Tourism Festivals forging name cards for city

During the Dragon Boat Festival from June 22nd to 24th, tourists from Jiangsu and Shanghai Provinces and Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province flowed to gardens of bayberry in Cixi. The little fruit has become another push in the development of Cixi tourism. The Bayberry Festival has become a new name card for the Cixi city. 
Traditionally, tourists mainly toured to scenic spots. Now they prefer to tour around the city. Tourism festivals in Cixi thus came into being. The International Economy & Trade Tourism Festival, Cixi Tourism Festival, Cixi Bayberry Festival and many other festivals have made the city more famous.
Cixi Bayberry Festival has been held for 24 sessions. Festival activities include large performances, selection of Bayberry Fairies, symposiums of China Bayberry industry and a series of other activities. Since 2008, the International Economy & Trade Tourism Festival has been held every year with performances on the theme of “Love for China - Charm of Cixi”.  With tourism exchanges among Shanghai, Hangzhou and Cixi and the opening of Hangzhou Bay Bridge Economic Forum, cities at the Yangtze River Delta were also involved in the festivals. In the 6th annual meeting of China Festival Industry, the Cixi Bayberry Festival and the International Economy & Trade Tourism Festival were awarded as the most popular festivals.

Ningbo's export to Africa tops US$ 430m

Statistics show, Ningbo companies have exported 9,210 batches of Ningbo-made products to Africa over the first five months. The trading volume reaches 430 million USD, a year-on-year increase of 6 percent and 26 percent respectively.

Given the huge African market potential, it is significant for Chinese companies to transform and upgrade themselves and take diversified strategy to seize the opportunity. In the first five months in 2012, 1,778 Ningbo companies sold their products to Africa, including tea, air conditioning, canned foods, wire and cable, textiles, and small home appliances. As the stable African countries usually show higher purchasing power, South Africa becomes the top importer, with a trading volume of 91 million USD. Next to South Africa are Egypt and Algeria, with a trading volume of 59,850,000 USD and 40,910,000 USD respectively.

Ningbo companies are showing increasing confidence in the African market. Currently, Ningbo has established trade relations with 50 countries and regions out of the 54 African countries. In Ningbo, Cixi outnumbers the other districts and counties with a trading volume of 150 million US dollars, an increase of 25 percent year-on-year. Yinzhou District and Yuyao follows Cixi, with a trading volume of 92.7 million USD, 8650 million USD, a year-on-year increase of 90 percent and 85 percent respectively.

The biggest impact on Ningbo's exportation to Africa is war. During the first half of 2012, the civil war broken out in Mali has negative effect on the trade of its neighboring countries. Mauritania, a traditional tea distribution center imported tea worth 3.93 million USD from Ningbo, a decline of 52 percent year-on-year. In contrast, Egypt, in the wake of its civil war, has seen a growing export volume, which stood at $ 59,840,000, an increase of 37 percent year-on-year

1.795 m yuan raised on charity day

Ningbo Charity Federation (NBCF) held its annual charity day this Tuesday and raised a total of 1.795 million yuan, which includes 240,000 yuan from 83 organizations and 1.555 million yuan from 7,496 personal donors.

The top company donor is Ningbo branch of Zhejiang Tobacco Company which donated 100,000 yuan. Meanwhile, staffs of Bank of Communications donated a total of 99,635 yuan, making the largest group donation. Next to Bank of Communications are staffs of Ningbo Supply and Marketing Cooperative and Ningbo bank of Construction Bank, each donating 72,655.5 yuan and 70,000 yuan respectively.

The portion of individual donations keeps rising. Twenty-seven donors contributed 70,026 yuan, or an average of 2,594 yuan per capita.  The figure includes 20,000 yuan from a resident named Ying Yun, and 10,000 yuan from another resident named Wang Jueqing, 10,000 yuan from an anonymous donor, and 5000 yuan from the 94-year-old Hong Zhuqing.

Meanwhile, the title sponsorship of many small charitable founds has attracted people's attention. Twenty-five individuals (households) became title sponsor of charitable foundations by donating 1.08 million yuan. Up till now, NBCF has received 731,000 yuan. Ms. Li, the largest personal donator, set up a foundation named "Sunny Fund" by donating 500,000 yuan. Setting up small charitable foundation is a new program launched by NBCF. Anybody who donates 10,000 yuan or more can create a charitable fund and choose a name for the fund. These funds are used to help needy students, poverty-stricken people, the disabled, and the elders, and in other social welfare undertakings. A donor can choose one type for his or her fund and NBCF will help to set up the fund according to the donor’s wish

Pilot public hospital reform kicks off

Ningbo kicks off a pilot reform in its 24 public hospitals today. The move will prohibit public hospitals from making profit from drug sales.

The pilot program involved 24 government-run hospitals in Ningbo as well as its five sub-cities including Cixi, fenghua, Yuyao, Xiangshan, and Ninghai.

The reform means public hospitals will return to its nature of serving the public rather than making money. Wang Renyuan, director of Municipal Health Bureau, said the involved 24 public hospitals will not be allowed to make profit from drug prescriptions, which means all the drugs, except traditional herbal medicine, are to be sold at government controlled prices. Another measure scheduled for trial is that the hospitals are required to fix a drug catalogue to ensure that the proportion of essential drugs and health care drugs in prescription. This will effectively curb the practice of hospitals' relying on drug sales for income and thus establish a reasonable, effective and optimized medical service system.

It is estimated that the move will cause 20 percent, or 370 million yuan income loss to the public hospitals. The economic losses will be compensated for by a rational increase of medical care service fee, including surgical fees, treatment fees, care fees, consultation fees, examination fees, and ward bed fees. However, the increase rate should be lower than the markups it charges on drugs and should be covered by medical insurance for employees, medical insurance for urban residents and the new rural cooperative medical insurance.

Insiders believe the reform will ease the public complaint of soaring medical bills and stop public hospitals from operating with profits from drug sales. Besides, the adjustment of medical service will better represents the value of physicians' work and help to improve the quality of medical care.

Overseas travel heats up in Ningbo

The first five month of 2012 has seen overseas tour hot in contrast with the inbound and domestic tour. According to statistics released by the Municipal Tourism Bureau, from this January to May, 143,500 local tourists chose to take overseas holidays in Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and other countries, a rise of 32 percent year-on-year.

The figure includes 66,600 tourists choose to travel abroad, an increase of 34 percent year-on-year. The hottest destination is Korea, attracting 14,000 tourists, an increase of 465 percent year-on-year. In addition to Korea, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, Japan, Indonesia, and the United States are the top destination countries for Ningbo tourists.

Cixi's bayberry goes abroad

While the local residents are enjoying the sweet bayberries of Cixi, in the supermarkets of Spain and France, the Ningbo-imported fruit is sold at the price of 3 yuan for one bayberry.

Mao Chunmiao, a bayberry grower in Cixi, has been busy these days. After picking up the bayberries, Mao and his workers are busy pre-cooling, sorting, packaging these delicate fruits, and then send the fruits into preservation workshop for processing, and finally store them in cold storage. Four days later, these bayberries will be placed on supermarket shelves in Spain, France, Italy and other European countries.

Mao said his bayberries would sell for US$ 15 per kilogram in France, Spain and other countries. "Our export volume is small, but it is quite profitable. We shall be producing 100 tons of bayberries this year, and 5 tons will be exported abroad, earning US$ 75,000 for us."

While Mao seeks international market for his bayberries, other bayberry growers are looking for market in North and Northwest China. Sun Baiqiao, another bayberry grower, said, "Our bayberries are mainly sold in Beijing, Lanzhou and other northern cities. We plan to sell nine tons of bayberries in these cities this year.

Ningbo's exportation to Libya hits new high

Ningbo-made products like clothing and small home appliances are hot in the Libyan market as Libya begins its post-war reconstruction. Customs statistics show, from this January to May, Ningbo's export volume to Libya reached US$ 57,550,000, a year-on-year increase of 5.6 times.

The statistics show that from this January to May, Ningbo's general trade exports to Libya tops US$ 52,720,000, a year-on-year increase of 6.1 times, accounting for 91.6 percent of total exports over the same period. Exports of the private compnies stood at US$ 41,490,000, a year-on-year increase of 7.1 times, accounting for 72.1 percent of the total exports over the same period. With no export was reported last May, the export volume in this May amounted to US$ 22,120,000, hitting a record high.

The major exporting products include air conditioners (US$ 12.79 million, a year-on-year increase of 56.9 times), small home appliances (US$ 6,808,000, a year-on-year increase of 6.7 times), textiles and clothing (US$ 5,458,000, a year-on-year increase of 8.9 times). However, customs analysts warn risks still exist in the exportation to Libya as the Libya's political situation remains unstable. They suggest Ningbo companies should be careful in handling exportation

Ningbo to recruit volunteers to work in rural areas

On Monday, several volunteers from Ningbo Agricultural Promotion Center and Yinzhou Rural Education and Training Center came to Houshan Village in Yinzhou District, giving free lectures to local farmers on the latest grape and strawberry planting techniques. 

The trip belongs to a larger volunteer program organized by Ningbo Commission of Communist Youth League of China (CYLC). As the Central Government calls for more efforts in accelerating agricultural innovation earlier this year, Ningbo commission of CYLC set up a team consisting of 51 technology volunteers. The team plans to offer long-term volunteer services to the 11 counties and districts by giving lectures on agricultural science and technology.

Currently, the organizers of the volunteer program are recruiting agricultural experts specializing in new technology of cultivation, breeding, and preservation technology  of agriculture and fisheries products. Young agricultural experts who wish to participate in the program can contact at 0574-87186682. Meanwhile, local farmers who need technological support are encouraged to contact the Secretariat of the Rural Youth Development Association.

Cultural heritage tour held in Haishu District

Last Sunday, to celebrate the seventh "Chinese Cultural Heritage Day", which is celebrated annually on the second Saturday of June, more than 100 tourism lovers took part in a one-day cultural heritage tour in Haishu District. The event was jointly organized by the Haishu Bureau of Culture, Radio, Press and Publication, Haishu Business Bureau, Haishu Cultural Relics Bureau, Haishu Association of Historical and Cultural Heritage Protection and Ningbo Women Photographers Association.

In the morning, more than 100 tourism lovers visited the historic site of Ningbo Chamber of Commerce, Zhongshan Park, the ancient Korea Embassy and other places of interest. In the afternoon, they visited Yanqing Temple and several other traditional Ningbo dwellings representing local architectural features.

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Shanghai doctors of Ningbo descent offer free services in hometown

Last Sunday, 11 Shanghai doctors of Ningbo descent returned to their home city and offered free medical services for local residents in Shangri-La Hotel. Wang Zhuohui, vice president of Ningbo Economy Promotion Society, and Chen Yunjin, president of Ningbo Charity Federation attended the opening ceremony.

The event was jointly organized by Bank of Ningbo and Ningbo Benevolent Association of Shanghai. The visiting doctors, specializing in pediatric surgery, Chinese and Western medicine, gynecology, and otolaryngology, are prestigious experts from famous Shanghai hospitals including Shanghai Pediatric Hospital, Longhua Hospital, Huashan Hospital, and Ruijin Hospital. The program is said to have received more than 400 local residents.

European diplomats visit Ningbo

Last Saturday, the delegation of European diplomacy workshop paid a visit to Ningbo. On Saturday evening, the vice mayor, Zhang Minghua, together with other officials of the municipal government, met with the diplomats and gave them an introduction of Ningbo in a welcome meeting.

Sponsored by the Foreign Ministry of China, the workshop aims to provide trainings for diplomats in developed countries and it has been successfully held six times. The attendants are mainly young and mid-career diplomats from the EU. There are 34 diplomats from 32 European countries and organizations attending the workshop this year.

During their stay in Ningbo, the diplomats will visit several well-know companies including Oulin Group Co., Ltd., Ningbo Port Group, and Ningbo Geely Automobile Co., Ltd..

Otis College of Art and Design teams up with eco-forward Hape International in Ningbo

 China to produce new sustainable toy designs.

Los Angeles, CA (PRWEB) June 28, 2012

Furthering its commitment to eco-conscious education, Otis College of Art and Design partnered with German toymaker Hape to create an international think tank and integrated learning experience.

Otis faculty members and students joined Hape employees and members of the China Academy of the Arts to study the complexities of sustainable business practice and associated manufacturing challenges while developing new product designs that will move into formal production at Hape in the coming year.

The group traveled to China for a 29-day journey through the bamboo forests of Zhejiang Province, to the city of Hangzhou and the Ningbo-Zhoushan Harbor, one of the largest ports in the world. There they observed and exchanged ideas with local craftspeople, manufacturers, educators and students from distinguished design schools such as Bauhaus University, Weimar, Shenkar College of Art and Design, Israel, and KaosPilot, Denmark.

The international team participated with Hape step-by-step in research, development, idea generation, production, and testing of new products. Students learned firsthand what it takes to bring sustainable products to market.

“This kind of collaboration is invaluable for industry and academia,” said Otis Toy Design Professor Drew Plakos. “ It’s real-world learning for next-generation designers and smart R&D for industry leaders.”

Experimenting with sustainable materials and renewable resources such as bamboo and soy-based pigment, the student designers produced a number of projects from role-play toddler games and construction sets, to nested drums for a new Hape instrument line. Several of their final designs were chosen for formal development.

DESIGNING FOR SUSTAINABILITY IS DESIGNING FOR THE FUTURE 
Both Otis and Hape work to develop strategies and systems that meet the

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