Crystal vision from the ashes

Chinese real estate giant ZhongRong Group has unveiled a radical plan to regenerate London's famous Crystal Palace Park, home to the grand Victorian glass structure that housed the Great Exhibition of 1851.

Long way ahead for reform

For many years, the former ministry of railways had a popular nickname - "tie lao da" or "railway boss" - for very good reasons. Founded on Oct 1, 1949, along with the People's Republic of China, the ministry was like an independent realm with its own colleges and judicial establishments all over the country.

The best way to see China

For many visitors arriving at Shanghai Pudong International Airport, riding the Maglev train provides a fun and interesting journey into the city. At speeds of more than 400 kilometers per hour, passengers can watch as the Maglev outraces the cars on the motorway below. In just over seven minutes, the train completes the 30 km trip to Longyang Road Station in the city's Pudong New Area. This was one of the earliest experiences of my first visit to China in January 2010.

Good company eases the pain

I grew up near Boston and studied in Nanjing before working in Beijing from 2010 to 2012. The experience of traveling by train without a seat from Xi'an to Beijing for 14 hours during last year's Spring Festival still feels as if it happened yesterday.

Zone opens doors to the world

The China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone, which officially opened on Sept 29, is widely expected to create an efficient market environment for domestic and foreign enterprises in a wide variety of businesses.

Quotable

"Governments should streamline approvals and delegate powers to lower levels. They should reduce their interference in the market, so that the market can maximize its role in resource allocation."

IN BRIEF (Page 18)

Zone 'reflects opening-up'

The China (Shanghai) Pilot Free Trade Zone was officially launched on Sept 29 at a ceremony presided over by Shanghai Party chief Han Zheng and Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng.

Restrictions will shepherd investors

The new Shanghai Free Trade Zone published on Sept 30 its first negative list, an innovative management approach that increases foreign investors' freedom because any sectors not banned on the list are open to them.

New-energy solutions blowing in the wind

More than seven years after China's Renewable Energy Law took effect, renewable energy companies are making huge contributions to the reduction of air pollution.

New policy on green cars

The move is in line with earlier remarks made by a senior official indicating that the country would shift the direction of the financial backing program for the sector.

Investors make their mark

Chinese enterprises are expected to maintain their robust levels of investment in Germany, while some sectors like auto parts may see major upswings, due to merger and acquisition moves, leading industry experts say.