China Scene: West

Cop tracks down sleeping owner of lost ticket

A railway policeman went on a frantic search for a passenger, whose train ticket he found lying on the floor, even as the man slept through the whole drama.

Li Chen, of the Baoji Railway Station in Shaanxi Province in Northwest China, found the ticket while patrolling in the station's waiting room on Saturday morning. Seeing the passenger Xing Qiang's name, he went around asking everyone if he was Xing. Finally, he found the sleeping Xing, who was supposed to take the next morning's train to Guangzhou.

(www.xinhuanet.com)

Teen keeps to room all day after school stress

A depressed teen of Xi'an, capital of Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, has been holed up in a room for the past four years, communicating with his parents only via handwritten notes.

Xiao Hu, 19, stopped going to school four years ago, after running into some trouble. Ever since, he has kept to his room, playing on the computer the whole day, and does not let anyone in. He has not said a single word to his parents all these years.

Sun Quanke, a psychologist, said the boy could be suffering from schizophrenia and should be treated as early as possible. He called on society to pay more attention to children's mental health in the light of increasing academic pressures and few ways to release the stress.

(Chinese Business View)

Old masseuse offers relief for a pittance

A 96-year-old woman in Chengdu, Sichuan, who runs a thriving massage parlour, never charges people who are old and have lost their spouses, are handicapped, are from the countryside or are laid-off workers.

Even for others, Lian Ping charges only five yuan (64 US cents) and has done so ever since she opened the parlor in 1999.

She likes donating to charity and has given more than 60,000 yuan ($7,692) in charity in nearly 10 years.

Lian, who learned massage at 22, is much sought after and does the massage herself, despite her age.

(Chengdu Evening News)

Man marries long-time sweetheart, from prison

A man serving his 15-year term in a prison in Yongchuan, Chongqing, got married last Friday. It was the first time the prison had okayed marriage for an inmate.

Luo Liang, 33, married his 33-year-old ladylove Liu Hongfang, after she gave in to his repeated proposals.

The couple, both from the countryside, met at 18 and decided to marry six years later. But Liu's father did not approve of it, as Luo was poor.

He then came Beijing to find a job but got involved in prostitution, gambling and fighting and was arrested.

Although angry at first, Liu forgave him after he apologized and proposed to her no fewer than 37 times.

(Chongqing Morning Post)

(China Daily 04/12/2007 page6)