Qingdao Haiwan Bridge - China World’s Longest Sea Bridge

At 42.5 kilometers, the Qingdao Haiwan Bridge, connecting the city of Qingdao in Eastern China's Shandong province with the suburban Huangdao District across the waters of the northern part of Jiaozhou Bay, is the longest bridge over water. The six-lane road bridge is almost 5 kilometers longer than the previous record holder - the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in the American state of Louisiana. When it opens to traffic later this year, the bridge is expected to carry over 30,000 cars a day and will cut the commute between the city of Qingdao and the sprawling suburb of Huangdao by between 20 and 30 minutes.

The bridge was built in just 4 years at a cost of US$ 8.6 billion. At least 10,000 workers toiled in two teams around the clock to build the bridge, which was constructed from opposite ends and connected in the middle in the last few days. The 450,000 ton structure of steel is supported by 5,200 columns and is strong enough to withstand a magnitude 8 earthquake, typhoons or the impact of a 300,000 ton vessel.

China is already home to seven of the world's 10 longest bridges, including the world's lengthiest, the 102 mile Danyang-Kunshan rail bridge, which runs over land and water near Shanghai.
And with Beijing pumping billions into boosting China's infrastructure, the Qingdao Haiwan Bridge will not be the world's longest sea bridge for very long. In December 2009, work started on a 31 mile bridge that will link Zhuhai in southern Guangdong Province, China's manufacturing heartland, with the financial centre of Hong Kong. The £6.5 billion project is expected to be completed in 2016.




[via Telegraph]

World’s Beautiful Rooftop Nightlife | Top 10

1. Sirocco

Bangkok, Thailand

No night out in Bangkok is complete without a couple cocktails at Sirocco. Perched on top of The Dome at State Tower, 64th floors above the hectic streets of Bangkok, this sexy rooftop bar boasts 360 degree views of the city with city lights in every direction, as far as the eye can see. If you’re looking for a picturesque place to dine, they also serve dinner.

2. The Penthouse

Madrid, Spain

The Penthouse is an ultra-chic rooftop bar owned by Rande Gerber, celeb nightlife entrepreneur and husband of Cindy Crawford. It’s located on the roof of Hotel ME Madrid Reina Victoria, in Plaza Santa Ana, and has a great view of central Madrid. The crowd is dressed to kill, the waitresses are smoking hot the drinks are pricey and the place is often frequented by Spanish celebrities. Best to get here for happy hour, because although it’s open till 3am, the line to get in is insane after midnight.

3. Luna Bar

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

This super sexy rooftop and poolside bar is a hang out for the twenties and thirties nightlife scene in Kuala Lumpur. It’s got a long indoor bar with a chic design leading you out onto the breezy rooftop for the best views of the lights of KL. For a romantic night out, be sure to get there early to snag a private little enclave up against the glass.

4. Rooftop Bar

Melbourne, Australia

An ultra cool venue for music, cinema, or just sunny boozing, this bar sits atop the Thai bar and restaurant, Cookie, on a six story 1920′s building in central Melbourne.

5. Gravity

Dublin, Ireland

Although not an open air bar, Gravity boasts an unobstructed 360 degree view of Dublin. It’s got a swanky style and comfortable seating right up against the glass to sit in while you enjoy the view from the highest bar in Ireland.

6. Top Floor Bar

London, United Kingdom

Looking for the perfect place to throw a swank party in London? The Top Floor Bar, the final floor of the Gherkin, London’s newest architectural darling, is available for private parties. The ultra modern venue sits under the spectacular glass cone roof and has stunning views of the city.

7. Moon

Las Vegas, Nevada

The Palms teamed up with the Playboy Club giving revelers in Vegas a sexy place to blow their money on the 53rd floor of the palms Hotel. The sound system here is rockin’ and although it can be tough to get in, it’s a great place to check out on Tuesday, Friday and Saturday nights.

8. Captain Bar

Shanghai, China

This cool rooftop bar has a wide variety of cocktails and a great view of The Bund and surrounding city lights. It’s usually a cool mix of locals and travelers which makes for a diverse and thirsty crowd.

9. Hudson Sky Terrace

New York, New York

This super chill rooftop bar has great service, amazing sangria and everything else you could want on a hot New York afternoon. From an air conditioned game room to a hammock with a view of the river, the Hudson has you covered, but like many of NY rooftop hot spots, you must be a guest in the hotel to enjoy it.

10. Condesa DF Rooftop Bar

Mexico City, Mexico

This is an awesome bar in an all-around cool hotel. The Condesa DF is decked out in extraordinary design, from the table cloths to the couches. This super-chic hotel only has 40 rooms so make sure to get a reservation, and make sure to hit its rooftop paradise for some cocktails as the sun goes down over Mexico City.

Top 10 Romantic Castles | Most Beautiful Romantic Castles

At the center of every fairy tale is a castle with towers and parapets. The original castles were rustic fortresses designed for war. Centuries later, castles became lavish and often fanciful expressions of power, wealth, and luxury. For castle enthusiasts everywhere, here are some of the world's most romantic castles, including medieval castles and modern-day recreations of castle architecture.

1. Dunguaire Castle in Ireland

With its 75 foot tower, the 16th century Dunguaire Castle is one of the most often photographed castles in Ireland.

2. Alhambra Palace in Granada, Spain

Perched on a hilly terrace on the southern edge of Granada, Spain, Alhambra is an ancient palace and fortress complex with stunning frescoes and interior details.

3. Biltmore Estate in North Carolina

With 255 rooms, the magnificent Bilmore Estate is often called an American Castle. It was constructed in the late 1800s.

4. Neuschwanstein Castle in Germany

Neuschwanstein Castle is often compared to the castle in Disney's Sleeping Beauty. King Ludwig II ("Mad King Ludwig") began constructing Neuschwanstein castle in the late 1800s. Modeled after Medieval architecture, the castle was planned as a homage to the grand operas of Wagner.

5. Johnstown Castle in Ireland

Overlooking a river, the turreted Johnstown Castle looks like a medieval castle, but it was actually built in Victorian times.

6. Abbassid Castle in Baghdad, Iraq

Abbassid Castle in Baghdad is famous for the detailed tilework on the front portal.

7. Hearst Castle in California

Julia Morgan designed this lavish modern-day "castle" for publishing mogul William Randolph Hearst. Furnished with Spanish and Italian antiques, the romantic Moorish home has 165 rooms and 127 acres of gardens, terraces, pools and walkways.

8. Boldt Castle in the Thousand Islands, New York

Boldt Castle is not a medieval castle, of course, but a modern interpretation. It's a jigsaw puzzle of medieval and Victorian styles pieced together by a wealthy American businessman. Like many homes from America's Gilded Age, the eleven-building complex is exuberant and outrageous, as though its creators had taken five hundred years of architectural history and spilled it across the craggy island.

9. Prague Castle in the Hradcany

Prague Castle in the Hradcany royal complex has towered above the river Vltava for a thousand years.

10. Leeds Castle in England

Leeds Castle is widely known as "the ladies' castle" and "the loveliest castle in the world." Surrounded by a picturesque lake, the preserved medieval castle is a treasure trove of art, antiques, and history. Our About.com Guide to Romantic Getaways has travel tips.

America's Top 10 Dirtiest Cities | 20 million people in these cities

The American Lung Association, in its report State Of The Air 2010, finds seven California metropolitan areas with air quality bad enough that they make it on the list of the Top 10 Dirtiest Cities in America. And also America Top cities for finding job The 20 million people in these cities are at higher risk of asthma and chronic bronchitis.

No. 10: Pittsburgh-New Castle, Pennsylvania

Population: 2.4 million
Short-term particle pollution rank: 3
Year-round particle pollution rank: 5
Ozone pollution rank: n/a
One-hundred seventy-five million Americans live in counties with unhealthy air.

No. 9: Sacramento-Arden-Arcade-Yuba City, Calif./Nev.

Population: 2.4 million
Short-term particle pollution rank: 6
Year-round particle pollution rank: n/a
Ozone pollution rank: 5
Sacramento incentivizes residents to trade in gasoline lawn mowers for electric ones, diesel-powered trucks for hybrid ones and old wood stoves for new ones.

No. 8: Modesto, Calif.

Population: 511,000
Short-term particle pollution rank: 9
Year-round particle pollution rank: 14
Ozone pollution rank: 22
Home to the largest winery in the world, operated by E&J Gallo, which also runs world's largest wine bottle factory here.

No. 7: Birmingham-Hoover-Cullman, Ala.

Population: 1.2 million
Short-term particle pollution rank: 5
Year-round particle pollution rank: 7
Ozone pollution rank: 19
Three old coal-fired power plants contribute to high levels of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, soot and mercury around Birmingham.

No. 6: Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Ariz.

Population: 4.3 million
Short-term particle pollution rank: 14
Year-round particle pollution rank: 1
Ozone pollution rank: 11
Asthmatics used to flock to Phoenix for clean air. Yet today the Valley of the Sun's inversion layer traps pollutants, creating the city's "Brown Cloud."

No. 5: Hanford-Corcoran, Calif.

Population: 150,000
Short-term particle pollution rank: 10
Year-round particle pollution rank: 8
Ozone pollution rank: 6
Hundreds of aircraft based at the giant Naval Air Station in nearby Lemoore doesn't help Hanford's air quality.

No. 4: Visalia-Porterville, Calif.

Population: 430,000
Short-term particle pollution rank: 8
Year-round particle pollution rank: 3
Ozone pollution rank: 3
Proximity to the giant trees of Sequoia National Park isn't enough to clean Visalia's smoggy San Joaquin Valley air.

No. 3: Fresno-Madera, Calif.

Population: 1.1 million
Short-term particle pollution rank: 2
Year-round particle pollution rank: 6
Ozone pollution rank: 4
Cars, agriculture, petroleum and mega-dairies all contribute to the brown haze that hangs over the San Joaquin Valley.

No. 2: Los Angeles-Long Beach-Riverside, Calif.

Population: 17.8 million
Short-term particle pollution rank: 4
Year-round particle pollution rank: 3
Ozone pollution rank: 1
University of Calgary researchers found in 2008 that salty coastal air mixed with sunshine and pollutants helps create unexpectedly high levels of ground-level ozone.

No. 1: Bakersfield, Calif.

Population: 800,000
Short-term particle pollution rank: 1
Year-round particle pollution rank: 2
Ozone pollution rank: 2
Hot, dusty and surrounded by California's San Joaquin Valley oil fields, Bakersfield has all the ingredients for the worst air in the nation.

World's beautiful Tallest Hotels | Luxury Boutique Hotels & Resorts

10.Swissôtel The Stamford. Singapore.
Height: 226 m (741 ft). 73 floors.
Touching the sky, Swissôtel The Stamford is the highest hotel in Southern Asia and the seventh tallest skyscraper in Singapore. The complex was opened in 1986 - when completed, it was the tallest hotel on the globe. It was renovated in 2001 and currently offers 1,263 rooms.
9. JR Central Hotel Tower. Nagoya. Japan.
Height: 226 m (741 ft). 53 floors
Nagoya, the fourth most populous city in Japan, is home to a gigantic JR Central Towers complex. The structure houses a department store, office space and a hotel. The two towers are based on a 20-storey podium that looks like a gateway to the city. This unique entrance has become the city's remarkable icon. The hotel, located in one of the towers, was completed in 2000.
According to Emporis, Oasis Skyway Garden Hotel in Shanghai is also 226 m (742 ft) high and therefore, it shares the ninth place on the list with the Nagoya's complex.
8. Lanko·Grand Hyatt Hotel. Chongqing. China
Height: 258 m (846 ft). 60 floors.
Lanko Grand Hyatt Hotel (unfortunately, no picture available) is the second tallest building in Western China. Its construction was completed in 2004. The hotel is located in Chongqing, largest and most populated municipality in China. The city is one of the fastest developing regions in the country - it has been heavily investing in the construction industry and infrastructure.
7. Grand Lisboa. Macao. China.
Height: 261 m (856 ft). 47 floors.
Shiny Grand Lisboa Hotel, opened in December 2008, towers above Macau, the special administrative region in China. The complex's design is quite "unique" - it resembles the lotus flower, which is the symbol of Macau, although some say it looks more like a Pokemon than a building. Anyway, the hotel was designed by DLN Architects & Engineers, one of the most famous Hong Kong architectural studio.
6. The Cullinan I. Hong Kong. China.
Height: 270 m (886 ft) 68 floors.
The Cullinan I, also called the Cullinan North Tower, is Hong Kong's tallest residential tower. The hotel is part of a complex called the Cullinan (named after the largest diamond in the world). The construction was developed by Sun Hung Kai Properties and it was completed in 2008.
5. Baiyoke Tower II. Bangkok. Thailand
Height: 304 m (997 ft). 85 floors
Baiyoke Tower II, located in the Central Business District of Bangkok, is Thailand's tallest building. Completed in 1997, it is also the highest hotel in the region of Southeast Asia. The 84th floor houses a 360-degree revolving roof deck, open daily from 10.30 a.m. to 10.00 p.m. Baiyoke, as the country's tallest building, will soon be surpassed by the Ocean One Tower (367 m high) that is scheduled to be completed in 2012.
4. Jumeirah Emirates Towers .Dubai. United Arab Emirates
Height: 309 m (1,014 ft). 56 floors
Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel is an exclusive business hotel that includes 40 luxury suites, accounting for exactly 10% of the complex's all rooms. The hotel is located in the heart of the city of Dubai (United Arab Emirates) and it is connected with Emirates Office Tower, which is slightly higher than the hotel, boasting the height of 350 m. Both buildings are connected by a podium that houses the Boulevard shopping gallery.
3. Burj Al Arab. Dubai. United Arab Emirates
Height: 321 m (1,053 ft). 60 floors.
Burj Al Arab is one of Dubai's most famous buildings and the country's national landmark. The hotel's unique design resembles the shape of an Arabian sailing ship. The complex stands on an artificial island and is connected to the mainland by means of a private bridge. The hotel is an ultra exclusive complex. It houses eight restaurants (one of them is located 200 m above the Persian Gulf), two-storey suites equipped with Jacuzzi in every bathroom and plasma screens, as well as reception desk on every floor. The cost of the investments is estimated at US$ 650m.
2. Ryugyong Hotel. Pyongyang. North Korea.
Height: 330 m (1,083 ft). 105 floors.
Ryugyong Hotel, located in Pyongyang, the capital of North Korea, is the country tallest building. The construction of the complex began in 1987 and was stopped in 1992 because of the government's financial troubles. The construction was inactive for 16 years, but it has been restarted in April 2008. Ryugyong is the first complex outside New York and Chicago with more than 100 floors.
1. Rose Tower. Dubai. United Arab Emirates.
Height: 333 m (1,093 ft). 72 floors.
Dubai is definitely a leading destination in terms of world's tallest hotels. Next to Burj Al Arab and Jumeirah Emirates Towers Hotel, ranking 3rd and 4th on the list respectively, it houses the Rose Tower, the world's tallest building used exclusively as a hotel. The construction of the complex commenced in 2004 and was finished in 2007. The official opening of the hotel is scheduled for December 2009.

10 World’s Most Remote Hotels | Luxurious Lodge Room

When you’re planning a vacation to get rid of all your stress and completely relax yourself, there are a lot of wonderful remote hotels around the world that allow you to enjoy your great moment with your family or couple!

1 ) Bloomfield Lodge, Cairns Australia

Beneath a canopy of foliage, a bewildering array of plants jostle for supremacy in this, the largest stretch of tropical rainforest left in Australia. Evolution has continued here, virtually undisturbed, for at least 100 million years; the result is a stunning gallery of nature’s greenest handiwork. Bloomfield Lodge nestles here within this magnificent ecosystem on the shores of the Coral Sea, offering a unique and relaxing way to experience the tropical rainforest. With a maximum of 34 guests, Bloomfield has an intimate, relaxed atmosphere, with no pressures, no formalities, no interference from the outside world. Dress is informal, activities are optional (though very popular), and you will return home refreshed and invigorated from your stay.

2 ) Winterlake, Alaska

Extremely remote, yet extraordinarily luxurious. For many, tiny Winterlake Lodge and its sister property, Redoubt Bay Lodge, are the quintessential Alaskan wilderness lodges. Winterlake is for those who truly appreciate—and can afford—to stay in the middle of nowhere, surrounded only by Alaska’s glorious nature. Winterlake Lodge is so remote, in fact, you’ll have to take a float plane just to get there. But once there, you’ll discover cozy, first-class lodges, gourmet meals, and amazing day trips. The lodge’s hosts, Carl and Kirsten Dixon, have created a rustic yet upscale approach to the wilderness lodge. They’re true Alaskans who have home schooled their children and created this family-run business—and their love of nature, food, and people comes through clearly.

3 ) Kokopelli’s Cave, Farmington, New Mexico

Retired geologist Bruce Black wanted to build a cave, so he gave some laid-off Grants miners $20,000 to bore as deeply as they could into the side of a cliff face. This luxury apartment was the result. Built in a semicircle, both the entry hall and the bedroom have wide sliding glass doors leading to little balconies beyond which the cliff face drops hundreds of feet below. This really is a cliff dwelling, and you must hike a bit down to it, though good guardrails guide you. The apartment is laid out around a broad central pillar, and the ceilings and walls are thick, undulating stone. A grill is outside, as are chairs where you can relax in the mornings and evenings. Fruit, juice, coffee, and pastries make up a self-serve breakfast.

4 ) Jules Undersea Lodge, Florida

The Jules Undersea Lodge in Key Largo Florida was just recently among the top ten most remote places to stay. When it comes to getting away from it all, this motel is true to that as it requires guests to scuba dive down twenty-one feet through a lagoon for entrance. Forbes puts Jules Undersea Lodge among The World’s Most Remote Hotels list they unveiled just recently. Most other undersea hotels require walking down to them somehow, but not Jules, which requires scuba diving to the former underwater research lab in Key Largo. Apparently the accommodations are pretty slick, although the amount of space for you and the rest of your group isn’t too vast. Guests sometimes describe their visit to inner space as the most incredible experience of their lives. One couple decided on a career change after visiting Jules’ Undersea Lodge, and they now operate Aquanauts’ Dive Shop. Another couple named their baby after Jules’, when they later discovered their recently conceived child had accompanied them in their wonderful adventure in undersea living.

5 ) The Andean Cottage, Peru

Andean Cottage is part of the Suasi Island Hotel, Peru’s only solar-powered hotel. Situated 12,500 feet above sea level and surrounded by Lake Titicaca, the cottage location is only accessible either via an arduous drive or a three-and-a-half-hour speedboat trip across the lake. The cottage itself is a cozy suite built entirely out of traditional materials including stone, wood and totora reed and includes two rooms, a private bathroom, living room and kitchenette. Indulge in private butler service and head out to the pier to soak in the lake views. There are plenty of trails to check out, and you can visit Andean farming plots or take a canoe ride around the island. The cottage features a large living room and bar, and a 2nd bedroom with 2 double beds. Each room in the suite has large picture windows with lake-level views. At night, a personal bilingual butler (on call 24 hours) arrives to light the 2 wood-burning chimneys in the cottage, and dinner can even be delivered if you prefer to dine in the cottage or on the deck.

6 ) The Beach House at Manafaru, Maldives

The Beach House at Manafaru Maldives recreates the style and charm of traditional Maldivian hospitality, while seamlessly blending Asian traditions of simplicity and elegance to its overall appeal. The resort offers a level of serenity unsurpassed in the Maldives. Sleek, contemporary and sexy, The Beach House offers unparalleled luxury to the discerning few. Each villa and suite offers a private pool, complete privacy and a personal butler to pre-empt and exceed your expectations. World-class cuisine from all corners of the world combined with countless on- and off-shore recreational facilities round up the truly supreme character of the The Beach House at Manafaru Maldives.

7 ) Desroches Island Resort, Seychelles

Desroches Island, remote and unspoiled, is the largest island of the Amirantes group situated 250km or a 35 minute flight from Mahé. Secreted beneath the shade of coconut palms, the Desroches Island Resort has immaculate beaches, crystal blue waters and is protected by its own coral reef. The resort boasts 20 Junior Suites against a backdrop of powder-soft sands and waving palms. Rich in corals and marine life, Desroches offers excellent opportunities for diving, deep-sea and fly-fishing and other facilities such as windsurfs, canoes, pedalos and laser mini-sails.

8 ) Hotel Arctic, Greenland

Hotel Arctic, the world’s most northerly 4 star hotel with a 5 star conference centre. Right on the edge of the Ilulissat Ice Fjord – a wonder of the world which is on the UNESCO World Heritage List – and well within reach for everyone who wants the experience of a lifetime. Hotel Arctic has 87 rooms – all of which have a view of the Ice Bank, Disko Bay or Ilulissat town. Rooms in all categories naturally have all the comfort the guests expect. There are disabled-friendly rooms and facilities so the unbelievable Arctic experience is available for everybody. In addition there are five absolutely unique two-person igloo cabins made of aluminium that are available from May to October and provide a front row view of the Ice Fjord. The igloos are located at the end of a wooden causeway just a short walk from the hotel but in many ways they are in a totally different universe.

9 ) Petit St. Vincent Resort, St. Vincent and Grenadines

Petit St.Vincent (locally known as PSV) lies 40 miles south of St.Vincent in the Grenadines; a group of islands sprinkled across the most beautiful stretch of water in the Caribbean. Part of the Windward Island chain, the Grenadines drift southwesterly from St. Vincent, the largest of more than 30 islands that make up the nation of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Petit St. Vincent is a romantic paradise of softly rolling hills spread over 113 acres, surrounded by two miles of white sand beaches. PSV has 22 discreet and simple, yet luxurious cottages. Experience total privacy. Lying well off the tourist mainstream, PSV has no airport, no formal check in, no keys. There are no televisions or telephones in the cottages, just a simple flag system for communication with the attentive staff. It is the perfect Caribbean hideaway.

10 ) The Garvault Hotel, Scotland

The Garvault Hotel is set in one of the last great wilderness areas of Britain and is the most remote hotel in mainland Britain. Nestled in the shadow of Beinn Griam Mor overlooking the forest framed loch Rimsdale and surrounded by vast rolling heather clad hills the Garvault hotel has fantastic uninterrupted views over the unique landscape of flow country. At the Garvault hotel, we always offer a warm welcome, with a traditional peat fire, relaxing atmosphere and comfortable lounges we strive to make your stay more peaceful and comfortable than you could have thought possible. Relax in the hotel’s comfortable lounges, enjoy good cheer in the hotel’s fully licensed bar, dining room and pool table. All of the Garvault Hotel’s rooms have either a private bath or shower and there are stunning views and plenty to keep all the family occupied.

reference link : Forbes

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