Tibet reminds me of mysterious, sacred. Discovering Tibet is more and more popular. How do you travel to Tibet for your private tour? Here is a piece of Tibet news from Xinhua News Agency:

Himalayas, on the southern rim of the Tibetan plateau.

Tibet to have 5 airports at end of 2010

Tibet will have five airports in operation at the year end, according to Zhang Qingli, top leader of Tibet Autonomous Region.

Zhang, secretary of the Tibet Regional Committee of the Communist Party of China, made the remark in an interview with People’s Daily online in Beijing on Monday.

Now Tibet has three airports in Lhasa, Nyingchi and Chamdo. “Tibet will open an airport in July and another at the end of this year. Then it will be more convenient for tourists to visit the region,” Zhang said.

He also called attention to the major role of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway in the region’s development. The railway has boosted the region’s tourism since it opened on July 1, 2006, according to the leader.

“Tibet was visited by four million tourists in 2007 and the number of visitors reached 5.61 million in 2009, thanks to the operation of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway,” Zhang said.

“It (5.61 million) is in line with the local situation since Tibet covers an area of 1.2 million sq km. So, we can say it is a vast region, and tourism will not affect the local environment because people’s environmental awareness is becoming increasingly higher,” Zhang said.

The Creative Christmas Market is a new addition to Shanghai’s festivities calendar. It features a specially constructed, 150-square-meter outdoor ice skating rink to celebrate the holiday season. Around the ice rink are 20 vendors selling Christmassy gifts, food and drinks.

Christmas is just two days away and it usually involves costly gift-buying, eating and drinking. For more variety and cheaper entertainment, here are two unusual events on the big day.

Situated in a furnishings and lifestyle mall in Xuhui District, the Creative Christmas Market is a new addition to Shanghai’s festivities calendar. It features a specially constructed, 150-square-meter outdoor ice skating rink to celebrate the holiday season, New York-style.

The rink is set in Wending Lifestyle Plaza, created out of a converted factory.

The market is open daily through December 31.

There will also be a real Christmas tree and live music. Around the ice rink are 20 vendors selling Christmassy gifts, food and drinks.

“Many expats will remain here over the Christmas season, and have little variety other than the usual restaurants or bars. We wanted to do something different that has never been done in Shanghai,” says Zhang Ming, public relations director for the project.

Use of the ice rink is 50 yuan (US$7.30) for two hours, and gifts from the vendors are individually priced.

The vendors in faux wooden chalets will be selling artsy gifts, from bags to scarves. For food lovers, hot chocolate, mulled wine, gingerbread and sweets and nuts will be on sale.

On Christmas Day, local jazz musicians perform in the Jazzstars Jamshow.

Usually jazz is linked with bar culture, but the Shanghai Jazz Orchestra is raising the profile of local jazz musicians by taking them onto the formal stage of the Shanghai Concert Hall. The Chinese and expat performers will be accompanied by the Shanghai Jazz Orchestra.

This is a monthly show that was started this September.

Seats are just 50 yuan.

The concert will be enlivened with experimental music. Since the events started in September, they have included Chinese and foreign performers, incorporating the harmonica and the traditional erhu (two-string fiddle) into jazz.

“Live performance is the soul of jazz and jam sessions allow anyone with talent to showcase their music. It drives variety and creativity,” says Dalu, head organizer. “We want to show that it’s not so hard to get on stage, and encourage everyone to learn and perform music.”

Concerts in formal venues such as the Shanghai Concert Hall are usually very expensive, “so we want to break down barriers by putting on cheap concerts for just 50 yuan,” he says.

The Jazzstars Jamshow will feature Christmas favorites such as “Silent Night” and “White Christmas” with a jazzy twist. Guest performers include the Guangqi Chorus, jazz singer Jasmine Chen and a young jazz lover who will sing “Auld Lang Syne.”

All performances are also professionally videotaped and broadcast on youku.com on the orchestra’s formal space.

“It’s a very open platform, and a good opportunity for local musicians to reach audiences worldwide,” says Dalu.

Organizers say there will be a special performance in January, with a lot more participants and guest orchestras to celebrate the end of the year.

Creative Christmas Market

Date: Weekdays, 4-9pm; weekends, 11am-6pm

Venue: Wending Lifestyle Plaza, 258 Wending Rd, Xuhui District

Tel: 3209-2855 ext 801

Tickets: 50 yuan for 2 hours

Jazzstars Jamshow

Date: December 25, 7:30-9pm

Venue: Shanghai Concert Hall, 523 Yan’an Rd E.

Tel: 6384-8831

Tickets: 50 yuan

Source: China Daily

When Christmas approaches, Beijing dresses accordingly. Tinsel and plastic green garlands decorate shop and café counters, Christmas trees loom in hotel and office lobbies, and rosy-cheeked paper cutouts of Santa’s face decorate nearly every restaurant door. Yes, the city is well dressed, but how about you? Lifestyle went on a mission in search of classic Christmas clothing items – Santa hats, reindeer antlers and Christmas sweaters. Here’s where to look, and where not to bother.

Yashow: expecting more, finding little

I expected to find some novel holiday clothes in Yashow Market, one of the most popular clothing markets among expatriates and tourists, but was disappointed to find only one store on the fourth floor offering Santa hats and stockings, with nothing that particularly jumped out at me or my wallet.

Address: 58 Gongti Beilu, Chaoyang District

朝阳区工体北路58号

Tel: 6415-1726

How to get there: Take bus No. 431, 113 or 758 to the Sanlitun stop.

Wantong: headband heaven

Many stores on the second floor of Wantong New World Shopping Mall, and one on the fourth floor, are selling Christmas home and personal decorations. They carry the standard Santa hats, plus an impressive selection of reindeer antler headbands (10 yuan). The bands are green, the antlers red, and the contrasting colors just holler, “Christmas! Joy!” Not literally, of course, though they do have little bells attached that ring when you shake your head.

Other, goofier headbands were decorated with different pairs: two snowmen, two Santas, even two lovely tigers to celebrate the impending Year of the Tiger. A shop owner explained, “The reindeer antler headband is quite popular among kids, especially girls. And of course, you can wear these to your Christmas parties. They’ll definitely make you the center of attention!” Actually the goods were not of good quality, but the antlers were so festive, I made the investment.

Address: No. 2 Fuchengmenwai Dajie, Xicheng District 西城区阜成门外大街2号

How to get there: Subway Line 2 to Fuchengmen Station.

Tianyi Market: where more choices require more patience

Most buses from Wantong go to Tianyi, one of the largest markets selling various petty commodities in Beijing. On the first floor, countless stores sell very similar Christmas items, such as antlers (more antlers!), Santa hats (ditto!) and wacky alternate Santa hat versions, such as ones in flashy yellow and one with a giant Santa face and, incongruously, two short braids hanging out the side. Efforts to speak to the shop owners were in vain, as all were distracted by talking to the many shoppers. Many customers were buying in bulk, stuffing black bags full of Christmas goodies and making it difficult to even get near the products. If you come here, you’ll need to bring plenty of patience and sharpen your bargaining skills (and elbows).

Address: No. 259 Fuchengmenwai Dajie, Xicheng District 西城区阜成门外大街259号

How to get there: Bus No. 101, 102, 103, 121, 15, 335, 37, 814, 603 or 732 to Fuwaixikou stop.

Tel: 6832-0761

Beyond the markets, you can check name brand shops for additional seasonal wear. Eland is selling clothing festooned with red and green ribbons, ideal if you want to dress not unlike a Christmas tree. Jack Jones also has a sweater sported by many men around town, knitted with an awkward penguin facing forward on the front and an awkward penguin’s buttocks and tail on the back. One likes to think that the penguin’s character reflects on the wearer of the sweater. Why this sweater has been popular is anyone’s guess, but it stands a good chance of placing in an “ugly Christmas sweater” competition. Similarly, those looking to be seasonal should look for sweaters with small bears (or pandas, if you’re thinking more locally).

Source: By Chen Dujuan, Global Times

Terracotta Warriors, originally uploaded by China.Holidays.

As you’re probably aware, the British Museum is currently hosting an exhibition of some of the famous Terracotta Warriors. Here at China Holidays we thought you might like to see some photographs of them in situ.

The figures are 2,200 years old and (obviously) made from terra cotta. 20 figures, their horses, chariots, weapons and kit make up the exhibition. They have been protecting the first Qin emperor since his death in 210BC. Each figures is estimated to be worth between £750,000 to £1.5 million.

The exhibition explores the life and reign of Emperor Qin Shi Huang Di, as well as the excavation of the warriors themselves. It’s on from now until April 6th 2008, and we’d encourage you to visit it , and perhaps think about getting a taste of China at home! You can get more information on the exhibition directly from the British Museum Website. In the meanwhile, enjoy the photographs!