'08 Games transformed his life

Qu Huai gained more from his involvement in the 2008 Beijing Olympics than impressive experience to put on his resume - it helped to transform him from someone who was unfit and had a round belly into a muscular athlete.

Volunteer hopes to gain more memories in 2022

Chen Tingjun is hoping Beijing and Zhangjiakou's joint bid to host the 2022 Winter Olympics succeeds so he can acquire more memories to go alongside his recollections of the 2008 Olympic Games.

Postman delivers variety of services

A young construction worker decided to swap big wages in the city to embark on a new career as a postman in the remote mountain village where he was born.

Around China

Sichuan

What they say

"We had an energetic team with thousands of young people from home and abroad, and their joint efforts accomplished the outstanding landscaping designs. The young designers accumulated experience from the Olympics, then contributed to other major events. We will make good preparations for the Winter Olympics bid."

Anti-graft campaign finds public backing

More than three-quarters of the public have expressed their confidence in the effectiveness of the national campaign against corruption, according to a government think tank.

Wedding banquets develop taste for frugality

A nationwide austerity drive means frugality is prevailing over lavishness on special occasions.

Court to retry ex-official on housing deals

A case involving an ex-official convicted of bribery after paying only 70,000 yuan ($11,000) for two apartments worth more than 1 million yuan has been sent back to a lower court for retrial.

Closed luxury club called 'ruin of corruption'

A private luxury club that former Guangzhou Party chief Wan Qingliang used to frequent has closed and become overgrown with weeds, according to a Xinhua report, which called it "a ruin of corruption".

IN BRIEF (Page 4)

Big national birthrate rise signals new peak

A new peak in births is likely to occur as a result of the relaxing of the family planning policy and could continue for several years, according to experts.

Ctrip offers staff loans to pay fines

An online travel agency is offering interest-free loans to staff who have to pay social maintenance fees because they break the family planning policy by having more than the permitted number of children.