Lijiang publishes Records for the Ancient Town

After six years of meticulous compiling, the Record of Lijiang Ancient Town, a World Cultural Heritage, was published by Yunnan National Press on Nov 7. The protection bureau of Lijiang ancient town held a ceremony to unveil the book.

Meanwhile, Lijiang Snow Mountain Academy was opened to the public after reconstruction.

The book has quoted a great quantity of detailed material to systematically describe the history and current situation of Lijiang ancient town. It reveals Lijiang ancient town in a realistic, concise and vivid approach.

The publication furnishes scientific, authoritative and comprehensive documents as a basis for the protection of the world cultural heritage.

In the course of compiling the book, the protection bureau reconstructed the Snow Mountain Academy in the city.

The academy was founded in 1723 by Yang Mi, the first magistrate of Lijiang prefecture, after Emperor Yongzheng of Qing Dynasty reformed the local political system. In 1907, the Lijiang Encouraging Learning School was established in the academy and it was the cradle of cultural education in Lijiang. It was also the birthplace of the first modern Chinese newspaper, type layout and movable-type printing in Yunnan province.

Edited by Fu Bo and Rakhee

Was Jewelry collection

Wen says China against "any extreme acts" at Hormuz

DOHA, Jan. 18 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said here Wednesday that the Strait of Hormuz should be kept open under all circumstances and Beijing opposes "any extreme acts" at the strategic passageway.

"Any extreme acts across the Strait of Hormuz, under whatever circumstances they are taken, are against the common interests and aspiration of the people across the world," Wen told a press conference during his official visit to Qatar.

The Chinese premier said that cargo transportation through the strait should be protected because it concerns the interests of the whole humanity.

China maintains that the Iranian nuclear issue should be resolved through peaceful means, he said, adding that Beijing supports the political process between Iran and the Iran Six, a diplomatic group made up of the United States, China, Russia, Britain, France and Germany.

China firmly opposes Iran producing and possessing nuclear weapons and will work with concerned parties to establish a nuclear-free Middle East, Wen said, while stressing that China will not trade its principles for profits.

However, just like many other countries, China has also kept "normal" and "justified" trade with Iran, which should be protected, Wen said, adding that should normal trade not be protected, the normal international order would be disturbed.

"I am not worried about the the normal trade between China and Iran at all," Wen told reporters.

Wen arrived in Doha on Wednesday morning after concluding an official visit to the United Arab Emirates.