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Andy Lau torch auctions for 1.9m

Andy Lau (pictured) has auctioned the torch he carried during the Hong Kong leg of the Beijing Olympic torch relay to raise funds for Sichuan's earthquake victims.

The superstar's torch fetched 1.9 million yuan ($274,356) at a charity auction held in Sanya, Hainan province on Tuesday. Lau also successfully bid 750,000 yuan ($108,298) for local TV anchor Zhao Yuying's torch.

A total of 3.15 million yuan ($454,853) was raised at the event. The proceeds will go into building schools in Sichuan.

Lau had earlier visited survivors in the province and headlined an 8-hour fundraising show in Hong Kong.

Kindness, compassion and beauty too

L'Oreal, the world's leading cosmetics company, has donated 3.5 million yuan along with much-needed disaster relief materials to earthquake-hit areas in Sichuan.

"L'Oreal became part of China from the first day we entered China's market in 1996. I am shocked and deeply grieved at the disaster and feel as though I myself suffered the earthquake. But I do believe Chinese people can overcome the disaster and reconstruct their homes with support from all sides," said Paolo Gasparrini, president of L'Oreal China.

Since entering the China market, L'Oreal has been a notable patron of charity and social events. In cooperation with the China Youth Development Foundation, the company launched a three-year plan of charity sales on campuses to raise funds for students in poverty-stricken areas of western China.

Heart proves potent fashion seller

When Italian soccer stars Paolo Maldini and Christian Vieri decided to create their Sweet Years fashion line, both agreed that a heart incorporated into their trademark would make their line an instant hit in Italy.

They were right. The Sweet Years brand captured the hearts and minds of young people in Italy's main fashion centers and provincial towns, and soon spread to other cities of the world. Sweet Years has now arrived in Beijing.

Beijing's first Sweet Years boutique opened last week at the Oriental Plaza. Vieri was present at the opening, and brought on the bevy of Chinese models showcasing the Sweet Year 08 summer collection created by design director Enzo Fusco.

24 City to help quake-hit Sichuan

Director Jia Zhangke (pictured) is screening his latest work, 24 City, before its official release, and will donate all earnings to quake-hit Sichuan.

In a move Jia calls "A City Reborn", the director will take his Cannes Golden Palm-nominated film to Shanghai, Guangzhou, Beijing and eventually to Sichuan's provincial capital, Chengdu.

Tickets for the Shanghai screening on Tuesday night were sold at 30 yuan ($4.3), but moviegoers were encouraged to pay more if they wanted.

Jia told the Chengdu Shangbao newspaper that he would donate all box-office earnings to the Red Cross Society of China, to help with the reconstruction of Sichuan.

In Chengdu, the screening will be held at a housing development named 24 City. The site was previously occupied by a factory, which actually inspired Jia's film.

Jia led the observation of a minute's silence for quake victims when 24 City premiered at last month's Cannes Film Festival.

China Daily-CRI

(China Daily 06/05/2008 page20)