News

Chinese reformer Zhao Ziyang dies: China's purged Communist Party leader Zhao Ziyang has died at the age of 85, after suffering a series of strokes. Zhao had been under house arrest since the crushing of pro-democracy protests in Tiananmen Square in 1989.

Demand for KFC Soaring in China: China's relentless appetite for the colonel's chicken has KFC on a building boom in the world's most populous country, with 1,200 locations, soaring profits and a menu that mixes in bamboo shoots and lotus roots.

'Go West' Campaign to Accelerate: A senior cabinet official has said that China will continue to invest huge sums into its western region over the next five years to develop it into a magnet for both domestic and overseas investors.

Private library changes people's reading habits: In Britain, 58% of people have a library card. In China, only less than half a percent of the population has library cards. Every 2,000 Americans share a library. In China, the figure is 800,000.

China Related TV

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

Beautiful China

News

China tightens Tiananmen security: A thousand policemen are to be deployed every morning on Beijing's Tiananmen Square to escort visitors to the flag-raising ceremony. The new rules may be designed to prevent any dawn protests on the square.

Face value a big consideration for Chinese: The idea that Chinese are very concerned with mianzi, or "face," may seem a tired stereotype, but a recent survey shows it has much validity. Over 80 percent of the 1,030 people queried by Beijing Sci-tech Report in a study released last week said that face was an important consideration in their lives.

Gambling with Public Funds Faces Crackdown: Party and government officials and heads of companies who misappropriate public funds for gambling are major targets of a government crackdown on gambling along China's borders.

Migrant Workers Call the Shots: China's migrant workers -- usually rural residents who travel to the cities to find work -- numbered about 99 million in 2003. Still, in 2004 Guangdong, Fujian and Zhejiang provinces began to suffer from a shortage of labor.

Local Stories

Library, language center help Chinese adoptees hold onto heritage: Far from the crowded streets of Beijing and Guangzhou, a few baby girls now lay their heads to rest in Solana Beach. Laurel Burrows and her husband, Rick, adopted little Zoey in September 2003.

Kingston couple travels around the globe to adopt baby girl: The world is a frightening and dangerous place for orphaned children, but less so now for a baby girl adopted from China by a Kingston couple. Doug and Lori Peck describe their trip to China in early November to adopt the 15-month-old child they would name "Michelle," as an unforgettable adventure and experience.

Giant Jack

Giant Jack

From the beginning, Jack was different-much bigger than his sisters and far too clumsy to join in their games. His sisters are always laughing at him. But when Mother Mouse explains to Jack that his difference is what makes him so special to her, Jack is transformed. Happy and confident, he loves being big and strong, and his sisters discover just how great it is to have a brother like Giant Jack. Comical pictures illustrate this comforting story that will reassure adopted children and any youngster who has ever felt "different."

[I thought the book was okay. Might want to check it out from the library. -- Walter]

News

59% Americans have favorable opinion of China: American attitudes toward China have improved significantly over the last 10 years, according to a survey released by the Committee of 100, an organization of prominent American citizens of Chinese descent.

China to build expressway between Beijing, Taipei: Chinese Minister Zhang Chunxian of Communications revealed Thursday that the country is planning to build an expressway between the capital city of Beijing and Taipei.

China Finds Widespread Cheating on Reports: China's inspection of audits of 181 major state companies' financial reports found widespread cases of incomplete reporting, serious asset losses and outright fabrications.

Fierce mammal ate dinos for lunch: An astonishing new fossil unearthed in China has overturned the accepted view about the relationship between dinosaurs and early mammals.

A different point of view . . .

What Kind of Future For Adoptees Taken Abroad?: The growing enthusiasm to adopt children in need from Asian countries has troubled me since a return trip from China a few months ago.

Mulan II

Mulan 2 is available for pre-order from Amazon.com for $20.99 (DVD). It ships on February 1, 2005.

With less drama and more slapstick than its predecessor, Disney's Mulan II continues the animated saga of the young Chinese heroine, Fa Mulan (voiced by Ming-Na Wen, sung by Lea Salonga). The story picks up one month after Mulan has saved her country through bravery and determination. Revered by all, she now returns to her village and becomes engaged to General Li Shang. Wedding plans must wait, however, when the Emperor assigns the couple to a secret mission to escort his three princess daughters across China where their arranged marriages to waiting princes will secure an alliance with a rival kingdom and save China from invasion. Meanwhile, Mulan's wise-cracking guardian dragon, Mushu (voiced by Mark Moseley), realizes that if Mulan's marriage takes place, he is out of a job and so he undertakes his "18-phase master plan" of relationship sabotage to breakup the happy couple. Most of the film's jokes come from Moseley's Mushu (as quick-witted as Eddie Murphy's earlier performance), while a trio of prankish soldiers provide additional comic relief. While the film's overall effort is not as sensational as the original, it offers solid family entertainment, healthy female role models, and a handful of catchy songs. (Ages 6 and older)

News

China's leader shows his stripes: More than two years on, Mr Hu has proved himself to be more tiger than horse, taking on Mr Jiang and pushing him aside, then showing his true political colours by cracking down on dissent and squaring up fiercely to Taiwan.

China closes market for pirated goods: The closure of Beijing's famed "Silk Market" is a metaphor for China's handling of U.S. objections to its weak protection of copyrights, patents and trademarks.

China jumps to be world third largest trader: China registered a 35.7 per cent surge in foreign trade last year, accounting for US$1.15 trillion exchanged, to become the world's third largest trading power behind the United States and Germany.

DNA Could Help Solve Ancient Equine Mysteries: An archaeological project will be carried out to conduct a DNA analysis on a dozen horse skeletons unearthed from ancient burial tombs in Shaanxi, an inland province in Northwest China.