Chinese win lawsuit in Japan
 

Liu Min (left), one of the 13 Chinese plaintiffs suing Japanese Government for compensation for damages caused to their families by chemical weapons left over in China by Japanese invading troops during World War II, react to reporters after the Tokyo District Court awarded the families US$1.7 million. Liu's father was seriously injured after trying to dismantle a remaining Japanese shell in August 1995, and died later. [Xinhua]

It is a history problem

National Day Holiday
 

The Tian'anmen Square in downtown Beijing is decorated with flower beds as the Chinese embrace the National Day Holiday which falls on October 1-7. Floral replicas of many famous Chinese landscapes and monuments, like the Three Gorges Dam and the Great Wall, have appeared in the square. Millions of Chinese are expected to travel on public transport system to get home or go on a tour.[newsphoto.com.cn]

One man put on the lamp.

Re: Not ugly
 

I'm not saying the opera is ugly. I'm saying the people in the opera are ugly.:D

I watched "My Concubine" last weekend... turns out I'm not so keen on Chinese Opera, of course Euro-opera isn't a big magnet for me either. :)

I got the impression this was Euro opera performed in China.

China eyes experiments for moon mission
 

China plans to conduct experiments related to a moon landing, a senior science official was quoted as saying on Sunday, just days before the country is expected to launch its first manned space flight.

"China will continue to develop its space exploration plans. At a future time, China will carry out lunar landing and flight experiments," Wang Shuquan, deputy secretary of the Commission for Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence, was quoted as saying.

The report on the Web site of China News service said Wang had mentioned China's plans to put a man in space, but gave no details such as the exact date of the launch.

China is expected in the next few days to become only the third country to put a person into orbit after the former Soviet Union and the United States.

China's long-term space plans are expected to include an unmanned probe to the moon, followed by a manned lunar mission, experts have said.

Note to China: Skip the shuttle. They're very pretty, but very expensive...

Doesn't have to be expensive, just get a knockoff made in China. :D

Billy, just wanted to say I love your pictures and thanks for posting them.

Skydivers perform at China's No.1 tower
 

A participant in an international skydiving event in Shanghai leaps from the top of Jinmao Tower in the city, the tallest building on the Chinese mainland on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003. A total of 16 skydivers from the United States, Norway, Sweden, Mexico and the Netherlands successfully finished a group jump on Sunday. [www.newsphoto.com.cn]

Terje Halvorsen of Norway leaps from the top of Jinmao Tower in Shanghai during the international skydiving event on Sunday. [newsphoto.com.cn]

Two skydivers prepare their gears before their leap at the top of Jinmao Tower in Shanghai. [newsphoto.com.cn]

A BASE-jumper parachutes with China's national flag after leaping from Jinmao Tower, China's tallest building in the financial capital of Shanghai October 5,2003.