Australia Issues Stamps of the Year of SnakeThe stamp and minisheet were designed by Luis Chiang. The minisheet carries a painting depicting the popular Chinese folk-tale of White Snake and her love story.  |  |
Party Held to Send off Women Soccer PlayersBeijing's press circles held a Party to see off Liu Ailing and Wen Lirong, women players of the Chinese women soccer team on January 18. Altogether five women soccer players will join in the U.S. Women's United Soccer Association including Sun Wen and Gao Hong, who have gone to the U.S. earlier. Liu Ailing, Wen Lirong and Fan Yunjie will go there after the Spring Festival. Photo shows Wen Lirong is signing her name on a football at the request of the fans. |  |
Special New Year Gift for Yi Farmers in YunnanAs the Spring Festival is fast approaching, technicians working in the field of agriculture and forestry in the Bai Autonomous Prefecture of Dali, Yunnan Province sent their New Year greetings and special gifts --- technical know-how about agriculture and forestry in winter--- to local farmers. Picture shows Luo Kangzhi (left), an agricultural technician, is passing his experience about the plum cultivation to Yi farmers in Songdian village of Cibi township, Eryuan county. |  |
Streets in Guangzhou Decorated with Flowers to Greet Spring FestivalWith the traditional Spring Festival just a few days away, the streets in Guangzhou, the capital of south China��s Guangdong Province, are decorated with flowers. The picture shows the spot titled ��Happily Greet Spring Festival �� on the Zhonghua Square. |  |
Zhang's Red Lanterns to be Raised Again Zhang Yimou will direct the ballet play Large Red Lantern Hung Highly after preparing for it in one year. The photo shows renowned film director Zhang Yimou (Right) and composer Chen Qigang(Centre) vitalize each other the creation of the ballet drama " "Raise High the Red Lantern" |  |
More Flower Markets Run into Operation Before Spring Festival A statue of the Chinese character equivalent to "spring" is erected in front of the main entrance to the Tianhe Flower Market in Guangzhou, South China's Guangdong Province, Thursday Jan.18, 2001. Many flower markets have sprung into operation before the Spring Festival which falls on Jan.24. Flowers play an increasingly important role in the local social life. |  |
China Int'l Friendship Cultural Festival HeldThe "2001 China Int'l Friendship Cultural Festival" was held January 16 in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Present at the Festival were many foreign ambassadors with their wives in China. Photo shows the guests are learning to make dumplings. |  |
Overflowing with Happiness at All Places These days a blissful scene diffusing New Year greetings rises in Hong Kong. Buildings are being decked out in a New Year's don at various commercial centers throughout the whole Special Administrative Region. Picture shows over a plaza an eye-catching color phalanx of immortals "Happiness", "Fortune" and "Longevity" in the company of four jolly kids and a large harp carrying the message of another affluent ebullient New Year to people in Hong Kong. |  |
Contraband meets a fiery endThe pile of brightly colored boxes bearing names like "Little Swallow" and "New Year" covered an area about the size of a basketball court. |  |
Beijing Students Say No to CultsRepresentatives of students from 14 universities in Beijing put forward a proposal Thursday, calling for all university and secondary school students in China to promote science and resist cults. |  |
Export-Oriented Woollen Carpets Prove Lucrative Technicians checks woollen Tibetan carpets to be exported to Japan at the Shangxinzhuang village of Huangzhong County, Northwest China's Qinghai Province, Thursday Jan.18, 2001. Making full use of rich resources in wool, villagers have found a lucrative undertaking in weaving export-orented woollen carpets in Tibetan style, which has gained them two million dollars in proceeds last year. |  |
HK to Take Part in 9th National Sports Games of China Officers of the Hong Kong Sports Association holds a billboard, which publicizes HK sports delegation scheduled to participate in the Ninth National Sports Games of China, at a press conference in Hong Kong Thursday Jan.18, 2001. Hong Kong will send a 300-strong delegation to take part in the 150 items of 35 events at the games. |  |
Spring Flood Caused by Melting Ice Appears in Upper Yellow River Photo shows a scene of spring flood caused by melting ice in upper Yellow River in Yinchuan, capital city of Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region. The phenomenon appears almost every year because of cold weather and slow velocity. |  |
China to Strengthen Cooperation With UgandaVisiting Chinese Vice President Hu Jintao said Thursday in Kampala that China will further strengthen its exchanges and cooperation with Uganda in various sectors, especially in the fields of trade and economy. |  |
Export-Oriented Woollen Carpets Prove Lucrative Workers trim woollen Tibetan carpets at the Shangxinzhuang village of Huangzhong County, Northwest China's Qinghai Province, Thursday Jan.18, 2001. Making full use of rich resources in wool, villagers have found a lucrative undertaking in weaving export-orented woollen carpets in Tibetan style, which has gained them two million dollars in proceeds last year. |  |
State Council Discusses Draft Five-Year Plan Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji said at the meeting that the draft has taken development as the theme, economic restructuring as the main guideline, reform and technological advances as driving forces, and improvement of the people's living standards as the starting point. |  |
Chinese Leader Stresses Religious FreedomChina will stick to the principles of respecting the freedom of religious belief and religious groups running religious affairs independently, senior Chinese leader Li Ruihuan said Thursday. |  |
Fishing Ban Imposed on Lake Qinghai Law enforcement agents checks poachers' catch on the frozen surface of the Qinghai Lake in Northwest China's Qinghai Province Thursday Jan.18, 2000. A 10-year fishing ban has been put into effect on the lake in a bid to preserve the endangered Huang, or Gymnocypris przewalskii, a fish original to this lake. |  |
Pedlar Sells Red Lanterns in Yinchuan A pedlar sells red lanterns carried on his shoulder pole in Yinchuan, capital of Northwest China's Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, Wednesday Jan.17, 2001. Red lanterns sell well as auspicious decorations at home in celebrating the Chinese traditional Spring Festival which falls on Jan.24. this year. |  |
