Hi-tech Tunnel Sets World Record

A sport utility vehicle takes the new direct route from Xi'an, capital city of northwest China's Shaanxi Province, to Zhashui County through the Zhongnanshan Tunnel, which opened on January 21.

With a total investment of nearly 3.2 billion yuan, the four-lane highway

is the world's longest double-tube tunnel, stretching 18.02 km.

As a major part of the province's expressway network, the tunnel connects Xi'an with southwest Shaanxi through the Qinling Mountains, shortening the previous three-hour trip to 40 minutes.

The highway tunnel is also planned as part of a national highway linking north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region and south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.

Surfing for Fun

Chinese youth like surfing the Net more than anything else, according to a report in Beijing-based China Youth Daily.

Internet surfing is the

No. 1 entertainment choice for most people, the paper said, quoting a survey of 2,952 respondents.

The survey said 81 percent of respondents surf on the Internet in their leisure time, rather than watch TV or read books. Entertainment is changing and young people rely more on the Internet.

The survey showed 43 percent of respondents do not set aside a particular time to read books, 21 percent read before going to sleep, and 12 percent reserve their reading for the restroom.

"Ethically Inspiring" TV

China's broadcasting watchdog will impose stricter restrictions over prime time TV series from February 2007, an official has said.

The country's TV stations are encouraged to screen only "ethically inspiring TV series" during prime time, said Wang Weiping, an official in charge of TV programs under the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television (SARFT). People usually understand the term "ethically inspiring TV series" as those with political themes, but Wang said his department will publish a new definition as a reference.

SARFT aims to crack down on vulgar and low level TV programs this year. Toward this goal, SARFT has instituted a four-level censorship system for home-made TV series. Before being screened, homemade TV series must be vetted by the Publicity Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and by SARFT.