Ayutthaya Thailand

The Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya or Ayutthaya in short, is one of Thailand's historical and majestic highlights. Serving as the Thai capital for 417 years (1350 1767: Kingdom of Ayutthaya), it was once glorified as one of the biggest cities in Southeast Asia. During the 17th century, most foreign visitors to Ayutthaya, traders or diplomats alike, claimed Ayutthaya to be the most illustrious and glittering city that they had ever visited. The map of Ayutthaya published in 1691 by Simon de la Loubere in Du Royaume De Siam is proof of such recognition.
The Kingdom of Ayutthaya reached its apex in terms of sovereignty, military might, wealth, culture, and international commerce in the 16th century when the Kingdoms territory was extended far beyond present-day Laos, Cambodia, and Myanmar. Ayutthaya even had diplomatic relations with Louis XIV of France and was courted by Dutch, Portuguese, English, Chinese and Japanese merchants.Visitors can explore and appreciate Thai history in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, which is situated only 86 kilometers north of Bangkok. Visitors to Ayutthaya can marvel at its grandeur reflected through numerous magnificent structures and ruins concentrated in and around the city island surrounded by Maenam Chao Phraya, Maenam Pa Sak and Maenam Lopburi. More importantly,Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Historical Park, an extensive historical site in the heart of Ayutthaya city, has been included in UNESCO's World Heritage list since 13 December, 1991.

The Past
The Kingdom of Ayutthaya was built and developed in leaps and bounds. The ruins in Ayutthaya that survived the test of time embody both the glorious and ignominious stories of the Kingdom.
This ancient capital of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, founded in 1350 by King U-Thong, had thirty three kings of different dynasties and reached its peak in the middle of the18th century. A magnificent city with three palaces and over 400 magnificent temples on an island threaded by canals Ayutthaya was truly an impressive city that attracted both Europeans and Asians. After a 15-month siege the Kingdom of Ayutthaya was conquered and completely destroyed by the Burmese in 1767. When King Taksin the Great finally liberated the Kingdom, a new dynasty was established and the capital was moved to Thonburi. The seal of Ayutthaya depicts a conch on a pedestal tray placed in a small castle under a Mun tree. According to legend, King U-Thong, founder of the Kingdom of Ayutthaya, discovered a beautiful conch buried in the ground being prepared for the establishment of the seat of his Kingdom. Consequently, he had a tiny castle built to house the shell. Hence, the provincial seal.

The Present
Today, there are but groups of crumbling ruins and rows of headless Buddhas where once an empire thrived. The temple compounds are still awe-inspiring even in disrepair and a visit here is memorable and a good beginning for those drawn to the relics of history.
The architecture of Ayutthaya is a fascinating mix of Khmer (ancient Cambodian style) and early Sukhothai style. Some cactus-shaped obelisks, called prangs, denote Khmer influence and look something like the famous towers of Angkor Wat. The more pointed stupas are ascribed to the Sukhothai influence. For new arrivals who had limited their visit to Bangkok, similarities may be noted with the riverside Wat Arun, an 18th-century structure that was built in the so-called Ayutthaya style, a melding of Sukhothai Buddhist influences and Hindu-inspired Khmer motifs.
Ayutthaya is administratively divided into 16 districts: Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya, Ban Phraek, Bang Ban, Bang Pahan, Bang Pa-in, Amphoe Bang Sai, Bang Sai, Lat Bua Luang, Maha Rat, Nakhon Luang, Phachi, Phak-Hai, Sena, Tha Rua, Uthai and Wang Noi.

BEIJING, 2008 Olympic Games

The Shenyang Olympic Sports Center Stadium, one of the five football venues in the 2008 Olympic Games, is expected to be completed next month, constructors said.

Projected to have a capacity of 60,000 seats, the stadium will host a test event in July.

Since the start of the stadium's construction on March 1, 2006, workers have kept working day and night. New technologies have been applied to cope with structural problems. In August 2006, the concrete steel structure of the stadium was topped off and on November 5, 2006 the football field was turfed, four months ahead of schedule. At the moment, all the seats and large TV screens have been installed, only the test process remains to be done.

The stadium is the centerpiece of a sporting complex that includes a 10,000-seat gymnasium, a 4,000-seat natatorium and a 4,000-seat tennis field, with a total area of 260,000 square meters. The whole complex is to be completed in June 2008.

Daocheng Dreaming

Southeast of Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, and east of the Hengduan Mountain lies a hideaway where visitors can escape the hot summer. Now known worldwide, Daocheng is considered another Shangri-la hidden within the mountains in southwest China.

Daocheng, subordinate to the Ganzi Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture, is special with its geographical features and natural scenery. The area is enveloped by waterfalls, thick forests, snow-capped mountains, made further unique by the Tibetan culture of the people.
The temperature in summer averages 24 degrees, much cooler than nearby cities Chengdu or Kunming.

There are 1,145 lakes scattered in an area of 3,200 square kilometers.

Western Sichuan's Yading Nature Reserve in Daocheng County is undoubtedly one of China's most awe-inspiring nature reserves.

It is regarded as a sacred area by Tibetans. Every stunning vista here is celebrated with traditional small prayer flags or mani stones.

On this adventure, you will discover Tibetan small towns reminiscent of the wild west, rolling landscapes plumed with wheat and barley fields, and the spectacular natural beauty of Yading Nature Reserves snowcapped mountain peaks.

Thirteen monasteries make this area their home. Xiongden and Gonggaling Monasteries are the best known. Grandly constructed, Gonggaling Monastery has in its possession a bronze statue of Maitreya presented by the Dalai Lama V.