Thailand-based Minor Hotel Group has opened its first Oaks property in Asia, Oaks Bangkok Sathorn, and has announced plans to open more Oaks in China next year. The operator of brands such as Anatara, AVANI and Elewana, Minor Hotel Group took over ownership of Oaks Hotels & Resorts, a serviced apartment provider in Australasia and UAE, in 2011. The opening of the 115-key Oaks Bangkok Sathorn marks Oaks' 41st property and the first of its planned expansion into Asia. The property also shares facilities with Anatara Bangkok Sathorn, which is located next to it. Minor Hotel Group is planning to open Oaks Sanya in late 2013, which is currently under development on Hainan Island and will feature 122 apartments.

The world's longest high speed rail route is set to open on 26 December 2012 and will run from Beijing to Guangzhou. The route measures 2,298 kilometres and will reduce travel time between the two cities from 22 hours to approximately eight hours. The high speed trains will run at an average speed of 300 kilometres per hour and the railway will have 35 stops in major cities, including Shijiazhuang, the capital of Hebei Province in the north of China, Zhengzhou, the capital of Henan, Wuhan, the capital of Hubei Province in central China and Changsha, the capital of central China's Hunan Province. From 2014, the Beijing-Guangzhou route will connect to Shenzhen, which will then continue on to Hong Kong, marking the first direct high speed train service between Beijing and Hong Kong.