World’s Top 10 Most Luxurious Homes Compare With China’s Top 10 Most Luxurious Homes

No 1 in the world

Villa Leopolda, France

Villa Leopolda is a large villa in the French town of Villefranche-sur-Mer on the French Riviera. It was built in 1902 by King Leopold II of Belgium as a present for his mistress and derives its name from him. The villa appeared in the news in the summer of 2008 with reports of the Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov having purchased the home at a price of approximately 500 million euros ($ 736m). However, Prokhorov’s spokesman denied that he was the purchaser. In February 2010, a Nice court decided that Prokhorov could not demand back the 39 million-euro down payment made in 2008 and had to pay an additional 1.5 million euros of interest. The price reported at the occasion of the lawsuit was 370 million euros, which still would have made it probably the world’s most expensive villa.

The World in Guangzhou, Nanjing Zhongshan International Golf Villa and Tomson Riviera in Shanghai ranked as the top three on the list of China’s Ten Most Expensive Homes in 2010, according to the World Executive Group. Let’s compare them with the world’s top 10 luxury homes and find out which ones are more luxurious.

No 1 in China

The World in Guangzhou, China

This project in Guangzhou was designed by 70 architects both at home and abroad and includes 70 villas. The average price for a villa is 76.28 million yuan ($ 11.17 million), while the most expensive one costs more than 200 million yuan.

No 2 in world

Updown Court, England

Updown Court is a private residence in Windlesham, England. It is the largest private residence to be built in the United Kingdom since the 19th century and was listed with Savills and Hamptons International, UK in 2005 for £70 million.

No 2 in China

Nanjing Zhongshan International Golf Villa

Nanjing Zhongshan International Golf Villa was ranked China’s most luxury home in 2009, defeating many famous real estate projects like Tomson Riviera in Shanghai.

No 3 in world

The Manor, the United States

The Manor, in the Holmby Hills, neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, was the home of television producer Aaron Spelling’s widow. Built in 1988, it is the largest home in Los Angeles County. The Manor is a French chateau-style mansion with 123 rooms and 56,500 square feet of space on more than 4.6 acres.

No 3 in China

Tomson Riviera, Shanghai

Tomson Riviera is located in Lujiazui, Shanghai. The 44-story apartment building is as high as 153 meters. Its price hit 130,000 yuan per square meter in 2006.

No 4 in world

Bran Castle, Romania

Bran Castle, situated near Bran and in the immediate vicinity of BraÅŸov, is a national monument and landmark in Romania. It is estimated to be worth more than $ 140 million.

No 4 in China

Thaihot Mansion, Beijing

Beijing Thaihot Mansion, situated near the Beijing-Hangzhou Grand Canal, consists of 101 luxurious villas.

No 5 in world

Hala Ranch, the United States

The Hala Ranch is a 95-acre (380,000 square meters) estate in Aspen, Colorado, and is originally purchased and given its name by Prince Bandar bin Sultan. The estate has been ranked by Forbes magazine as one of the most expensive homes in the United States, listed at $ 135 million. It is built in a rustic style, with massive timber beams and stone columns, and contains 15 bedrooms, all with patios, and 16 bathrooms.

No 5 in China

Shenzhen Tianqin Bay

Tianqin Bay project is located in Shenzhen Meisha resort. The 48 peninsula-like villas have perfect sea view, with private swimming pools and garages.

No 6 in world

Fleur de Lys, the United States

Fleur de Lys, which is bulit on Beverly Hills, california by a Texan billionaire, is valued at $125 million. The 15-bedroom mansion was inspired by France’s Vaux Le Vicomte palace outside Paris.

No 6 in China

Greentown Rose Garden, Shanghai

The Greentown Rose Garden project is located in Qizhong Forest Sports Center in southwest Shanghai. Covering an area of 9.6 square kilometers, the sports center includes facilities such as an 18-hole golf course, an international ATP tennis court, an athlete village, a high-class hotel, and a high grade forest villa area.

No 7 in world

Maison de L Amitie, the United States

In 2004, Donald J Trump bought former health care executive Abe Gosman’s palace, Maison de L Amitie, at a bankruptcy auction for $41.25 million. With the refurbished version–complete with ballroom, conservatory, 100-foot-long swimming pool and 475 feet of oceanfront–he aims to set a US sales record.

No 7 in China

Pangu Plaza, Beijing

Beijing Pangu Plaza is located near the Beijing Olympic Park. It is only 180 meters away from the Water Cube and 500 meters away from the Bird’s Nest. Rental for a year is said to be 100 million yuan.

No 8 in world

Albermarle House, the United States

Albermarle House, is situated in a highland of Virginia State, covering 300 acres. The Georgia style estate was designed by architecture master–Dave Easton, at a market price of $ 100 million.

No 8 in China

Shenzhen OCT East Horizon

OCT East, covering an area of 9 square kilometers at eastern Shenzhen, connects the sea view with mountain and forest. A golf course, theme park and churches complete the scene.

No 9 in world

Three Ponds, the United States

Three Ponds, which encompasses more than 60 acres of Hamptons farmland, is named for its lakes. But, the lavish estate also features its own golf course, 14 gardens, a 75-foot-long swimming pool and guest house. The main house, designed by architect Allan Greenberg, has a great room with a 28-foot-high domed ceiling.

No 9 in China

Sheshan Dong Zi Yuan, Shanghai

Shanghai Sheshan Dong Zi Yuan features its natural combination of architecture with the astonishing view of Sheshan Forest Park. The estate includes a five-star hotel and a golf course.

No 10 in world

Cielo De Bonaire, Spain

Cielo de Bonaire, a grandiose marble-filled mansion with a heliport, indoor and outdoor swimming pools, lush terraced gardens and dramatic sea views that, at $ 74 million, must be one of the most expensive properties on the market in Spain.

No 10 in China

Longfor Summer Palace Splendor, Beijing

Longfor Summer Palace Splendor is located in northern Beijing, with a size of over 1,000 square meters. This location used to be the center of ancient China summer palace, for its unique environment. The overall style also absorbs some Chinese royal garden element.

Solar Toothbrush Could Eliminate the Need for Toothpaste

Then we first saw this new gadget, we thought “Oh, a mechanical toothbrush powered by the sun.” But that isn’t what this is. Instead of using solar rays to charge itself up, the toothbrush uses them to catalyze a powerful chemical reaction that could leave your mouth way cleaner than regular old brushing does.

“You see complete destruction of bacterial cells,” says Kunio Komiyama, the inventor of the device. Oh, and did we mention that no toothpaste is required?

Mechanical University of Saskatchewan dentistry professor emeritus Dr. Kunio Komiyama and his colleague Dr. Gerry Uswak are recruiting 120 teens willing to brush with a prototype light-powered toothbrush and sit in a dentist’s chair for a few extra inspections. The manufacturer, the Shiken company of Japan, is paying the researchers to investigate whether the brush, which causes a chemical reaction in the mouth, does a better job of eliminating plaque and bacteria than a conventional toothbrush.

Komiyama’s first model, which was described 15 years ago in the Journal of Clinical Periodontology, contained a titanium dioxide rod in the neck of the brush, just below the nylon bristles. It works when light shines on the wet rod, releasing electrons. Those electrons react with acid in the mouth, which helps break down plaque. No toothpaste is required.

Now Komiyama’s back with a newer model, the Soladey-J3X, which he says packs twice the chemical punch compared to the original. Protruding from the base of the brush is a solar panel, which transmits electrons to the top of the toothbrush through a lead wire. It won’t work in the dark, though – the brush needs about as much light as a solar-powered calculator would to operate.

No Need Of Tooth Paste On Tooth Brush Now

Japanese scientists are collaborating with an oral health company on a revolutionary toothbrush that uses electricity to make teeth pearly white and does away with the need for toothpaste.

First dreamed up 15 years ago by Dr. Kunio Komiyama, who is now a professor of dentistry at Canada’s University of Saskatchewan, the Soladey-J3X has a solar panel at its base that requires minimal amounts of light to transmit electrons to the head of the toothbrush through a titanium dioxide semiconductor embedded in the body.

Once there, the electrons react with acid that occurs naturally in the mouth, creating a chemical reaction that breaks down plaque and kills bacteria, according to Dr. Komiyama and his colleague, Dr. Gerry Uswak, dean of the university’s College of Dentistry.

Prototypes of the cutting-edge device have been developed by Shiken Inc. — “shi ken” translates as “dental health” in Japanese — and research is underway.

To date, according to the Osaka-based company, tests in cultures of bacteria that cause periodontal disease have shown that the process brought about the “complete destruction of bacterial cells,” as well as breaking down the plaque.

A study on 120 teenagers is presently underway to determine how they rate it in comparison with a regular toothbrush.

The gadget has already received the recognition of the oral care industry, winning first prize at the recent annual FDI World Dental Conference in Dubai, fighting off 170 other entrants.

Patents on the toothbrush have already been taken out in nine countries, including Japan, although the company says the product will not be released onto the market until the early months of next year. Price should be around 40 euros (4300 Japanese yen).

Top 5 Special Forces Around the world

Portuguese for Special Police Operations Battalion is the elite special forces unit in the Military Police of the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Due to the nature of crime in favelas, BOPE units have extensive experience in urban warfare as well as progression in confined and restricted environments. It also utilizes equipment deemed more powerful than traditional civilian law enforcement. Currently serving with 400 soldiers, BOPE is believed to be one of the most violent military forces in Latin America before PMESP

BOPE duties are break barricades constructed by drug traffickers, shoot to kill at criminals threatening human life,
exterminate drug ghettos as well as its gangs, suppress prison riots,s pecial missions in swamps or mountainous terrains such as reconnaissance, planning and infiltration

The force has a fleet of Armoured fighting vehicles, which are known as “Pacificador” (“Peacemaker”), or “Caveirão” (“Big Skull”)
These vehicles are used in operations in the slums (favelas) where BOPE faces intense conflicts with drug dealers, they are heavily equipped with .30 Carbines. BOPE soldiers are equipped with heavy armament: M16 rifle A2, Taurus PT92, IMBEL 9mm, C-4 explosives, Frag grenades and more

SWAT – Special Weapons And Tactics

A SWAT (special weapons and tactics)team is an elite tactical unit in American and some international law enforcement departments. They are trained to perform high-risk operations that fall outside of the abilities of regular officers. Their duties include performing hostage rescues and counter-terrorism operations, serving high risk arrest warrants and search warrants, subduing barricaded suspects, and engaging heavily-armed criminals. A SWAT team is often equipped with specialized firearms including assault rifles, submachine guns, shotguns, carbines, riot control agents, stun grenades, and high-powered rifles for snipers. They have specialized equipment including heavy body armor, entry tools, armored vehicles, advanced night vision optics, and motion detectors for covertly determining the positions of hostages or hostage takers inside of an enclosed structure.
SWAT Duties are: Hostage rescue, rescuing officers and citizens captured or endangered by gunfire,
countering terrorist operations in U.S. cities and stabilizing dangerous situations dealing with violent criminals (such as rapists, serial killers or gangs)

SWAT units may also employ ARVs, (Armored Rescue Vehicle) for insertion, maneuvering, or during tactical operations such as the rescue of civilians/officers pinned down by gunfire. Helicopters may be used to provide aerial reconnaissance or even insertion via rappelling or fast-roping. To avoid detection by suspects during insertion in urban environments, SWAT units may also use modified buses, vans, trucks, or other seemingly normal vehicles.
While a wide variety of weapons are used by SWAT teams, the most common weapons include submachine guns, assault rifles, shotguns, and sniper rifles.
Semi-automatic pistols are the most popular sidearms.
Common submachine guns used by SWAT teams include the 9 mm and 10 mm Heckler & Koch MP5
To breach doors quickly, battering rams, shotguns, or explosive charges can be used to break the lock or hinges, or even demolish the door frame itself. SWAT teams also use many less-lethal munitions and weapons. These include Tasers, pepper spray canisters, shotguns loaded with bean bag rounds, and PepperBall guns.

AFEUR – Agrupación de Fuerzas Especiales Antiterroristas Urbanas

The Agrupación de Fuerzas Especiales Antiterroristas Urbanas (“Urban Counter-Terrorism Special Forces Group”, AFEUR) is an elite unit of the Colombian Army, whose primary mission is to perform counter-terrorist operations and hostage rescues based on stealth, surprise and team work.
VIP protection is another task of the unit. For example, they protect the Colombian President when he travels, and provided protection for President Bill Clinton’s (Army group) and President George W. Bush visits to Cartagena, in 2000, 2004 respectively. They also provided the second security ring to President Bush’s visit to Bogotá in 2007.

Yamam – Special Police Unit

The Yamam (Hebrew: ימ”מ‎), is the acronym for Special Police Unit (יחידת משטרה מיוחדת, Yeḥidat Mishtara Meyuḥedet), Israel’s elite civilian counter-terrorism unit. The Yamam is capable of both hostage-rescue operations and offensive take-over raids against targets in civilian areas. Besides military duties, it also performs SWAT duties and undercover police work.
The Yamam’s primary duties are:Offensive or preemptive operations.Direct action, Undercover police operations.VIP security.
Most of the Yamam’s activity is classified, and published Yamam operations are often credited to other units. Nevertheless, the Yamam enjoys a high reputation among SF professionals and the Israeli public.

JTF2 – Joint Task Force 2

Joint Task Force 2 (JTF2) is a Canadian Forces unit responsible for counter-terrorist operations.
JTF2 describes its mission as “rendering armed assistance in the resolution of an incident that is affecting, or has the potential to affect, Canada’s national interest.”
JTF2 personnel are divided into two categories: Category A – special operations assaulters (SOA) who are directly employed in the tactical aspects of special operations and other high value tasks; and Category B – support and specialist personnel (SP) fill positions in staff officer, support, and specialist positions. This category also includes the special operations coxswain position.
JTF2′s secrecy has kept the unit out of the Canadian public eye for quite some time, though it did appear in the Tom Clancy Rainbow Six video game series. A character named Roger McAllen, who was part of the former Royal Canadian Mounted Police SERT, ported over to JTF2 when they were handed over responsibility for counter-terrorism duties in 1993.

The Yangtze River-Golden Waterway

The Yangtze River is the largest River in China, and the third longest in the world. All year round with plenty of rainfall the river is also known as “Golden Waterway”. Over 6,300 kilometers long, it lies to the west of Geladandong Mountain. The river flows from west to east through provinces of Qinghai, Tibet, Sichuan, Yunnan, Hubei, Hunan, Jiangxi, Anhui and Jiangsu as well as the city of Shanghai, finally emptying into the East China Sea. Here are some cool photographs of that wonderful river.

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15 Great Pictures From 2010 Expo Shanghai

Exposition 2010 Shanghai China will be the great event to explore the full potential of urban life. Being the first World Exposition it will attract the people from across the world, focusing on the theme “Better City, Better Life”. No doubt, Chinese people will present to the world a successful exposition. This event is being held on the both banks of the Huangpu River, Shanghai from May 1 to October 31, 2010. More than 190 countries have registered to participate in this event.
This post features that Expo 2010 Shanghai, carries on traditions and it will opens a new vista into the future. As Chinese Government motto is: “Keeping in mind the next 60 years’ development while preparing for the six months’ Exposition”.

15 Photos

Photos Credit 1 to 3: Remko Tanis

Photos Credit 4 to 6: Pamhule

Photos Credit 7 to 12: Remko Tanis

Photo Credit: Pamhule