As a torrential downpour unloaded on a Beijing soccer field on a summer day, a group of boys from the Uygur ethnic group played on. Their coach, Parhat Mamtemin, called in vain for them to come in from the rain. "They take no notice," he said, with a sigh.
There is no doubt that the recently released policies have led to a rise in the number of people participating in soccer, in terms of both amateur players and related businesses. Older players in the field are also discovering new ways to break through. These factors have resulted in improved development of sports generally and may help the country's soccer players perform better at the professional level.
On Saturday, China's men's under-19 national soccer team will begin its campaign in the Asian Football Confederation's U-19 Championship, fighting for a place in next year's FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Lu Buxuan, a graduate of Peking University, also known as Beida, one of the most prestigious universities in China, has hit the headlines again for selling pork.
Since their introduction 10 years ago, creative fairs have become a staple of China's arts and crafts retail scene by offering unique, home-produced goods, such as objets d'art and exotic foodstuffs produced by independent craftspeople. Now, though, their success is being threatened by the very thing they were set up to avoid - a lack of creativity - and poor legal awareness that has seen piracy of popular items become rife.
Although creative fairs offer a platform for unknown designers to express their artistic talents, experts say the nature of the markets means they require a down-to-earth approach.
The rapid development of creative craft markets in China has led some organizers to considering a new business model that will bolster the welfare of designers.
Corrado Politi, a 75-year-old Italian travel expert, has a white beard, a bulbous nose and a jolly smile. The locals often call him Santa Claus or "Grandpa Italy", but he likes to introduce himself as a native of Southwest China's Yunnan province.
Since Wang Guiying retired 13 years ago, she has made it her mission to ensure she has interesting things to do to keep her occupied. Now, she is one of the world's leading players of mahjong, a Chinese game, whose nearest Western equivalent is the card game bridge, where contestants attempt to collect groups of colored tiles.
Wang Guiying, 67-year-old retiree from Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi province
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