The China diaries

Shanghai is my jumping-off point for covering the Women's World Cup, and specifically the United States women's national team's attempts to reclaim a title lost four years ago on home soil. But while I'm traipsing around the country, attempting to figure out just how Abby Wambach's toe is feeling and if North Korea is indeed a sleeper or just the most overhyped flop-in-waiting since the Segway, the good folks at Page 2 agreed to humor my attempts at sharing some of the sights and sounds of both the tournament and the country that will host next year's Olympics.

Regional air travel market hot for domestic airlines

China Eastern Airlines confirmed yesterday it has signed a letter of intent with AVIC I in Shanghai to establish a regional airline joint venture in the western China. China Eastern will hold 40 percent of the new airline, and AVIC I the rest. In the early stage of operation, the new carrier will mainly operate the Modem Ark 60 (MA60) airplanes, a turbo propeller regional aircraft manufactured by Xi'an Aircraft International Corp, an affiliate of AVIC I's Xi'an Aircraft Industry Group. It will then add the ARJ-21 regional planes, to be launched this year, to its fleet.

Travel opens up new silk route for China

China can expect to receive 24 million foreign travellers this year, up from 22 million last year. This year’s figures are already optimistic. Nearly 12.12 million foreigners came to the Chinese mainland for sightseeing from January to June, up 18.47 per cent year-on-year, according to the latest figures from the China National Tourism Administration. Tourism generated nearly $17.94 billion in foreign currency in the first six months, up 13.1 per cent year-on-year. More than half or $10.25 billion came from foreign tourists, up 19.64 per cent over the same period of last year.

Getting to Tibet is easier than ever

LHASA, Tibet — At sunrise and sunset, the air is cool, the scent of burning juniper incense is strong, and a river of pilgrims flows in a sacred circle around Jokhang Temple. Every day, they walk the perimeter of Lhasa's holiest shrine to accrue blessings in the next life because, the precepts of Tibetan Buddhism say, their lot in this one is preordained when they come into it. About 2.6 million people visited Tibet last year, many of them newly affluent Chinese, their love of travel unleashed by boom times in their homeland. To them, Tibet is the Wild West, an inalienable part of the People's Republic of China, and in big Chinese cities, Tibetan style is suddenly chic.