Xian has sky-high plans for sightseers

China's ancient capital Xi'an plans to offer visitors a bird's eye view of the city, officials said Wednesday.

For 50 million yuan ($7.15 million), China Aviation Industrial Base in Yanliang, an outlying district about 50 km from downtown Xi'an, plans to buy five to eight helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft that will fly tourists at altitudes of 200 meters to 3,000 m, said project manager Gao Liting.

A ride will last 30 minutes to two hours and will take sightseers over the sacred Daoist mountain Huashan, the mausoleum of the legendary Yellow Emperor and the Hukou Waterfalls in the Yellow River, he said. Tourists can also try parachute jumps, shoot videos and even do some flying.

Gao said the base was negotiating with potential investors, including foreign aircraft manufacturers, travel companies and domestic business owners who are interested in the project.

He said specific plans would be unveiled before the end of this year.

Part of the plan will include opening one of the country's leading aircraft makers, Xi'an Aircraft Industry Group, to tourists, said Jin Qiansheng, director of the Yanliang aviation base.

According to the developed countries' experience, more people choose to travel by air when per capita GDP exceeds $2,000; when the figure tops $4,000, there's a growing demand for private planes, said Jin.

He said China's aviation industry would therefore expect another boom when per capita GDP tops $4,000, presumably in 2012.

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World Expo has plans for U.S. absence

Special Report:2010 Shanghai Expo Countdown

SHANGHAI, April 28 (Xinhua) -- Shanghai World Expo organizers said Monday they had emergency plans if the United States fails to show at the event.

Tuesday's China Daily quoted Hong Hao, director-general of the Shanghai World Expo Coordination Bureau, as saying that the bureau has plans for the potential withdrawal of any participants from the event.

He said on request of the Consulate General of the U.S., the expo's organizers had allotted a very "good and appropriate" location for the U.S. pavilion in the expo site.

"Should the U.S. complete fund-raising and project design, it can still use the reserved land for the construction of its pavilion," he said.

Hong nevertheless sounded upbeat about US participation by adding, "progress had been achieved in fund-raising as far as I know thanks to support from both government and enterprises."

Organizers Monday also confirmed that preparations for the expo have been going smoothly, with 234 countries and international organizations having confirmed their participation in the event.

Rihanna plans return show in desert

BEIJING, April 17 -- The Umbrella singer Rihanna, who has kept a low-profile since ex-boyfriend Chris Brown allegedly assaulted her, will perform in Dubai on May 28.

Dubai tourism spokesman Mary Rachelle Cherpak said: There will be over 25,000 tickets available. They will be going on sale in the next couple of days.

Details of the concert are yet to be revealed, but Cherpak has promised Rihanna's fans no expense will be spared for the show.

She explained: Normally they create a special stage in the desert for these events.

The 21-year-old star has already issued organisers of the event with a 38-page rider, which includes anti-bacterial soap, three lemons and teaspoons.

Managing director of Middle East entertainment agency Vibe Yassin Matbouly confirmed: We have been working to bring Rihanna to the region for a while now but it has never been the right time for one reason or another. This time everything worked out and the show will more than likely be the last outdoor concert before the summer - and one not to miss.

It will be the best concert the region has ever seen and we will stop at nothing.

Chris, 19, is accused of punching, biting and choking Rihanna until she was unconscious in his rented silver Lamborghini on February 8.

He has pleaded not guilty to felony assault and *** criminal threats.

Rihanna was due to perform at the Grammy Awards in Los Angeles on the same day, but was forced to cancel. Her last concert was in the city on January 29.