19th of March 2011 (Weekend Edition)
The Lion Awakes
Daily News, Culture & Current Affairs about China
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People's Daily
Interview: Japan grateful for China's assistance to quake-hit areas: FM
apan greatly appreciates the assistance and sympathies the Chinese government and people have offered after the catastrophic March 11 earthquake, said Foreign Minister Takeaki Matsumoto on Friday.
"Chinese leaders such as President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao as well as the Chinese people extended sympathies and condolences, sent a rescue team and provided substantial quake relief supplies and aid to Japan's quake-hit areas," Masumoto said in a written interview with Xinhua.
"On behalf of the Japanese government and people, I expressed sincere gratitude to the Chinese side," he said.
Why Premier Wen shrugs off "China Model" ?
By Li Hongmei
Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao denied the term of "China Model" at the just concluded press conference Monday after the closing meeting of the Fourth Session of the 11th National People's Congress (NPC).
"China never sees its development as a Model," Wen was cited as saying.
Meanwhile, he pointed all countries can have their own development paths which are suitable for their own national conditions and "we respect the choice of their people."
What Japan's nuclear crisis has taught us
By Li Hong
The small battalion of 50 nuclear workers are staying put at the heavily damaged Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Complex, keeping alive a hope to prevent a nuclear catastrophe by cooling down three sets of overheated nuclear reactors, and spilling water into cooling pools storing spent uranium fuel rods at another three reactors there.
The world stands on edge, weary of a worst- scenario full meltdown of the nuclear rods will spew thousands of tons of radioactive dust into the open air, endangering millions of lives in Japan and beyond.
Premier Wen Jiabao Full Text: Report on the Work of the Government
The following is the full text of the Report on the Work of the Government delivered by Premier Wen Jiabao at the Fourth Session of the Eleventh National People's Congress on March 5, 2011 and adopted on March 14, 2011:
See CCTV9 Dialobue below
NPC & CPPCC Sessions
2006 - 2010
People's Daily
China Tibet Online
See Kaixin's
China Daily
Urgent orders from Japan prioritized
Earthquake-hit cities desperate to receive extra food supplies
SHANGHAI - Food companies in East China's Zhejiang province have been gearing up to provide products to earthquake-hit Japan.
Since the massive earthquake and ensuing tsunami hit Japan on March 11, the Jiaxing Niandai Instant Frozen Food Company, which specializes in processing agricultural products and frozen food and exports 95 percent of its products to Japan every year, has been working almost around the clock to meet the orders from Japan.
"We have been extremely busy recently," said Mao Chuanfeng, deputy general manager of the company.
"Apart from extending working hours to 10 pm, we have also hired 20 new employees to meet the delivery date, as Japan urgently needs fresh vegetables."
China raises bank reserve requirement ratio
BEIJING - The People's Bank of China (PBOC), China's central bank, announced Friday to raise the bank reserve requirement ratio by 50 basis points from March 25.
The hike, the third this year and the ninth since the beginning of last year, is the latest move to soak up liquidity to check inflation.
After the hike, major banks will have to set aside 20 percent of their reserves and small and medium-sized banks will have to keep 16.5 percent of their deposits in reserve.
China's consumer price index (CPI), a main gauge of inflation, rose 4.9 percent in February, the same as January's.
See Kaixin's - ECONOMIC CHINA
Property prices begin to decline
BEIJING - A growing number of Chinese cities experienced a decline in property prices or a slowdown in growth during February.
China to inspect construction for affordable housing
BEIJING - China's Ministry of Housing and Urban-Rural Development announced on Friday that it would conduct inspections on the construction of affordable housing across the country in the third quarter of this year.
The inspections are intended to examine the development of affordable housing projects as the Chinese government vows to build 10 million units for middle and low-income earners this year.
The inspections also aim to check the quality of the projects and the implementation of the central government's affordable housing policy in local regions, a statement on the Ministry's website said.
See Kaixin's - CHINA REAL ESTATE
Debate works up retirement policy
Xu Zhiqing, 50, is fretful these days. She looks forward to retiring in five years, as current regulations require, but is bothered by the possibility that the retirement age will be pushed back.
Delayed retirement became a hot topic after Wang Xiaochu, vice-minister of human resources, said in September that the ministry was considering the idea. He made the remarks at a news conference and said any decision would depend on China's population and employment outlook.
The issue was discussed recently during interviews with delegates to the just-concluded annual sessions of the National People's Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee.
What would delaying retirement mean in China?
Women produce clothes exported to Southeast Asian countries at a factory in Huaibei city, Anhui province. Some experts and officials consider the possible change in retirement age as a way to improve the rights of women, who retire five or 10 years earlier than men under current policy.
Radiation fears prompt panic buying of salt
Worried shoppers stripped stores of salt in Beijing, Shanghai and other parts of China on Thursday in the false belief that it can guard against radiation exposure, even though any fallout from a crippled Japanese nuclear power plant is unlikely to reach the country.
The panic buying was triggered by rumors that iodized salt could help ward off radiation poisoning - part of the swirl of misinformation crisscrossing the region in response to Japan's nuclear emergency.
The rumors have traveled widely. Text messages on mobile phones have circulated about nuclear plumes spreading from Japan throughout Asia. Rumors also spread that radiation has leaked into the sea from the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant in Japan, so salt taken from the sea - not the primary source of salt in China - would be contaminated.
Authorities try to dilute salt-buying panic
BEIJING / SHANGHAI - The Ministry of Commerce on Friday joined other government agencies in assuring the public of "substantial" salt reserves as panic buying prompted by radiation fears over Japan's crippled nuclear power plant continued in some Chinese cities.
"The salt supply is completely guaranteed in the country," the ministry said in a statement on its website.
China has an annual salt production capacity of more than 80 million tons but the country's edible salt consumption is only about 8 million tons a year. Salt companies usually have supplies for three months of consumption, said the statement.
Professor Brahma Chellaney
NEW DELHI - The troubles of the Fukushima nuclear-power plant - and other reactors - in northeast Japan have dealt a severe blow to the global nuclear industry, a powerful cartel of less than a dozen major state-owned or state-guided firms that have been trumpeting a nuclear-power renaissance.
But the risks that seaside reactors like Fukushima face from natural disasters are well known. Indeed, they became evident six years ago, when the Indian Ocean tsunami in December 2004 inundated India's second-largest nuclear complex, shutting down the Madras power station.
Many nuclear-power plants are located along coastlines, because they are highly water-intensive. Yet natural disasters like storms, hurricanes, and tsunamis are becoming more common, owing to climate change, which will also cause a rise in ocean levels, making seaside reactors even more vulnerable.
For example, many nuclear-power plants located along the British coast are just a few meters above sea level. In 1992, Hurricane Andrew caused significant damage at the Turkey Point nuclear-power plant on Biscayne Bay, Florida, but, fortunately, not to any critical systems.
All energy generators, including coal- and gas-fired plants, make major demands on water resources. But nuclear power requires even more.
Brahma Chellaney is Professor of Strategic Studies at the Center for Policy Research in New Delhi and the author of, among others, Asian Juggernaut: The Rise of China, India, and Japan (Harper Paperbacks, 2010) and Water: Asia's New Battlefield (Georgetown University Press, 2011).
Witness of Tibet Photography Contest and Exhibit
2011 marks the 60th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet, and the magazine China's Tibet and Federation of Literary and Art Circles of Tibet Autonomous Region are jointly holding a "Witness of Tibet, 1950-2010" photography contest. In addition to prizes, all winning works will be exhibited in Beijing and Lhasa in May 2011.
See Kaixin's - CHINA & TIBET & Jambhala (Photographer)
CCTV
CCTV President Hu Jintao visits Japanese embassy in Beijing VIDEO
BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Hu Jintao on Monday offered condolences to Japanese Emperor Akihito over the massive earthquake that hit northeast Japan on Friday and pledged further help.
In a message, Hu mourned the dead and extended condolences to the Japanese emperor.
Hu also expressed the hope that Japanese people could overcome difficulties and rebuild their homes as soon as possible.
Hu said the Chinese government and people stand ready to offer necessary help.
CCTV9 Cross over to weather bureau: Is it possible winds carry radiation to nearby countries? VIDEO
For a more detailed picture of how the weather is set to develop in Japan, let's speak to Darryl Snow from the China Meteorological Center.
Q1.Darryl, many people need to know the direction of the wind. Is there any possibility prevailing winds will carry radiation from Fukushima to other parts of Japan, and even to nearby countries?
Q2. What's the latest forecast for the quake region? Could rescue and relief efforts be hampered by the weather?
CCTV9 Chinese rescuers brave snow VIDEO
Chinese rescue teams are continuing their search for survivors in Iwate, one of the worst-hit areas in Japan. But sudden snowfall and dropping temperatures through the night in the region made their work tougher.
The change of weather resulted in a 10 millimeters of snow in Iwate. Although some snow had melted by Wednesday morning, the temperature remained low.
Chinese rescue teams started working on Tuesday by splitting into two groups which then conducted a carpet-search for survivors in 78 buildings over a kilometer radius. They left a mark on each of the houses after checking for survivors.
China offers further relief for Japan: Chinese FM
BEIJING, March 14 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi met with Japanese Ambassador to China Niwa Unichiro here on Monday to offer continued support for Japan's disaster relief work.
The Chinese rescue team started search and rescue operations Monday morning in Japan's northeastern Iwate Prefecture, and China's relief materials will also arrive in Japan on the same day, said Yang.
Chinese people from all walks of life have expressed their condolences to the Japanese people in various forms and are lending them a helping hand, he said.
China is willing to enhance cooperation with Japan on quake relief work and post-disaster reconstruction, he said, noting China believes that Japan would, as always, provide assistance to the affected Chinese nationals in Japan.
Niwa said the Japanese government and people sincerely thank the Chinese government and people for the condolence and relief assistance, including sending a rescue team and providing relief materials.
A chartered plane carrying the first batch of relief goods China committed to Japan´s earthquake rescue operations took off from Shanghai late Monday afternoon.
REVIEW: Premier Wen Jiabao meets press
Premier Wen Jiabao holds a press conference in Beijing
CCTV China´s Premier Wen Jiabao meets press VIDEO
CCTV Unique features of 2011 CPPCC sessions VIDEO
This week, our reporter Wang Guan has also been covering the annual CPPCC , China's top political advisory body. He explains why this year's event is different from any other.
The annual session of CPPCC has come to a close here in Beijing. There have been some distinctive features that made this year's different from previous ones. Let's a take a look at some of them.
Hallmark number one was how the general public could influence the priorities of CPPCC members' proposals.
CCTV Tian Wei reporting: Highlights of CPPCC sessions this year? VIDEO
And we are joined by Tian Wei again, to talk more on the CPPCC session.
Q1, The CPPCC session officially wrapped up today - what were the highlights of the whole session that impressed the public most?
CCTV Rediscovering China - New Era. New Plan VIDEO
China has entered a new era as the world's second largest economy. The 12th 5-Year Program begins.
New Era.New Plan provides a glimpse into the making of the 12th Program and how it aims to re-balance and restructure the economy. The current growth model is economically and environmentally unsustainable. There are gaps between rich and poor that need to be bridged. China needs to change direction.
Global Times
The UK taught the world how to produce in the 19th century, the US showed the world how to consume in the 20th century, and China needs to demonstrate how to develop in a sustainable way in the 21st century.
Drowning out irrational voices
Salt has sold out in many Chinese cities. Experts have pointed out that iodized salt will not help prevent radiation and that an overdose is actually harmful to one's health. But science is often no match for popular beliefs at such moments.
Some people think the exaggeration about the spread of Japan's nuclear contamination resulted from the live show of Japan's nuclear crisis and that people have over-reacted because of it. This is nonsense. Rumors always exist in society. The authorities do not have to panic at every rumor, but they must avoid irrational movements going out of control.
Salt, garlic and green beans were all snapped up in China in recent years for various reasons while this time, salt has gone even faster than the speed of the Internet. In fact, online opinions rarely encourage people to snap up salt, but somehow, salt in supermarkets was "sold out" overnight.
C u r r e n t l y , our government should focus on being a trusted and rational voice for society. Emotional knee-jerk reactions are easily amplified on different information platforms. Once they confront the rational opinion, a situation can become troublesome.
Many Chinese officials are used to "indoctrination-style" information release, but it no longer works.
The rational voice that is not strong enough in the society is often drowned out by gossip.
With the continuation of Japan's nuclear crisis, many rumors will create confusion in China.
Grow nuclear power under public watch
Japan's escalating nuclear crisis has caused a global scare. This concern also exists in China. The government needs to keep public sentiment in mind, and respond actively.
China's nuclear power capacity currently stands at 10.8 gigawatts, or 1 percent of the national output. This ratio is much lower than that of countries like Japan and France. However, China has 26 nuclear power units under construction, a scale unparalleled worldwide. Within a few decades, China will become a major testing ground for nuclear power security.
Fortunately, reactors here were built more recently, and are technically much safer than those at the Fukushima Daiichi power station. No accident has ever broken out at China's operating pressurized-water reactors.
But there is no guarantee of absolute safety. Several major powers, including the Soviet Union, Japan and the US, have witnessed nuclear leakages. No one can persuade the Chinese that a nuclear accident will never take place here.
It is certain that we cannot simply abandon our nuclear power program after Japan's nuclear crisis. With limited coal and oil, and the country's rivers already heavily dammed, meeting this soaring demand with nuclear power is inevitable.
China could be how it sees Japan
While shocked by Japan's earthquake and tsunami, the world is also concerned about Japan's emergency response. So far, the overall evaluation made by Japanese society is higher than that of Japanese media. This praise contains both sympathy and encouragement, as during the Wenchuan earthquake when the world praised China's performance, but there are rumbles of discontent.
Since China is a country prone to many natural disasters, it is useful for it to carefully observe disaster relief efforts and objectively assess the key steps taken at crucial moments in Japan for example.
Recently, two opposing views appeared on Chinese websites. One propounded that Japan's ability to mobilize resources quickly is "much worse than China's," while the other is that the Japanese performance was "impeccable." These views are both too extreme and reactionary.
Dialogue
A 30 Minute Current Affairs Programme on CCTV - 9 (In English) where current issues are discussed by experts from China and Internationally:
Voices & Votes - Focus on Premier Wen's press conference
China's sustainable development
Voices & Votes - China forms a socialist system of laws
International News Sources
The Wall Street Journal
Eating Bitterness in China’s Financial System
The ability to ‘eat bitterness’ – or endure suffering – is regarded as a virtue in China. That’s good news, because the way China’s financial system is rigged means household savers have a lot of suffering to endure.
The cost of living for China’s households is rising at a faster rate than the interest they receive on their bank deposits. That means households – who are avid savers – are losing money on every yuan they have in the bank.
See Kaixin's - ECONOMIC CHINA
China’s Soft Power Winning Respect in D.C.?
The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission, a Congressional panel that often takes a skeptical, hawkish view toward China, released a report that largely gave Beijing good grades for how it’s acting in international institutions.
China Raises Reserve Ratio for Banks
BEIJING--China's central bank said Friday it will raise the share of deposits banks must hold in reserve by half a percentage point, the third increase this year, as inflationary pressures remain in the spotlight.
The increase, which takes effect March 25, comes after the country's consumer price index rose 4.9% in February, unchanged from January's 4.9% rise, and economists have warned that inflation pressures will stay strong in the coming months.
"It is a less high-profile move than hiking interest rates would have been," said ...
China Property Prices Show Sign of Softening
SHANGHAI—China's government reported some success in its effort to pare home prices in February, with fewer large and medium-size cities seeing property prices rise compared with the previous month.
Prices of newly built residential properties in 56 of the 70 large and medium-size Chinese cities covered by a survey rose in February from the previous month, a slight improvement from January, which saw 60 of the 70 cities' prices rise.
China's leaders have said taming inflation is the country's top economic challenge this year, and have made repeated pledges to rein in rising property prices by curbing speculation and boosting ...
See Kaixin's - CHINA REAL ESTATE
Chinese Find New Empathy for Rival
BEIJING—Japan's disaster has triggered an unusual outpouring of sympathy and even admiration from China that has, for now at least, largely blotted out the historical antipathy many here have felt toward their neighbor.
Nanjing Tree Fight Refreshingly Free of ‘Stability’
Russell Leigh Moses is a Beijing-based analyst and professor who writes on Chinese politics.
It’s rare in China to see a showdown between the government and the governed in which the ruling powers are forced to yield to public dismay and change course.
But that’s exactly what we saw this week. The battle wasn’t about democracy — it was about trees.
Here’s what happened ...
China’s Bi Feiyu Wins Man Asian Prize
The winner of the the 2010 Man Asian Literary Prize, Chinese author Bi Feiyu, almost didn’t attend the awards ceremony Thursday.
“When I was on the shortlist,” Mr. Bi said last night when he accepted the award, “my friends and the media in China were all saying, ‘Impossible, there’s no way a Chinese writer can get a third one,’” he said, referring to the fact that two of the previous three winners of the Man Asian Literary Prize — Jiang Rong (for “Wolf Totem”) and Su Tong (“The Boat to Redemption”) — were also Chinese.
See Cultural China below for where to purchase the other two novels
The New York Times
China Ratchets Up Bank Reserves Again
Surprising some who expected its monetary tightening to be suspended after the Japanese earthquake, China took another step to rein in inflation.
U.S. Official Affirms Nuclear Loan Guarantees
Solar and wind developers have also come to rely on the guarantees as the banking sector has grown more risk-averse.
As Concern Spreads, China Urges Japan to Keep World Up to Date
BEIJING — China urged Japan on Thursday to report any developments in its nuclear crisis quickly and accurately as concern spread over whether officials in Tokyo had played down the scope of the radiation risk.
I.H.T. Op-Ed Contributor
Shenzhen Attitude
The traditional Shenzhen is still here: Just look behind the glimmering skyscrapers.
The city I chose to live in was Shenzhen. To many it is a boom town, sprawling, uncultured and ugly. To me, it is young, dynamic, conveniently situated next to Hong Kong, and full of people from all over China — all seeking their dreams.
Caixin Online
True Blue Reform for China's Five-Year Plan
Economic growth can be sustained and social issues addressed if the government continues on a reform trajectory
The central government is now most concerned with protecting and improving the lives of common people. The 12th Five-Year Plan calls for stepping up efforts to transform the economic growth model and build a solid foundation for a sizeable middle class.
When the most rapidly appreciating currency is constantly changing, measuring how interest-bearing financial assets perform matters less than the issue of inflation.
SAFE Downplays Hot Money's Impact
As capital accounts are restricted in China, it is not likely that hot money will affect trends in the real estate and stock markets
(Beijing) -- Wang Xiaoyi, deputy director of the State Administration of Foreign Exchange (SAFE), said that Chinese speculators pose a greater danger to housing and stock markets compared to the amount of "hot money" inflows to China.
China Mulls Agent System for Iron Ore Imports
China's iron ore industry is eagerly anticipating the implementation of a primary agent system to coordinate iron ore imports
(Beijing) – China's steel industry expects uniform standards to be implemented for iron ore importation, with more steps being taken toward the creation of a long-awaited primary agent system.
Asia Times Online
China and the Libyan muddle
By Peter Lee
After abstaining at the United Nations no-fly vote on Libya, it is unlikely that China will work aggressively to claim the foreign policy high ground. Without impressive pro-democracy or military cards to play, China is marginalized. The key issue for oil-dependent Beijing is the small matter of intense personal enmity between Muammar Gaddafi and a Saudi Arabian king whose priorities it cannot cavalierly ignore.
Confucius and the China brand
By Ting-I Su
Concerned that China's breakneck growth is eroding traditional values, increasing numbers of families are sending their children to Confucius study centers to learn respect, social welfare and personal morality. However, Beijing's official attempts to promote the ancient sage are merely seen as an attempt to exploit him as a cultural brand and a political tool.
See Kaixin's - Confucius in Modern China
See Over for the 17th of March 2011 (Kaixin was unable to produce the 18th of March 2011)
CULTURAL CHINA
Articles of interest from the week's news
Insights into China's Society & Cutlure
Witness of Tibet Photography Contest and Exhibit
2011 marks the 60th anniversary of the peaceful liberation of Tibet, and the magazine China's Tibet and Federation of Literary and Art Circles of Tibet Autonomous Region are jointly holding a "Witness of Tibet, 1950-2010" photography contest. In addition to prizes, all winning works will be exhibited in Beijing and Lhasa in May 2011.
China’s Bi Feiyu Wins Man Asian Prize
The winner of the the 2010 Man Asian Literary Prize, Chinese author Bi Feiyu, almost didn’t attend the awards ceremony Thursday.
“When I was on the shortlist,” Mr. Bi said last night when he accepted the award, “my friends and the media in China were all saying, ‘Impossible, there’s no way a Chinese writer can get a third one,’” he said, referring to the fact that two of the previous three winners of the Man Asian Literary Prize — Jiang Rong (for “Wolf Totem”) and Su Tong (“The Boat to Redemption”) — were also Chinese.
Porcelain paradise
The gray view along the highway and the cookie-cutter buildings by the streets make my trip to Quyang County in Hebei Province feel just the same as any visit to other similar and indistinctive small counties in Northern China. However, the various rare European-style stone sculptures along the streets remind me of Quyang's uniqueness and glory throughout history.
Dubbed "China's hometown of sculpture," Quyang's sculptures are sold to more than 80 countries. Quyang is also the original home of the Ding kiln, a Song Dynasty (960-1270) kiln renown for its fine porcelain.
Unfortunately, the methods of making Ding porcelain were lost for more than 800 years and were only revived in the 1990s. Today, there is just one factory in Quyang which can produce Ding porcelain, and the professionals in this field have shrunk from thousands in the 1970s to less than 100 today.
What happened to this historical town? And who is still in charge of maintaining its rich tradition?
A peek at ancient glory ...
Tibet: To pray, to spread - VIDEO
Pray for things you wish and spread the Buddha's spirit – these are two main rituals Tibetan people practice in the second half of their 15-day New Year, beginning March 13 and leading until 19.
Tibetan people have carried this tradition since the 13th century, when Tsongkhapa, the founder of the Gelug sect, or the dominant Tibetan Buddhism branch, first started the prayer festival 700 years ago.
China Daily's Multimedia reporter Feng Xin is in Tibet to walk you through the prayer processes.
See Kaixin's - CHINA & TIBET
Tea grower returns to plant his roots
XIAMEN, Fujian - Tea merchant Li Zhihong is striving to tame Taiwan Oolong tea on the mainland.
"The tea originally came from Fujian, just like me," said Li, whose father moved to Taiwan for business in 1947.
The 50-year-old merchant said the Oolong tea in Taiwan also originally came from Fujian hundreds of years ago. Affected by humidity and high altitude on the island, it gradually evolved into Taiwan Oolong tea, with its unique fruity aroma.
"Now I'm trying to bring it back to the mainland, which has a larger growing area and a bigger market," said Li, who founded a 160-hectare tea plantation in the mountainous town of Yongfu in Fujian province in 2004.
Li has invested more than 10 million yuan ($1.5 million) in his plantation and production will reach 50,000 kilograms this year, up from 35,000 kg last year.
Li patrols his garden every morning. He said the Taiwan plants have taken root and flourished after years of effort.
Li Zhihong, a tea merchant from Taiwan, visits his 160-hectare tea plantation in Yongfu, Fujian province, in March. It is the hometown of his ancestors and the Taiwan Oolong tea.
See Kaixin's: The story of the Pu'er Tea 普洱茶 the famous red tea of China.
Chinese green tea -Tie Guan Yin’s story 铁观音
Magic Tibetan Tea - Po Cha 'Tibetan Butter Tea'
People's Daily - FEATURE
Challenge to the traditional view of love and marriage
See Kaixin's - Marriage in China: Ancient & Modern & Women in China
Worship goes green
A Taoist temple has just spent a fortune to clean up its environmental footprint. But some people are not pleased about the high cost of worship and the high-tech embellishments that go with it. Guo Jiaxue reports.
After paying HK$100 admission, you may walk through the tri-roller gates where you encounter a large tripod for burning incense. A number of Taoist priests, in their red ritual robes, walk across the wide marble floor.
Were it not for the incense stand and the priests, you may find it difficult to distinguish the place from a Mass Transit Railway station or a supermarket. But this brightly illuminated modern room, presenting no traditional Chinese-style wooden structures, is actually the newly constructed hall of a Taoist temple.
It took three years and cost over HK$100 million to build the new hall at Wong Tai Sin Temple. The hall is dedicated to the worship of Taisui, the yearly god in China's Taoist tradition. There are 60 Taisui gods, also known as the 60 heavenly generals, who are charged with assisting the Jade Emperor to oversee the well being of the world.
A new chapter for literary festivals
International literary festivals in China in February and March are growing in number, size and the range of authors, and the diverse cultures they come from.
Performance poetry and gourmand feasts are being added to up the entertainment quotient. Quizzes, translation slams and cabarets celebrate the glory of the written word and extend its ambit.
The first Capital M Festival started on Feb 26, adding to the kitty of five thriving annual literary do's in Beijing, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Sichuan's provincial capital Chengdu and Jiangsu's Suzhou city.
So, why have another show in Beijing, where the Bookworm International Literary Festival (BILF) - now in its fifth year and firmly ensconced on the world map of noted international literary festivals - is hosting 74 authors from 19 countries and more than 100 events?
"There's always room for more than one literary festival in cities the size of Beijing and Shanghai," says Tina Kanagaratnam, organizer-in-chief of the M Literary Festival, which started nine years ago in Shanghai.
"We are getting 30 of the 85 authors coming to our Shanghai festival to go to Beijing to take part in 15 events."
This might create a tough choice for literary festival junkies - and there are quite a few, judging by the pace at which tickets sold out to events featuring authors Bi Feiyu (Moon Opera, Three Sisters) and Peter Hessler (River Town, Country Driving).
Famen Temple in Shaanxi province
A man cleans a Buddhist statue inside Famen Temple in Famen town, Fufeng County, 120 km (74 miles) west of Xi'an, Shaanxi province, March 13, 2011. The temple dates back to the second century AD and was built to house parts of a sacred bone of the Buddha presented to China by India's King Asoka
Photo Courtesy of China Daily
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