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Census counts adoptees—1.6M kids: The Census Bureau's first profile of adopted children, shows that 1.6 million adopted kids under 18 are now living in U.S. households. Although foreign adoptions are increasing and getting the most headlines, the report shows 87% of adoptees under 18 were born in the USA.

Obese come to China to take jab at weight problem: The macho workout motto conjures images of sweat and brawn but the regime is somewhat pricklier at the Aimin Fat Reduction Hospital in northern China, where the chronically obese from Europe to Oceania come to poke away pounds with acupuncture.

Chinese women's national congress opens in Beijing: The Chinese Women's Ninth National Congress, which aims to draft future development schemes for Chinese women, opened in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Friday.

Wife beating culture to be scraped in China: Wife beating, regarded in traditional Chinese values as the private affair of a family that should not be intervened in, is becoming increasingly a target of social protest and government regulations.

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U.S. says China backsliding on human rights promises : The United States accused China on Thursday of backsliding on human rights promises that led U.S. officials to drop a resolution criticizing Beijing's record at a U.N. gathering.

China sets criteria to ensure food safety: China launched a national campaign on Thursday to strengthen management of the processing and circulation of food to improve quality and ensure safety.

Millions suffer after China floods: The International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies says nearly four million people are still homeless in China after last month's floods.

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China plans 'super-hospital' for 2008 Beijing Olympics: China plans to build a 5,000-bed "super-hospital" featuring the world’s brightest doctors and most advanced technology to meet the needs of the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Chinese woman sets world record for domino topple: A 24-year-old woman from China tipped over 303,621 breaking a long-standing record for the world's longest solo domino topple. . . . Bugs and rats meddled with her work. In one instance, a bug knocked over 10,000 tiles.

China simplifies procedures for marriage, divorce: Chinese couples planning to get married may soon do so without a letter from their employers testifying to their unmarried status and without first having a health examination.

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China lifts trade ban on civet cats: China is lifting its ban on trade in civet cats, an animal considered a delicacy in southern China that researchers have suggested is linked to the spread of SARS.

China Striving to Ease High Employment Pressure: China is striving to create 8 million jobs this year necessary to help ease increasing unemployment, which was exacerbated by the impact of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome.

China considers legislation against sexual harassment: China is now considering drafting a law to curb sexual harassment. China will further improve its legal system to better protect women's rights on the basis of the Criminal Law and other relevant codes, which have covered behaviors against women.

Chinese scientists 'create hybrid rabbit-human embryos': Scientists in China have used cloning techniques to create hybrid embryos containing a mix of DNA from both humans and rabbits.

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China angry over 'WWII gas' spill: An accident in China involving chemical weapons allegedly left behind by Japanese troops in World War II has left at least 36 people ill.

China planning constitutional changes: Communist leaders plan to amend China’s constitution to formally enshrine the ideology of Jiang Zemin, the recently retired leader who invited capitalists to join the Communist Party.

China destroys 42 million pirated discs: A record 42 million smuggled and pirated discs were destroyed across the country Monday in the largest ever crackdown on illegal audio and video CDs and DVDs in China.

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China Online—Handmade Fans: In ancient China, fans, apart from the simple purpose of swatting pests and keeping cool, have acquired many other kinds of significance. Over 3,000 years ago, imperial families adopted long-shafted fans made of birds' feathers for court performances and ceremonies. These fans usually resembled the gorgeously colorful tail of mythical phoenixes.

China offers more subsidies to 'one-child' families: While there is no change in China's one-child-per-family policy, all single child families in Beijing will be given at least 1,000 yuan (120 US dollars) when the mother reaches 55 years of age or the father becomes 60.

Pregnant teens in China getting help: The growing number of pregnant teenagers—once shunned because of the shame they brought to their families—are finding new avenues for professional help and advice.

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Doctors to remove baby's third leg: A one-year-old girl who was born with three legs and abandoned by her parents on a Beijing street is to undergo surgery to remove the extra limb.

Editorial—China is biggest security threat: Who is the biggest espionage threat to the US? It is no longer Russia, the Cold War archenemy, nor the recently fashionable "axis of evil" countries—Iran, Iraq and North Korea. The rapidly rising China has replaced the Soviet Union as the biggest espionage threat to the US in the past decade.

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China's 'millennium babies' encounter kindergarten queues: When 33-year-old Zhou Hao in Hangzhou city of China's eastern Zhejiang Province rejoiced at the birth of his baby girl three years ago, he did not expect the simple task of getting the child into kindergarten to be such an ordeal. So far, the little girl has been turned away by several kindergartens in her area because they are already full.

Egyptian works of art exhibition opens in Beijing: A two-week exhibition of Egypt's ancient culture and modern civilization opened in Beijing Wednesday. The exhibition features over 100 works of art including papyruspaintings, modern stamps, portraits of famous Egyptian rulers and photos of jewelry in the time of pharaohs.

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Panda pregnant with twins: Bai Yun, a giant panda on loan to the San Diego Zoo from China, is expected to deliver twins sometime this month, zoo officials said Monday. Because panda pregnancies can vary in length by as much as three months, zookeepers don't know exactly when the babies will be born—or who their father is.

China Successfully Breeds Baby Panda: China has successfully bred a giant panda in captivity through artificial insemination—the method of choice in the fight to save the notoriously slow-reproducing national symbol. The female baby panda was born on Aug. 1 in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan province, home to most of China's pandas.

Pollution clouds future of Pearl River Delta: Water and air pollution and deforestation are the major environmental problems in the Pearl River Delta region, a relatively developed and densely populated area [which] faces the challenge of growing economically while protecting its environment.

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A New Policy of Containment, for Baby Bottoms: Urban consumers are embracing the diaper and turning China into one of the world's fastest growing markets. Annual sales for some brands are climbing by 50 percent or more. Upscale stores are no longer carrying split-pants outfits, but rather shelf after shelf of diapers. Just about all of the babies who grace China's sleek parenting magazines are wearing diapers.

Bird watching becoming more popular in China: Bird watching has become an increasingly popular hobby in the eastern coastal province of Fujian and a number of organizations have been set up to promote the activity.

Qing emperor concubines' mausoleum found in northeast China: Chinese archaeologists have discovered a robbed mausoleum of 11 imperial concubines of emperor Huangtaiji, the second emperor of the Qing dynasty (1644-1911), in Shenyang, capital of Liaoning province.

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A SARS Photo Diary: In the spring of 2003, China was struck by a sudden outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). In the weeks that followed, 32 countries and regions reported SARS cases. Worldwide, SARS infected more than 8,000 people, over 800 of whom died.

White bears in Tibet may be albinos: White animals reportedly identical in appearance to polar bears have been spotted by local people in Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region. The sightings could be of great significance to the study of evolution in Tibet.

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Snow white tiger: A snow white tiger cub was born July 30 at the Harbin Siberian Tiger Forest Park among two other white cubs with faint brown stripes in Harbin, capital of Northeast China's Heilongjiang Province. There are only 10 such snow white tigers, also known as "ghost tiger", in China.

China to Provide More Education Opportunities for Rural Youth: China's Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST) announced Wednesday that it is to invest 50 million yuan (6.024 million US dollars) in the next three years to help train farmers in modern methods.

China boosts missile stock: China is boosting its missile stocks and military budget to prepare for what could be a quick and brutal showdown with Taiwan—and to prevent U.S. forces from getting in the way, the Pentagon said Wednesday.

China Slams Pentagon Report on Threat to Taiwan: China denounced a Pentagon report on Friday accusing it of deploying growing numbers of ballistic missiles aimed at Taiwan and said Washington was making excuses to sell advanced weapons to the island.

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Traditional art—Chinese knots: Traditional chinese decoration knots, also known as Chinese Knots, are typical local arts of China. This hand-tied knot, a fine art, is evolved from the knots used in daily life through thousands of years. It prospered in Tang and Song Dynasty, and approached the high peak in the Ming and Qing dynasties.Today,it has evolved to be the great and wonderful arts.

Tourist ban on parts of Great Wall: It survived the onslaught of the Mongol hordes and the ravages of the Cultural Revolution, but China's Great Wall is struggling to withstand the number of tourists who climb its watchtowers and ramparts.

Actor Jackie Chan to launch Olympic logo in Beijing: On Sunday, the organizing committee will present its new identity for the Games, an identity that will combine the Olympic symbol, which research says is the most recognized mark in the world, with the identity that China will establish for its staging of the Olympic Games.

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Last SARS patients recover in China: Chinese health officials says the country's last 12 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome patients have recovered.

China fireworks factory blast kills 29: The explosion took place Monday at the Guoxi fireworks factory in the town of Wangkou in Hebei province. . . . After a 2001 explosion that destroyed a schoolhouse in southern China where parents claimed children had been forced to make firecrackers, then-Premier Zhu Rongji issued an unprecedented apology on national television for failing to protect public safety.

Hot, Sweltering Weather to Linger in South, East China: South and east China will continue to swelter in hot weather for the next two days with temperatures of [95 to 100 degrees F].

The gift of education: Closing her dark brown eyes, Christine ponders her options. She thinks of the Chinese children with their stubby pencils, barely long enough to grip. Then she thinks of the Chinese teachers, assigned one book per subject, and how chapters must be copied on chalkboards for students to read.

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China shut down 15,400 unlicensed coal mines since 2001: The Chinese government has shut down more than 15,400 small coal mines without license or poor production conditions since 2001.

Amateur sleuths join China's growing movement to recover stolen treasures : He Shuzhong prowls the countryside searching for tomb robbers. He had to hide from one gang in an icy river, and mortgaged his own apartment to pay for the hunt—all to help protect the treasures of China's past. He leads a band of amateur sleuths who are part of a growing movement to protect Chinese cultural sites and retrieve treasures that have been taken abroad.

Outsourcing—Make Way for China: After emerging as the world's hottest manufacturing hub, China is joining English-speaking countries such as India and the Philippines as a key destination for outsourced service jobs.

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Guangdong passes regulations on wildlife consumption: The wildlife cuisine of southern China's Guangdong Province is under fire from animal welfare activists and medical experts after the SARS coronavirus was traced to wild animals.

The Sky is Falling: Mao envisioned a China in which women would "hold up half the sky." But as the nation embraces capitalism, women are losing ground.

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Tibetan costume show: Tibetan farmers and shepherds present costumes in an activity marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of Huangnan Tibet Autonomous Prefecture.

Fresh Sars worry hits Hong Kong: Tests on 18 suspected Sars patients in Hong Kong have sparked fears of a re-emergence of the virus. Even though it is likely that the respiratory infections suffered by the patients are caused by influenza, not Sars, it will be days before the official all-clear can be given.

China's deadly mining industry: China has renewed its efforts to improve conditions in its coal mines and reduce the alarmingly high number of mining accidents, but newly unveiled statistics suggest the country remains one of the world's deadliest places for miners toiling underground. Last year, 6,995 coal miners were killed in explosions, shaft collapses, and floods in different parts of the country.

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China manned space mission nears: Chinese officials say they are on schedule to launch their first manned spacecraft in October, becoming only the third nation to send a human into orbit.

Yangtze River dam floods 1,200 sites: Nearly 1200 sites of historical and archaeological importance along the Yangtze River are now underwater as the first stage of China's massively ambitious Three Gorges Dam hydro-electric project reached completion on schedule. On 1 June the waters began rising in the huge 375 miles long reservoir created by the 185 metre high and two kilometre wide dam.

Typhoon Slams Into South China Coast: Winds of up to 115 mph pounded the southern Chinese province of Guangdong as the storm made landfall at noon near the city of Yangjiang, about 190 miles southwest of Hong Kong. It was moving northwest at about 17 mph.

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Photos—British PM visits China: Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held a ceremony in Beijing on Monday morning to welcome visiting British Prime Minister Tony Blair.

1,000-year-old Buddhist stone carving discovered in Chongqing: A Buddhist stone carving dating back more than 1,000 years was discovered near the World Heritage listed carvings in Dazu county of southwestern China's Chongqing Municipality. The carving of Guanyin (Buddhist Goddess of Mercy) with a thousand arms was believed to be the oldest of its kind among the ancient stone carvings at Dazu county since it was engraved between 907 to 965 A.D.

HK braces for powerful typhoon: Hong Kong is bracing for the arrival of Typhoon Imbudo, as it moves closer to the south China coast after sweeping across the Philippines.

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15 dead in China quake: A strong earthquake has shaken southwestern China, killing at least 15 people and injuring nearly 300. The magnitude 6.2 earthquake hit a remote area in Yunnan province, about 1,400 miles (2,254 kilometers) southwest of Beijing, before midnight on Monday, when most people were sleeping.