14 businessinternational THURSDAY, MARCH 18, 2010 DAILY

hebeispecial Capital city all set and ready to grow

By LIU XIANG the world’s oldest existing ies” in 2011, a ranking com- AND JIA JINGQI stone arch bridge, built in the piled by the Chinese Acad- year 595 in the Sui Dynasty emy of Social Sciences. Shijiazhuang, the capital (581-618). With profound culture of ’s prov- It is also home to the and a wide range of folk art, ince, is on its way to national Xibaipo memorial, a national the city’s cultural industry prominence thanks to its rap- base for patriotic educa- has strong momentum, con- id development in economy, tion. Xibaipo was the site tributing 22.4 percent of the tourism and culture. of the Communist Party of output value of the province’s The provincial capital has China’s last headquarters in culture industry. A public lec- one of the country’s biggest a rural area before it moved ture, the “Yanzhao Lecture”, industrial pharmaceutical to Beijing and liberated the has been held 1,200 times to bases and one of the most entire country. give residents knowledge in important textile centers. The Shijiazhuang also joined various fields. It is called the PHOTOS PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY industrial clusters for biologi- the ranks of the top 100 cities “university without walls” by Built in the Ming Dynasty (1368-1644), Laolongtou — or Old Dragon’s Head — at Shanhaiguan Pass in is the eastern cal industries, semiconductor in the nation for comprehen- locals. terminus of the Great Wall. The provincial government has found that unlike the wall, age-old ethics are eroding rapidly. lighting and the animation sive competitiveness in tour- The city has now estab- industry have been designat- ism in 2009. lished friendly relations with ed as first-class national bases In recent years, the tour- more than 20 overseas cities, in China. ism infrastructure in the city including Nagano, Japan; Des As economy booms, Hebei govt The city has now evolved has been greatly improved, Moines, the United States; into a road, railway and air providing more comfort and and Saskatoon, Canada. It transportation hub in North convenience to tourists. has also had cooperation and China over the past years, The city now has 66 rated exchanges with 192 countries notes greater need for civility with six expressways, four hotels, three of which are five- in economy, trade, technol- national highways and 30 star hotels, 22 four-star hotels, ogy, education, culture and By LIU XIANG but as the economy grows, the already happened: an ID card, bank cards and provincial highways, which 217 tourist agencies, and more sports. AND ZHANG ZHAO provincial government began A young couple in Qin- cash. He walked 5 kilometers together connect neighboring than 7,000 tour guides. to notice an absence of ethics huangdao city, both handi- the next day to find the wal- cities and provinces. Its air- In addition, the city was Contact the writers at liux- In February, an aged man and honesty “in some areas”, capped, planned to marry, but let’s owner, a student of Peking port has more than 40 flights also among the winners of [email protected] and from Zanhuang county took which “do harm to the healthy could not afford even a modest University. linking domestic and overseas “China’s Top 10 Happiest Cit- [email protected] his granddaughter to the pro- development of the economy wedding ceremony. In February, a Shijiazhuang cities. vincial capital Shijiazhuang to and social harmony”. On hearing the news, many policewoman Feng Zhihong Though it is a young seek medical treatment for her In response, it began a citizens, as well as the local and her colleagues traveled industrial city, Shijiazhuang stomach ailment. series of programs designed to association for handicapped 8,000 km for 13 days to bring boasts a collection of tour- But because they had little restore traditional moral prin- people, volunteered to offer the an abducted girl back to her ism resources and numerous money, the two had to wait and ciples and encourage people to wedding dress, cars and video hometown in Yunnan prov- sites of historical and cultural sleep in a hospital corridor for do good deeds. recording of the event. ince. importance, including two nights. The programs focuse on A woman in city With the help of local police, national geological parks, Their dilemma was later “even the smallest matters” suffered massive hemorrhage the officers also arrested two three national key scenic covered by a micro blog user in people’s social activities, when giving birth and could suspects in the abduction. spots, and 21 national AAAA called “Things of Shijiazhuang”. at home and at work, asking not be given enough blood The provincial government scenic spots. Along with a picture, the poster them to be honest, polite and due to her rare blood type. But is using websites and micro In addition, it boasts 25 called for help and soon attract- willing to help. It is the local within only three hours after blogs to promote good deeds cultural relic sites under State ed comments from hundreds government’s latest effort to information was released, four and planning a fund to encour- protection and 141 under of others in a few hours. promote decency, said Ai people arrived at the blood age volunteer activities. provincial protection. On the afternoon of Feb 26, Wenli, publicity chief of Hebei bank to donate the needed In just one district of It was honored as a national the girl received donations and province. type. The woman and baby city, nearly 30,000 excellent eco-tourist city and was sent to the city’s central “If we find the right focus, survived in good health. volunteers signed up. was named among China’s hospital for treatment. we can expect good effects A flower grower from Wuan best culture and tourism cit- Xibaipo Memorial marks the site of the Communist Party of “Things of Shijiazhuang” is very soon,” said Bai Shi, the city named Wang Yanheng Contact the writers at liux- ies in 2011, largely due to its China’s last rural headquarters before it moved into Beijing one of millions of warm-heart- deputy publicity chief, noting found a wallet on the evening [email protected] and many tourist destinations, and liberated the entire country. It is now a national base for ed people in Hebei province, several examples that have of March 14 in Beijing that held [email protected] such as the Zhaozhou Bridge, patriotic education.