The only english language news source on the hotel TV is CCTV9 International. Rather interesting, as it is a CNN-lookalike run by the chinese government. The world news is more or less neutral point of view, only very subtly US-critic, comparable to what you get from Xinhua on world events. The news on China is clearly reflecting the government viewpoint, focusing on chinese culture, art and achievements.

A slightly bizarre news item on the 3 gorges dam focused mainly on construction progress (of course 10 months faster then the plan, thanks to hard work and new technology) and that the dam is secure against natural disaster and (I am not making this up) terrorist attack. Voiceover on pictures of construction work on the dam: “The experts say that the dam is highly secure against terrorism. In case of a nuclear attack threat, the water can be safely discharged within 3 or 4 days.”. If I remember correct, the mass of water involved would ammount to one of the larger floods in human memory…
The CCTV9 moderators are looking chinese, but often speaking even better english then BBC anchorpersons. The weather woman is not chinese but probably of british or australian origin, for whatever reason.

Oh, and China has now its own weather channel, perfectly timed on the arrival of a serious taifun. It costs about US$1 per month for cable subscribers in China.