News

China's 49 places of ultimate attractions: In the following passages, you will be taken on a fantastic tour of the most dynamic and charming places in China. You will visit a wide and diverse range of scenic spots including the superlatives such as the tallest mountain, deepest lake, and coldest place in China (and sometimes in the world).

Death the price China pays to meet roaring coal demand: An appalling loss of life is the stark price China is paying to satisfy its huge demand for coal, with up to 20,000 workers estimated to die every year as they toil to fuel the country's booming economy.

China revises death penalty law: China's official media has said the country is in the final stages of revising its law on the death penalty. The changes would make the Supreme Court the ultimate body of appeal in capital cases.

Divorce Rises with Changing Marriage and Love: Between October 1, 2003 and September 30, 2004, within a year of China's new marriage registration regulations going into effect, the marriage registration center of Xicheng District in Beijing saw 1,783 couples get divorced, almost double the number of divorce cases in the previous 12 months.

Chinese Web Animator

Bu Hua is a Chinese artist who makes Flash animations on the web. This link has an article about her. Maomao's Summer is an example of one of her animations [slow connection].

Ancient Art

Unearthed fresco sheds light on ancient art: An image of a a fresco found in a tomb located in Yuejiazhai village on the southern outskirts of Xi'an, capital of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. The grave dates back to ancient China's Western Han Dynasty (206 - 24 B.C).

Local Stories

Counting their blessings: Tim and Ann Wachter have a lot to be thankful for on Thanksgiving as they watch their daughter Jill, 2, kiss their recent surprise, Sandra Victoria, in Franklin on Thursday. Among the 15 or so friends and relatives who gathered at their Franklin home for Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday were two new additions — daughters Jill Margaret Qiao, whom they adopted in February in China and who turned 2 on Thursday, and Sandra Victoria, who was born to them on Nov. 3.

A rewarding option: Adoptions of foreign children to parents in the United States have increased every year from 1992, when there were fewer than 6,500, to 2003 when there were more than 21,500, according to statistics from the U.S. State Department.

Family opens home, hearts to five children: Greg and Deana Maurer of rural Oronogo have many reasons to be thankful this week—nine reasons to be exact. Already parents of four children, approximately 10 years ago, the Maurers began exploring if international or domestic adoptions was a viable way to expand their family. Since the initial decision the couple have welcomed five children into their family

China Related TV

China Sprout posts a much-appreciated weekly guide for China Related TV listings.

Mulan Warning (Humor . . . kind of . . .)

Louise T. shares a true story about the dangers of watching Mulan!

I have belatedly realized that the movie Mulan may need a parental advisory warning after all.

My kids watched Mulan a couple of times last weekend, and again Wednesday night. On Thanksgiving day they were in their room upstairs recreating the Mulan story while playing with legos....the lego army of Huns marched over the pillow, sweeping toward the unsuspecting Imperial troops and the sleeping village, etc.

I heard Haydon loudly proclaim that the Huns had won, China was defeated, and everyone was going to eat at Mongolian Grill forever. Ellie was not to be outdone. She cheerfully shouted, "I will get Daddy's armor, chop off my hair, and fight for China!

I heard myself yell "Don't do it!" as I moved in cinematic slow motion toward the scene of battle. I already knew I was too late.

Yep, the scissors were still in one hand, one hunk of hair in the other, eyes big and worried. Ellie's below-the-shoulder hair was now chin length on one side.

Aarrggh! This is not our first unauthorized haircut, but by God, it had better be the last! I have no idea what she was thinking as she loves her longer hair and HOWLED at the thought that it would be cut short to even it out. Yesterday it was professonally cut chin length all around, in part to reinforce the notion that if she cuts it herself, it must be fixed. Aarrggh!

Watch those scissors!

Local Stories

The adoption path: They are locked away in the safe now. The keepsakes of "the birth" — three little photos, the adoption certificate and the paperwork in official Chinese script (neat English translations attached).

Beautiful China

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! I'll be posting again on Sunday. In the meantime, you can watch an animated version of this turkey being built here.

Giant Porcelain Bowl

Huge bowl aimed at Guinness record: A 2.8-foot high huge porcelain bowl with a diameter of 6.5 feet, in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi Province, Nov. 24. It took half a year to complete the bowl, from design to production. Related departments have planned to file application for Guinness world record.

Local Story

Small family's big blessing: After two days of crying and demanding in a Chinese dialect to be returned to her foster home, the exhausted 2-year-old girl threw her arms around the neck of the strange American woman.

Ginger and Scallion

Ginger and Scallion has a number of unique Asian-style clothes and other items.

Every time I shopped for clothes, I always noticed a small section of Asian style clothing but were mostly disappointed with the quality and workmanship. I thought, why not carry lines that would reflect our Asian backgrounds (me, from Taiwan and Sayo, from Japan), made from good quality fabrics and fine workmanship at the same time look modern and hip!

News

Portrait of China's newly rich: They have been called "Chuppies" in the world press. They are a generation who made money rapidly as China's economy got stronger and stronger. They are dynamic, young consumers with an eye for brand names and a desire to enjoy themselves.

Wal-Mart Concedes to Unionization of China Stores: Under pressure from the Chinese federation of labor unions, the world's biggest retailer, Wal-Mart Stores Inc., said on Tuesday it would permit branches union in its Chinese stores if employees requested it.

Bus for Disabled Begins Operation in Beijing: The first bus service catering to handicapped and senior citizens in Beijing began operation Tuesday.

Local Story

Portion of 'Hengfeng 8' holds reunion: A few weeks before Halloween, my wife Cindy and I took our daughter, Adrienne, to a pumpkin patch to meet two of her friends and their parents. Adrienne and her pals scampered through the mud in search of the perfect pumpkin, rode ponies and sipped hot chocolate in the drizzle. They turned a few heads, three little Chinese girls with Caucasian parents.

News

Tension rises as China scours the globe for energy: China's insatiable demand for energy is prompting fears of financial and diplomatic collisions around the globe as it seeks reliable supplies of oil from as far away as Brazil and Sudan.

Exorbitant Medical Fees Fail the Sick and Poor: The Ministry of Health revealed on Sunday that nearly 40 percent of the country's patients cannot afford medical treatment because of high costs.

HK Disneyland Theme Park to Open in September: Hong Kong's Disneyland theme park will open on Sept. 12, 2005 and become the driving force for growth in the city's tourism industry. The construction of the US$1.8 billion park, located on the Lantau Island, is expected to provide new jobs to Hong Kong citizens, who have suffered high unemployment in the past few years due to an economic downturn.

HK probes Falun Gong 'hacking': Hong Kong authorities are investigating after TV programmes beamed into China from the territory by satellite were allegedly hacked into at the weekend. Content promoting the spiritual group Falun Gong, banned on the mainland.

Chinese Character Jewelry

mkArtisans.com makes custom silver necklaces and earrings.

We are all the "m" in mkArtisans. Meg, mark, molly, and madelyn. Meg makes the jewelry, Mark creates the space where it can happen so that we can use the dining room table for what it was meant for, and Molly and Madelyn make suggestions, constructive (hah!) criticisms, and model the finished product.

China Related TV

China Sprout posts a much-appreciated weekly guide for China Related TV listings.

Ruby's Wish

I have seen a lot of positive reviews about Ruby's Wish.

Idiosyncratic young Ruby lives in a large (and wealthy!) Chinese family, in a gigantic "house filled with the shrieks and laughter of over one hundred children." She stands out because she insists on always wearing red, the color of celebration ("Even when her mother made her wear somber colors like her other cousins, Ruby would tie up her jet-black hair with red ribbons") but even more so because of her quiet dissatisfaction with the family's traditional gender inequity. Determined to study reading and writing--even when it means long hours catching up on more wifely training--Ruby eventually comes to the attention of her grandfather, the wise house patriarch, who springs a surprise as the time for her to wed approaches.

News

Golden Weeks Losing Lustre Among People: China is considering scrapping two of its three annual "Golden Week" holidays and replacing them with flexible, paid annual leave for all workers. The public is increasingly fed up with mob scenes and price gouging that result when virtually the entire nation is sent on vacation at once.

China Releases Tiananmen Protester: A factory worker who helped to organize a strike during China's 1989 pro-democracy protests has been released after nearly 15 years in prison. Chen Gang reportedly was convicted of "hooliganism" and sentenced to life in prison following the violent crackdown that ended the 1989 protests centered on Tiananmen Square in central Beijing.

Less Than 30 Chinese Tigers Left in Wild: South China tigers, among the rarest of the five remaining tiger subspecies, are on the verge of extinction in the wild with less than 30 remaining.

China's boom take toll on staple food: China's rapid economic development is eating its way into the country's rice production. Over the last five years, rice farmers in their millions near to big cities, and along China's prospering coastline, have switched from rice cultivation to cash crops yielding larger profits.

China shelves tallest tower plans: The southern Chinese city of Guangzhou has cancelled plans to build the world's tallest tower.

Local Story

For adoptive parent, one blessing was not enough: When we last left Cheryl Smith, she had no job and a new baby, having adopted a girl from China. She also was single and had just turned 45 and, despite all the challenges she faced, was absolutely thrilled with her life.

Beautiful China

Adoption Songs

SameSame is a new CD of original songs written to celebrate, encourage and delight adoptive kids and parents alike.

Listen to a few song samples and hear for yourself a whole new way to give voice to the many feelings found in families formed through adoption. With memorable songs ranging from silly to serious, SameSame is a unique album that'll have you and your kids singing along for years.

Picture of the day

A vendor sells dogs dressed in Chinese style clothing at a dog market in Tongxian, a suburb of Beijing, Saturday, Nov. 20, 2004. The three-month-old puppies were selling for 1200 Yuan (US$145.00) each. According to state media reports, one in 10 Beijing families keeps a pet — despite high annual registration fees and restrictions on when they can be walked in the streets.

News

Looted antiques on display, at home China: Four 18th century sculptures which had been looted by British and French troops some 140 years ago from the imperial garden Yuanmingyuan in Beijing, went on display under tight security Thursday at the ongoing Shenzhen cultural fair.

China tries to calm dam protests: China has sacked at least one Communist Party official and suspended work on a controversial dam after one of the largest rural protests in recent years. Tens of thousands of farmers staged violent protests over the Pubugou dam project, in Sichuan province.

China faces cold winter as fuel grows scarce: Some 200 million people could be left out in the cold in China this winter, the state-run media warned yesterday, as energy shortages threatened the traditional switching on of the nation's centrally planned central heating system.

China opens TV to foreign firms: China has announced it will allow foreign companies to buy large stakes in Chinese television and film production ventures.

New Chinese Stamps

China issues first set of stamps of Chinese family names: On Nov 18, China issued its first set of stamps of the top 100 Chinese family names in Beijing. Based on the outcome of the 1982 census, the stamps include the 100 most frequently-used surnames in China. This set of special stamps features a red Chinese knot, which symbolizes unity and luck, in the center and a totem design of the surname.

Local Stories

ISU professors to adopt baby from China: A picture of Frances Herndl in a silver frame sits on the mantel in the family's living room. She has a crib full of colorful quilts and a variety of toddler toys. But her parents have not yet met her.

Ministry makes families whole: Jessica Burel acquired her name well after she was born June 19, 2003, in Hefei, a city of 1.2 million in eastern China.

Adoption Poems

Since November is National Adoption Month, adoption.about.com posted some adoption poetry written by Tom Fisher, a China-adoption parent:

• I Dream of You
• A Mother's Love
• Until Forever
• She Loves Me

News

Yellow River—Shrinking, Violent: Qinghai's Meteorological Bureau has announced that water inflow to the upper reaches of the country's second longest river has continued to shrink since the 1990s due to dry and warm weather thought to be caused by global warming.

China 'sorry' over mystery sub: China has apologised for what it called an accidental incursion by one of its submarines into Japanese waters last week.

Beleaguered Chinese Movies: The fact that young director Lu Chuan's movie Ke Ke Xi Li won Special Jury Prize at the Tokyo International Film Festival is just as well for China -- most of it's movies came back empty-handed from festivals this year.

Bundle of Soy

Looking for some China-related items?

As some of you know, my husband and I have created an online store featuring items for adoptive families, all of which we designed ourselves. It is a fundraiser for our adoption. The link is http://www.bundleofsoy.com. We have recently added Christmas items, as well as a couple of other designs. We are still working on having a complete line of Chinese zodiac designs. Hope you enjoy visiting our site!

The site has a great design and lots of different items. It's definitely worth a look.

New Book -- "You're Not My Real Mother!"

You're Not My Real Mother! is a new book that has received positive reviews.

Drawn from the author's everyday life as an adoptive parent, this cheerful yet tender parent-child conversation offers a response to children who've ever asked an adoptive parent why they don't look like one another. Gentle, lighthearted watercolors by Christy Hale complete the picture of a very special relationship. Here is an invaluable companion for adopted children—and the adults who love them—as they explore the emotional realities of a different kind of family.

China Related TV

China Sprout posts a much-appreciated weekly guide for China Related TV listings.

Local Story

The graying of adoption: At ages 59 and 60, a time in their lives when many American couples are winding down careers, heading for the golf course or taking cruises, a growing number like the Higginses are otherwise engaged — building backyard forts, fashioning Halloween costumes and helping with homework. And it isn't for their grandchildren; they've become parents in later life, through adoption.

Beautiful China

Designs from the Heart

Designs from the Heart has Christmas cards, ornaments, and lots of other items.

Welcome to Designs From The Heart! You will find that I offer many multicultural items for adoptive families, support groups, and culture camps. I hope that you find items that provide a cultural connection for you and your family.

News

Large swathes of China in grip of worst drought in 50 years: A prolonged dry spell has ravaged southern and eastern provinces, including Guangdong, Hainan, Jiangxi and Anhui provinces and Guangxi autonomous region. In Jiangxi alone, drinking water to 620,000 people and 260,000 livestock is threatened.

Pets bring pleasure, problems to urbanites: The number of pet dogs in China's major cities is on the rise, bringing both happiness to their owners and some potential headaches to others. As individual incomes rise, China's city dwellers are developing a liking for pets.

Nutritional Imbalance Plagues People: Irrational diets, deficiencies in micro-nutrients such as iodine, iron and vitamins have become a nationwide problem and a vast number of people suffer from sub-standard health.

Frescos Found in Fujian: Dozens of color frescos from the time of the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties have been found in Hua’an County of Fujian Province. Specialists say they epitomize traditional folk painting around the upper reaches of Jiulong River.

Iris Chang's Book

With the sad news about Iris Chang, there has been a lot of discussion about her latest book. Members on various adoption lists have highly recommended it. This is a repeat of a post I put on the blog when the book came out.

---

Iris Chang, author of the acclaimed The Rape of Nanking, has a new book about the struggles and achievements of the Chinese in America. Her new book, The Chinese In America: A Narrative History has received excellent customer reviews at Amazon.com.

The book was recently reviewed in the Far Eastern Economic Review. Some excerpts:

Chang has written the first comprehensive account of the Chinese-American experience. Other nonfiction books examining Chinese-Americans tend to focus on limited aspects of the immigrant experience, while Chang tackles the entire history, breaking it down into three main waves, starting with the gold seekers and migrant labourers from China's coastal cities in the 1800s. The Chinese were active in the California Gold Rush in the 1850s and worked on the American transcontinental railway in the late 1860s. The story of Chinese professionals of the mid-20th century forms the book's middle and, finally, Chang writes about the wave of immigrants entering the U.S. in the last two decades of the 20th century.

At 500 pages, Chan's book is a comprehensive account that relates experiences and incidents in an engaging and thought-provoking way. At times, she tends to belabour the ill-treatment of the Chinese, when her facts and anecdotes garnered from impeccable research can tell the story fully on their own. The final result is an important book that fills a gaping hole in Asian-American studies.

Free Adoption Blogs

RainbowKids.com has just opened a sister-site, RKBlogs.com, which provides free weblog hosting.

This new, and completely free, website will allow individuals and families to keep in touch through the adoption journey & after the child arrives home. Features include:

• AUDIO posts (post from anywhere in the world using the telephone)
• Type posts, standard posting
• Custom backgrounds and formats
• Unlimited photo uploading
• Link Insertion

Here is an example.

Christmas Stockings and More

Red Thread Creations is a work-in-progress site that includes Asian character Christmas Stockings.

Front features beautiful red brocade Chinese fabric (100% rayon) with a wintery poem written by the famous Tang poet Li Bai in gold-colored Chinese calligraphy. Li Bai is one of the most renowned and admired poets in China. He is considered as the foremost romantic poet in the Tang Dynasty.

News

Life as one of China's stolen babies: Dozens of Chinese babies are believed to be taken from or sold by their families each year, as part of a grim human trade. BBC World Service's Outlook programme spoke to 21-year-old Huang Xiuxiu, who was stolen from her family when she was just three.

China's Christians suffer for their faith: "They hung me up across an iron gate, then they yanked open the gate and my whole body lifted until my chest nearly split in two. I hung like that for four hours."

China's dirty energy takes its toll: With his thick smudged glasses and faltering gait, 77-year-old Liu Hongkui makes an unlikely protest leader. [He lives near] a coke plant, which belches out noxious fumes day and night. The residents are convinced it is poisoning them, causing respiratory disorders, heart disease and cancer.

Guangzhou to build world's highest tower: It is learned recently from the construction headquarters of the new Guangzhou Television Center that the design options for the new 580 to 600-meter-high Guangzhou Television Tower, the highest of its kind in the world, have been chosen preliminarily and have been handed over to the Guangzhou municipal government for approval.

Local Story

Chinese girls fills couple's empty nest: David and Mary Orr look at the daughters they've adopted from China, Bailey and Lily, and they no longer see their nationality. To them, their daughters are just like them.

Iris Chang -- Sad News

Acclaimed author, 36, apparent suicide: Iris Chang, a best-selling author who chronicled the Japanese occupation of China and the history of Chinese immigrants in the United States, was found dead in her car of a self-inflicted gunshot, authorities said Wednesday. She was 36.

Christmas Cards

A new 2004 Christmas card is now available from Half the Sky.

This delightful card is printed in full color on fine art stock and is available in packets of 12 with 13 envelopes.

Inside, the greeting, in both English and Chinese says "Joy!" Below that, the optional inscription reads, "A generous donation has been made in your honor to Half the Sky Foundation."

China Ornament

This is one of many Christmas tree ornaments found at asiaforkids.com.

News

Shanghai Residents Make Room for World Expo: The construction of two huge projects to house Shanghai residents relocated from the area of the coming 2010 World Expo began on Monday, 2,000 days before the opening of the event.

Confucian Temple to Undergo Revamp: The Confucian Temple and the adjacent Imperial College in downtown Beijing, both with a history of more than 700 years, will undergo the most complete repairs in more than half a century.

China jails officials for spying: Chinese officials in Hong Kong have confirmed to the BBC that two former colleagues have been jailed after being convicted of spying for Britain.

Family fortunes: When 23-year-old American Suzanne L Scruggs first came to China in 1992, she had no idea she would not only find her Mr Right, but also the career path she had dreamed of.

Jewelry

"Adorn yourself with wearable art"— Celebrate your adoption or adoption to be with a meaningful design exclusively from Sunfluer's Jewelry Designs.

Sunfluer's Jewelry Designs offers an eclectic collection of finely handcrafted jewelry. Primarily made up of beads, the designer creates interesting, fun and sophisticated jewelry featuring semiprecious gemstones, Swarvoski crystals, and artist created lampwork glass, fresh water pearls and precious metals of chains and/or wire.

News

China blames 97 over milk scandal: China is to punish 97 government officials over the sale of fake milk powder that caused the deaths of at least 13 babies.

50% of farmers can't afford to see doctors: With about 70 percent of the population living in rural areas without medical insurance, China decided to establish new co-operative medical networks in October, 2002. The programme is being tested until 2010, when it will be expected to cover every rural resident.

China bans drug addiction cure surgery on brain: The Ministry of Health reiterated its ban on using brain surgery to help rehabilitate drug users last week. Ministry officials said studies on the side-effects of the surgery are still underway so it is too early to put it into commercial practice.

China Hopes to Flush Smelly Toilet Image: Beijing hopes the smelly reputation of its public restrooms will be, well, flushed down the toilet soon. City officials will use the 2004 World Toilet Summit, starting Nov. 17, to showcase efforts to transform the capital's lavatories from foul to fragrant, from crude to cultured.

Local Story

A bundle of joy from China: At first, all they had was a tiny picture sent by the adoption agency. They were told her name was FangChunHua. She was 11 months old and, like an estimated 1 million other young Chinese children, living in an orphanage. Then, Michael and Kelley White and their biological son, Keegan, noticed something else in the picture. "Mickey Mouse was on her shirt," said Kelley. "We're all Disney fanatics. It was a sign."

China Related TV

China Sprout posts a much-appreciated weekly guide for China Related TV listings.

Beautiful China

Bare Branches Lecture

Dr. Valerie Hudson is the co-author of the book Bare Branches: The Security Implications of Asia's Surplus Male Population. She recently gave a presentation at the Kennedy Center for International Studies at BYU outlining the main points of her book.

You should be able to link to the presentation by clicking on this icon:

If this icon link does not work, follow this link and look for the lecture by Valerie Hudson.

Note that this is a 50 minute college classroom presentation. It is nearly impossible to see the overhead slides and there are also a few audio glitches. But it an extremely informative lecture and worth the time.

News

Cabbages Out for Beijing's Winter: How many dishes can be made from da baicai, or Chinese cabbage? Chinese cabbage in sour sauce. Cabbage soup. Cabbage and bean curd soup. Steamed cabbage. Cabbage with dried shrimp. Cabbage salad. Cabbage with mustard. Pickled cabbage. And on special days, dumplings of cabbage and minced pork.

Rehabilitating China's Killer Coal Mines: The State Administration of Work Safety reports that in the first nine months of 2004, 4,153 people died in mining accidents, a figure that the administration admits may be low because of cover-ups or inaccurate reporting.

Spiderman of the Orient: I started practicing climbing, and before long could scale with ease the walls enclosing our campus enclosure. After class I would look for places outside of school to go climbing. As time went on I made great progress, and reached the point where vertical walls no longer seemed slippery, and as easy to climb as walking on flat ground.

Adoption Song

A beautiful adoption song is "From God's Arms, To My Arms, To Yours," by Michael McLean. It is based on a poem that a birthmother sent him. The full text of the song is at this site along with comments from others about the song.

The chorus is as follows:

And maybe, you could tell your baby,
When you love him so, that he's been loved before,
By someone, who delivered your son,
From God's arms, to my arms, to yours.

Marie Osmond sings the song on the CD from the 2002 Winter Games. You can hear a clip from the Amazon.com webpage (click track #9), although it doesn't appear that they have new CDs in stock. Fortunately, the CDs are available used through Amazon.com for a few dollars.

The song is also available on a CD on which Michael McLean sings his own songs found here. You can also hear a clip from the page (#11). (I personally think the song is better sung by a woman, since it is from the perspective of a birth mom.)

The version we have is on the CD that accompanies the book Hold On, the Light Will Come: And Other Lessons My Songs Have Taught Me.

While searching around, I found that it is also available on the CD Adoption...the Songs you Love. This is the same version of the song we got with the book mentioned above (sung by Linsey Brinkerhoff).

Warning . . . you will cry . . .

Local Stories

Adoptees meet world away: During the adoption process, the Dores had sent gifts and a disposable camera to the Shaowu Social Welfare Institute. The pictures taken in the orphanage gave a glimpse into the life of the daughter they later named Lily. One of their favorite photographs was of a young girl holding Lily and another baby.

From China with love: Gwen Dreilinger admits she already had a busy life. But something was missing when her younger son reached high school age two years ago and no longer needed her home in the afternoon.

News

Traditional wedding ceremony fashionable: It has become a new fashion of the young people in the city to hold wedding ceremonies in the traditional Chinese style.

Migrant children stay bottom of class: Despite government efforts to promote equal rights in the nine-year compulsory education for all of China's children, migrant workers are still finding it difficult to get their children enrolled in urban school systems unless they can afford the exorbitant extra fees.

Divorce rate in Shanghai soars: Divorce rates in Shanghai soared 30 per cent year-on-year between January and September to more than 20,000, according to the Marriage Administration Office of the Shanghai Civil Affairs Bureau.

How world sees Bush victory—Beijing: China's communist rulers are not particularly fond of elections—the results are just so unpredictable.

Adoption Pin

This gold lapel pin has been created to help raise awareness for adoption nationwide. Proceeds raised will be given toward humanitarian aid to orphan children in different parts of the world.

(Thanks Robyn from APC!)

Ladybug Bedding

Brittany R. came across this adorable ladybug baby bedding outfit in Burlington's Baby Depot. The line is from Glenna Jean and is called "Jitterbug." You can see (and order) the item from this link.

News

Artistic Hands Keep Ancient Art Alive: Like a proud mother, Yu Xianglian shows visitors her favorite clay figurines, "Happy Duo," at her newly opened studio in Sanya, south China's Hainan Province.

Martial law in Chinese city after riot kills 7: Martial law was declared in a town in eastern China after at least seven people died in rioting that saw hundreds of Muslim Chinese clashing against non-Muslims.

For the dream of a soybean silicon valley: Huaxia Soybean Biological Silicon Valley Industrial Park, which covers an area of 100 hectare, is under intensified construction at the National Agricultural Scientific and Technological Park in Tianjin Jinnan district. The project is part of the practical things people of insight in the investment and scientific research circles try to do to realize the dream of building a soybean silicon valley in China.

DNA Testing

Sisters Linked in the Lab: Families are using DNA testing to establish if adopted children are 'bio sibs.' Ethicists and educators warn the results can be unsettling.

Icy-Crispy Dragon Beard Candy

Haven't tried Dragon Beard Candy? The Yuzu Trading company extended a special offer for the China Adoption News weblog:

For your readers, through November 30, order Bamboo Garden Icy Crispy Dragon Beard Candy at:

http://www.dragonbeardcandy.com

and get free FedEx Ground shipping with orders over $50 (coupon code: CASWGND50)

or get free FedEx 2-day shipping with orders over $100 (coupon code: CASWTWD100)

"Bamboo Garden Icy-Crispy Dragon Beard Candy, originally developed as long as 2000 years ago, was first served to emperors and aristocrats. A skilled candy-maker repeatedly stretches, rotates, and doubles a maltose and sugar mass until thousands of thin strands are formed. Finally, the strands are trimmed and wrapped around some coconut, peanut and sesame seed bits."

This video shows how the candy is made.

China Related TV

China Sprout posts a much-appreciated weekly guide for China Related TV listings.

News

China attacks Bush foreign policy: One of the main architects of China's foreign policy, Qian Qichen, has criticised US President George Bush just days before the American election.

'Ethnic violence' in China region: Martial law has been imposed in parts of the Chinese province of Henan after ethnic clashes in which witnesses say at least five people were killed.

Doctor in Life-and-death Struggle: A comprehensive survey released by a panel from the Clinical Research Office on Communicable Diseases at Beijing Huilongguan Hospital last year says among the 24 surveyed hospitals in China, 14,334 suicidal cases were recorded by emergency rooms between 1990 and last year, in which 72 per cent were from rural areas. And 71 per cent of these cases were women.

Falun Gong

Falun Gong: The End of Days, by Maria Hsia Chang:

This is an objective and scholarly account of one of the most challenging mass phenomena to emerge from China in recent years. Falun Gong ("Law Wheel Cultivation"), founded in 1992, had attracted millions of practitioners in China and worldwide by the time the Chinese banned it as an "evil cult" in 1999. Chang, a professor of political science at the University of Nevada, Reno, presents a highly readable account of the origins and beliefs of the group.