Shanghai

Shanghai (Chinese: 上海) is the largest city in China in terms of population and one of the largest metropolitan areas in the world, with over 20 million people. Located on China's central eastern coast at the mouth of the Yangtze River, the city is administered as a municipality of the People's Republic of China with province-level status.

Originally a fishing and textiles town, Shanghai grew to importance in the 19th century due to its favourable port location and as one of the cities opened to foreign trade by the 1842 Treaty of Nanking. The city flourished as a center of commerce between east and west, and became a multinational hub of finance and business by the 1930s. However, Shanghai's prosperity was interrupted after the 1949 Communist takeover and the subsequent cessation of foreign investment. Economic reforms in 1990 resulted in intense development and financing in Shanghai, and in 2005 Shanghai became the world's largest cargo port.

The city is an emerging tourist destination renowned for its historical landmarks such as the Bund and Xintiandi, its modern and ever-expanding Pudong skyline including the Oriental Pearl Tower, and its new reputation as a cosmopolitan center of culture and design. Today, Shanghai is the largest center of commerce and finance in mainland China, and has been described as the "showpiece" of the world's fastest-growing economy.

Xinhong Zhang,
Director, China National Tourist Office

Ms. Xinhong Zhang takes the position as the Director of the China National Tourist Office, New York, from January 2008. China National Tourist Office, New York is one of 18 overseas tourist offices set up by China National Tourism Administration based in Beijing.

Its main goal is to increase awareness of American public towards the tourist attractions and sites in China and encourage them to travel to China, either in group or individual form. CNTO, New York will make its efforts to reach the above goal through educating the travel agents, participating the travel shows, making advertisement, organizing agent fam trips, and mailing requested travel info pack, etc. Before her New York post, she worked as the Director of China National Tourist Office, Los Angeles for the four years and involved herself in marketing China as a tourist destination with partners in the west coast.

Before she joined CNTO, New York and Los Angeles, She had been working in Beijing with China National Tourism Administration ever since 1985 and held different positions at CNTA prior to joining LA office. She was posted to CNTO London office from 1992 to 1996. She received her Bachelor of Arts at Nankai University, Tianjin, China in 1985.

Her contact information:

China National Tourist Office
370 Lexington Avenue, Suite 912
New York, New York 10017

Si Kai Zhang
China Eastern Airlines

Apart from other media interviews, this is the first time that I shall have a chance to walk in a radio studio. I hope my participation will be of somehow helpful to let more people know my home city. For your information I write down a mini bio as follows.

I was born and grew up in Shanghai. Upon university graduation in 1982 I started a career as an airlines' employee unitl present, of almost 27yrs. I used to work for Cathy Pacific and Japan Airlines. However most of my working life has been dedicated to China Eastern Airlines. My working experiences covers mostly the airport passenger service, GM route team of marketing and sales department, Chief of International Affairs, deputy director of Revnue Department. In early 1990s and 2000s I was sent out to Tokyo, Osaka Japan respectively, first as sales agent and secondly as a GM. 2 terms totals 8yrs.

Around Aug, 2006 I came here New York to initiate the first ever Non-stop flight by China Eastern Airlines's between Shanghai and New York. Since then It has been already 3yrs. I enjoyed the beginning stage and the 2007/8's wonderful success and together with the industry to face directly the impact of the economic downturn. Very much hope the things would get on the right track soon!

Barry Goldsmith,
Architecture and Humor Professor

Professor Barry Goldsmith is America's only professor of both architecture and humor. He is both an architect and an architectural historian who has hosted travel and culture series in both the USA and UK.

One of his architecture courses, Great Planned Cities, is being made into his most recent TV series that he is hosting.

Goldsmith disseminates knowledge in an entertaining and memorable way. He believes that travel, especially for leisure, should be fun. He has written for many TV shows, from The Joan Rivers Show to the Late Show with David Letterman -- and even comedy for the BBC.

Goldsmith also knows when to be serious -- when he writes his numerous articles on architecture for publications like USA Today, The New York Times and The Jerusalem Post.

National, regional and city tourist boards, the experts on tourism to their locales, respect Prof. Goldsmith's knowledge so much that they enlist him to lead press trips on all six continents. Besides teaching at New York University, Prof. Goldsmith has lectured at major museums and universities around the world.

Tom Parsons,
Founder, BestFares.com

Who is this man called the "godfather of budget travel and deals," the "king of cheap airfares" and the "seer of the skies"? By Tom Parsons' own admission, he is nothing more than a regular traveler who wants to save money and help others save. And that he does. Other people collect stamps or precious objects. Parsons collects cheap airfares and discount travel rates, and then he tells everyone about them.

Parsons got his start as a discount travel hound in the late 1970s when he was a traveling corporate executive. He noticed the wide variance in travel fares, even on the same airline flight. Using his natural analytical abilities and some good old sleuthing, Parsons unearthed some breakthrough methods to save dramatically on airfares. Then (of course) he began to tell his co-workers about it. In just fourteen months, Parsons single-handedly reduced the corporation's total travel budge from $2.5 million to $800,000. He was honored with a plaque at the annual meeting and given the title, "The Man Least Likely to Give Up a Travel Buck." Even Herb Kelleher, Former CEO and Founder of Southwest Airlines, called Tom "the best low fare policeman on the beat." That moniker is even more accurate today.

Parsons now appears on over 100 radio and television talk shows each month, dispensing his knowledge of hidden travel deals and fare secrets to audiences of shows ranging from NBC's The Today Show, ABC's Good Morning America and The Oprah Winfrey Show to nationally syndicated radio such as Bloomberg Business Radio and the AP Radio Network. While his days are packed, Parsons is still likely to be found chatting with the receptionists and cameramen along the way, giving them advice on an upcoming trip. His interviews have the same popular appeal, lighting up phone lines with every visit. Since 1983, Parsons has become the Ralph Nader of the air. He has established a reputation as the traveler's friend and confidant, someone the average consumer can trust to be fair and honest and always on the consumer's side. His goal is to inform the general public about the truth in the travel industry. And as always, his mission is about saving money.

Parsons is the definitive answer to the age-old question uppermost in most travelers' minds: "How can I save money on my style of travel?"

Tom Parsons, one of the most sought-after travel experts in the country, is available for media interviews. He is a consumer champion, offering information on travel bargains, the airline industry and its effects on consumer pocketbooks. From frequent flyer miles to travel deals to the nation's seemingly never-ending changing security policies, Tom is on the beat. To book Tom, contact the media relations' staff at 800-576-8255, or via email at media@bestfares.com.