China Scene: West
Hardworking centenarian still tending his pastures
Li Xicai, 107, is the oldest shepherd in a small mountainous village in Ankang, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province.
Li was born in 1900 into a poor farmer's family and has been working in the pastures since he was 10 years old. It has been his daily habit to walk in the mountains ever since.
"We are living a simple life, and we are optimistic people. Labor may be the fountain of youth," Li's 92-year-old wife said.
(Chinese Business View)
Migrant couple gives their all to help TB patient
Wang Enming and He Shuqiong, a middle-aged couple working as migrant workers in Urumqi, capital of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, have been helping a tuberculosis patient by spending their savings and even borrowing money to pay for his medical bills.
Chen Yanping, 27, a colleague of the couple's daughter, does not have enough money to pay for medical treatment. When the couple's daughter told them Chen's story, they decided to help the young man. They gave him their 700 yuan ($89) in savings, and borrowed 2,800 yuan from friends and a further 3,000 yuan from a bank. "Although Chen is not part of our family, he deserves help," He said.
(Xinjiang Daily)
Shadow artists strut their stuff in France
Five shadow artists from Huaxian County, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, left for France last Wednesday, where they are scheduled to demonstrate their skills.
The five artists, aged from 43 to 64, will tour around France of 40 days as part of an art festival there.
Shadow play is a traditional Chinese art form with a history of more than 1,000 years. The five artists sound like an entire orchestra when they perform.
(Chinese Business View)
(China Daily 06/19/2007 page6)
