How are you? Have you had a good week? I do hope you are well and have a relaxed and easy weekend.

On Monday, the administration office offered me a new card to park my car free in the company's parking. Do you know why?

Since September 1, the park fee in all of the public parks in the downtown has been raised up near 17 times, from 5 RMB/24 hours up to 84 RMB/24 hours -- The first hour 15 RMB, then, every hour pluses 3 RMB. This is a part of ways to control the increasing of cars in the city, to assure to the city's transportation in a smooth way and to keep the city's environment more clean and more beautiful...

Last night, the local Television reported that since September 14, the big trucks have been forbidden to go through the downtown. Also, I do not know when it started, the minibuses have disappeared from the city.

More and more people are used of going to work or go out by subway or bus...

As a resident who has been living in the city for 14 years, I have seen the huge change of public transportation with my own eyes.

I came to the city by train on the New Year's Day in 1992. Then I have not touched a train again. I always leave off or come back to the city by airplane. I still remember the bad situation to catch my airplane in October, 1992. I was on a bus for more than 3 hours because the road was so bad and so crowded. Then, I did not know from what time, but since 1996, for 3 years, I flied to Shanghai for my studying as a part time graduate student in most of holidays and weekends, I was just in a taxi for about 40 minutes to the airport via the expressway. Then, in 2005, the subway started to work in the city -- even though I have not ridden it yet. It is said that all the trains of the subway were imported from Germany with the most advanced quality...

As an individual, who needs a vehicle every day, I just rode the cheapest bus when I just came to the city. Then, I started to ride the minibus since 1994. After 1996, I just rode a taxi. Then, since 2000, the company offered me a Honda with a driver. And in 2003, I bought my own Toyota and became a driver myself.

I do believe that hardworking will be returned certainly, no matter a city or an individual. Do you agree with me?

Does your city have a good transportation situation? Does your city do any thing to control the pollution from car's tail gas and to protect the environment?

I am just a learner on art, music, English and the work on the web site in my free time. Anyway, I would really like to do a little bit things with what I have learned to make this little web site to be An Electronic Bridge Of Culture Exchange, Friendship and Language Learning. During the process to help the others and to improve myself

I do appreciate your understanding, directions and supports. I do hope to get your great help continuously now and in the coming time...

If you have any questions, comments or suggestions, please write to shirley@ebridge.cn , or shirleyz004@yahoo.com, You are welcomed to publish your opinions in the forum.

--Shirley
Written and Edited On Sun, Sep 17, 2006