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Before reading this a couple days ago, I'd never heard of naturally occurring underground coal fires. Turns out, they're responsible for a significant amount of carbon emission and pollution.

From The Houston Chronicle:

Young Americans are seeing China as a good place to spend a semester or a year of college.

From The New York Times:

Here are some more pictures from my two days at Hua Shan:

I really like this photo. It's so... bubbly (I suppose is the right word).

This little hut juts out from the East Peak. It is one of the only parts of Hua Shan that we didn't make it to.

A very long and steep staircase
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Will China's reinvestment of nearly 600 billion dollars into its domestic economy help the current crisis?

From Motleyfool.com:

Brazil's President Lula told his country in September, "People ask me about the [financial] crisis, and I answer, go ask Bush. It is his crisis, not mine."

Xi'an just opened the largest solar research facility in the world.

From Tradingmarkets.com:

XI'AN, Nov 11, 2008 (AsiaPulse via COMTEX) -- Applied Materials Inc. of the United States recently kicked off the construction of its global solar energy research and development (R&D) center in Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province.
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Last month, I climbed Hua Shan for the third time.

It was amazing.

My friend Andy and I began climbing the mountain, from its base, at about 3:00PM. We climbed for four hours until we reached the North Peak. We spent the night there and then climbed around to the other four peaks the next day.

The first day was really nice, but the second day was rainy. Although it was pretty arduous climbing in the rain, it provided for some great shots.
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China has become a proud member of the countries throwing massive amounts of money at their economic problems.

From the Associated Press:

BEIJING (AP) — China unveiled a $586 billion stimulus package Sunday in its biggest move to inoculate the world's fourth-largest economy against the global financial crisis.

This has to be concerning for young American high-school students wanting to go to elite colleges.

From The Boston Globe:

BEIJING - Don't be fooled by the teenager's slender frame and wire-rimmed glasses. His name is Tiger - and he's an American high school student's worst nightmare.
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Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, got chippy at a climate change conference yesterday.

From Reuters:

BEIJING, Nov 7 (Reuters) - Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao said rich nations must abandon their "unsustainable lifestyle" to fight climate change and expand help to poor nations bearing the brunt of worsening droughts and rising sea levels.
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China's decade-long economic hey-day is most likely over.

From The New York Times:

SHANGHAI — Each new forecast of China’s economic fortunes predicts slower growth than the forecast that preceded it.
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