Chinese and Western music chosen as class bells

Ancient Chinese music A Moonlit River in Spring and Kenny G's saxophone number Going Home recently replaced the traditional bell as signals for the beginning and the end of classes at a middle school in Shaoguan, Guangdong Province, reports Guangzhou Daily.

The pieces, chosen by teachers and students - and to give way to other selections in the future - are meant to create a serene and harmonious atmosphere in campus, said the school authorities, adding that the chiming of bells is too harsh.

Some students said they would propose some of their favourite pop songs later.

Employees threaten suicide to get pension coverage

Three women workers at a Hong Kong-invested candy factory in Shenzhen, Guangdong Province, threatened to jump from the fourth floor of their building on Monday if their employer continued to refuse to buy pension for them, reports Southern Metropolis News.

They were representing another 12 older workers of the factory, who are not covered under the pension scheme despite their constant pleas.

The police spread air cushions in case they jumped and the three came down eight hours later after a lawyer promised to provide them with legal aid.

Century-old well serves as fridge for family

A century-old well in a famous old alley in Guangzhou has been serving as a natural "refrigerator" to keep fruits and vegetables fresh, reports Southern Metropolis News.

The well, in the courtyard of a house, had been the source of water supply for occupants until the 1980s, when tap water became available.

Recalling the freshness of the water from the well, 75-year-old Guan said fruits placed in the well for about two hours come out as cool as they would be in a fridge.

Undergrad seeks rich wife to support overseas study

A fourth-year college student in Beijing, in desperate need of money for his post graduate study in Russia, called a newspaper in his hometown Foshan, Guangdong Province, recently, saying he wanted to place an advertisement to find a rich wife, reports Southern Metropolis News.

The man said he needs up to 150,000 yuan (US$18,000) to finish the three-year course, which he and his family cannot afford, and prefers a woman between 25 and 35 who has a child.

The student, who has the full support of his parents, said he was inspired by marketing lectures at university.

Mother worries about cynicism among kids

A woman in Guangzhou was recently shocked by the cynical farewell words in her son's notebook from classmates upon their graduation from primary school, reports New News Express.

Yuan came across "advice" such as "Study little, make a lot of money," "Date a girl as soon as possible,"and "Girls are painful, I'm done with dating."

She is worried about the moral standards of her son, who is a good student.

A deputy principal of the school suggested parents not take the matter too seriously; and an education expert said parents should improve communication with their children.

(China Daily 03/19/2004 page4)