HO CHI MINH CITY， Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- China Southern Airlines， a major Chinese airline， will launch a direct air route between Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh City， using Airbus 320s， on Oct. 30.


The air company introduced to the press on Wednesday its products and flight schedules for the coming winter， including the weekly flight between Shanghai and Ho Chi Minh City.


It will also increase the flight frequency on the route between Ho Chi Minh City and the Chinese port city of Shenzhen to daily from the current three flights a week from Oct. 30.


The flight frequency on the route of Hanoi-Guangzhou will to be increased to three flights a day， also starting from Oct. 30.


Passengers are expected to to see four flights a day between Hanoi and Guangzhou in Jan. 2017.


China Southern Airlines， which currently has 700 planes， will increase its fleet to 1，000 units by 2020， Cui Heng， general manager of the company's Ho Chi Minh City Office， told press.


CHANGCHUN Nike Air Max 270 UK , May 17 (Xinhua) -- Thirty thousand runners will take part in the Changchun International Marathon this Sunday, one of a growing number of sporting events taking root in the capital city of China's Jilin province.


The Changchun Marathon includes six events: marathon, half marathon, 10km, 5km, a home run competition and a lovers run race. There will be 30,000 runners from 20 countries and competing together for the first edition of the competition.


The Chinese Athletics Association (CAA) held 328 marathon competitions in 2016 all around China. But CAA officials say Changchun has special significance.


"We are developing winter sports events as well as summer ones, because the city is beautiful during all four seasons," said Liu Haiyu, chief of the Changchun sports bureau.


Changchun started to hold winter and summer sports camps in 2013, training teenagers and children in various sports for free. Changchun students from primary schools and middle schools can also enjoy training in their spare time. The project is one example of how government-run public services can arouse sporting interest in the general populace.


As the first full year after Beijing was awarded the 2022 Winter Olympics, 2016 was marked by the rising popularity of winter sports in China. As part of this trend, Changchun aimed to motivate one million teenagers to enjoy the city's abundant skating rinks and ski resorts.


Changchun never held a marathon event downtown before, but it does boast rich experience in holding large-scale winter sporting events. Vasaloppet, the annual long distance cross-country skiing race launched in Sweden in 1922, held its 15th edition in Changchun this year. More than 5,000 professional skiers from over 30 countries and regions took part in this year's Visma Skiing Classics at the event here, up from 200 participants in 2003 when the ski marathon event was launched in China.


"Vasaloppet marked the rising popularity of winter sports in China in recent years, and we expect the Changchun marathon to further contribute to the development of mass sports," said Yin Hao, vice manager at the North company of Zhimei Sports Group, one of the Changchun marathon operators.


Xi elaborates on inspiration behind Belt and Road Initiative


Xi says China willing to deepen all-weather friendship with Serbia


Xi suggests aligning B&R initiative with European investment plan


Xi says China willing to assist Myanmar in peace progress


Miraculous road at Guoliang cliff corridor in China's Henan


Dough figurines made by folk artist in E China


Sea of clouds over meadows in NW China's Shaanxi


2017 national yoga contest held in SW China




NAIROBI， March 30 (Xinhua) -- Athletics legend Paul Tergat has thrown his hat into the ring and will be vying to lead the Kenya's Olympic committee in the national election scheduled for May 5.


Tergat， a two time Olympic silver medallist， has taken off the lid over his plans saying he no longer sees the current team as best to carry the country forward. The National Olympic Committee of Kenya (NOCK) is currently headed by another legend Kipchoge Keino.


"I have worked hard to represent this great country at international championships against all odds. I have earned my spot and I believe time has finally come for me to take the mantle and lead our sports to greater success，" said Tergat here on Thursday.


Tergat， who is also a five-time World Cross Country champion， said he will focus on improving the welfare of the athletes and all sportsmen.


"I want to take a big role in leading our sports. We have good talent， but they need to be mentored and guided properly and that will be a challenge am ready to take，" he said.


However， Tergat will not be