China Scene: East

Dramatic backdrops for bridal photos

A trade and cultural exchange association in Taipei has begun offering week-long tours for newlyweds from mainland China to visit the island and take bridal photographs with seaside scenery as the romantic backdrop.

The tour will cost about 80,000 new Taiwan dollars ($11,400).

More than 80 newlyweds from the mainland have signed up for a tour in August.

(China News Services)

Termite exterminators overbooked in Shanghai

An infestation of termites in a nearby tree is threatening residents of an apartment building in Jing'an District of Shanghai.

In response to residents' anxious phone calls, staff at the district's only white-ant prevention center said they have received more calls to curb pests than they can currently handle. They asked residents to wait patiently for their professional services.

(Shanghai Morning Post)

Farmer's precious antique deemed a fake

A man was distraught when his precious vase was stolen - and even more upset to find out the allegedly Song Dynasty antique was a fake.

Huang Zidong, a 59-year-old farmer from Jiangxi province, had purchased the porcelain vase for 7,000 yuan ($1,000). He believed it had been made between AD 960-1279.

Li Muhua, a neighboring farmer, stole the vase in March.

After police arrested the thief and recovered the vase, they brought it to the local bureau of cultural heritage - which found the vase was a phony, worth only 300 yuan.

(New Legal Report)

Wasp stings can be serious

While washing clothes at her home in Guashan Town of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province Monday morning, a woman surnamed Shen was stung by an insect in her behind.

She was sent quickly to the hospital, where a doctor said she was stung by a wasp. The doctor reminded residents to receive treatments as soon as possible after being attacked by wasps or hornets because the insect stings can be very dangerous.

(Qianjiang Evening News)

Dear Diary: Please don't make fun

Parents of 15-year-old Wang Jia in Shangrao county of Jiangxi province are desperately searching for their daughter, who has been missing since May 9.

One of her classmates recalled that the morning the girl went missing, some of her classmates had peeked at the middle-schooler's diary, and made fun of Wang when she returned to the classroom.

The girl left school alone, and never came back.

(Shangrao Daily)

Doctors struggle to diagnose duck bone

After feasting on duck soup last August, a 53-year-old man surnamed Chen in Fuzhou, Jiangxi province, found it difficult to breathe and developed a persistent cough.

Doctors at different hospitals alternately diagnosed him with bronchitis and pneumonia, but could not cure his symptoms.

Finally, he came to the Jiangxi Provincial Chest Hospital in early June. Doctors there found a duck bone lodged in his lung. When extracted, the bone weighed 10 grams.

(Information Daily)

Laptop thieves exploit maternal instincts

Computer owners in Shanghai and Jiangsu province have lately been threatened by an unusual band of thieves.

A man surnamed Yang has organized a 11-member gang, including four pregnant women and two new mothers, to help him steal hardware from computer shops - 13 laptops over 10 days in April.

After being caught by police, the pregnant women and new mothers were all released.

Yang said he has taken advantage of the legal leniency afforded to pregnant women and new mothers - according to China's criminal law, suspects in this group will not be arrested.

(Yangzi Evening News)

(China Daily 06/17/2008 page6)