizishan-Zhubalong Section.
- 1:04 A.M. EST, Sep 27, 2007
Largest Glacier Group on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau Discovered
The largest glacier group on Qinghai-Tibet Plateau has been recently discovered in Pome County, Nyingchi, which consists of a total of 42 glaciers.
The glaciers of Tibetan Plateau cover a whole area of nearly 50,000 square kilometers (12 million acres), which are mainly distributed around Kunlun Mountains and Himalayas Mountains. With the global warming, the area of the glaciers on the plateau had decreased about 30% in the past 10 years. It is estimated that another 45% would be reduced should the temperature rise 2.1 - 4 oC (35.8 – 39.2 oF) at the end of 21st century. The discovery of this largest glacier group in Pome will contribute to the feeding of large rivers in Asia, as most of them originate from the Tibetan Plateau.
Pome County concentrates most of glaciers in Tibet, including the largest oceanic glacier of China - Kaqin Glacier, and one of the most beautiful glaciers – Midui Glacier. The local government is now taking this advantage to make the county 'Homeland of the Most Beautiful Glaciers in China'.
- 1:04 A.M. EST, Sep 27, 2007
Chamdo: 8th Khampa Culture & Art Festival to Held on Oct.1st
The 8th Khampa Culture & Art Festival is to be held on October 1st in Chamdo of Tibet.
Chamdo, the center of Kham Region, features the distinctive Khampa culture. The most famous are the three kinds of Tibetan dances - Gorchom, Repa and Shinze. This festival will display all of these art forms, as well as some featured sports and other various performances to visitors. Besides, there will also be commercial and tourist promotions during the activity.
- 2:43 A.M. EST, Sep 26, 2007
Xinjiang - Tibet Highway: Shiquanhe - Rutog Bituminous Road Completed
The Shiquanhe - Rutog Section of Xinjiang - Tibet Highway (219 National Highway) in Ngari was completely tar-paved on September 25th.
The renovated highway was graded in Class III Bituminous Road. It has greatly facilitated the travel to Lake Palgon and Bird Island in Rutog and the transportation between Shiqunhe Town and Rutog County in Ngari. The drive from Shiquanhe to Rutog is shortened from 7 - 8 hours to over 2 hours.
- 2:38 A.M. EST, Sep 26, 2007
Potala Palace: Number of Tickets to Remain the Same during National Day Holiday
During the Chinese National Day Holiday (October 1st – October 7th), the number of tickets on sale every day remains the same in the Potala Palace.
According to the Management Office of the Potala Palace, to protect the palace being repaired, since 2003 the number of visitors to the Potala Palace has been strictly limited within 2,300 every day, including 1,600 group tickets and 700 individual tickets. During the peak season, another 300 tickets can be increased flexibly.
- 2:23 A.M. EST, Sep 25, 2007
Beijing Olympics: Final Assault Point of Torch Relay to Mt. Everest Summit Unveiled
The 2008 Olympic torch bearers on Mt. Everest (Mt. Qomolangma) will make the final assault to the summit from a staging camp at an altitude of 8,300 meters (27,231 feet), according to Wang Yongfeng, Captain of the China Mountaineering Team.
Wang tells that trials have been carried out on the climbing route of the Beijing Olympic Torch Relay on Mt. Everest. Next year the torch will be first relayed from the Everest Base Camp to a staging camp 8,300 meters high, and then finally assault to the summit from there before returning to the Base Camp.
It is said that the torch relay across the Mt. Everest faces three key challenges: the mountaineering skills, the burning condition of the torch on the summit, and the live broadcast on the television. This May, all of these aspects had been tested and said to come up to the expectation.
- 4:11 A.M. EST, Sep 24, 2007
