Showing posts with label News. Show all posts
Showing posts with label News. Show all posts

Saturday, October 24, 2015

Hiroshi Lockheimer has just been promoted to SVP of Android by Sundar Pichai. So what important business is the Android team working on at the moment? Is it developing a new feature for the platform that will allow battery life to triple? Did the team discover a fool-proof auto-correct algorithm? A tweet from the executive reveals that Android is working on something he knows that users are craving: new emoji.

Perhaps this is the response from Google after seeing how much attention Apple received from its new emoji line-up that was part of the iOS 9.1 update. Besides a hot dog, burrito and a bottle of champagne, Apple included the middle finger salute, which pretty much guaranteed a response from smartphone users.

The Android SVP hasn't hinted at a timeframe for the arrival of the new emoji, merely stating that Android is in the process of working on it. Any particular emoji that you would like to see offered by Android?

Source: www.phonearena.com

SVP Lockheimer says Android is working on new emoji

8:00 AM ,
According to the government, you don't own the software inside your iPhone or iPad. This came up during a recent legal tussle involving the Department of Justice. The DOJ is trying to get Apple to crack encrypted code inside an iPhone that is part of a court case. Apple says that not only does it not have to do this, it claims that it doesn't have the technical prowess to do so.

Apple's statement that it does not have to do the DOJ's bidding was basically shot down by Justice Department lawyers that claim Apple does not sell you iOS, it licenses it to you. The distinction is important in this case, because with the latter, Apple still owns the copy of iOS in your iPhone. This means that the DOJ can request that Apple decrypt it. If Apple were to sell iOS to you with the purchase of an iPhone, the software would belong to you and the government couldn't force you to let them see it.

This could be a pretty important ruling for future criminal proceedings where the government contends that damaging evidence is stored on the software inside a smartphone. By the way, the phone in the case is an Apple iPhone 5s, and Apple claims that breaking into the phone to fetch the evidence could "tarnish the Apple brand." According to the government's filing, Apple also doesn't want to assist the government because of the time and money involved in doing so. The DOJ says that these costs are minor compared to the profits that Apple has made selling the iPhone over the years. The filing states that Apple has no legal grounds for not helping the government with this matter.

The DOJ has asked for an expedited ruling so that it can force Apple to fetch the information from the specific iPhone in time for the trial, which is scheduled to begin on November 16th.

Thanks for the tip!

Source: http://www.phonearena.com








Government says Apple licenses iOS, it doesn't sell it

7:49 AM ,

Thursday, October 22, 2015




 Best for... adventurers

Belmond (formerly Orient-Express), which operates some of the world’s great trains and hotels, also offers river cruises. It was one of the first operators in Burma, and a voyage on the Irrawaddy will reveal timeless villages, characterful colonial architecture (particularly in Yangon), pagodas, monasteries, remote riverscapes, rampant jungle and the extraordinary golden temples at Bagan.

Belmond’s (0845 077 2222; belmond.com) Road to Mandalay, leaves nothing to be desired in terms of luxury and pampering, while on-board guides ensure guests understand everything they witness on the itinerary. The seven-night holiday costs from £2,382 per person excluding international flights.

Also consider: Noble Caledonia offers cruises on the largest number of rivers – Siberia, anyone? – but for something closer to home, a three-river journey is appealing. A 19-night holiday adds the tributaries Sava and Tisza to a Danube journey, allowing for detailed exploration of Hungary, Croatia, Bosnia and Serbia

By John Wilmott

Picture: AP/FOTOLIA


 Best for… foodies
One could be forgiven for overlooking the gastronomic appeal of Vietnam and Cambodia, what with the glut of ancient sites and temples between them. Although a cruise along the Mekong will inevitably be full board, many holidays to this region also include a land element, allowing you to sample the delights of shrimp pancakes, cha ca (fish sautéed with dill) and pho (the national dish of Vietnam, a sort of light stew), among other tasty dishes.

On Viking’s well-judged 15-day Mekong tour, there is a promise to serve regional specialities on board alongside the usual menu. The trip combines hotel stays in Hanoi, Siem Reap and Ho Chi Minh City with a seven-night river voyage. Viking (0800 319 6660; vikingrivercruises.co.uk) includes drinks with meals and cultural experiences and costs from £3,299 per person, including return flight.

Also consider: CroisiEurope has a Grand Gastronomic Cruise on the Rhine. Nine chefs – including triple-Michelin-starred Marc Haeberlin – will feed guests on this October voyage from Strasbourg, serving the likes of foie gras polished in truffles, and quail crepes. New for 2016, APT has a Bordeaux voyage that features a caviar tasting and fine dining at a chateau.


Picture: AP/FOTOLIA 



 Best for... oenophiles

Think of a wine-themed cruise, and France, where the Saône and Rhône pass through several renowned wine regions, comes to mind. AmaWaterways (0808 223 5009; amawaterways.co.uk) has a full programme of wine cruises, but it’s the Portugal offering that will appeal to those looking to expand their knowledge of vini culture.

Its seven-night cruise on the Douro from Porto is in the company of a noted winemaker. As well as viewing the vineyards, there are visits to the wine-growing town of Pinhão and the historic wine estates of Quinta de Avelada, Mateus and Quinta do Seixo. Expect tastings and wine-themed meals, along with port after dinner.

From £2,229 per person including flights with departures in April, August and November.


Also consider: a master of wine will join Avalon’s 11-day cruise from Paris to the Côte d’Azur, with tastings in 
Beaune and Chateauneuf du Pape plus a food/wine pairing dinner on board. 

 Picture: Renato Granieri / Alamy




Best for... sybarites

Several river cruise companies boast of luxurious cabins, round-the-clock service and innovative balconies. One clear contender is Uniworld’s Antoinette. On board is a 10ft Baccarat crystal chandelier in the lobby, a mosaic-lined dipping pool and a small cinema. Guests sleep on handmade beds with high-thread-count linen and are waited on by butlers. Staff are restaurant trained.

Antoinette sails seven-night itineraries from Basel, Switzerland. Uniworld (0800 988 5873; titantravel.co.uk/uniworld) offers a “Rhine Festive Markets” voyage on December 5 from £2,199 per person, including flights.

Also consider: Scenic Tours’ European “Space Ships” have sumptuous suites with private balconies and high-definition televisions linked to iPads. Other touches include tailor-made GPS touring devices and a dégustation menu served at Table Le Rive (no added cost but reservations essential).
Picture: AP/FOTOLIA


 Best for... gardeners

Many operators run cruises from Amsterdam during “tulip time” in April. Passengers can expect a full day at Keukenhof, whose blooms number some seven million, with around 800 varieties of tulips. Canals and lakes add to the appeal, as do the flower shows in pavilions, numerous trees and the themed gardens.

Shearings (0844 824 6351; shearings.com) goes one better than most by adding a visit to Het Loo Palace to its Spring Gardens Extravaganza holiday. Once a residence of the Dutch Royal Family, the palace has outstanding baroque gardens that date to the 17th century. The seven-night cruise costs from £749 per person, including coach travel from the UK.

Also consider: for a shorter Keukenhof visit, Saga has a five-night cruise that includes wine with dinner. The River Cruise Line (0844 409 8781; rivercruiseline.co.uk) visits the National Botanic Garden of Belgium (one of the largest in the world), and takes in the Floralia spring flower show, held in the grounds of Château de Grand Bigard. 

Picture: AP/FOTOLIA



 Best for... nature lovers

Assam is best known for its distinctive tea, but this northern Indian region in the shadow of the Himalayas is also replete with wildlife.

The Brahmaputra river rises in the mountains and flows towards the Bay of Bengal, crossing untouched landscapes and meandering between giant sand islands. Noble Caledonia (020 7752 0000; noble-caledonia.co.uk) is one of the few companies to organise a cruise on this waterway. Highlights on the Passage through Assam cruise include visits to the national parks of Kaziranga – home to the world’s largest population of rhino – and Nameri, where there’s a chance to spot tigers and elephants.

The RV Charaidew has just 12 cabins. There are departures in February and October 2016, with prices from £5,395 per person including flights.

Also consider: AmaWaterways combines a three-night stay in Cape Town with a four-night cruise on the Chobe river – lion, leopard and elephants all inhabit Chobe National Park – ending at magnificent Victoria Falls. Another option visits the Serengeti National Park. 

Picture: Emanuele Capoferri / Alamy



Best for... music fans

Journeys on the Mississippi have certainly been a hit over the past few years, with a number of British operators packaging a trip that includes a paddle steamer. The river itself may not be the world’s prettiest, but its associations with Mark Twain and its music connections make up for that. In its tour, Titan (0800 988 5873; titantravel.co.uk) includes guided trips to Nashville with visits to the Country Music Hall of Fame and Studio B (originally known as RCA Studios); the blues capital Memphis; Graceland; and finally to jazz-infused New Orleans.

Six nights in hotels and seven on the American Queen, the largest steamboat ever built, costs from £4,219 per person including flights. Departures in March and June 2016.

Also consider: Noble Caledonia has a strong link with the London Festival Opera, whose members will be on board on a Music on the Danube cruise in October, to celebrate the company’s 25th anniversary. As well as their performances, the trip includes concerts in a church and a castle.

Picture: AP/FOTOLIA 




Best for... culture seekers

With so many ships plying the main arteries of Europe, cruise operators are always looking for ways to offer something extraordinary. On its 15-day Magnificent Europe cruise, APT is including a private banquet at the 14th-century Namedy Castle in Germany, a private classical concert at Vienna’s City Palace and an opera recital at the State Opera House in Budapest. The biggest attraction, though, is a journey on the privately chartered Majestic Imperator train, used by royalty during the days of the Habsburg Empire.

The cruise on AmaReina crosses five countries and includes return flight, alcohol with meals, gratuities and home-to-airport transfers (0800 012 6683; aptouring.co.uk). From £3,495 per person with departures from March to December next year.

Also consider: Great Rail Journeys does not just do trains. Its seven-day Seine cruise visits the lily ponds that inspired Monet, the 12th-century Fontainebleau chateau and Chatou near Paris, a meeting point for Impressionists. CroisiEurope has sailings on the same river that feature a guided excursion to the Normandy landings beaches.

Picture: AP/FOTOLIA 




Best for... a budget cruise

Many river cruises carry quite a hefty price tag, largely down to high-quality ships and fine dining, but there are several options that are more accessible.

The River Cruise Line has a five-day Rhine trip from Koblenz to Cologne that may appeal to first-time river cruisers dipping a toe in the water. The ship, an older vessel, is the traditional Lady Anne, and the trip costs from £529 per person including coach travel. Cabins are more basic than on most other ships and excursions cost extra.

The same company has a 10-day Danube cruise that starts from £949 per person. full board including coach travel, excursions extra, though a good-value package can be purchased on the four-star Serenity.

Also consider: Newmarket Holidays’ seven-day Moselle and Rhine cruise includes visits to castles and picturesque villages and includes two guided walks. From £779 per person including coach travel. It is not impossible to undertake a luxury cruise for a keen price; a Rhine cruise on a brand-new, five-star ship with Riviera Travel can cost less than £1,400, including flights. Both Newmarket and Riviera cruises are available through the Telegraph Travel Collection (travelshop.telegraph.co.uk).

Picture: AP/FOTOLIA 


Best for... families

River cruising is not normally associated with very young children; indeed, the last thing more senior guests would want is little ones running up and down the sundeck. For older children, however, the concept is attractive.

US operator Tauck (0800 810 8020; tauck.co.uk) offers several “family riverboat adventures” in Europe that include tailored activities. The Danube itinerary, for example, includes medieval games at a castle in Slovakia, a Ferris wheel ride at a historic theme park in Vienna, a riverside bike ride, strudel-making on board, marzipan-sculpting in Passau and visits to locations that featured in The Sound of Music.

The all-inclusive, seven-night cruise costs from £2,380 per person excluding flights – similar concepts are available in France and on the Rhine.

Also consider: Uniworld designates some cruises as multigenerational, with a few treats added for children aged four to 18. CroisiEurope is family-friendly, with discounts sometimes available for younger children.

Picture: AP/FOTOLIA 











10 river cruises you must take in 2016

10:51 PM , ,
An insider's guide to China, including when to go, where to stay, the best tour operators, what to pack and recommended reading. By our expert, Michelle Jana Chan.

Why go?
With its high-octane energy, can-do drive, teeming population and challenging language barrier, China can be an exhausting destination for the first-time visitor. Common complaints I have heard from tourists include: “it’s so crowded – everyone’s pushing and shoving”; “we couldn’t make ourselves understood”; and “we needed another holiday after that trip”.

The best piece of advice I can give is to avoid trying to cram too much in. There are not many travelers who head to the US and combine Manhattan, Disney world, the Grand Canyon and Hollywood in one trip yet the equivalent journey in China is not unheard of. Classic itineraries often rush visitors between the Forbidden City, The Great Wall, the Terracotta Army, Chengdu’s panda sanctuaries and a Three Gorges cruise, finishing up in frantic Shanghai.


Twenty years ago, such a route would have been more palatable. There were hardly any domestic tourists in those days. But now it seems the whole country is on the move eager to explore their homeland. International visitors face long queues at key tourist attractions and then a jostle among heaving crowds. But approached wisely, China is as uplifting as it is intriguing. It is also an essential stop for anyone hoping to learn more about the direction the world is taking this century.
Beijing’s Forbidden City served as the imperial palace from the Ming dynasty until the end of the Qing dynasty.
ALAMY
Some travel to China to marvel at the skylines of cranes, innovative architectural projects and the country’s artistic endeavors. They should head to the financial and commercial hub of Shanghai, as well as to Beijing’s Olympic Village and the capital’s contemporary art district, housed in a former munitions factory, and called 798.

Others will be keen to learn more about China’s 5,000-year-old civilization. That is best viewed through the country’s museums and monuments, from the first emperor’s Terracotta Warriors in Xi’an to Beijing’s Forbidden City, which served as the imperial palace from the Ming dynasty until the end of the Qing dynasty. However, be aware that these must-see attractions, including Beijing’s Summer Palace and the sections of the Great Wall closest to the capital (notably Badaling), are often the most crowded.

For the adventurous, there are less well-known – and less crowded – sites, such as the Buddhist caves at Dunhuang, the charming former capitals of Luoyang and Kaifeng, and the great Taklamakan Desert in the far north-west. Some of China’s exceptional but less frequented museums include Shaanxi History Museum, Xi’an Museum and the Museum of Han Yangling (all three are in or close to Xi’an), as well as Zhejiang Provincial Museum.
For the adventurous, there are less well-known – and less crowded – sites, such as the great Taklamakan Desert in the far north-west.
ALAMY

Those who come seeking glimpses of daily life should plan a slower-paced itinerary building in time to walk the city’s backstreets and explore the public parks, a traditional teahouse or a quiet temple. This will naturally allow for unplanned pauses: at, say, the threshold of moon-shaped gateways leading into courtyards of plum blossom; to hear a street busker playing the haunting two-stringed erhu; and to watch children cycling to school in immaculate blue-and-white uniforms. Not only do these activities offer some respite from sight-seeing but they are also a chance to witness daily Chinese life (rather than the life of a Chinese tourist).

Another great option is to incorporate travel by train rather than take internal flights in order to mix with locals, catch up on a travel journal and gaze out of the window. It is experiences like these which may make for the most enduring memories of all.

When to go

The best weather is during spring (March until May, but avoid Easter) and autumn (late September to early November) but hotel rates are higher at those times. Prices are lower in the shoulder seasons: February/early June and September/late November/December.
A trip to China will leave enduring memories.
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Many will prefer to avoid the three main Chinese public holidays: Chinese New Year (also called Spring Festival, usually falling in late January or early February), May holiday (the first week of May) and National Day (the first week of October). Tourist attractions become very crowded at this time.

Some trips are seasonal, such as those to catch the rhododendron valleys of Shangri-La in bloom, bird watching in Napahai Lake and, for example, the Harbin International Ice & Snow Sculpture Festival. 

Getting there

Flights

There are direct flights taking approximately 12 hours from Britain to China on Air China (Beijing), British Airways (Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Chengdu), China Eastern (Shanghai), Virgin Atlantic (Shanghai, Hong Kong), China Southern (Guangzhou) and Cathay Pacific (Hong Kong). There are also connecting flights through the Gulf. Expect to pay from £700 for a return ticket in economy. You can generally fly into one city and out of another for no extra cost. Fares are subject to change  
Those who come seeking glimpses of daily life should plan a slower-paced trip.
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British Airways (0844 493 0787; ba.com) has the best direct flight options to Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong and Chengdu. From Heathrow it flies daily to Beijing and Shanghai, with 14 flights a week to Hong Kong. Return fares to Beijing start at £731.76 in economy; from £1,169.76 in premium economy and from £2,661.76 in flat-bed business class. Return fares to Shanghai start at from £1,169.76 in premium economy and from £3354.76 in business class. Return fares to Hong Kong start at £1,264.26 in premium economy and £3,376.26 in business class. The airline also flies to Chengdu three times a week. Return fares on that route start at £621.76 in economy, £1,059,76 in premium economy and £2,757.76 in business class. All fares include taxes, fees and charges.

Air China (00800 86 100 999; airchina.co.uk) has twice-daily services between Heathrow and Beijing with connections to over 200 cities in China. Return fares start from £558 in economy and £1,799 in business class (including a limousine transfer service within 75 miles of Heathrow).

Virgin Atlantic (0844 20 92 770; virginatlantic.com) flies daily from Heathrow to Shanghai. Return economy fares from £621, premium economy £941 and upper class at £2,393. There are also daily flights from Heathrow to Hong Kong; return economy fares from £795, premium economy from £1,102, upper class from £2,398.

Emirates (0844 800 2777; emirates.com) flies to Dubai from the UK (from Heathrow, Gatwick, Manchester, Birmingham, Glasgow and Newcastle). From Dubai passengers can connect directly to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou. Connections are between one and three hours, making total travel time around 16 hours. Economy fares from London Gatwick to Beijing from £511 and to Shanghai from £521. Economy fares from London Gatwick to Guangzhou from £737. Fares include taxes. 
China is also an essential stop for anyone hoping to learn more about the direction the world is taking this century.
ALAM

Etihad (0345 608 1225; etihadairways.com) flies three times daily from Heathrow and twice daily from Manchester to Beijing and Shanghai, and five times a week to Chengdu – all via Abu Dhabi. Return fares from £494 (Coral Economy) and £1,850 (Pearl Business). From 8th June 2015, Etihad will begin daily flights from Edinburgh to Abu Dhabi.

Qatar Airways (0333 320 2454; qatarairways.com) flies from Doha and then on to seven Chinese cities: twice-daily flights to Hong Kong; daily flights to Beijing, Shanghai and Guangzhou; four flights a week to Hangzhou; and three flights a week to Chongqing and Chengdu. From Heathrow and Manchester via Doha, connection times may be as short as one hour. Return fares from Heathrow to Chongqing from £675 in economy, £2,805 in business class. Return fares from Manchester to Shanghai from £732 in economy, £2,827 in business class.

The flight-comparison website Kayak (kayak.co.uk) and the Kayak app are useful tools for planning long trips. Enter the journey starting point, travel dates and final destination, and Kayak will look for the best offer using international and local airlines.

Getting around

Air

China’s air network is extensive and airports are regularly being built and upgraded. On domestic flights, economy passengers usually have a free baggage allowance of 20kg and 5kg of hand luggage. Excess baggage charges can be steep.
Practitioners of tai chi in Shanghai.
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Train
China has taken rail travel into the modern age with punctual high-speed networks crisscrossing the country. Although sometimes crowded, trains are a great way to mix with locals.
The ‘soft seats’ for day trains and ‘soft sleepers’ for overnight trains are the most comfortable. Soft sleeper has two tiers of two bunks in each compartment separated from the aisle by a door (with Western as well as Asian toilet facilities). For anyone who prefers to mix more with locals the ‘hard sleeper‘ option has a similarly comfortable bunk but the carriage is completely open with three tiers of bunks (the middle bunk is preferable); seat61.com has excellent advice on what to expect when travelling on China’s railways.    
Some particularly good rail routes include between Beijing and Shanghai (the express train takes just 4 hour and 45 minutes); Shanghai to Hangzhou; Shanghai to Suzhou; Beijing to Xi’an, and Chengdu to Chongqing.

Taxi
It is easy to hail a cab in big cities. Taxis are metered, inexpensive and plentiful but few drivers speak English so it will be necessary to ask your concierge to write in Chinese characters your destination and the name of your hotel for the return journey. Note that traffic can become very congested in big cities, particularly during rush hour.

Underground
Beijing and Shanghai both have excellent metro systems, which are user-friendly, cheap, quick and reliable.

Foot
In Beijing, the best way to move around the back streets is as a pedestrian (e.g between the Temple of Heaven, Tian’anmen Square and the Forbidden City).

Hong Kong harbour, China.
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Visas

British nationals require a visa to enter mainland China but not Hong Kong or Macau. The most common is a single entry 30-day visa. Multiple entry 60-day and 90-day visas are also available. Visas must be obtained before arrival and take around four working days to process, costing about £66. They can be obtained from the China Visa Application Service Center in London or forms can be downloaded from the website: visaforchina.org. For more information, see: visaforchina.org.

Travelers must have a passport valid for at least six months from the date of arrival and containing at least three pages for affixing visas. Children are no longer able to travel on a parent’s passport. Trailfinders (020 7368 1504; trailfinders.com/visas) has its own visa service.

If your entry point is Lhasa, in Tibet, the visa must state Entry Place – Lhasa airport or Zhangmu (the border between Tibet and Nepal), or entry will be refused.

It is possible to make a stopover in Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Chengdu, Chongqing, Dalian, Sheyang and Xi’an without a visa for stays of up to 72 hours. Visitors require an outbound plane ticket to another country scheduled for a departure within 72 hours and with valid travel documents for that destination. For more information, see: visaforchina.org.
Health

A certificate of vaccination against yellow fever is compulsory for travelers arriving from infected areas. You may also want to consider the recommended immunizations, against: cholera, diphtheria, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, Japanese B encephalitis, malaria, TB, tetanus and typhoid. Malaria is present in some areas of China.

Major cities have good medical facilities. There are no particular immunizations required for entry into China (unless the traveler is coming from a yellow fever-infected area), but it is advisable to check with your doctor for current information.

Others will be keen to learn more about China’s 5,000-year-old civilisation.
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How to dress
The Chinese dress casually and modestly. Men rarely wear shorts except at beach locations. It is respectful for women to cover their shoulders and avoid wearing extremely short skirts and shorts, particularly when visiting temples - when shoulders should also be covered and slip-off shoes are easiest. Wear comfortable walking shoes for long days of sightseeing, particularly if visiting the Great Wall.

Cultural challenges
Foreigners may attract stares from curious locals especially in rural areas where non-Chinese are not often seen. Spitting in the street is not considered rude or disrespectful. Smoking is common in public places including restaurants.

Language
The official language of China is Mandarin, which has its origins in Beijing. Whilst the country has many distinct languages and dialects, Mandarin is the teaching medium across all schools in China. The use of English is becoming more common in big cities although most street signs are in Chinese.

Communication
Mobile coverage is excellent across the country except in the most remote areas. Most hotels have good broadband internet access. 

China is eight hours ahead of Greenwich Mean Time (GMT).

Taking photographs
Ask permission before taking anyone’s photograph. Photography is often prohibited at airports, museums and military installations. Video camera fees are sometimes levied at tourist sights; charges vary but are minimal. On rare occasions there may also be a small charge for still cameras.



local laws & etiquette

Food
Each region of China has a different cuisine. In the north it is hearty, heavier food based around wheat rather than rice. Typical dishes include steamed dumplings, noodles, spring rolls and Peking duck, as well as Mongolian barbecue and hotpot. Shanghai boasts excellent seafood and the renowned xiaolongbao, a soup-filled steamed dumpling. In the west, the key ingredient in spicy Sichuanese food is fiery red chillies. The southern region around Guangdong is famed for Cantonese food and is home to dim sum.
Although vegetarianism is not widespread in China there are plenty of delicious vegetable and tofu dishes. Adventurous eaters should explore the night-time food markets with their busy stalls and lively atmosphere. Most eateries will not have English menus but guests can point at ingredients on display or at fellow guests' dishes.

Currency
The national currency is the yuan or renminbi. Major credit cards are accepted in hotels and larger establishments. Most currencies and traveller’s cheques are easy to cash. ATM machines are widely available.

Tipping
It is customary to tip guides, drivers and porters. A guideline amount is 100 Yuan per day for local guides, 50 Yuan per day for drivers and 5 Yuan per bag for porters. Tipping at hotels, restaurants and in taxis is discretionary (use 10 per cent as a guide). Some upmarket hotels and restaurants will have already added a service fee to your bill.
Local Chinese currency, the Renminbi (RMB) also known as the Yuan, can be withdrawn from cash machines. Credit cards are not always accepted.

Source: telegraph



China travel guide

9:15 PM , ,
Is it the Queen? Or Harry Potter perhaps? We ask Chinese tourists what appeals to them about Britain 
That Buckingham Palace and Bicester Village are the two UK attractions most visited by Chinese tourists gives some insight into why those from the Far East travel thousands of miles, and just over 10 hours, to visit the UK.

Buckingham Palace needs no explanation, but for those not familiar with Bicester Village, it's an Oxfordshire outlet village distinct for hosting luxury brands such as Prada and Yves Saint Laurent.

Both attract Chinese visitors in their hundreds of thousands each year, suggesting that, while the Chinese have a long-established fascination with the pomp and ceremony of the British monarchy, their love of designer clothing is also reliably widespread.

As China’s president Xi Jinping arrived in the UK today, VisitBritain, the UK's global tourist board, announced that 2015 will see more visitors to the UK from China than ever before.

Chinese tourists in Bicester Village shopping centre  Photo: Alamy

From April to June this year, 50,000 Chinese people visited Britain, up 35 per cent on the same period in 2014, while in the first six months of 2015, 90,000 tourists arrived from China, up 28 per cent. The number of tourists visiting the UK from China has more than doubled in the last few years, up from 89,000 in 2009 to 185,000 in 2014, making the country one of the UK’s fastest-growing tourism markets.  
China's weirdest tourist attractions
Why could this be? Chinese tourists associate the UK with “museums”, and appreciate the “romance” of the country, according to VisitBritain. They feel compelled to visit in order to “enjoy the beauty of the landscape”, “feel connected to nature” and “have fun and laughter”. While the Chinese apparently find Britain “extremely upbeat” they reckon the British could improve on their “welcome”.

We also know that the Chinese are more likely to stay longer than a week here, with the average holiday lasting 10 days and each tourist spending an average of £2,688. Chinese tourism is worth nearly £500 million to the UK. 
A tour of the Harry Potter film studio is high on the list for many Chinese visitors  Photo: Getty


London is the main target for Chinese tourists, with more than 40 per cent visiting the capital, however, Scotland is also popular, with more Chinese travelling north than average among UK tourists. A Visit Scotland report last year found that Edinburgh was one of the top five locations for the Chinese, as well as Manchester, Oxford, Cambridge and London.

Chinese nationals who spoke to Neil Connor, the Telegraph’s Beijing correspondent, said that London’s landmarks, the Premier League and Harry Potter were all central to the UK’s image. 

China: where to go on a first visit
“Big Ben and Harry Potter,” said Fang Jiayi, a 24-year-old student, who dreams of visiting the Harry Potter Studio Tour just outside London in Hertfordshire. “I read Harry Potter since I was in primary school.”

So great is China's fondness for London’s more famous landmarks that a popular theme park in Shenzhen was built, called Window of the World, which features more than 100 scaled-down replicas of tourist attractions, including Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Tower Bridge and Stonehenge. 
Connor asked another Chinese student, 17-year-old Zhou Junnan, what came to mind when thinking of the UK. “Rains very often," was the reply. "And some tourism site like London Eye and Big Ben. As well as fish and chips.” 

A third, Liu Jingyu, 23, replied: “I would think of Sherlock, Big Ben, and the Queen, and chocolate.”

Despite their apparent taste for fish and chips, research from VisitBritain shows that Chinese tourists will seek out spicy food and Chinese food when visiting.

The British people themselves also seem to be an attraction for Chinese visitors, with many hoping to meet the traditional definition of a “gentleman” on British shores. Zhou, when asked of the difference between Beijing and London, said: “Many gentlemen in London. I think they will be friendly.” 

Troops practise in front of Buckingham Palace ahead of the Chinese president's visit  Photo: Getty

Indeed, the Chinese ambassador to Britain, Liu Xiaoming, warned Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn of bringing up human rights at the banquet the Queen is hosting for Xi Jinping, saying: “I think the British people are very gentlemen[ly], very smart. They know hot to behave on occasions like this.”

Sensing a thaw in diplomatic relations and an increasing popularity of Britain in Chinese eyes, VisitBritain this year launched a vaguely bizarre tourism campaign in which Chinese tourists were invited to rename some of the UK’s most famous landmarks. The highlights included Savile Row becoming “The Street for the Tall, Rich and Handsome," Sherwood Forest adopting the moniker of "The Forest of Chivalrous Thieves", the Highland Games becoming “Strong-man skirt parties” and Llanfairpwll in Wales being renamed “Healthy-lung Village.”

The second phase of the campaign, which begins next week, is to showcase “memorable moments visitors can only get in Britain”. If they’ve done their research, it should probably focus on eating designer fish and chips outside Buckingham Palace with Harry Potter. 

Source: telegraph







What Chinese tourists really like about Britain

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Tunnel starting from Tijuana emerges in an industrial estate in San Diego 


 Authorities on both sides of the U.S.-Mexico border have shut the 10th drug-smuggling tunnel to San Diego in more than a decade, a passageway Mexican authorities on Thursday attributed to the cartel of fugitive kingpin Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman.

The tunnel, originating from the Mexican border city of Tijuana, is about eight football fields in length, with the last quarter-mile crossing U.S. territory before ending beneath a carpet warehouse in the busy Otay Mesa industrial district of San Diego, U.S. and Mexican officials said.

The tunnel was uncovered through intelligence gathered by U.S. federal agents who infiltrated a Mexican drug-smuggling ring during the past six months, according to Laura Duffy, the U.S. Attorney in San Diego. 

 It marked the 10th subterranean passageway from Mexico to Otay Mesa discovered since 2002. Like those and dozens of others found along the nearly 2,000-mile (3,200-km) border in the last decade, the latest tunnel was equipped with lighting, ventilation and a rail system for moving goods, authorities said.

Two Mexican government security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, told Reuters the latest passage belonged to the Guzman-led.

Source: telegraph

US-Mexican authorities shut tunnel linked to El Chapo cartel

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