Scent of blooming lotus fascinates visitors

2009-08-25 02:26:57 GMT Xinhua English Lotuses blossom in a pond in Wujiaqu City, 32 kilometers from Urumqi, capital of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, on Aug. 24, 2009.

Qingdao, a little slice of heaven

2009-08-05 09:38:40 GMT Global Times I had wanted to visit Qingdao for nearly thirty years. Why? Because of the beer, of course!

Summer scenery of Qinghai Lake

2009-08-04 02:42:39 GMT Xinhua English Photo taken on Aug. 3, 2009 shows part of the summer scenery of Qinghai Lake. Located in northeast part of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau with an altitude of over 3,200 meters, Qinghai Lake, covering an area of 4,300 square km, and about 150 kilometers west of Xining, capital of northwest China's Qinghai Province, is the largest lake, and also the largest salt-water lake in China as well as an important ecological and natural reserve.

Red sail boat floats against beautiful sunrise in Lijiang

2009-08-03 09:33:01 GMT Xinhua English Photo taken on August 2, 2009 shows the sunrise in Lijiang River in Guilin City, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. The red sail boat used to be the freight vessel before the 1970s, now it has become a special scenery to attract tourists.

Blooming lotus in bright summer

2009-07-28 13:32:52 GMT Xinhua English Photo taken on July 28, 2009 shows a lotus in Qianling Park in Guiyang, capital of southwest China's Guizhou Province.

Beautiful scenery of paddy fields in Guangxi

2009-07-28 09:27:18 GMT Xinhua English Photo taken on July 27, 2009 shows the beautiful scenery of paddy fields in Shaoping County, southwest China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Icy visit in summer

2009-07-01 07:52:58 GMT Xinhua English A tourist admires ice sculptures at the Harbin Ice and Snow Art Museum. The museum, which is one of the city's major tourist attractions, is displaying its ice sculptures indoor this Summer, allowing visitors to enjoy the glacial artworks, which are usually exhibited in winter. Photo taken June 29, 2009. (Xinhuanet)

Lotus fun in Taipei Botanic Garden

2009-07-01 07:40:16 GMT Xinhua English The lotus flowers in the Taipei Botanic Garden have come into full bloom over the summer, attracting birds and dragonflies to form an idyllic scene. Photos taken on June 28.

Ultimate in seaside luxury

2009-06-25 13:17:44 GMT China Daily Imagine bathing in your balcony while enjoying the sunset! A stay at the Kempinski Spa & Resort Sanya makes this a possibility.

A touch of Hawaiian paradise

2009-06-25 13:11:21 GMT SINA.com "Lu Ho!" greet the staff as you step into the Sanya Marriott Resort & Spa, in the Hainanese version of the traditional Hawaiian greeting, "Aloha".

World's ultra safe destinations

2009-06-18 13:13:07 GMT Forbes Given some Caribbean islands' reputation for violent crime and the high-profile Natalee Holloway case in Aruba, it may seem counterintuitive to include the Dutch ABC islands (Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao) on a list of the world's safest places to travel.

New water park attractions around the US

2009-06-16 09:48:58 GMT SINA.com ALEXANDRIA, Va. – Theme parks and water parks have opened a variety of new water rides and other aquatic attractions to keep visitors cool this summer. Here are some highlights compiled by the International Association of Amusement Parks and Attractions.

10 secluded beaches in the US

2009-06-16 08:59:33 GMT SINA.com BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Looking for a beautiful beach without the crowds? Coastal Living magazine recommends 10 secluded beach destinations in its June issue.

Algeria opens new coasts

2009-06-16 00:39:46 GMT Xinhua English People play at a coast in Algiers, capital of Algeria, June 14, 2009. A total of 54 coasts of the city have been opened to the public.

World's 25 sexiest beaches

2009-05-31 06:45:17 GMT Forbes Beaches have always been places of passion, wonderment and sensuality for people. The raw energy and natural beauty of beaches appeal to the fundamentals of human passion, making them the definition of sexy. That and the fact that beaches are the only place in the modern world where groups of attractive people get semi-naked in public with the singular purpose of enjoying themselves.

America's top ten beaches list reveals Hawaii's Hanalei Bay is No. 1

2009-05-26 02:49:04 GMT SINA.com A beach in Hawaii where hit musical South Pacific was filmed has pipped the top spot in a list of America's top ten beaches.

Maldives: ocean full of catwalk colour

2009-05-25 03:02:17 GMT SINA.com Nobody goes to the Maldives for culture. Nor do they go for hills, lakes or rivers – there aren't any. But for people who love water, there is no place on earth quite like it. You wake to the hypnotic sound of oceanic waves. When you step into the water, it is like being in your own private aquarium. Imagine a designer like Kenzo or Missoni being let loose on fish: those ravishing catwalk colours and patterns are exactly what you see when you look under the waters of the Indian Ocean.