The retired dual Grand Slam winner announced her pregnancy at Rod Laver Arena, where she claimed the title a year ago, during a ceremony ahead of the night session on Monday's opening day of the tournament.
"This summer, Jiang Shan and I expect our first child," Li said, joking that her husband had got her pregnant quickly, “he just made one ace.”
[Read more]
(via)
Su Daocheng, a retired worker and invention enthusiast, created a 1.5-meter-tall, 2-meter-long and 250 kg mechanical horse by using a kart engine and some chains and irons to imitate a famous but lost invention.
"Muniuliuma", a freight transport vehicle recorded in history, was believed to have been invented by Zhuge Liang, the prime minister of Shu Kingdom in the Three Kingdoms period (AD220-280). It is said that the invention transported army provisions on rugged roads without consuming energy and costing much labor.
Unlike "Muniuliuma", the mechanical horse Su invented needs oil as fuel but it can be as useful as a meal-free "farm cattle".
(via)
China's mainland, has reported a second confirmed case, of the H1N1 flu, as its first patient, remains in stable condition. Meanwhile, the virus continues to spread around the world, with Cuba reporting its first confirmed case. Tu Yun reports.
China's health authorities say the latest H1N1 flu case reported in eastern China's Shandong Province is already showing alleviated symptoms.
Li Zhongjun is the spokesman of the provincial health department.
"His temperature had fallen to 36.4 degrees as of midnight Tuesday. His sample has been delivered to the national center for disease control and prevention for further testing. Meanwhile we are trying our best to trace all the passengers who have had close contact with him."
The case, the second of its kind on the Chinese mainland so far, is a Chinese student returning from Canada to China.
[via]
Li Yue (C), a 12-years-old victim of May 12 Wenchuan earthquake, stages a ballet at the opening ceremony of Beijing 2008 Paralympic Games in the National Stadium, September 6, 2008.
For Xiao Xue, an 18 year old boy, it was a can of Coca Cola. After an on-site treatment, he was placed on a stretcher to be sent to a nearby hospital. When the nurse asked him what he'd like to have, he said: "A can of Coca Cola, ice cold!", with a grin on his face.
10-year-old Lin Hao, the youngest hero of China's massive 2008 quake.Lin Hao, then nine, of Yingxiu Township, Wenchuan County, pulled two classmates from the rubble. As a result, he was honored as a "heroic child" in quake rescue and relief.
Jiang Xiaojuan, a policewoman, is feeding an infant with breast milk after the May 12 quake.The pictures of her breast feeding spread across the country, which earned her a nickname "the police mum." [From crienglish]
Chinese President Hu Jintao speaks during the ceremony marking the first anniversary of May 12 Earthquake in Yingxiu Township of Wenchuan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 12, 2009.
Chinese calligraphy is an Oriental art.It is very much like painting.as a work of art conveys the moral integrity, character, emotions, esthetic feelings and culture of the artist to readers affecting them by the power of appeal and the joy of beauty.Calligraphy is not only a practical technique for writing Chinese characters, but also a unique Oriental art of expression.
Brush calligraphy is not only loved and practiced by Chinese.Koreans,Vietnam,Singapore and Japanese equally adore calligraphy as an important treasure of their heritage.A biannual gathering commemorating the Lanting Xu by Wang Xi Zhi (The most famous Chinese calligrapher in Jin dynasty, ) is said to be held ceremonially in Japan.Western scholars visiting China develop a keen interest in and love for Chinese calligraphy.
To the artist, calligraphy is a mental exercise that coordinates the mind and the body to choose the best styling in expressing the content of the passage.It is a most relaxing yet highly disciplined exercise indeed for one's physical and spiritual well being.Historically, many calligraphy artists were well-known for their longevity.
Zhang Xiaoming, mayor of Zhangjiajie, a city known for its natural wonders that have been well listed as part of the world's natural heritage, sings, dances and plays guitar in his cartoon image in the video promo that publicizes the upcoming International Country Music Festival, due to take place in his city on May 14-18.
Said to be the first time a mayor cartoon image has appeared on video in China, it has naturally stirred up public interest since being broadcasted for nearly one month on flights from Hunan's provincial capital of Changsha to other cities, including Zhangjiajie.
The really cool and cute mayor.
For more information on the news click here.
Olympic champions Guo Jingjing and Wu Minxia of China compete during the women's synchronized three-meter springboard final at the USA Diving Grand Prix in Florida, the United States on Thursday, May 7, 2009. Guo and Wu scored 335.10 points to win the gold. The USA GP, from May 7-10, is Guo Jingjing's first competition after the Beijing Olympic Games last August.
Do you learn Chinese?Do you want use chinese web browser?Please download free chinese IE8.
Download here
Females are entangled in dogfight during a distinctive Women's Mud Wrestling Match in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province.
Two women are living in a small tree house in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province, for a month.
The women, an office worker and a university student, plan to live in the 15 sq m "bird nest" for a month.The house has a washroom and a bedroom.A local Internet company is behind the stunt and they hope to raise awareness about ecology and promote their Internet sites.
From english.cri.cn:
Liza Wang, also known as "Big Sister" in Hong Kong's entertainment circles, has finally tied the knot with actor Law Kar-Ying after a two-decade-long courtship.
Wang, 61, and Law, 62, registered their marriage on May 2 in Las Vegas, United States, according to Hong Kong media.
The couple will officially announce their marriage upon their return to Hong Kong later this month.
Wang and Law met each other in 1987, about four years after Wang ended her previous marriage. In 1988, the couple announced their relationship following their first Cantonese opera cooperation.
Since 1996, Law has publicly proposed to Wang at least four times, but was refused each time.
Both of the stars have overcome cancer in recent years, and their support for each other during treatment is said to have solidified their relationship.
May 1, 2009. A group of robots dance to the music during an interactive exhibition at a science and technology center in Wenzhou, east China's Zhejiang province.
Olympic champion Zhang Yining beat fellow Chinese Liu Shiwen 11-8, 11-8, 11-6, 8-11, 10-12, 11-8 on Monday to advance into the women's singles final at the world table tennis championships.
Guo Yue and Li Xiaoxia, who finished 1-2 in the women's singles at last championships, are playing against each other in the other all-Chinese semifinal. Guo Yue and Li Xiaoxia, who finished 1-2 in the women's singles at last championships, are playing against each other in the other all-Chinese semifinal.
[From crienglish]
Movie icon Jackie Chan performed a singing concert along with many other pop stars in Bird's Nest stadium Friday.
Hong Kong singer-actress Charlene Choi sings at the first-ever concert in Bird's Nest, May 1, 2009.
Comedian Zhao Benshan, Jackie Chan and Xiao Shenyang (L to R) perform at the first-ever concert in Bird's Nest, May 1, 2009.
Korean singer Rain (L) and Jackie Chan perform at the first-ever concert in Bird's Nest, May 1, 2009.
Learning to speak Mandarin and Vietnamese as a child helps make you more musical, claims a study that suggests being fluent in the languages helps you have perfect pitch.
"They did incredibly well. It was overwhelming," Professor Diana Deutsch, a psychologist who led the study told New Scientist."In my experience, musicians in China don't regard perfect pitch as anything remarkable because it's very common."For more information on the news click here.
