China Scene: East

More husbands are staying at home: Survey

Staying at home, doing housework and looking after children are no longer an exclusive role for women in Shanghai, as more men are taking on domestic duties, according to a recent survey.

The survey, conducted by Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, polled 742 Shanghai families with both parents, and found that 42.5 percent of fathers were "stay-at-home" husbands, compared to 57.5 percent of full-time housewives.

Experts said the growing number of stay-at-home husband was more because of economic reasons, than lifestyle choice.

(www.sohu.com)

Man's rocking exercise makes an impression

An old man in Quanzhou, Fujian, who has spent a decade hitting a rock with his palms, has left a permanent imprint on the rock.

The retired 80-year-old man Hong Qinggen lives near Jinbang Park, and about 10 years ago, began hitting the rock as exercise every day to keep fit. He would hit the rock 1,000 times each day for 2 hours. With years of hitting, the hard rock gradually began showing his two palms.

This exercise as well as other good living habits has apparently kept Hong very healthy for this age.

(Southeast Morning Post)

Hospital corners pet funeral market

When her beloved dog died, lady Liu spent 2,000 yuan ($260) buying a grave and a gravestone on a hill in Fuzhou, Fujian, and staging a big funeral.

The service was provided by a local pet hospital, which bought land in Fuzhou's North Hill and sold graves and funeral services to wealthy pet-owners. The lucrative business has been doing well because many Fuzhou people have wanted to give their deeply revered pets a decent funeral.

Experts said it was understandable to buy a grave for a pet, but it should be not encouraged.

(Southeast Express)

Woman discovers wine hobby late in life

The 61-year-old Wang Linlin was introduced to the wine vessel world by chance five years ago when she saw an exquisite wine vessel discarded in her brother's home.

She never imagined that she would enjoy so much the rich culture of wine vessels and has become the only recognized wine vessel collector in Jiangxi.

To collect more wine vessels, Wang has traveled to many places and even learned to use a computer and the Internet to exchange wine vessels with other collectors. For five years, Wang has collected 800 wine vessels of different shapes, colors and materials.

(Jiangnan Metropolitan News)

(China Daily 04/04/2007 page6)