Being Beijing - Part VI

Enjoy the last part of the CCTV series "Being Beijing"! This segment will take you outside Beijing: Aside from visiting the Great Wall (I highly recommend Mutianyu) and the famous Ming Tombs, you will be introduced to Tanzhe Temple, the picturesque village of Cuandixia, as well as the Rainbrow Trout Valley.

http://english.cntv.cn/program/travelogue/20110621/102421.shtml

Being Beijing - Part V

Enjoy the fifth episode of "Being Beijing". The first part is about Zhongguancun, Beijing's Silicon Valley, and the university district of Haidian, while the second part introduces you to one of the city's major attractions: The Summer Palace.

http://english.cntv.cn/program/travelogue/20110620/101702.shtml

How Green is China?

Having been to China’s major cities in recent years, visitors will undoubtedly notice the problem of pollution yet longtime residents will proudly direct you to immense improvements in air quality over the last few decades.

The most recent 12th FYP (5 Year Plan), covering the time frame 2011 – 2015 and shared with the world after this years’ convention in March, is a blue print of priorities and goals set out by the central government. While the overall goal is ‘Economic Rebalancing’ observers noticed increasing priorities given to environmental and energy goals.

With the world’s largest population (4.5 times that of the US), China has maintained average annual growth rates of more than 10 per cent over many years, which many consider unsustainable in the future. Lifting a large portion of its population out of poverty also creates the largest move ever recorded in history from rural to urban China, increasing the urbanization rate to over 50%. As a result of this massive population move, energy demand is growing by annually 12%.

The goals of the government are clear:

·         Energy Conservation: Increase energy efficiency to 16% (the 11^th FYP accomplished a 20% increase), improve development of energy-efficient technology, increase water conservation to 30%.

·         Environmental Quality: 8% reduction in carbon emission is the current goal for 2015, during the 2009 Copenhagen Climate Conference China introduced its self-imposed goal of 45% reduction by 2020 (over 2005); forest coverage is to grow to almost 22%. Carbon Taxes and Trading are widely discussed and expected to be implemented by 2013.

·         New Energy: Currently China produces almost 9% of its energy through non-fossil resources including wind, water, and nuclear. Within the next five years this percentage is to increase to 15%.

Some of these goals seem rather ambitious, yet with a centralized government realizing the dangers of rapid economic growth, billions of dollars in available investments, and an excellent past record, China may well be on the way to master this balancing act. Investments in environmentally friendly energy production are higher here than in any other country ($34b in 2009, twice as much as the US).

While China is undoubtedly the world’s largest carbon emitter, the per-household ratio shows a different picture and how far ahead the US is compared to China: The two ‘cleanest’ US cities, San Diego and San Francisco, show emissions of 26 tons of CO2 per household, far ahead of the 1.8 tons for a Shanghai household or 4 tons for a Beijing household. Per capita, the US remains by far the largest polluter in the world.

And China has achieved another accomplishment: It’s the world's largest manufacturer of wind turbines and solar panels. In 2009 China put up one third of the world’s wind turbines, not just domestically but internationally as well.  Environmentally friendly technology is a very attractive export product. Unfortunately, 30 percent of the wind turbines within China are currently not connected to the aging power grid, something that certainly will change very soon.

Many believe by the end of this decade China will dominate the production of the whole range of power equipment. As a result, clean power technologies will get cheaper for itself and everyone else, and China will become the largest producer and consumer of alternative energy.

CST China Special Tours organizes special group tours to China. Interested in visiting China 'with a special focus', - educational, professional, or special interest? Please contact CST today and soon you will receive your personalized proposal. Please visit www.chinaspecialtours.com for more information.

TRAVEL NEWS FROM CHINA

Hong Kong Airport most efficient in Asia - The Air Transport Research Society has again elected Hong Kong Airport as the most efficient in Asia, considering traffic figures, delays, management and passenger figures. Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson Airport still retains its position as the most efficient aviation hub globally.

Great Wall Helicopter Ride - 15 minute charter flights are now offered from Badaling Airport at a cost of RMB 1,500 (approx. $200). The modern helicopters can accommodate up to 4 passengers. Plans include longer flights for up to 60 minutes.

Delta Air Lines introduces new China flight - Earlier this month, Delta Air Lines introduced its new nonstop flight between Detroit and Beijing in addition to the already scheduled flights from Detroit to Shanghai and Hong Kong. Flights currently operate five times per week with a Boeing 777.

Being Beijing - Part IV

This part of the fabulous CCTV video series will introduce you to Eastern Beijing including an extensive visit to "798 Art Space", Happy Valley (for children), Shopping at the Silk Street Market, and one of the nightlife centers, Sanlitun. Enjoy!

http://english.cntv.cn/program/travelogue/20110615/102211.shtml

"Being Bejing" - Enjoy this very interesting video series introducing you to Beijing.

Video 1 - Being Bejing

Video 2 - Being Bejing

Video 3 - Being Bejing

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

Still controversial and mostly considered alternative medicine in the west, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has a more than 2,000 year history and is not only the most common form of medical care in Asia but gains more and more popularity in the western world.
The concept of TCM is fundamentally different from modern medicine, rooted in a holistic understanding of the body and universe. Balance is the key element in TCM, - treatment methods may include acupuncture, herbal medicine, massage therapy as well as dietary therapy.



YIN & YANG
These ancient concepts are found in every aspect of life, they are complementing opposites: e.g. cold and hot, slow and fast, masculine and feminine. While apparently opposites they are interdependent; without 'cold' there would be no 'hot'. TCM believes that an imbalance between yin and yang will lead to illness and disease.


THE FIVE ELEMENTS
The five basic - yin - elements of the material world are wood, fire, earth, metal, and water. These elements undergo constant movement and change. In TCM the 5 Elements explain the complex connection between material objects as well as the unity between the human body and the natural world. Each element is also related to a key zang organ (wood-liver; fire-heart; earth-spleen; metal-lung; water-kidney).


BODY CONCEPT IN TCM
Focus is on the body's function such as breathing and digestion rather than its anatomy. The key entities in TCM are Qi (Energy Flow), Xue (Blood), the five primary/zang organs, six secondary/fu organs (small and large intestines, gallbladder, bladder, stomach, san jiao), and 20 meridians. Everything is defined by their function in the human body:
The zang organs produce and store qi and xue.
The fu organs transmit and digest substances like food and waste.
The meridians are channels from all organs to the interior of the body as well as the limbs and joints, their function is to transport qi and xue.


CONCEPT OF DISEASE IN TCM
Generally, TCM considers disease as disharmony in the functions and interactions of yin, yang, qi, xue, zang, fu, meridians, etc. as well as the relationship of the body and the environment. Symptoms are only one minor part of the diagnosis, more important (and more difficult) is to recognize a pattern. This may lead to two patients with the same disease symptoms receiving different treatment based on their individual disease pattern.



MEDICINES & TECHNIQUES
Plant elements and extracts are the most common among the 13,000 medicines and 100,000 medical recipes. Some examples: Ginger is believed to aid digestion and to treat upset stomach and nausea. Ginseng aims to strengthen the immune system.
Acupuncture is probably the most well-known form of techniques used in TCM. Several hundred acupuncture points are located along the meridians, activating them restores and/or maintains balance in the human body.
Qi Gong exercises including T'ai Chi Chuan are part of physical exercises, as are breathing and meditation exercises.

TCM holds the human body in great reference, respecting and promoting its endless capacity for rejuvenation and recovery. TCM practitioners 'listen' to the language of the body, interpret disharmonies and offer help through medicines and techniques. The end goal is to harmonize body, mind, and spirit with the material world so that we will be able to prevent and fight illness and improve the quality and duration of life. TCM certainly requires an open mind for Westerners yet its long history and wide popularity has earned it a place as medical treatment, maybe not exclusively but in addition to modern medicine.

CST China Special Tours creates special group tours to China. Should you be interested in learning more about TCM, if you are studying TCM or are a TCM practitioner, please contact us and request a customized proposal.  

TRAVEL NEWS FROM CHINA

One new hotel every two weeks - Starwood Hotels (including chains like Sheraton and Westin) has recognized the importance of the Chinese market place and plans to open a new hotel every other week. Already the leader with more than 70 hotels in China, another 90 are currently in the pipeline, making China the second largest market after the US.  In addition, Starwood will send their executives to Shanghai for a month-long education and familiarization with Chinese culture and business practices.

Beijing-Shanghai Train - Traveling at an average speed of 180mph the new high-speed train between the two major cities cuts travel time to 4 hours 45 minutes. More than 1,000 passengers are expected to enjoy the ride daily.

World's highest hotel - The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong, will occupy floors 102 - 118 of the International Commerce Center (ICC) Building, the tallest building in the city. 312 luxurious rooms in Kowloon mark the comeback of Ritz-Carlton after the closure of its former property 3 years ago. The Ritz-Carlton group is currently running 7 hotels in China.

Chinese Tea

Think of China and play the word association game – what do you think of first? Most probably: Tea. No other beverage is so connected to its place of origin as Chinese tea. Tea is the most popular beverage in the world (aside from water), followed by coffee and cocoa. China grows, consumes, and exports more tea than any other nation although 90% of the production is still consumed domestically. Good with meals, for health reasons, or simply for pleasure, tea truly is a beverage for all occasions.

LEGENDARY BEGINNINGS

Many stories are woven around the origin of tea. The most persistent one dates back to 2737BC. Then Chinese emperor Shan Nong was known to have his drinking water boiled so that it would be clean. While resting under a wild tea tree, a few leaves accidentally fell into the water, changing the color to a light green/brown. The emperor did not notice the change and drank the brew, and is said to have felt refreshed and energized. Tea has since served many purposes: as ritual offering, eaten as vegetable, used as medicine, and since the days of the Han Dynasty (206BC-220AD) infused in boiling water. For further study on tea, read up on Lu Yu (733-804AD), the first sage of tea, and his work “The Classic of Tea”. The new beverage arrived in Japan in the sixth century, spread through Asia and the Arabian world, even Africa, before arriving in Europe in the early 17^th century.

THE PLANT, GROWING AND HARVESTING

Whether green, black, or white tea, all teas have their origin in the Camellia plant (Camellia Sinensis). The plant grows in bushes and trees, carries thick, dark green leaves with a strong thick stem. Flowers appear in white or pink with delicate fragrance. Tea can be picked from plants that are 5 – 30 years old.

The best growing conditions are in warm and humid mountain regions up to 5,000 feet altitude, with annual rainfall of 2,000 mm.

Harvesting – or picking – of leaves starts in spring and lasts until summer. Only the top layer is picked, one bud and two young leaves. While machines are used in a few places, the best tea is still harvested by hand. The plant produces new growth every 15 days although the first growth (= New tea) is more intense in aroma and flavor.

THE PROCESSING

Only through different methods of processing is the type of tea developed. The most popular tea is Green Tea, produced through a 3-step process which basically reduces moisture from 90% after the harvest to 10% at consumption. The 3 basic steps are as follows:

Drying/Withering:        

Leaves are spread out on wire grids to extract moisture, sometimes supported by blowing currents of hot air over them, reducing moisture by up to 60%

Rolling

The leaves are broken and turned to that liquids can be released, and to allow fermentation and oxidation (see below).

Crushing & Sifting

At this point, the tea leaves are crushed into small particles, aired, and cooled down.

Ready for consumption!

All other types of tea add one more step: ‘Fermentation’. The word actually is incorrect in regards to tea since it actually means Enzymatic Oxidation (= browning) referring to the time dried leaves are left in contact with air. The longer the oxidation time, the darker the tea. Teas are classified based on the techniques with which they are produced and processed:

Green Tea - unwilted and unoxidized

Yellow Tea – unwilted and unoxidized but allowed to yellow

White Tea – wilted and unoxidized

Oolong Tea – wilted, bruised, and partially oxidized

Black Tea – wilted, sometimes crushed, and fully oxidized

Post-fermented Teas – Green Tea that has been allowed to ferment

ENJOYING TEA

Well, it could be as easy as using hot tap water or maybe microwave a cup of water, throwing in a tea bag, - and you are done! If that does it for you, go for it!

If you want to have the full tea drinking experience, select loose leaf tea, usually it’s better quality. When selecting tea leaves, go for larger leaves, they are said to be more flavorful.

Brewing water – an easy task? No, of course not! Take bottled water over tap water, heat it up in a kettle, and wait for the first signs of bubbles to come to the surface. Then warm up the tea pot or cup first by swirling some boiling water in it and discard.

How much tea? The general guideline is a well-rounded teaspoon for each 8 ounce cup plus one for the pot. Add the loose-leaf tea either at the bottom of your pot or to the infuser. Then pour the boiling water over the tea (Green Tea: wait for 2-3 minutes before pouring water). Let the tea sit for 3 – 5 minutes (less for lighter colored teas, more for darker ones). Now it’s – finally – time to enjoy your cup of tea!

MEDICINAL BENEFITS

Tea contains catechins (a type of antioxidant), best in white and green tea. Thiamine and caffeine are also present but in very small dose. While the actual medicinal benefits of tea are still somehow controversial, some studies suggest tea may
- possess antibiotic effects
- protect against certain cancers including lung, prostate, and breast cancer
- increase metabolism
- help prevent diabetes
- boost mental alertness
- boost the immune system
- lower stress
- prevent strokes

        

THE BEST TEA

It certainly is up to you to try as many teas as possible, and some researchers have counted more than 1,000 types of tea. One tea is considered the national beverage of China and presented to all official visitors: It’s Dragon Well (Longjing) Tea from Hangzhou in Zheijang Province.  Try it when you visit the next time!


TRAVEL NEWS FROM CHINA:

News for Panda Lovers - Too much contact with visitors  led to some pandas getting sick, so the famous Breeding and Research Center in Chengdu decided to change policies and not allow visitors to hold pandas anymore.

New Standard for Yangtze Cruises - On April 8, the new 5-star 'President Prime' set sail for its maiden voyage on the Yangtze River. Unlike other river cruise ships, the new luxury ship offers almost 200 suites, all with balcony, and each suite is equipped with all modern amenities including A/C, satellite TV, refrigerator, and much more.

Shanghai Underground Theater to open - The world's largest and deepest (up to 65 feet underground) theater with a seat capacity of 2,000 is set to open in July with a debut play of "Perfect Broadway". Built over 4 years and at a cost of $170 mio, the Shanghai Underground Cultural Plaza Theater will be one of the top three performance venues in Shanghai, with Shanghai Grand Theater and Shanghai Concert Hall.