Xi'an has always proven popular with the tourists, thanks to the Terracotta warriors, and few visitors have been able to resist the charms of Chengdu's panda population.

However, traveling between the two major cities has always been something of a problem, due to the rugged natural environment.

Now, the National Development and Reform Commission has just announced that a new high-speed rail link between Xi’an and Chengdu has been approved.

The new railway will be designed and constructed by the China Railway First Survey and Design Institute.

The Xi'an-Chengdu railway will cost around 10 billion US dollars, and will be the first railway to run through the Qinling Mountains, which explains the high price tag.

According to the engineers involved the project is scheduled to be completed within 4 years.

Early one morning in the city of Qujing in southwestern Yunnan province, four high school students were alleged to have attacked and killed a mentally ill woman. Her name was Qian Jin Fen. She was just 20 years old.

The four alleged attackers, aged 15 to 16, were classmates at a local high school. Police say that early that morning, they hopped the school fence to wander around town. When they saw the girl, they decided to beat her with bamboo sticks and stones. Police say the attack lasted two hours.

The Shanghai Expo welcomed some special guests recently. An array of robots from around the world strutted their stuff last weekend, wowing visitors with their high-tech functions and in some cases- artistic talent. BON's Kelda Yuen has more.

Criminals Publicly Tried, Sentenced
Son Swaps Dad Corpse For Dummy
Yao Ming's A Comedian?
Danger! High Voltage Human
Taiwan Airline Strange Hiring Reqs.
Pizza Pie Two-Step
Expo: 30 Million And Counting . . .

This week a high pressure system covering much of China is causing temperatures to reach summer highs. And it's being felt especially in the country's northeastern provinces. Andrew Livingstone braved the heat of Beijing to file this report.