Oil exploration firm CNOOC Limited reported on Thursday that its unaudited revenue for the third quarter rose to 38.91 billion yuan ($5.79 billion) from 23.76 billion yuan a year earlier, a surge of 63.8 percent.

As the water level of the world's largest hydropower project rises to its planned height, many people see it as a symbolic culmination that will not only attract the world's attention, but commercial opportunities in tourism and shipping as well.

Gasoline and diesel retail prices rose by around 3 percent on Tuesday to reflect global market fluctuations, according to the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the country's top economic planner.

Chinese outbound travelers have contributed to double-digit growth in the number of people visiting the Asia-Pacific region, taking the estimated 45 million arrivals in 2010 to as much as 60 million in 2011, according to the Pacific Asia Travel Association (PATA).

China still faces strong inflationary pressure in the coming months after consumer prices hit a nearly two-year high in September, raising the possibility of more monetary tightening measures, economists said.