China Scene: Central

Recently literate man has firm grasp on geography

Si Changyou, 66, has become a star in his housing estate in Zhengzhou, capital of Henan province, because he can recite the names of more than 200 countries in three minutes.

Si, who received only one year of education in primary school, frequently demonstrates his special powers.

He said he learned to read by reading newspapers and magazines in the past few years.

His favorite section is the international news and he said he honed his memory skills by memorizing the countries' names in groups of five.

Si can also recite the countries' capitals and all the presidents of the United States.

(Dongfang Jinbao News)

Deductive skills not enough to keep couple out of jail

Gao and Wang were recently sentenced to three years in prison with three years' probation for withdrawing 10,000 yuan ($1,400) using a bankcard they found in Xinzheng, Henan province.

The couple had found a bag containing a bankcard and an ID card last September.

The pair managed to deduce the bankcard's password after just five attempts by using clues drawn from the ID card.

However, a camera positioned above the ATM recorded them in the act and they were later detained by police.

Xinzheng intermediate people's court said Gao and Wang had committed theft.

(Dongfang Jinbao News)

(China Daily 04/01/2008 page6)