China Scene: Central

People balk at sinking so much in final resting place

Graves at a cemetery in Jingzhou, Hubei province, are going for more than 340,000 yuan (about $48,600) each.

Graves at the city's Balingshan cemetery now cost 10 times more than an average apartment in the city.

The company that built the cemetery said it has good fengshui.

But the high prices have stirred up a debate in the central metropolis. More than 20 residents have signed a petition to urge others not to buy the expensive graves.

(www.xinhuanet.com)

Depressed journalist kills father after getting paid

Li Yuanke went into a rage and beat his father to death on Thursday after receiving 1,000 yuan (about $140) for an article he had written for a magazine in Sanmenxia, Henan province.

Police detained Li, who is in his 40s, after neighbors called for help.

Li has never been diagnosed with mental problems before, but he flew into a rage in which he beat his father with wooden rods, bricks and a kitchen knife. The attack took place at 9 am in the family courtyard.

Local villagers called police help after they failed to bring Li under control.

Li had been dismissed by a local media company and became very depressed early this year.

(Dahe News)

Paper's use of alias gets man in a heap of trouble

A man named Yang Jun suffered after a newspaper published a story using his name as an alias for someone who won 5 million yuan ($714,000) in the lottery, in Caidian, Hubei province, last week.

In addition to being continuously congratulated by friends, relatives and neighbours, many local business people wanted to do business with the real 28-year-old Yang Jun. Thieves also tried to break into his house.

Yang said no one believed him when he explained the media had published his name as an alias.

(Wuhan Morning Post )

Woman finds voice after a lifetime of being mute

Liu Ping, 21, surprised her husband surnamed Jin and many others when she suddenly said "No", in order to prevent her husband from leaving the house to gamble, in Wangcheng county, Hunan province.

Liu, who was supposedly born unable to speak, was sent to Hunan provincial people's hospital for further examination and treatment.

Doctors said Liu actually had the capacity of speak and listen and with training would be able to speak further.

(Changsha Evening News)

(China Daily 04/08/2008 page6)