From the chinese press

The curse of star-worshipping

The mayor of Changde, Hunan province, went to meet Zhao Benshan, the famous folk artist, when bad weather forced the latter's chartered plane to land at Changde airport. This has made netizens' question why public resources should be used in such a way. The local government has responded by saying that the "mayor's action showed local people's love for celebrities". Though all citizens, including officials, have the right to be a fan of celebrities, they should not waste public funds to welcome stars, says an article on southcn.com. Excerpts:

There is nothing wrong in some officials attending a concert or meeting celebrities during their free hours or holidays. But the Changde mayor did not pay a visit to Zhao alone. He took other officials along, too, as is evident from the photographs taken on the occasion.