China Scene: South

Guangdong's own cupid still making matches

Pan Qingjun is still plying his amorous trade after successfully matching more than 400 married couples.

The "super matchmaker" from Guangzhou, capital of Guangdong province, set up the special club 20 years ago to help older, lonely singles meet.

The 70-year-old worked as an official in a cultural palace in Guangzhou's Liwan district before he retired 20 years ago.

But, Pan continues to work like Cupid, as a liaison between prospective couples and their families.

When a couple who wanted to tie the knot failed to win the approval of their parents last year, Pan mobilized their friends and relatives to help persuade both sides to give the sweethearts the nod.

(Guangzhou Daily)

Nanning couple awarded for blood donation

A Nanning couple has been awarded the Chinese mainland's highest level of recognition for blood donation.

Wei Peitang and his wife Gong Yandi were recently named five-star couples in blood donation in the capital of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.

Wei and Gong are the first couple in the southern metropolis to receive the award.

By the end of last week, Wei who started blood donation in 1997 had donated a total of 19,000 ml of blood while Gong had given 15,000 ml.

The blood they have donated is three times more than the amount of an adult.

Meanwhile, the couple also voluntarily donates stem cells to the country's research.

(www.chinanews.com.cn)

(China Daily 06/03/2008 page6)