China Scene: East

Native plant threatens invasive species

"Canada goldenrod", an invasive weed native to North America, has reportedly caused the extinction of more than two dozen plant species in southeastern China.

Local authorities tried to control the spread of the weed with ploughs and chemical treatments, with little success.

But recently a student at East China Normal University in Shanghai discovered a better way. His research team found that planting bulrush, a wetland plant native to China, can curb the spread of goldenrod more effectively than any human competition.

(Shanghai Evening News )

Scavenger finds fake "grenades" in waste dump

A television production company in Jiangxi province recently dumped five boxes of unused props - including more than 200 "dummy" grenades - at a local waste site.

These items were discovered by a man employed by a reclamation company to salvage the site for construction parts. The man assumed the grenades were real and sent a terrified report to local police.

Later the police reminded the television company of the proper way to dispose of stage props that resemble weapons: return them to the manufacturer, or hand them in to the authorities.

(Information Daily)

Last month a rambunctious 7-year-old boy found, to his horror, that it was easier to push his head through a crevice in a wall than to pull it out again.

The child, a resident of Shandong province, waited for three hours with his head stuck halfway through the wall until a team of local firemen, brick layers and doctors was able to dislodge him.

First the firemen drilled an adjacent hole in the wall. Next the construction crew removed the surrounding bricks. Finally the doctors checked out the terrified boy to confirm that he had no serious physical wounds.

(Huanghai Morning Post)

Don't party too hardy in Nanchang

Residents of Nanchang, the bustling capital of Jiangxi province, had been complaining about loud noises at night emanating from the city's many pubs, ballrooms and karaoke lounges.

The local government took action by installing noise-monitoring systems in all nightlife hotspots. Now officials can monitor decibel levels in real time, and when necessary send in police to break up overly raucous parties.

(Jiangnan City Daily)

(China Daily 06/11/2008 page6)