Godt Wedding

Artists dressed as Chinese ghost bride and bridegroom at the Hong Kong Ocean Park Sept 16, in preparation for the largest Halloween event to be held in Oct.

Chairman of the British Film Institute Anthony Minghella stands in front of a giant sculptural head entitled of Supense,in London Sept 16.

2 Japanese and Chinese weapons experts prepare to examine poison gas shells in a pit at Luquan in northern China's Hebei province Friday Sept. 12, 2003. Japanese and Chinese experts spent Friday dismantling some of a stockpile of 52 poison gas shells that were found in 1991. The shells are part of an estimated 700,000 artillery shells, bombs and other weapons loaded with chemical agents left in China after World War II.

3 Chinese entertainers perform during an underwear show at a shopping mall in Shenyang, the capital of China's northeastern province of Liaoning, September 14, 2003. Gone are the days when shopping for underwear was considered an embarrassing chore for Chinese women. Now, with bras and underpants in all cuts and colors displayed in shop windows, buying lingerie is considered fashionable in China.

4 Two breeders carry a baby panda named Lan Bao onto a wagon heading for its future residence of Lanzhou Zoo, at the Chengdu Giant Panda Breeding and Research Center in Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, Monday, Sept. 15, 2003. Weighing 23 kilograms, the baby panda Lan Bao, born on Aug. 23, 2002, is successfully bred by taking advantage of the propagation technology in the center as a local female panda Shu Lan got mated with a wild male panda Ha Lan captured by the Zoo of Lanzhou, capital of northwest China's Gansu Province.

8 Frontier guards show their special skills during a military exercise in Fuzhou, capital of east China's Fujian Province on Sept. 14. More than 200 officers and soldiers participated in the drill, demonstrating their comprehensive skills of shooting, hunting and arresting criminals.

9 Inventor Wang Zhenfu rides his mechanical horse at a toy exhibition in Beijing Monday, Sept. 15, 2003. The horse, which is powered by the rider's legs and swivels in the middle to turn like a horse, is being sold in China for 3,500 yuan (US$423). Wang, from coastal Qingdao city, was inspired by a story about famous former prime minister Zhu Geliang, of the Shu Kingdom (221-263 AD), who invented a wooden mechanical horse to transport crops.

1 German President Johannes Rau gestures during his speech at a luncheon reception hosted by Hong Kong's Chief Executive Tung Chee-hwa at Government House, September 16, 2003. Rau flew into Hong Kong on Monday following a state visit to the Chinese mainland .

A man whose name is unknown climbs onto a 4-meter-high steel frame on Huan Shi Dong Lu, Guangzhou, in the afternoon of September 12, with an attempt to commit suicide. After four hours' persuasion by the police, the man was finally rescued. Figures from Guangzhou 120 First Aid Medical Headquarters showed that, during the period of 1:49 a.m. to 3:12 p.m., September 13, it received reports of even suicide cases.

Members of the British non-governmental organization Oxfam lampoon leaders of the G8 countries (L-R) Jean Chretien of Canada, Junichiro Koizumi of Japan, Silvio Berlusconi of Italy, Gerhard Schroeder of Germany, Tony Blair of Great Britain, Jacques Chirac of France and George Bush of the USA) during an event held on the sidelines of the World Trade Organization meeting in Cancun September 14.

Members of the British non-governmental organization Oxfam lampoon leaders of the G8 countries, from left to right, (Gerhard Schroeder of Germany, Jean Chretien of Canada, Jacques Chirac of France, Tony Blair of Great Britain, Junichiro Koizumi of Japan, Silvio Berlusconi of Italy, and George Bush of the USA) during an event held on the sidelines of the World Trade Organization meeting in Cancun, September 14, 2003. Oxfam is trying to illustrate the G8's failure to listen to voices urging them to rewrite the rules of international trade. REUTERS

A young Uygur acrobat uses her mouth to balance herself on a pole as she spins rugs during a performance for tourists in Urumqi, the capital city of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, September 11, 2003. The ancient city of Urumqi, which was on the Silk Road trade route¡£

A young Uygur acrobat performs for tourists in Urumqi, the capital city of northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, September 11, 2003. The ancient city of Urumqi, which was on the Silk Road trade route, is now a major financial and industrial centre in northwest China.

A folk dancer wears a traditional mask during a performance at a festival in Leh, 434 Kms (270 miles) northeast of Srinagar, summer capital of the northern Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir September 12, 2003. The month of September is a predominantly cultural period in Leh when Buddhist artists and traditional folk dancers take part in performances that are based on their traditional heritage.

China is truly joining the ways of the West.

Chinese lingerie models. Thought I'd never see such a thing. At least not modeling undergarments that were colors other than olive drab in styles other than "sensible."

I'd be interested in knowing more about Halloween in China. I thought that was purely a Western holiday. What, if any, celebrations are held? Is it a Christian festival (the eve of all saints day) or is it a festival honoring the ancestors, as in pagan religions? (or is it an excuse to dress up in costumes and collect candy or have parties?)

You fuckers are different.

Then again, so are Americans:

Wanna play dentist?

That attachment didn't really work but it sure sounds interesting.

The shot of the rubberlike kid balancing on her tongue while spinning rugs has made my day. (And I think my job can be wierd.) Thanks Billy.

I would just like to mention that Billy is very, very good at finding interesting pictures to post.

Thanks, Billy!

[SIZE=1]Balancing your entire weight on your mouth has to be uncomfortable, I think...[/SIZE]

I suspect "suspense" is Alfred Hitchcock.:)

I need your feedback, of course I like your fun post.

An anti-hijacking drill was held this morning at the Beijing Capital International Airport where more than 350 armed police of a special anti-terrorism squad "killed a terrorist" and "seized two others." All of the "passenger hostages" were "freed." The excercise -- the largest of its kind held in Beijing -- tests the emergency response capability to airborne terrorist acts. [newsphoto.com.cn]

Healthcare workers treat an 'injured passengers' in an anti-hijacking drill at Beijing Capital International Airport. [newsphoto.com.cn]

San Diego Zoo veterinarians Karen Kearns (right) and Karen Lisi perform a routine health exam on the Zoo's male panda cub, at the SBC Giant Panda Research Station, September 18, 2003. The Zoo vets determined the cub's health to be in great shape as they checked his heart rate and collected body measurements. The unnamed cub currently weighs 34 ounces and is 11.5 inches long.

Hope you recognize the friendship between the U.S. and China When you see Grant Panada.

Meg Sutherland-Smith, senior veterinarian at the San Diego Zoo, applies a stethoscope to the zoo's three-week-old panda during a routine examination on Wednesday, September 10, 2003 at the SBC Giant Panda Research Station. The zoo's veterinary staff conducted its second exam on the cub and confirmed that it is a male, saying the panda now weighs 19 ounces, measures 10 inches long and is in very good health.

Bai Yun, the San Diego Zoo's female giant panda, cradles her new born cub (within yellow square) in the panda birthing den August 19, 2003. Bai Yun made world history in August, 1999 when she gave birth to Hua Mei, the first giant panda cub to be born and survive in the United States.

Contestants wear 'Qi Pao', or traditional dress, during the final rehearsal for the Miss China beauty pageant in Sanya on Hainan Island in Southern China September 20, 2003. The winner represents China in the Miss World beauty pageant to be held in Sanya in November.

Chief of Staff of PLA Navy's Southern Fleet Hou Yuexi (L) and US Navy commodore James Kelly (R) inspect Chinese honor of guards at the Zhanjiang Port in southern China's Guangdong Province Monday, Sept. 22, 2003. Two U.S. guided-missile ships, the USS Cowpens and USS Vandegrift, started a five-day friendly visit to the port Monday. It is the first time that foreign Navy ships have been allowed to visit the Chinese Navy in Zhanjiang since the People's Republic of China was found in 1949. [newsphoto.com.cn]

A pupil presents floral bouquet to James Kelly, who headed two US Navy ships, the USS Cowpens and USS Vandegrift, upon their arrival at the Zhanjiang port in south China's Guangdong Province Monday, Sept. 22, 2003.

USS Cowpens and USS Vandegrift, arrive at the Zhanjiang port in south China's Guangdong Province Monday, Sept. 22, 2003, to kick off their five days' visit to the port.

THE lone international brand named after Shanghai has finally arrived in the city itself. Shanghai Tang launches its first store, at 59 Maoming Nanlu, from this month.

The name, Shanghai Tang, translates into English as "The Bund", the historic embarkment in Shanghai fabled for its European architecture and known as the birthplace of 1930s glamour.

Raphael le Masne de Chermont, chairman of Shanghai Tang, explained how the name was inspired by the Shanghai of the 1930s whose charm competed with that of London and Paris.

Shanghai Tang's products combine traditional Chinese design and motifs with tongue-in-cheek humour and a contemporary sensibility. The result is a vibrant and witty fusion of "East meets West".

For this season, autumn/winter 2003, the theme of the designs is the "Miao Hinterland", inspired by the Miao nationality's traditional costumes. Colourful embroidery, glamorous ornamentation on the sleeves and deep blue colour takes the leading roles in the collection.

Long black dupioni silk coats embroidered with cloud patterns combined with fringed red scarves, suede shirt-jackets with leather trim, topstitched cotton coats with wide red floral-printed borders belted with peony-printed silk and velvet scarves, denim coats trimmed with ribbons and sequins with welt seams - all these pieces reflect a meeting of East and West.

For men, the Tang jackets are the most prominent items in the line. The Tang jacket resulted from the evolution of two traditional Chinese garments, both first worn during the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911). By the 1940s, what we now know as the Tang jacket became prevalent for all classes in China. Compared with the ancient style, the sleeves had become longer and wider, sometimes boasting detachable white cuffs. Patch pockets were added and the number of frog buttons became standard at seven. This jacket was worn with matching pants.

Shanghai Tang continues and innovates the tradition of the Tang jacket by offering this iconic garment in an unprecedented array of fabrics and unexpected, vibrant colour combinations.

Beauty queen Guan Qi wears her crown after becoming the new Miss China September 21, 2003. The 21-year-old from Jilin Province in Northeast China took part in the finals of the beauty pageant in Sanya, Hainan Province. Guan will represent China now in the Miss World pageant finals to be held in Sanya in December.

Beauty queen Guan Qi (centre), and runner-up Song Bingjie (right), second runner-up Liu Lina pose for a photo.

Guan Qi is crowned by last year's Miss China Wu Yingna.

Beauty queen Guan Qi in Miss China beauty contest.

Students hold a banner that reads "Remembering History and Treasuring Peace" in front of the Museum of the Anti-Japanese War in Shenyang, Northeast China's Liaoning Province, September 18, 2003. Today is the 72nd anniversary of the "September 18th Incident," when Japanese troops launched a sudden attack on the Chinese army in Shenyang.

On the evening 10:20 of September 18, 1931, the Japanese Kanto Army blew up the Liutiaohu Railway of the South Manchuria Railway in Shenyang, northen China, yet they fabricated that Chinese army did it. Under this excuse, they cannoned Beidaying Battalion of the Northeast Army of Kuomintang, and attacked Shenyang, launched the "Huanggutun Incident" which shocked China and the whole world. This is the historical "9.18 Incident", which resulted in Japan's massive invasion in Northeastern China and later the whole country in 1937.

Broken Calendar Monument for "9.18 Incident" built in 1991 in Shenyang.

Chinese civilians killed by Japanese soldiers in "9.18 Incident".

Billy, #4 won so tell #12 I'd love to console her.;)

As for 9-18, the Japanese have a habit of sneak attacks. They did it to the Russians and to the US also.:(

Billy, you post such interesting pictures and I love reading your commentary. I know you have said before that you have difficulty with the English language and I think you do very well with it, but I often find myself giggling at your words. Most of the time I can understand what you're trying to say. I am NOT making fun of you at all, but just letting you know I really enjoy reading and seeing your posts. In this thread I had to laugh at the "underware show". These may not be your words, but they struck me as funny. I also got a laugh from the "Frontier guards...demonstrating their comprehensive skills of shooting, hunting and arresting criminals". Once again I don't know if these are your words, but I wish we could "hunt" and "shoot" criminals here in the USA. It might reduce the paperwork associated with just "arresting" them like we're supposed to do;) .

Well, with the "undies shows", beauty pagents, and Pandas, it sure does look like East has finally met West.:)

Sometimes I post it my own words, others I copy from the China English newspaper. I don't have time enough to write becasue I surf Internet in cyber cafe. I can not waste too much time in it.

Workers clear debris at Kushiro Airport terminal on the northern main island of Hokkaido, Japan after it was shaken by powerful earthquakes September 26, 2003. A series of earthquakes jolted Hokkaido early on Friday, injuring more than 230 people, causing widespread damage and blackouts and prompting officials to issue tidal wave warnings.

Books are scattered across the floor at a bookshop after strong quakes in Obihiro, northern Japan, September 26, 2003. A series of powerful earthquakes jolted the northern Japanese island of Hokkaido early on Friday, injuring more than 160 people, causing widespread damage and blackouts and prompting officials to issue tidal wave warnings.

Black smoke billows out of an oil storage facility at a refinery in Tomakomai on the northern main island of Hokkaido, Japan after powerful earthquakes hit the island September 26, 2003. The quakes injured more than 160 people, caused widespread damage and blackouts and prompted officials to issue tidal wave warnings.

Japanese firemen extinguish a blaze at an oil facility after a series of powerful earthquakes in Tomakomai, the city of northern Japanese island of Hokkaido, September 26, 2003. Japan's Meteorogical Agency measured the initial quake at 8.0 on the Richter scale -- powerful enough to cause significant damage -- and it warned residents of aftershocks.

Hong Kong actress and singer Anita Mui appears at a Hong Kong hotel Monday, Sept. 22, 2003 to promote a concert she will be holding in Hong Kong. Mui disclosed earlier that she was suffering from cervic cancer.

A sumo referee smiles with a crying baby reaching out her arms to her mother during a baby crying contest at Koyasu shrine in Hachioji on the outskirts of Tokyo September 23, 2003.

Chinese school children pose near the Olympic rings during a ceremony to launch a cultural festival in relations to the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003. The Chinese capital is planning a marathon series of events and activities leading up to the high profile, multi-billion dollars sporting event.

A Chinese policeman keeps guard behind a flower sculpture decorated for the October 1 National Day on a Beijing street, September 22, 2003. Beijing gets ready to celebrate China's National Day on Oct. 1 by decorating its streets and major tourist venues. Hundreds of thousands of domestic travelers are expected during the week long holiday.

Residents stand in front of ruined houses at a village in the flood-hit Yongtai County in east China's Fujian Province Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003. Flooding caused by torrential rains late Saturday night killed at least seven people and left five others missing.

Archeologists measure the length of part of a Sauropod dinosaur fossil which was unearthed in Xidi Village, Jiutai City of northeast Chinas Jilin Province, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003. The Sauropod fossil, which was discovered by local farmers when they leveled the land, is the first of its kind ever found in the province. Scientists presumed from the unearthed part of the fossil that the dinosaur might be about 10 meters long, dating back about 90 million to 100 million years.

A porcelain bowl decorated with Chinese paintings is displayed at the China Pottery and Porcelain Exposition in Tangshan, north China's Hebei Province, Thursday, Sept. 18, 2003. The bowl with its mouth reaching 21 inches in diameter was made of the powders of animal bones and was reported the largest of its kind in the world. Three senior craftsmen spent one month to finish it.

The first batch of passengers taking Shanghai's magnetic levitation train buit with German technology have a close look at the carriage at a metro station in Shanghai, China, Saturday, Sept. 20, 2003.

An elderly Chinese man looks at contents of a package containing "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix" book and gameset during the launch of the Chinese version of the latest Harry Potter book in Beijing, China, Sunday, Sep 21, 2003. The series is wildly popular in China _ to the point where an entire fake Harry Potter story was written and published illegally here last year _ and counterfeiters here are known for their resourcefulness. The gameset based on the characters in the book were given out free with every purchase of the "Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix".

A visitor looks at models of Chinese space rockets at Beijing's military museum Thursday Sept. 18, 2003. Chinese officials said Tuesday that preparations for China's first manned space flight - expected sometime later this year - are moving ahead "extremely smoothly." The launch would make China the third country, after the U.S. and Russia, to send a manned spacecraft.

An acrobat rides bicycle on the steel tightrope while his partner stunts somersault as the Henan Aerial Tightrope Riding Acrobatic Toupe stages a performance at the city's stadium of Tangshan City, in north China's Hebei Province, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2003.Acrobats from Tianjin City and Henan and Hebei provinces converge in Tangshan, staging their superior skills to highlight 2003 Arena Competition Challenging the Utmost of Guinness, an event sponsored by the China Office of the Organization of Guinness Book of World Records.

A mainland Chinese woman carries her child during a protest in Taipei against a government proposal to extend the time mainland Chinese spouses must wait to get Taiwan citizenship on September 20, 2003. Taiwan plans to make Chinese spouses wait 11 years to get identity cards, instead of the current eight years, a move the spouses say is unfair .

A Bangladeshi villager carrys his goat through floodwaters in the village of Uttar Ujirpur, near the northwestern town of Chapai Nawabganj, 325 km (203 miles) from Dhaka, on September 18, 2003. Nearly 300,000 people have been marooned and 200,000 others have been forced to seek shelter as floods spread across northwestern Bangladesh over the past week.

This photo taken on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2003 shows the charming night scene of Mulong Lake in Guilin, south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. A new theme park will be opened during the coming National Day holidays in Mulong Lake scenic spot. Travelers will have another destination to choose during their visit in Guilin, one of China's most prestigious tourist attractions.

Tourists walk past a model of a section of the Three Gorges Dam in Beijing's Tiananmen Square Tuesday, Sept. 16, 2003. The square is being decorated in preparation for celebrations of China's National Day on Oct. 1. The dam on the Yangtze River, the world's largest hydro-electric project, went into operation earlier this year.

The open-air grand operatic spectacle "Aida," composed by Verdi, makes its debut in Beijing Workers' Stadium Sep 27, 2003. [newsphoto.com.cn]

Aida and her rival in love, Amneris confront each other.

Radames, the general from Egypt returns to Egypt after triumph over Ethiopia.

A Palestinian security man opens fire next to new Palestinian policemen jumping through fire during a graduation ceremony in Gaza September 20,2003.

Pricewaterhouse Coopers' Christian Edwards (yellow jersey) and Nokia Thailand's Tom Claytor (blue) battle for the ball during the final day of the King's Cup Elephant Polo Tournament in Hua Hin September 21, 2003. Nokia Thailand won in over-time 2-1 to fifth place in the tournament, held in the Thai resort town, 200 km (125 miles) south of Bangkok. In the background is Nokia player Shivraj.

Avtar Singh, 60, shows his 5.6 feet (1.70 metres) beard at his residence in the northern Indian city of Amritsar September 21, 2003. Singh, a retired Indian soldier, hopes his beard would qualify for an entry into the Guinness Book of World Records.

Artists dress as, left to right, Squawk, Cuite Scarewcow, Snow Spirit and Eskimo at the Hong Kong Ocean Park September 16, 2003, in preparation for the largest Halloween event in Hong Kong and Southest Asia to be held in October.

Billy, when you refer to Halloween in your posts are you referring to China's National Day on October 1st, or are you referring to our Halloween which falls on October 31st?

I see opera stars are ugly in China, also.:D

Originally posted by Billy
A Palestinian security man opens fire next to new Palestinian policemen jumping through fire during a graduation ceremony in Gaza September 20,2003.

Wow. I'm glad I just had to walk down an aisle in a funny hat and remember the proper way to shake hands ...

In China few people know Halloween. Oct, 1 is P.R. China National Day. I don't know what time hK will celibrate it. But I must still take overtime work in hte holiday.

Originally posted by xoxoxoBruce
I see opera stars are ugly in China, also.

Just the photo taker did not shoot it well. I saw news on TV. The opera is wonderful as it is in other cities. You said that becasue you have no chance to see it. Really?

Premier Wen Jiabao makes a speech at a gala celebrating the 54th anniversary of the People's Republic of China at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing September 30, 2003. Wen said that the State has learned a lot from the nationwide fight against SARS earlier this year and this year's goal of reform and development will be fully realized. [newsphoto.com.cn]

Practitioners of tai chi perform the ancient martial art on the Badaling section of the Great Wall in Beijing September 28, 2003. More than 10,000 people took part in the event on the outskirts of China's capital as part of a cultural festival to promote the 2008 Beijing Olympics and also a healthy lifestyle among Beijing residents. [newsphoto.com.cn]

One girl in tai chi perform

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

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.

Originally posted by Billy
Just the photo taker did not shoot it well. I saw news on TV. The opera is wonderful as it is in other cities. You said that becasue you have no chance to see it. Really?

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

Originally posted by xoxoxoBruce
I see opera stars are ugly in China, also.: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 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...

Originally posted by Uryoces
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.

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.

Some of the more than 50 Chinese couples wave during a mass wedding called "Rose Wedding" in Shanghai October 5, 2003 coinciding with the week-long National Day holiday festivities. More couples are getting married after a new law took effect last October, wherein couples no longer need to get a letter from their employers to testify they are still single and the premarital health test in no longer required. Picture taken October 5, 2003.

Super wedding show

Chinese brides prepare for a mass wedding for some 50 couples called "Rose Wedding" in Shanghai October 5, 2003 coinciding with the week-long National Day holiday festivities. More couples are getting married after a new law took effect last October, wherein couples no longer need to get a letter from their employers to testify they are still single and the premarital health test in no longer required. Picture taken October 5, 2003.

Chinese Shadow, which can also be called "Chinese Shadow Play or Chinese Shadow Puppet play", is one of the most ancient genre of drama in China. It came into being in the Han Dynasty (206B.C.-A.D.220) and has more than two thousand years' history.

Chinese Shadow

Popular among the people of China, Chinese Shadow is a dramatic form which uses lantern to project shadows on the screen. The artistic effect of the play is produced through light, screen, music, singing, and puppet operation. The shadow play is widely stated " a magic, lightning-like art" and win people's high praise in many countrys'.

The puppets in the shadow play are made of transparent leather. Chinese shadow artists first carve out the lines of the design and then dye them in bright colors. These transparent leather puppets become very lively and beautiful under the lantern light. With strong local characteristics, the shadow puppets are folk handiworks and a wisdow crystallization of Chinese shadow play artists through the ages. The exquistite shadow puppets not only can be played by yourself but also are a good choice for house ornament. Many state art museums and Chinese Shadow fans collect elegant Chinese shadow Puppets.

I can help you buy and send to you if you really want to get one.

Fine Shoushan Stone Carvings

Beautiful Lotus painting

Artist: Hsu Zheng Lu
Born in 1950 in the Sichuan Province of China, Hsu Zheng Lu is a member of the Academic Painting Acadamy of Shichuan. He graduated from the Chinese Painting University in Sichuan and for the past 30 years has traveled to all the famous mountains and rivers of china. His unique style of painting combines both his Chinese and Western painting skills. He has won the first prize twice at the China National Art Show.

Originally posted by Billy
Artist: Hsu Zheng Lu
Born in 1950 in the Sichuan Province of China, Hsu Zheng Lu is a member of the Academic Painting Acadamy of Shichuan. He graduated from the Chinese Painting University in Sichuan and for the past 30 years has traveled to all the famous mountains and rivers of china. His unique style of painting combines both his Chinese and Western painting skills. He has won the first prize twice at the China National Art Show.

Billy this is a beautiful picture. Do you have any idea how much a painting like this one would sell for (in US dollars)?

The shadow puppets are very interesting as well.

I also find the new marriage stuff interesting. I couldn't imagine having to get a letter from my boss asking if I could get married (if I was single). What would happen if a person was self-employed? It would seem more appropriate to get a letter from your parents, but I guess it doesn't matter now that the law is gone.

The arts need comunicate. Every one want keep all the best arts. I don't know hope any one keep the arts in home. It should ne put into musuem. But the musuem can not afford the money on all paintings.

No need company letter for marrige in law now. So you can easily marry and diorce.

A couple prepares for a group wedding held on hot air balloons yesterday in Jilin of Northeast China's Jilin Province. Yesterday, 20 couples were wed in this unique airborne ceremony.

Originally posted by LUVBUGZ
Billy this is a beautiful picture. Do you have any idea how much a painting like this one would sell for (in US dollars)?

The shadow puppets are very interesting as well.

I also find the new marriage stuff interesting. I couldn't imagine having to get a letter from my boss asking if I could get married (if I was single). What would happen if a person was self-employed? It would seem more appropriate to get a letter from your parents, but I guess it doesn't matter now that the law is gone.

Probably because until recently, the concept of self employed didn't exist in China as the state controlled everything. And your parents might be in a different work camp whereas your boss knew "everything" about you. :)

Originally posted by Billy
The arts need comunicate. Every one want keep all the best arts. I don't know hope any one keep the arts in home. It should ne put into musuem. But the musuem can not afford the money on all paintings.

No need company letter for marrige in law now. So you can easily marry and diorce.

I think I understand what you are saying about art, but I have no intentions on buying this I was just wondering what it's monetary value was in US dollars? No matter what it costs I wouldn't be able to afford it anyway. I was just curious.

I realize you don't need a letter to get married now, I was just saying that it was strange to me that you would need a letter from your employer as opposed to your parents.

Two nurses dress an abandoned baby boy at a hospital in Xi'an, Northwest China's Shaanxi Province, October 8, 2003. The infant was born October 3 at Huashan Workers' Hospital before being abandoned by his mother. Medical staff took good care of him and some lying-in women even offered to nurse him. A medical check-up indicates the baby is healthy. [www.newsphoto.com.cn]

First Bath

How Weight?

Great nurses

Chinese and foreign models attending north China international model contest present outdoor outfits in Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Oct. 6, 2003. 30 women and 10 men models will compete for the title in the final contest held on Oct. 8. Those 40 contestants are chosen from China, the United States, Britain, Russia and other countries.

A damaged bus is being towed out of a channel in Yitong Manchu Autonomous County, Northeast China¡¯s Jilin Province, Wednesday, October 8, 2003. The bus collided head-on with another bus Tuesday afternoon, killing seven and injuring 30 others. Four of the victims were university students returning to school after the seven-day National Day holiday. [newsphoto.com.cn]

A species of capsicum attracts attention at the 21st National Seeds Trade Fair which opened October 8, 2003, in Jinan, East China's Shandong Province. More than 2,000 units involved in the research, production and sales of seeds took part in the three-day event that featured over 1,000 types of grains, vegetables and fruit. [newsphoto.com.cn]

a water mellon weighing more than 20 kilograms

cauliflowers in flowerpot

Corn

1.82m-tall scallion

I'm glad to see the baby boy safe and healthy. But isn't it usually baby girls that are found abandoned? Did this particular abandoned baby make so much news because he was a boy?

Originally posted by warch
But isn't it usually baby girls that are found abandoned?

Not only girls are abandoned. You think problems too simple and outdated. I know there are many abandoned children in the USA and other west countries.

Originally posted by warch
Did this particular abandoned baby make so much news because he was a boy?

Not that. We concern all the poor babys. Many warmhearted people trey to give them a safe and good home.

Joanne Doyle and Conor Hayes of Riverdance from Ireland perform their Chinese debut at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, October 9, 2003. The show will be featured at the hall every evening until October 14. Performances will be staged at the Shanghai International Art Festival in Shanghai October 17-19.[newsphoto.com.cn]

Cool

Blue

A Japanese helicopter hovers above as a boat carrying Chinese activists from the mainland, Taiwan and Hong Kong heads for the Diaoyu Islands to proclaim China's sovereignty over the disputed territory October 9, 2003. The vessel was blocked by Japanese ships and copters, and a severe collision damaged the vessel. The activists returned safety Saturday.

Five Star Flag

Originally posted by Billy
Red Flag

You are probably not aware that the term "red flag" has another meaning in English, beyond a flag which is the color red.

It's a way of warning someone that something bad is about to or likely to happen, or is a sign of danger.

Originally posted by wolf
...... or is a sign of danger.

That was the first thing I thought when I saw the pic. Asian people holding any flag other than the US flag makes me nervous.

That doesnt mean I dont like billy or appreciate his contributions.

I recall hearing some place that the American "national color" was going to be red, but they went with blue because of the whole "evil communists use red for their color thing".

It's simply amazing how petty people are. Like renaming "French Fries".

Quzah.

Originally posted by wolf
You are probably not aware that the term "red flag" has another meaning in English, beyond a flag which is the color red.

It tells drivers on a race track to stop where they are. :)

Originally posted by quzah
It's simply amazing how petty people are. Like renaming "French Fries".

Can you give me any more info on the color ref? I'm curious. Sounds like a good read while eating a big pile of victory fries.

We think the two colors instead the luck and passion. Some Chinese dislike the red sun flag of Japan becaue of the bad history between China and Japan. I think maybe you have the feeling as ours. In some bad time, a few Chinese hate the Star-Band flag of the USA.

But I think we should give other people freedorm and right to select what they like. Thanks.

Thai soldiers fend off "protesters" during a mock demonstration in Bangkok, October 13, 2003 ahead of the October 20-21 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum. There have been persistent suggestions that Thai security is not up to the job of keeping the leaders safe.

Visitors enjoy seeing snow along the Badaling section of the Great Wall in Beijing October 12, 2003. The rare autumnal snowfall was caused by a strong Siberian cold mass that swept across the country, forecasters said.

GW

Originally posted by Billy
In some bad time, a few Chinese hate the Star-Band flag of the USA.

Maybe just a few Chinese, but many millions around the world. I heard someone say that our flag is a symbol of war. I dont think so. Our flag means freedom to me.

Anyway, you do pretty good with English. And I do like the pics!

Originally posted by quzah
I recall hearing some place that the American "national color" was going to be red, but they went with blue because of the whole "evil communists use red for their color thing".

It's simply amazing how petty people are. Like renaming "French Fries".

Quzah.

National color? I didn't know we had a national color...except for race cars which is white with a blue stripe.:confused:

I also was unaware that we had a "national color" other than red, white AND blue ... all three, in combination. (Didn't know about the race-car thing ... is that in European Grand Prix or something? Of course I'm aware of "British Racing Green" didn't know there were standard colors for countries other than that.

Thinking ... no, the purple ribbon is for neopagan awareness, silver for "brain disorders" (it's NAMI's ribbon color for crazy), Pink for breast cancer, blue and silver for columbine, red for AIDS/HIV, Blue for internet censorship, yellow for bringing our troops home ... nope, can't specifically recall a national color. (this whole honor ribbon thing is getting even more complex than the hanky code.)

Maybe Q's just trying to be amusing again? He's not used to it, after all, and they can't all be winners.

Race car colors

Britain - Green and hence "British Racing Green"
France - Blue
Germany - Silver
Spain - Yellow
Italy - Guess. Go on, guess.

Italy? Hmm...let's see...weren't all those Enzo machines..puce?:D

Tee hee. Lousy commies.

Here's a list of National Race Car Colors

Originally posted by wolf
Maybe Q's just trying to be amusing again? He's not used to it, after all, and they can't all be winners.

No, I'm usually amusing, but I was serious this time. I just can't find reference to it. Pry just some BS I heard once. Can't find anything on it. Ah well...

Quzah.

National flags are raised at the Dongfeng Town in Jiuquan Satellite Launch Centre in Northwest China's Gansu Province, where China's first-ever manned spaceflight, the Shenzhou 5 (Divine Ship V) will be launched possibly tomorrow morning at the earliest. Today the astronaut will be selected from a pool of three to orbit the earth 14 times. China's CCTV has announced its original plan of live broadcast has been dropped.

I am sorry for posting the China National Flag again. But I think it is fun newsfor you.

Surfers paddle away from Kuta beach during sunset after a memorial service for the Bali bombing victims on the beach on Indonesia's resort island of Bali, on Sunday, October 12, 2003.

Foreign tourists attend a memorial service in Bali, Oct. 12, 2003. The service was conducted Sunday to commemorate the first anniversary of the Bali bombings, which killed 202 people, including 88 Australians.

Australians mourn at the makeshift memorial of the former Sari club, one of the sites of the bomb attacks in Kuta on Indonesia's resort island of Bali on Oct. 11, 2003. More than 500 survivors and families of the dead attended the commemorative services on Sunday to mark the first anniversary of the bomb blasts, which killed 202 people, mostly foreigners. Australia lost 88 citizens in the attack.

A woman lifts up her child as the sun sets on Kuta beach in the Indonesian resort island of Bali October 11, 2003.

Originally posted by Billy
I am sorry for posting the China National Flag again. But I think it is fun newsfor you.

Billy, you don't have to apologize for posting pictures of your national flag. You are right, this IS fun news for us, and these are great pictures that you have been finding. There's a lot about Americans that don't make sense. Don't stop showing us your country!

China's CCTV has announced its original plan of live broadcast has been dropped.

Hmmm... I wonder they decided that?

I read the astronaut (Chinaut?) will carry a gun and knife in the capsule in case he lands in hostile territory. That's sad.:(

Originally posted by xoxoxoBruce
....... in case he lands in hostile territory

Hostile territory? On the Moon? I didnt know there were hostiles on the Moon.

If they're talking about re-entry, China would probably have some support craft waiting at almost any concievable touchdown location. Something with firepower I would imagine.

No, wait. That would be the US. Never mind

False alarm.

Originally posted by quzah
Pry just some BS I heard once. Can't find anything on it. Ah well...

Hey, sometimes I just pull things outta my ass too. No biggie.

Originally posted by xoxoxoBruce
I read the astronaut (Chinaut?) will carry a gun and knife in the capsule in case he lands in hostile territory. (

No need sad. Never that thing would happen in China astonuats. You mabe be read fake news.

China's first manned spaceship - Shenzhou V (Divine Vessel V) blasts off into space at the Jiu Quan Satellite Launch Center in Northwest China's Gansu Province at 9:00am Wednesday morning October 15, 2003. The control center described the launch as a success.

More

control center

in training

Yang, his wife and his son

Indian Hindu women smudge Vermillion on each other's faces on the concluding day of Durga Puja in the northern Indian city of Chandigarh October 5, 2003.

Tens of thousands of tourists visiting Tiananmen square near a giant portrait of Sun Yat-Sen, widely regarded as founding father of modern China, in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Oct 1, 2003. China celebrates its 54th National Day with a week long holiday during which millions of Chinese go on vacation within China. Hundreds of thousands are expected to visit the Chinese capital alone.

Urban residents whoop for their tortoises at a tortoises competition held in Fuzhou, capital of east China's Fujian Province, Oct. 3. More than 200 families participated in the competition with their tortoises.

A man shows the water diverted from Cetian Reservoir in north China's Shanxi Province into Guanting Reservoir in the suburb of Beijing Oct.2. The Ministry of Water Resources as saying it plans to divert 50 million cubic metres of water from Shanxi to Beijing, where the existing freshwater reserve can only offer a 10-month supply.

People visit the Three Gorges Dam along the Yangtze River Oct. 3. The dam which has become a popular tourism destination received more than 9,000 tourists Friday, hitting a record high since it started construction. The Three Gorges Dam along the Yangtze River was in operation Oct. 3. By Thursday midnight, four power generators of China's Three Gorges Project, the world's largest hydropower project, had generated a total of 2.8 billion kilowatts of electricity since the first generator began its operation.

An Artist "Logunov" from a Russian trigon group plays a trigon during an international art concert in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, Thursday, Oct. 2, 2003. The Russian artists will perform in China's six cities including Beijing and Shanghai.

A Chinese man stands near a poster of China's space rockets and Chinese characters that reads, "Quietly anticipate the coming surprising moment" and "China's Shen Zhou will lift to the sky soon," at a model exposition in Beijing, China, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003. China's first manned spacecraft named Shen Zhou V could be launched as early as Oct from China's remote northwest and will probably contain one crew member.

A Chinese woman stands near a public information poster about AIDS in Beijing, China, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003. A Chinese website reported figures released by China's health ministry stating that 840,000 people were infected with AIDS and in the first half of this year alone, there was an increase of 20.3 percent in the number of infections.

China is not prepared to register any marriage between people of the same sex, but will allow AIDS patients to marry if certain requirements for their marriage are met, a senior Chinese civil affairs official has said.

¡¡¡¡An adult male and female in love need only to provide their ID cards and residence booklets, and sign a statement that they are single and not related before registration, said Zhang Mingliang, director of the Department of Grassroots Government Units and Community Development under the Ministry of Civil Affairs (MOCA)Tuesday afternoon.

¡¡¡¡"Even a couple with infectious diseases or AIDS may marry if they so wish," Zhang said, adding that marriage is still prohibited for insane persons.

¡¡¡¡"Of course those people with epidemic diseases should receive medical treatment in accordance with relevant laws and regulations," Zhang said, "but the new regulations on marriage registration have no special restriction on marriage involving such people."

¡¡¡¡It is estimated that the number of AIDS patients in this, the world's most populous country had topped one million by the end of 2002.

¡¡¡¡China unveiled its new, and more relaxed regulations on marriage registration recenty. More about China Marry Law

The pic one famous China GAY movie, but it can not cast in China mainland.

Chinese teenager with punk hairstyle attending an alternative rock music festival in Beijing, China, Wednesday, Oct 1, 2003. Punk is a movement of disaffected youth of the late 1970s, manifesting itself in western fashions and music designed to shock or intimidate. As China opens itself to the world, cultural influences are finding expression in the youth of the communist country.

Female undergraduates from the Sungkyunwan University of the Republic of Korea (ROK) in ancient attires pose for a group photo in front of the Temple of Confucius while attending the commemoration of the 2,554th anniversary of the birth of Confucius, in Qufu, east China's Shandong Province, Sunday, Sept. 28, 2003. Some 30 female undergraduates and more than 10 professors of the Sungkyunwan University came to Qufu, the hometown of Confucius, to worship the ancient sage, visiting the relevant cultural relics and bringing in their own-choreographed dances to express their admirations.

Fireworks from Hong Kong team explode over Hong Kong harbor Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003, in the first round of the International Musical Firworks Competition that features teams from Hong Kong and Italy. The final round of the event, staged to attract tourists to Hong Kong, will take place on Oct 12 and will involve teams from the United States and Japan.

A giant condom advertisement balloon is displayed during a joint wedding event, Rose Wedding, on Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003 in Shanghai, China. More than 50 newly wedded pairs participate this wedding event, part of Shanghai tourism festival.

Originally posted by Billy
Fireworks from Hong Kong team explode over Hong Kong harbor Sunday, Oct. 5, 2003, in the first round of the International Musical Firworks Competition that features teams from Hong Kong and Italy. The final round of the event, staged to attract tourists to Hong Kong, will take place on Oct 12 and will involve teams from the United States and Japan.

Wow, I'd rather see that than Burning Man.:)

Yang Liwei, China's first space man, displays China's national flag and the United Nation's flag in Shenzhou V, China's first manned spaceship, in the outer space October 15, 2003. The spaceship blasted off into space at 9:00am at the Jiuquan Satellite Launch Center, making China the third country in the world to send a person into orbit after former Soviet Union and the US.

Manned spaceflight ends in success

rescue vehicles

main landing site in the Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region

A black BMW 325i, the first produced in China by a joint venture between German BMW Auto and China's Huacheng Automotive Company Ltd, was introduced to Chinese consumers on October 16, 2003, in Shanghai. BMW 325i will be sold at 473,850 yuan (US$58,000). The German auto giant said it is going to produce BMW 3 and 5 series in China.

Is that you getting your new car, Billy?:D

Chinese Vice Minister of Commerce An Min (L) shakes hands with Macao's Secretary for Economy and Finance Francis Tam Pak Yuen (R) after the subscription of the Mainland/Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) Friday, Oct 17, 2003 in the Government House of Macao. The Mainland/Macao CEPA is expected to promote the bilateral trade in logistics, serve, and facilitate trade and investment.

Chinese Vice-President Zeng Qinghong (L)toast mainland entrepreneurs during the subscription ceremony of the Mainland/Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) Friday, Oct 17, 2003.

Chief Executive of Macao SAR Edmund Ho Hau Wah (L) says cheers to Chinese Vice-President Zeng Qinghong during the subscription ceremony of the Mainland/Macao Closer Economic Partnership Arrangement (CEPA) Friday, Oct 17, 2003.

I don't like cars because I had one traffic accident in my middle school.

Were you in the car or did it hit you?:confused:

The 325i starts at $27,800 in the US...and that's a price that is hard for many Americans to afford. $58,000 in China? Jeez...

The car kissed me.

In fact, the Car Price is higher in China than other countries because of the triffe.

President Hu Jintao delivers a speech at the CEO Summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in Bangkok, Thailand October 19, 2003. Hu said China's economy remains in good shape and this year's target of a 7 per cent economic growth "is well within reach."

Art performances are staged at the opening ceremony for the Fifth National City Games at the Helong Sports Center in Changsha, Central China's Hunan Province October 18, 2003. The event, scheduled to close on October 27, is aimed at selecting outstanding athlets for the 2008 Beijing Olympics, thus none of the athlets are more than 20 years old.


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Originally posted by Billy
The car kissed me.

In fact, the Car Price is higher in China than other countries because of the triffe.

Billy, I have to say it again, your comments make me laugh:) . I don't think you realize it, but your words in English are funny, in a good way. I am not making fun of you, it's just that I couldn't come up with some of the stuff you say if I tried.

The car kissed me. I think that might qualify as a Cellar Greatest Hits post. :cool:

I think you mean tariff. :)

Keep up the good work Billy:thumb: .

I surfed Internet in cyber cafe so I hurry to spell the words. Sometimes I make mistakes. Hope you help me to correct me.

I went car shopping with my dad in Taiwan last year ... a Lexus LS430 costs around $78,000 (US). That's like twice what it is in the U.S.

I asked the dealer and he said it's all the taxes and tariffs (triffes? heh). The retail value of the vehicle is also kicked up like 15% right off the bat - damn japanese.

Billy,
I'm curious, why do you have to go to a cybercafe to get on the Internet? Don't you have a computer at home or at your school?
LUVBUGZ

I have no one computer to use. I have no right to access Internet in company computer. I graduated from my university last year. I have surfed Internet in cybercafe since 1999.

Originally posted by Billy
I have no one computer to use. I have no right to access Internet in company computer. I graduated from my university last year. I have surfed Internet in cybercafe since 1999.

That must be kind of frustrating for you. I can spend several hours on the Internet during one session. How long can you stay online at the cybercafe? Do you have to pay for that time?

Of course, I must pay for it. I often spend half hour in net cafe. In weekend I spend at most 2 hours in it. I can not waste too much time on it because I need prepare for the GRE/GMAT test.

Zhao Qizheng (center), Minister in charge of the State Council's Information Office, and Kenneth Podziba, personal representative of New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg attend the launching ceremony of www.x3dchina.com in New York on October 21, 2003. The website, aiming to enable North American readers to have a better eyeview of China's ancient culture through the latest high technology on the Internet, is a joint venture between China Daily Information Corp and X3D Technologies Corp of the US.

Pakistani navy destroyer Babur awaits to take part in a joint search-and-rescue exercise with the Chinese Navy in the East China Sea. The drill is scheduled to begin October 22, 2003. This is the first time China's navy will conduct a joint non-traditional security exercise with foreign navies. More

A Long March IV B carrier rocket blasts off into the sky at the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in North China's Shanxi Province October 21, 2003, carrying an earth resources satellite jointly developed with Brazil and a China-made Chuangxin I (Innovation I) into orbits.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (L) shakes hands with US President George W. Bush (R) after the reading of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) joint declaration in Bangkok October 21, 2003. The 21-member summit concluded two days of talks with a luncheon where officials had a freewheeling discussion about economic problems and security issues.

Leaders attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) pose for a group photo before the second day of meeting at the Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall in Bangkok October 21, 2003.The leaders are (Front row from left) Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun, Malaysian Prime Minister Mahathir Mohamad, Philippine President Gloria Macapagal Arroyo, Thailand Prime Minister and host Thaksin Shinawatra, Indonesian President Megawati Sukarnoputri, New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark, Sultan of Brunei Hassanal Bolkiah, Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Michael Somare, (Back row from left) Russian President Vladimir Putin, Chinese President Hu Jintao, Australian Prime Minister John Howard, U.S. President George W. Bush, Mexican President Vicente Fox, Singapore Prime Minister Goh Chok Tong, Canadian Prime Minister Jean Chretien, Taiwan delegate Lee Yuan-Tseh, Chilean President Ricardo Lagos and Hong Kong Chief Executive Tung Chee Hwa.

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) leaders pose during a group photo session at Ananta Samakhom Throne Hall in Bangkok October 21, 2003. The APEC leaders are (L-R) Russian President Vladimir Putin, Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, Chinese President Hu Jintao, South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun and Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

Several Chinese Youth Pioneer League members smile during a gathering to celebrate the 54th anniversary of the league in Beijing on October 13.

Rescuers carry out operations at the site where train derailment occured near Yima City in the western part of central China's Henan Province Oct. 11. At 7:48 a.m. on Saturday, a passenger train heading for Zhengzhou, capital of the province, encountered a sudden landslide caused by heavy rain near Yima City. The train driver failed to stop the locomotive in time, causing derailment of the locomotive and five other carriages behind it. Three passengers slightly injured in the accident were hospitalized.

Lin Hui, a two-year-old female panda, eats carrot inside its new home at Chiang Mai Zoo, in northern Thailand, October 12, 2003. Lin Hui and three-year-old male panda Chuang Chuang were presented to the Thai government by China and will act as "animal ambassadors" to reflect the close relationship between the two countries. The Thai government have spent 40 million baht ($1 million) on specially built air-conditioned enclosures and a recreational area for the pandas from China's Cheng Du city.

Three Swedish opera artists are exchanging ideas with their Chinese counterparts after they watch the exhibitions at the Eighth Chinese Opera Festival held in Xi'an, capital of Shaanxi Province on October 13, 2003. The foreign artists spoke highly of Chinese traditional culture and excellent shows at the festival which, starting from October 8, lasts two weeks.

World top player Ma Lin lived up to his reputation by trouncing Kalinikos Kreanga of Greece to claim the title at the ITTF Men's World Cup in Jiangyiin on Sunday. It is the first men's single title at a major international event for China after the ITTF, governing body of the sport, introduced the three-step reform of big ball, 11-point system and no-hide service since 2000 Olympic Games.

Foreign visitors look remote controlled planes at China International Fair for Toy, Hobbies and Gift Friday, Oct. 10, 2003 in Shanghai. A major toy industry association plans to begin inspecting factories - most of them in China - to ensure they meet health, labor and safety codes, an industry official said .

Fireworks from the United States team burst over the sculpture of Golden Bauhinia, a symbol of Hong Kong, October 12, 2003. Teams from Japan and the United States participated in a large-scale show during the Hong Kong International Musical Fireworks Competition on Sunday.

A Chinese worker repairs the roof of a building against a backdrop of an advertisement for a French cosmetic company in Beijing October 14, 2003. China's State Statistical Bureau is due to give the latest snapshot of the economy on October 17 when it releases third quarter data on GDP growth, industrial output and inflation. The economy will finish the year in strong shape.

Visitors dip cookies into a chocolate fountain during the opening day of Jakarta Chocolate Expo 2003 in Jakarta, Indonesia, Thursday, Oct. 9, 2003. The event was aimed to provide an expose on the latest developments in the chocolate industry in the country.

Has to be done.

I was quite amused by the pictures of the world leaders in their solidarity pajamas ... I wonder what possessed the organizers of such an event to require that everyone dress in something other than the typical approved diplomatic formal wear? Okay, I understand the concept (like in the Chairman Mao days) of everyone dressing alike to remove any perceptions of class or status ... but this is just weird.

(I wonder if they performed a June Taylor-like dance number)

I also had a question about the train derailment pictures ... the accompanying story said three people were treated at a hospital for injuries? Usually there are multiple fatalities and many more serious injuries than that! The story mentions 5 overturned passenger cars in addition to the locomotive.

Putin looks like he'd like to smack the front row.:D

Female students majoring in flight attendance from the Nanchang Institute of Aeronautical Technology pose for a photo before a training airplane October 23, 2003. As China's first batch of students studying for a bachelor's degree in flight attending, the women were recruited from tens of thousands of senior high school graduates in more than 10 provinces.

A wounded sailor is winched to safety by a Pakistani helicopter as part of a joint rescue exercise with the Chinese navy in the East China Sea October 22, 2003. It was the first time Chinese naval forces had conducted joint exercise with its foreign counterpart in a non-traditional security field.

An injured sailor is assisted to a Chinese helicopter during the simulated operation.

A Pakistani helicopter winches a wounded sailor to safety as part of a joint rescue exercise with the Chinese navy in the East China Sea October 22, 2003.

China News - English

I didn't know the Nanchang fighter came with flight attendants!

Where is the galley, anyway? And what kind of in flight movies would they show?

Inquiring minds want to know!

Brian

.....studying for a bachelor's degree in flight attending,....

Studying how to catch bachelors as a flight attendant?:D

Chinese President Hu Jintao speaks to the Australian National Parliament in Canberra October 24, 2003. Hu, the first Asian President to have spoken in Australia's parliament, spoke of closer ties between the two countries. Hu will visit New Zealand after his four-day visit to Australia.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) is guided by Australian Prime Minister John Howard after making his speech to the Australian National Parliament in Canberra October 24, 2003.

A parade highlighting a child-balancing feat proceeds along a street in Beijing during a Hong Kong tourism promotion on October 23, 2003. Boosting domestic tourism is an important part of the Beijing-Hong Kong Economic Co-operation Symposium which opened in the capital Thursday.

Hong Kong is showing advertisements for tourism on American television.

Welcome to HongKong and China mainland.

Li Wenyao (C), Director of China's Guangzhou Tourism Administration, opens a jug of rice wine with other guests during a tourism promotion event opened in Paris, France, Oct. 23. The tourism promotion event aimed at making more French people to know Guangzhou, the capital city of southeast China's Guangdong Province, and promote development of the city's tourism.

French woman Hua Xinmin admires the fine stone carving above the gate of an old folk house in Beijin. Born in a lane in Beijing 48 years ago and as a foreign national of some Chinese blood lineage, she loves hutong (lanes). She has devoted herself to the protection of lanes in the Chinese capital since 1998. Her everyday work is to investigate those courtyards that shoud be protected, or have been demolished as well as those that are being dismantled, and then forward the information to the government and cultural relics sector for the protection of hutong.

The picture taken on Aug. 14, 2003 shows two terra cotta warriors excavated from a tomb of an official in ancient China's Song Dynasty (960-1127). The terra cotta warriors were unearthed in 1987 in Xinjin County, southwest China's Sichuan Province. A total of 48 funerary objects were discovered in the tomb. The tomb of the wife of the mentioned official was unearthed on Aug. 13, 2003 in the county.

The picture taken on Aug. 14, 2003 shows a mini-house excavated from the tomb of an official in ancient China's Song Dynasty (960-1127), in Xinjin County, southwest China's Sichuan Province. The mini-house and 47 other funerary objects were discovered in the tomb in 1987.

The Nelson-Atkins Museum here in Kansas City has an excellent Oriental collection, complete with several of these pottery buildings. I guess I didn't realize that they were funerary items, though.

The most amazing piece in the entire collection, IMHO, is this one... http://www.nelson-atkins.org/collections/asian/detail/bodhisat.htm

It is especially well-situated in the museum, and is an wonderful place for contemplation and introspection. Very, very nice energy there. However, the museum is currently undergoing a major construction and revamping project, and this wonderful statue may be moved. I sincerely hope not, because it is just too perfect as it is.

And, just so you know that I'm not *too* new-agey and all Pagan weird, here's my very favorite piece in the whole gallery, by our own local boy Thomas Hart Benton:

http://www.usc.edu/schools/annenberg/asc/projects/comm544/library/images/422bg.jpg

Photo taken in Shandan in northwest China's Gansu Province, Sunday, Oct. 26, 2003 shows a house destroyed by a strong earthquake . Two powerful tremors shook a remote, earthquake-prone region of northwestern China, killing nine people and injuring dozens of others.

Earthquake victims
Gansu earthquake

People carry candles and banners to commemorate the Chinese victims killed by invading Japanese troops in Ningbo, East China's Zhejiang Province, October 27, 2003. On October 23, 1940, Japanese invaders airdropped a plague virus on Ningbo, killing 108 local residents. Relatives of the victims are preparing to file a lawsuit against the Japanese government.

Chinese Defense Minister Gen. Cao Gangchuan[Left] enters the Pentagon with Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld on Tuesday, Oct. 28, 2003. It was the first visit to the Pentagon by a Chinese defense minister during the Bush administration. The meeting was aimed at rebuilding relations soured from the start of the Bush administration.

England captain Martin Johnson (R) and teammate Dorian West (L) laugh during a ride at Wet and Wild theme park as part of a rest and relaxation day on Australia's Gold Coast October 28, 2003.

Chinese farmers dry corn along a small road on the outskirts of Beijing October 24, 2003. Corn harvest has been delayed in some areas due to cold weather and rains this year.

General Electric Company Chairman and CEO Jeffrey Immelt receives a Chinese scroll with "smooth sailing" note from a lion dancer during the opening of GE China Technology Center in Shanghai October 23, 2003. General Electric, one of the world's most profitable companies, expects to generate $3 billion in sales from China this year and wants to invest in the country's vast financial services sector, Immelt said on Thursday.

Boeing donates $100K to the Golden Key Shaanxi Project to help sight impaired children.

A Turner Prize-nominated work by British artist Grayson Perry entitled "Vase Using My Own Family 1998" is seen at the Tate Britain gallery in London, October 28, 2003. The winner of the 20,000 pound ($34,000) annual prize will be announced on December 7.

Bolivian Gonzalo Calizaya walks past the bus in which he works as an assistant, which was painted with an airplane flying into the World Trade Center and portraits of Osama Bin Laden and Che Guevara, in La Paz, October 28, 2003. The bus owner, JuanTapia, had his bus painted after an image he saw in a newspaper, adding a portrait of his idol, Che. He said many passengers and tourists have their pictures taken with the painted bus, which travels frequently into the tropical Los Yungas region from La Paz.

Chinese tourists walk past sculptures depicting herioc Chinese people on Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, Thursday, Oct. 23, 2003. During an annual World Tourism Organization meeting in the Chinese capital, both Chinese and International tourism officials express hope that the tourism industry will recover from the post Sept 11 terrorism attacks and post-SARS virus epidemic. China is increasingly a driver for the industry as more Chinese travel abroad on vacation and more foreign tourist choose to visit China.

A human foetus sucks its thumb in week 20 of the pregnancy, in this undated photo by Swedish photographer Lennart Nilsson. Now 81, Nilsson shot to world fame in 1965 when the American magazine Life ran 16 pages of pictures from his book "A Child is Born" showing the development of a human foetus in the womb.

SOHO satellite view of solar activity on the sun in this undated photograph. The Earth's magnetic field was bombarded with extra energy from the Sun on October 24, 2003 when a geomagnetic storm sent charged particles that affected electric utilities,etc.

New Zealand All Blacks fans show their support during their pool D match against Tonga in the 2003 Rugby World Cup at Lang Park in Brisbane October 24, 2003. New Zealand won 91-7.

Car and Beauty

It is the typical picture in the Culture Revolution in China.

Special police forces in Changsha City, Hunan Province, spent 2 hours persuading an abductor to release a woman before overpowering him Tuesday morning. The unnamed man grabbed the captive and demanded a ransom from her family. Police ballooned an air bag under an overpass to secure the woman's safety. The woman, who's name was not released, was not harmed.

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Billy, you keep showing us what the world is doing. Tell us what you are doing. About your life in China and where you live, where you work, where you shop and what you do in your free time.:)

Originally posted by xoxoxoBruce
Tell us what you are doing. About your life in China and where you live, where you work, where you shop and what you do in your free time.:)

I work as Engineer in Thomson Foshan . I live Foshan, near Guangzhou & Hong Kong, GuangDong Province. Now I prepare for TOEFL and GMAT tests. I want to go to the North America to take graduate program. Then I can have tea with you.

Waiters fill a tea cup in a unique way at a teahouse in Hangzhou, capital of eastern China's Zhejiang Province. The waiters practice the so-called "Kungfu of water filling " to attract tourist.

Chian's first astronaut Yang Liwei, (right) and Hong Kong action movie star Jackie Chan sing together during a welcome ceremony to the astronaut at the Hong Kong Stadium on Saturday.

A staffer of the Shanghai Art Fair examines a sculpture conveyed by the France-based Musee d'Orsay to the city Oct 27, 2003. The art fair opens today at the Shanghai Mart and will run through November 2.

A couple in Shanghai yesterday look closely at a sculpture named "Women Detachment of the Red Army", a story based on women soldiers of the Red Army in Hainan Island during the first Civil War (1927-37).

Holy shit, talk about artistic license.:eek:

Linda Wells, a lawyer from New Mexico, holds a picture of her adopted daughter from China, Kailee Matena Wells, in Beijing on Monday. Ms Wells is in China to seek donation of a bone marrow which may cure his daughter's aplastic anemia.

More

The netcafe fare costs me an aem and a leg, so I have to decrease surfing Internet time.

What would it cost for a PC over there? And how much for a server?:)

I have spent money as one PC. The fee is 3.00RMB/hour (nearly 40UScents).

Originally posted by Billy
(nearly 40UScents).

If thats an arm and a leg, I'm fucking rich!

Originally posted by Billy
I have spent money as one PC. The fee is 3.00RMB/hour (nearly 40UScents).

I think that is similar to what I was paying in Thailand. It is pocket change to almost any US citizen.

But I do realize it is a lot for you.

That's why the Waltons are so rich.:(

My month salary is just about 200$. So you can see that it is still expensive for me.

Newly crowned, Vivien Yeo waves after winning the Miss Malaysia Chinese International Pageant in Genting Highland, outskirt of Kuala Lumpur, Saturday, Nov.8, 2003. Vivien walks away with prizes worth more than RM260,000 and will represent Malaysia competing at the Miss Chinese International Pageant 2004 further in Hong Kong.

Former US President Bill Clinton (L) talks with Song Pengfei, a 21-year-old AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) patient from north China's Shanxi Province, at Qinghua University in Beijing Monday, Nov. 10, 2003. More than 300 experts, scholars and officials from around the world Monday attended the International Seminar on AIDS and SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) sponsored by the university.

British explorers Andy McEwen (L) and Ed Jocelyn sit at a road sign that reads "Red Army Snow Slope" in China's southwestern province of Sichuan in August, 2003. The two men spent more than a year retracing the route of the 1934-35 "Long March" by Mao Zedong's Red Army. Many long marchers died along the snow slope from exposure, exhaustion or from slidding down the slope in winter as they had to fight off Nationalist troops in hot pursuit. Picture taken in August, 2003.

A Chinese worker cleans the windows of a commercial building next to a national flag in Beijing November 11, 2003. China's economy grew 8.5 percent in this year's first nine months. Analysts said that they expected a similar rate for the full year. Despite its fevered growth, China still has one of the lowest rates of inflation in Asia. Consumer prices rose just 1.1 percent in September from a year earlier.

The Forbidden City in Beijing is blanketed with snow November 7, 2003. Beijing residents on Friday woke up to the Chinese capital's first snow fall of the winter. The Forbidden City is the largest and best-preserved cluster of ancient buildings in China. It was home to two dynasties of emperors, the Ming and the Qing.

An Iraqi boy holds a large Saddam Hussein action figure bought at a shop in the centre of the Iraqi capital Baghdad on November 6, 2003. Washington is set to order thousands of troops to prepare for duty in Iraq next year, U.S. officials said, as Britain's top envoy in Baghdad warned of difficult months ahead due to persistent guerrilla attacks.

An Iraqi boy collects real bullets while playing at bullet casings garbage dump in Baghdad's suburb of Al-Talibeaa November 8, 2003.

A visitor looks at the sculpture "Him", a look-a-like of former German dictator Adolf Hitler by artist Maurizio Cattelan at the "Haus der Kunst" art museum in Munich November 7, 2003. The sculpture is part of the exhibition "Partners" showing items of the collection of Canadian art collector Ydessa Hendeles and runs until February 15, 2004.

Billy, does your employer or the government take anything out of that $200 or do you get the whole thing?:confused:

Of course, I must hand out my tax and others.

OK, so how much does that leave for you?:confused:

About 30$

Jury members in charge of the design for the Forest Park and Central Zone on the Olympic Green for the Beijing 2008 Olympics visit a model jointly offered by the US-based Sasaki Associates Inc and a local urban conceptual design academy November 18, 2003, in Beijing. The jury has chosen three top designs from seven contenders asked to participate.

Wang Huihai flies over a 35-meter gouge on a bicycle as thousands of onlookers observe in Guangwu Town, Central China¡¯s Henan Province November 16, 2003. Wang, 35, from Northwest China¡¯s Shaanxi Province, soared over the 31.4-meter-wide Huangyaguan section of the Great Wall by bike in 2002.

A firefighter combats a fire at a chemical plant in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, early Tuesday morning November 18, 2003. The fire, which was caused by a series of chemical explosions, was extinguished after one hour. No deaths or injuries were reported.

Originally posted by Billy
About 30$

Per month?:eek: Who do you pay taxes to? National? Province? City? What are the "others" you mentioned? You mean rent or dues or prostitutes? :)
I think most of us are more interested in how you live and how the "blue collar workers" live than the big news that's in the media. Except of course how you and the people you know feel about these big events. We have ways to make you talk. :D

Tax $30/month.I think Igive my tax to the country and the Party,mainly to city. $30 include securities and healthcare. In fact, I like to talk myself to you, but I don't know what you want to know.

Where you live? Apartment? Room? Do you share with others or alone? Share bathroom?
The people that work in the factory, do the live close or far from work? How old do you have to be to work There? Do you cook or eat out? Where to you buy food? How often?
I want to know how real people live there.:)

Billy, I think you mentioned once that mainland Chinese can't go to Hong Kong...is that true? If so, why?

I live in pnr renting house, one aprtment near my company. I share one apartment and nathroom, not sleeping room, with my workmates. They married.
My workmates live all over the city. Some take bus,some have motorbike, some have their car,some ride bike, of course some walk on foot.
Sometime I have food that they cook in home. I can make some food. Sometime I have food in company. Of course I often go out to eat, like Chinese food, KFC and other fast food. As you know Chinese like food so I can easily get food.

Just this year, Cantonese can easily go to Hong Kong because the Conton and HK government make one law to development. But we must have one residence ID card or passport. I still cannot go because I have no Conton ID card and passport.

I share one apartment and nathroom, not sleeping room, with my workmates. They married.

Is that Alamuhan?

Not him. I never met him. Hope to see him one day.

What do people do on their days off? Where do they go on dates? Do people keep pets?

In fact, I am a minor "White Collar". In my company I guess the Blu Collar salary is about $100 - $220.
My expenditure/month:
Food:$40 House rent: $40 Trafic:$50 Book:$30 Internet:$15

Sometimes I am afraid that I am tied on money. I have to cut down my food fare to buy books.

They can go out to hike, travel. Or have a family dinner/lunch. Watch movies, operas, KTV.. Now we have many selections to relax. I don't know where they go for dating. I often go to restraunts, film... We can bring up pets.

Chinese university students take an oath to enter the Communist Party at exhibition called "Jing Gangshan Spirit" in Beijing aimed at promoting the Chinese Communist Party November 15, 2003. Jing Gangshan is the first Communist military base in China. The late chairman Mao Zedong and his "Autumn Harvest Army" arrived in Jing Gangshan, a massive mountain ranges lying between the provinces of Jiangxi and Hunan, in October 1927 and joined forces there with another rebel group called "Insurrection Army of August 1".

Two unidentified men shoot a performance of Guanyin (Buddhist Goddess of Mercy) with a thousand arms at the Putuo Mountain in Zhoushan, east China's Zhejiang Province, Sunday, Nov. 16, 2003. The First South Sea Guanyin Cultural Festival of Putuo Mountain, one of the four famous Buddhist mountains in China, opened Sunday, during which a series of cultural, tourism and religious activities will be held.

What is the meaning of 'Mc-'? I meet many words have this prefixion, such as McGill, McDonld's. I don't know its meaning.

From what I've read, names that begin with "Mc" appear to be of Scottish origin and historically refer to the son of someone. For example, "McDonald" means "son of Donald."

Don't worry about it Billy, Mc- only appears in proper names and they have no meaning in English, only derivation or where they originated. Unlike Chinese In English a persons name only means the identity of that person.

sycamore, as you say, it is the "son" of name. Johnson is the son of John? Right?

500 years ago when the family name was invented. Today, the names are only historical.

Many American/European names refer to the profession of the person who started the name. We have many "Baker", "Carpenter", "Smith" (referring to "blacksmith", a metal worker), "Miller" (referring to one who worked a mill).

Even though there are no more blacksmiths, the names continue.

Originally posted by xoxoxoBruce
Don't worry about it Billy, Mc- only appears in proper names

Generally, but not only. Due to the McDonalds hamburger chain, he's also likely to run into terms like "McJobs". The term is used to describe low-paying dead-end jobs.

True Dar, but he was asking about the meaning of peoples names. We got into this a little some time ago. The Chinese put a great deal of importance on the meanings of peoples names and get confused trying to interpret western names. What Syc told Billy was correct but I was trying to steer him completely away from the practice because it won't benefit him at all and will probably just confuse everyone if he comes to school here.
BTW, I heard on the radio that McD's legal staff have convinced the dictionary to drop the McJob rederence. I wonder if we'll see a pocket dictionary promotion at McD's soon?:rolleyes:

Originally posted by xoxoxoBruce
We got into this a little some time ago. The Chinese put a great deal of importance on the meanings of peoples names and get confused trying to interpret western names.

Ah. Never mind then.

On another topic. I don't know everyone here as well as some of you seem to know each other. So when you say Wolf knows you, is that in the biblical sense? :)

None of my business - just wondering.

Whenever someone asks anything about names, I almost always think of the line that Bruce Willis delivers in Pulp Fiction..."We're American, honey...our names don't mean shit."

All I know about my own is that the last name is apparently made up, and the first name is due to sperm donor getting to the name people at the hospital before my mom. And since I'm named after sperm donor, I can only assume that one or both of my grandparents had a case of the stupids the day he was born...or sadistic tendencies.

Originally posted by dar512
On another topic. I don't know everyone here as well as some of you seem to know each other. So when you say Wolf knows you, is that in the biblical sense?

Wishful thinking on Bruce's part ... (it's also a play off my user title, which was a play off slang's former user title, which was "Doesn't know all the psychos")

Many Chinese like to know one's age, resindence, marriage, families... They are some topics in chatting. With communication to the west, we have started to notice these topics. We dare not ask them if others don't tell.

Volunteers from the United States dressed as Santa Claus wave to Hong Kong residents December 3, 2003. The US Santa Claus Friendship Group, comprised of more than 60 senior citizens from Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and San Francisco, is in Hong Kong to deliver a message of global good will and peace.

Originally posted by sycamore
the first name is due to sperm donor getting to the name people at the hospital before my mom. And since I'm named after sperm donor, I can only assume that one or both of my grandparents had a case of the stupids the day he was born...or sadistic tendencies. [/B]

In your grandparents day the name was a strong traditional one. That's before it took on a faggy connotation, as did mine.

Wishful thinking on Bruce's part ...

Uh huh...sigh

Ah. Never mind then.

Not dissing your point Dar, just adding that Billy had clued us to their attachment to name meanings.

Many Chinese like to know one's age, resindence, marriage, families... They are some topics in chatting. With communication to the west, we have started to notice these topics. We dare not ask them if others don't tell.

Billy, I think that most Americans are happy to tell you about those things but will wait to be asked.

I don't get one passport so I can not apply visa. I don't know if I can go to travel next spring.

Well at least our women folk will be safe a little while longer.:D
Did they give a reason Billy, or don't they give reasons. How long before you can try again for a passport?

Becasue I have no location certification. I think I can get one soon and apply next year visa to the USA.

Never mind. I cannot snatch your girls.

Billy, how much would it cost you to travel to the United States? It would be very expensive for one of us to come visit your country. The plane ticket and hotel in Beijing for one person would cost around $2500 US.

William Shatner told me that you can get your fares cheaper on Priceline.

Brian

The single ticket is about $900. You don't need live in the top hotels. There are many cheap hotels to select. Many USA people use little money can have a super life here.

I go to the USA to see one my friend. He would help pay for the money. I cannot afford it.

A Complete Transcript From Chinese Premier's Meeting

I agree many his viewpoints about China problems and history, and the world.

U.S. singer Britney Spears in South Korea's traditional costume 'Hanbok' poses for photographers during a photo session in Seoul December 8, 2003. Pop diva Spears visited Seoul for the first time on Sunday for the promotion of her new album, 'In the Zone'.

A staff member of the Beijing Aquarium dressed as Santa Claus, feeds a sea turtle, December 11, 2003. In preparation for Christmas, the aquarium is working to put Christmas trees in its aquariums.

What will you want to do, stay in homw with families?

I must work that day as usual.

My mother is coming here for a few days, and even though I'm 40 and she's 70, and our entire family is only the two of us, we will still enjoy the tradition of opening presents on Christmas morning.

These pictures are disputed in China 2003. But I think they partially show the China facts.

The handicapped live on themselves. They do the hard and dirty work.

The rich and poor gap become larger than ago. The same age children have the different lives.

The urban police punish the poor vendors.

The two children get donation to go to school, but their grandfather cried becase he is too moved.

In cold winter day one father and son to sell their potatoes.

The girl can go to school using the donation.

In northwest China many people have no enough water to drink, even the education.

That day one English teacher came, he taught our one sentence: "I want to go to school."

All nations have their poor and it's important for the facts to be shown... good work Billy

Billy, could you give us your view of the increasing private property rights in China?

Now more and more state companies reform into privately owned companies. I think it is a necessary way to go because most state companies lost their competility. If the private property can be protected by state laws, that will stimulate more people to pursuit the fortune. The national economy will finally develop and the public's lives will improve. The private property would not change China socialism and the Party lead. To be frank, I support the Party although I think it still has a long way to democracy, liberty and civilization.

BTW, I have connected broad band, but I have no money enough to but one computer. Maybe I get one next month. If so, I can chat with you more and post more here.

Originally posted by Billy
BTW, I have connected broad band, but I have no money enough to but one computer. Maybe I get one next month. If so, I can chat with you more and post more here.

set up a pay pal account, bro, i'll donate......p.m. me when you get it set up.....

Me too.:D
How much does a computer cost there?

I know the paypal.com. But I can not apply one credit card becasue I have no location ID card here. I can get money by my account in Bank of China. Of course, check is ok.

I will tell you if I really need. Thanks.

New vision 50.00RMB par value. It should be Chairman Mao. Do'n know who changes the picture.

That's not good for the economy. Men won't want to spend them.:)

BEIJING (Reuters) - China is ringing in the New Year by banning television advertising for sanitary towels, hemorrhoid ointments and other items deemed unappetizing during meal times, the China Daily said on Wednesday.

You know, maybe communism is good for something.:D

6:00-9:00 AM breakfast
7:00-11:00 AM morning tea
10:00-3:00 PM lunch
3:00-6:00 PM afternoon tea
5:00-10:00 PM dinner
11:00-4:00 PM night meal

I don't know why we eat so many times per day. How do ADs should put on TV?

Billy ... the following post is meant to be funny, and does not reflect any of my actual opinions regarding Chinese people and culture.

No wonder it takes you guys so darn long to finish eating ... chopsticks!

I can surf Internet and come here everyday later.

Congratulations, Billy. I don't want to put you on the defensive, but I'd really like to hear you're comments on this picture.:confused:

I have seen this pic in TV. CCTC have casted why Guangdong can get so many animals. I hate the people whi kill the animals. Hope all Chinese learn one lesson from SARS forever.

The civet cat kill was the image of the day last week.

http://cellar.org/showthread.php?s=&threadid=4776

Since the cats will not be eaten, maybe they can live a good life in the wild.

From my pix, you can see I am very slim. I am a vegetable dish lover. I don't like any snake and other wild animals... I think we sould not eat any wild animals. Or we will destroy the nature lalance.

All animals, or just wild ones?

Only a little fish, chicken.. not any wild animals.

22, Jan. is this Chinese New Year. The "FU" express good fortune in Chinese. The small boy and girl are lucky imagines in Chinese folk culture. Hope everone have a goodl life.

We put the "FU" word into reversed. It means "FU" coming.

That's odd...in America, FU has an entirely different meaning. :D

Brian

Happy Year of the Monkey to you, Billy!

What year were you born? I was born in the Year of the Ox. I think that my element is Metal.

I'm a rat. :cool:

Originally posted by jinx
I'm a rat. :cool:

Really? I thought I heard LJ say something about monkey? or was it love monkey? Something like that, anyway. Must have misheard.

I was born inHorse Year. We can count your age if you told us what year you were born. In lunar calendar different time has different meaning. The China fortunetellers forecast your fate according to your born time.

I don't know how the animal year come from. I will search and post here if I get.

CCTV more topics about Chinese New Year.

Google's fun Chinese New Year Logo.

One Chinese serch web Baidu New Year logo.

The fifth Chinese Lunar New Year special stamp in the third series for the Year of the Monkey was issued on Sunday in Hong Kong. Different species of monkeys are featured in this set of colorful stamps to highlight the lively spirit of these fascinating creatures. The set also incorporates traditional Chinese paper cutting techniques as a toast to the festive spirit of the Lunar New Year.

Chinese men wearing t-shirts with the words "Protest Visit Shrine" and holding a Chinese flag protest quietly in front of the Japanese embassy in Beijing, China, Friday, Jan 2, 2004. Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi started the new year by visiting a shrine honoring Japan's war dead Thursday _ a decision that brought a swift rebuke from China and South Korea and could provoke an outcry over Tokyo's largest planned deployment of troops abroad since World War II.

Chinese travellers line up to buy tickets at a railway station in Beijing January 5, 2003. China's busiest travel period of the year has begun with transportation officials expecting hundreds of millions of people to visit relatives or go sightseeing in the coming days to celebrate Chinese New Year which begins on January 22 this year.

I did not go home to have the Festival with my families because it is too bad to take train in festival.

THE viral genetic sequence obtained from the suspected SARS case occurred recently in Guangdong was tested similar to that of the civet cats, said a SARS research team here Monday.

The research team, including experts from the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention of Guangdong, Shenzhen and Guangzhou and the Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, said the similarity of viral genetic sequences between the recent suspected case and the civet cats showed that the new case also originated from wild animals.

Taiwan mininature artist Chen Frong-shean displays one of his latest creations - bamboo chopsticks featuring a pair of monkeys - in Taipei January 5, 2004. The Chinese Year of the Monkey will be ushered in on January 22.

Taiwan Central Bank launches a silver medal for the Year of the Monkey in Taipei on January 2 ,2004, to mark the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year. Each silver medal costs T$1,000 ($29.40). The Lunar New Year falls on January 22.

An Iraqi woman cries while recounting January 3, 2004 how U.S. forces last night targetted her farm in a Baghdad suburb, and later took her son and a relative for questioning. Loud explosions reverberated across Baghdad late on Friday as U.S. forces pounded what they said were suspected guerrilla positions around the capital.

A worker installs a Chinese character which reads 'Spring' at a park in Guangzhou, southern China's Guangdong Province. Spring Festival, the most celebrated date for Chinese, falls on a different date every year on the Gregorian calendar, this year on January 22. From January 22-28, Chinese residents will have 7 days off, mainly for family reunion, gathering of friends and planning of a new year.

Spring Festival Introduction ´º½Ú¼ò½é

The oldest and most important festival in China is the Spring Festival, more commonly known in the West as Chinese New Year. Like all Chinese festivals, the date of the new year is determined by the lunar/solar calendar rather than the Western (Gregorian) calendar, so the date of the holiday varies from late January to mid February. The Spring festival celebrates the earth coming back to life, and the start of ploughing and sowing. In the past, feudal rulers of dynasties placed great importance on this occasion, and ceremonies to usher in the season were performed.

Preparations for the New Year festival start during the last few days of the last moon. Houses are thoroughly cleaned, debts repaid, hair cut and new clothes bought. Doors are decorated with vertical scrolls of characters on red paper whose texts seek good luck and praise nature, this practice stemming from the hanging of peach-wood charms to keep away ghosts and evil spirits.
In many homes incense is burned, and also in the temples as a mark of respect to ancestors.

On New Year's Eve houses are brightly lit and a large family dinner is served. In the south of China sticky-sweet glutinous rice pudding called Nian Gao is served, while in the north the steamed dumpling Jiaozi is popular. Most celebrating the festival stay up till midnight, when fireworks are lit, to drive away evil spirits. New Years day is often spent visiting neighbors, family and friends.

The public holiday for New Year lasts 3 days in China, but the festival traditionally lasts till the 15th day of the lunar month and ends with the 'Lantern Festival'. Here, houses are decorated with colourful lanterns, and YuanXiao, a sweet or savoury fried or boiled dumpling made of glutinous rice flour is eaten.

Fortune Sticks ÇóÇ©Æí¸£
The New Year is obviously a time when people are mindful of the future. Often people will seek to have their fortunes told at the temple.

The oldest known method of fortune telling in the world is known as Kau Chime - a set of 78 numbered sticks held in a bamboo case. Holding the container in both hands and shaking it causes one of the sticks to rise and fall out. The number on the stick is cross referenced with ancient texts, and a fortune told. The fortune is generally a short poem or rhyme, and the point is not so much to have a clear picture of the future, but an indication of the possibilities which lie ahead.

The Chinese are not, by and large, fatalistic, though they hold many superstitious beliefs. Therefore, having one's fortune told is more an indication of the conditions ahead rather than actual events. The opportunity therefore exists for people to make the most of their lives by being more aware of the 'environmental conditions' which surround their lives.

The Lion Dance ´«Í³Îèʨ
The most spectacular event of the Chinese New Year festivities must surely be the Lion Dance. Lion dances take place throughout the first few days of the Chinese New Year, and bring good luck to the households or businesses which they visit.

The Lion Dance itself is performed by two 'dancers' one at the head and one at the tail of the lion. Careful observation of the Lion Dance will show that it is in fact a very careful demonstration of stylised movements performed by skilled performers (generally from a martial arts school or acrobatic company). To enhance the 'life' of the lion, the eyelids, mouth and ears of the Lion's head all move.

The dance is accompanied by loud music played on large drum, gong and cymbals. The use of firecrackers, drums, gongs and cymbals are related to the role of the lion in dispelling evil and bringing good luck - evil being afraid of loud noise (See the legend of Nian).

The dramatic climax of the Lion Dance is the Choi Cheng or 'Picking the Green'. The green here refers to vegetable leaves which are tied to a piece of string which also has a red packet attached containing money. The string is hung above the door of the house or business, and the lion 'eats' both leaves and red packet. Lying on the floor the leaves are 'chewed' by the dragon while the musicians play a dramatic rolling crescendo. The lull is broken as the lion explodes back into activity while spitting out the leaves. This is a symbolic act of blessing by the lion, with the spitting out of the leaves signifying that there will be an abundance of everything in the coming year.

Nian- The New Year Monster ´º½ÚµÄÀ´Àú£¨Ä꣩
Nian in Chinese simply means 'year'. However, it is widely accepted that the origin of this word comes from the mythical monster that would come and terrorise humans around the time of the New Year. Indeed, so fierce was Nian that it threatened to destroy mankind. The Emperor summoned a wise man to solve this problem. Seeing at first hand the destruction Nian brought, the wise man approached Nian with a challenge. "Why do you choose to kill and destroy the humans who are no match for your strength?" he asked. "Prove your real power by destroying the other monsters of the earth."

Nian took up this challenge, and one year later, having destroyed all the monsters of the earth, he returned to terrorise mankind. However, the day he returned some children were playing with firecrackers, and they noticed that Nian was afraid of the noise. From then on each New Year firecrackers and other fireworks are used to scare away the last remaining monster of the earth -Nian.

Food ʳÎï
Food is one of the most important aspect of the Spring Festival, and huge amounts are bought, prepared and eaten in Chinese households. Many of the foods served at New Year have symbolic meanings. Some foods have a name which sounds the same as a character with a lucky meaning and for some foods their shape and colour are emblems of words special to the Spring Festival such as happiness, prosperity fortune or luck.

Two recipes for Chinese New Year foods are featured below. Yau Gwok, being crescent shaped and fried till deep gold in colour resemble the traditional Chinese gold ingot (tael), while Jin Dui are also golden and symbolic of prosperity.

Yau Gwok (Deep Fried Puffs) Õ¨½È

Ingredients
5 oz plain flour
1 tablespoon grated coconut
1 1/2 tablespoons roasted pounded peanuts
1 tablespoon fried white sesame seeds
1 tablespoon sugar
4 tablespoons vegetable oil
4 tablespoons water

Sift the flour and separate it into two portions. Add the water into one portion and knead till it is a dough. Add the oil to the remaining portion of flour and knead till it is a soft dough. Mix the two doughs together and knead the dough mixture till it is soft. Roll into a thin sheet. Make into round shapes using a pastry cutter. Mix together the coconut, peanuts, sesame seeds and sugar with a little oil and water, place portions on the individual round sheets of dough mixture, fold over to make a crescent shape and seal the sides. Deep fry on a medium heat till golden brown. Drain and serve.

Jin Dui (Chinese Sesame Cookies) ¼â¶Ñ

Ingredients
6 oz sweet potatoes
10 oz red bean paste
1 1/2 cups glutinous rice flour
1/3 cup plain flour
2/3 cup white sesame seeds
2 tablespoons sugar
1/2 cup hot water

Peel the sweet potatoes and boil them till tender, then mash them. Sift the glutinous rice flour and flour together then blend together with the sugar and mashed sweet potato. Knead the mixture well and sprinkle in the hot water. Knead the dough into small balls and then roll each ball into a flat round shape. Spoon on some red bean paste onto each as stuffing and knead back into balls. Coat the balls with cold water, then coat thoroughly with sesame seeds. Deep fry on a low heat until the balls are golden and swollen. Drain and serve.

Red Couplets Öйú¶ÔÁª
Decorations are an important feature of the celebrations for the Chinese New Year. One of the main forms of decoration are the 'Red Couplets', which are Chinese good luck sayings written on red paper, often with gold trimmings and usually made up of four Chinese characters which ask for luck in terms of long life, wealth etc.

Red is not only a lucky colour for the Chinese, but also frightens off the monster 'Nian' who arrives at this time of year and destroys crops and homes.

Some New Year couplets are intended to be pasted or pinned in special places such as the kitchen or doors, while some can be placed anywhere. The couplets are usually taken down after the New Year celebrations, though some people keep them up all year long in the hope of keeping good luck.

Red Packets ºì°ü£¨ÀûÊÇ£©
Red packets are every child's delight at Chinese New Year! The tradition of giving gifts in Chinese culture is not the same as practised in European or "western" culture. By and large the giving of gifts is restricted to giving money. Small gifts are given when visiting a home of a friend, and increasingly for weddings, but traditionally money is given.

The way in which this is done in the West would be by putting money in a card, or indeed, giving a gift voucher. The Chinese give money inside red envelopes which are decorated with lucky symbols or Chinese characters. These are known as 'Lai Si' or 'Hung Bao'.

At Chinese New Year these are given by married couples to children/unmarried people. The red is used as the most auspicious colour, while the decoration may have a blessing or good wish. The symbolic giving of the money represents a wish for fortune and wealth in the coming year. The money may also be used to pay off debt, thus allowing a financial clean slate in the new year.

Things NOT to do at New Year ½û¼É
Avoid housework on New Years day: this activity runs the risk of washing or sweeping away good luck. For the same reason, avoid washing your hair on the first and last day of the New Year.

It is also considered unlucky to use anything sharp on New Year's day - knives, scissors, even nail clippers. The action of the sharp blades risks cutting the threads of good fortune brought in at New Year.

It is important not to use language which is negative- having an argument on New Year's day is to be avoided at all costs.

Words related to sickness and death are to be avoided. This even extends to the use of words which sound like the words for death or sickness.

To avoid any association with death, any slaughtering of poultry or livestock is carried out on New Year's Eve. Finally, care must be taken not to stumble or to break anything - this would be indicative of bad luck ahead.

Kitchen God's Day ³øÉñ
On the 24th day of the last lunar month the Kitchen god returns to heaven to give a report to the Jade Emperor (in Chinese mythology the Jade Emperor is the ruler of heaven) about the family's activities over the past year. This day is marked by acts of appeasement to the Kitchen god so that he will give the Jade Emperor a favourable report.

Traditionally images of the Kitchen god are burned as a symbolic act of departure. Often some gold or silver money will also be burned for travelling expenses. In some households the lips of the Kitchen god are brushed with honey or a sugar solution just before the image is burned - this will increase the likelihood that only sweet things will be said by the Kitchen god. From the 24th the Kitchen god will be absent from his shrine in the kitchen, and during this time it will be cleaned in preparation for his return on New Year's Eve.

Door Gods ÃÅÉñ
During the build up to Chinese New Year Door Gods are placed on the external doors of houses. This is an age of tradition dating back to the Tang Dynasty (618 - 907 AD). The Emperor Taizong is said to have fallen ill, and had a dream in which ghosts came to the palace in search for him. He recounted this tale to his officials the next day, and the story quickly spread through the Imperial Court - such matters were not taken lightly. The emperors top two generals, Qin Qiong and Yuchi Gong, both of whom had fought to establish the Tang dynasty stood guard outside the emperor's bedroom door.

The emperor slept soundly in the knowledge that he was protected by these two generals, and had no further dreams of the ghosts. However, after a few nights the emperor became concerned for the generals. He ordered that two paintings be made, one of each general. Once completed, the emperor had these hung on the door to his room, and relieved the generals.

This tale soon became widely known, and in their eagerness to share the protection of these "Door Gods" the common people made their own paintings and placed them on their doors. The tradition has continued ever since.

Flowers ÏÊ»¨
Flowers hold a special significance at Chinese New Year, and the Chinese language's endless opportunities for puns and play on words are demonstrated in the flowers which are used. As with almost all activities at Chinese New Year, there is enormous symbolism in the use of flowers.

In Chinese cities around the world, flower fairs appear on the 26th day of the last moon, and run each evening until New Year's Eve. A stroll through the flower fair is a New Year ritual many Chinese enjoy, even after they've got all their flowers; indeed, it's a popular way of spending New Year's Eve while waiting to see in the New Year.

Three of the most significant flowers are described below.

Blossoms Ê¢¿ªµÄ»¨
Blossoms are particularly auspicious flowers. Coming as they do in spring they symbolise life, growth and prosperity. The peach blossom is the most auspicious of all plants, its significance lying in the symbolic importance of the peach.
The peach, in Chinese culture, is a symbol of long life, and is regarded as the strongest defence against evil. Should your peach blossom bloom during the New Year celebrations it is sure sign that the year ahead will be one of good fortune. Sprays of peach blossom at one time they were placed above front doors to prevent even the strongest evil spirit from getting into the house. The custom today is to use them as decorations within the house.

Kumquat Tree ½ð½Û
This is a play on words. In Chinese the kumquat is called Gam Gat Sue. The word Gam rhymes with the Chinese word for gold, and the word Gat rhymes with the Chinese word for luck. The tiny green leaves of this plant symbolise wealth as the word Luk (green) rhymes with the Chinese word for wealth. Finally the shape of the small oranges are a symbol of unity and perfection.

Peony ĵµ¤
The peony is called the 'Flower of Riches and Honour' in Chinese, and is the emblem of love and affection, as well as being a symbol for feminine beauty. The bright red peony is particularly auspicious, bringing with it luck and good fortune.

Lap Bak À°°Ë
Lap Bak means 'Cold Eighth' and refers to the traditional start of celebrations for the Chinese New Year - the eight day of the last lunar month. It is traditionally the time when the weather becomes cold. On this day a special hot rice soup is eaten, containing nuts, dried lotus seeds, red beans, dried dates and other (non meat) ingredients. This tradition has its roots in the Buddhist faith, and the eating of the rice soup is a symbolic purification of the body in preparation for the New Year.

Yuan Xiao

Milk Yuan Xiao

Vegitable Yuan Xiao

Egg YX

Billy,

You do know that in America we are allowed to post in more than one thread. :)

Green YX

It is my first time to see green Yuanxiao.

Sounds like a good time is had by all.:)

I feel the History facing my head when I saw the museum. There are many good museums in Xi'an. The old China history is hided under the earth. I have taken some pix there. But I cannot uopload them because they are too large.

Emperor Qin's Terra-cotta

Where are the pictures of the smiling Chinese girls! :)

It is one. Hope you like.

Taiwan pop singer Elva Hsiao poses for photographers during a news conference to promote her new album '5th Avenue' in Taipei on January 5, 2004.

OK, Billy. This is what we really want to see.

More than the images from the press.

We want to see China as you see it. Through your eyes and thoughts.

Fill in the details for us. What is it, where is it, why were you there, how do you feel about it?:D

All the pix were taken by me.

The first one is the Bell Building in Xi'an Center. It it the symbol building in Xi'an. There is one large Bell in the building. It is one of twins. The other is Drum Building. Ago they faced each other. I don't remember the reason that they remove one of them so that they are facing. Ago they played Bell to wake up citizens and paleyed drum to warn people to go to bed. Now there are still the bell and drum. I don't know if they are the old ones. But I did not hear the Bell and Drum because I lived a little from them.

The second is the city wall building to inspect the war. I like this pic very much. I took it in setting sun.The sunlight add the gold to the city wall.

The thirld is the south City Wall Gate. I can imagine that many Dynasties used the way to protect their capital. In Tang Danasty many foreigners came this gate to enter the city. The city wall experiences long history.

Emperor Qin's Terra-cotta was buried under the earth. The Xi'an weather is very dry. So the Emperor Qin's Terra-cotta can preserve.They are colorful when they were digged out. They looks like old army soliders. But the color missed for hours. So the Chinese archaeologist darenot open many Terra-cottas from the earth. You can see many Terra-cottas sealed in the earth if you come. Xiang Yu, one discommender of Emperpr Qin, intruded there and took the Terra-cotta bronze weapon.For expressing his hate, he fires the Terra-cottas. The Terra-cottas were cover with straw mat and woods up them. So many Terra-cottas were broken in the fire. What we see today is that the Chinese archaeologist modified them.
There are many stories in them. It is a pity that I can not tell them in good english.

You're English is a lot better than our Chinese, Billy.:haha:
Is this the area you grew up in? Or where you went to college?
Do you know what time of day they rang the bell and played the drum, or was it with the sunrise and sunset? Nice pictures, man. :)

I was not born in the city. But my province near the ShanXi Province. Ago I didn't like the city, so I didnot select Universities of Xi'an because I felt it is too old and dirty. I cannot remember the drum and bell playing time.

Billy, you said you didn't go to see your family because of the difficulty of traveling during the holidays. Have you been back since then?

It is very difficult to buy the train tickets in season. I didnot see all my families for a year. I very miss my mother, father, sisters and brother.

I cannot go to Xi'an this time if my friend didnot pay for the flight tickets and hotel fee. thank him.

One my frined took the pic in the park. Hope you like.

Nice picture, Billy. You're in the south, so it must be well into spring there.:)

The pic was taken in Mao's Culture Revolution time. Almost the people sang Mao' poem and listened to the revolution opera. We liked the same time fahsion.

I think I'd rather have Elva Hsiao. :D

I dated the USA Visa Interview on 14th, May. I will try my best to prepare for the visa interview. I really want to fly to have tea with you. If I can get the visa, I will have a small tea party to thank your help in Cellar. What tea do you like? There are kinds of tea in China as I said ago.

Oolong.

Black pekoe and Earl Grey

That's great, Billy. Good luck! Favorite Tea? Partea. :)

Do you drink Lapsang Souchong? I can't drink it! Too much for the taste buds.

Billy, in which part of the US will you be residing? Might be a long trip for a little tea for some of us. :)

Wherever I reside, I want to see NYC and visit some univeristy campus.

Gunpowder tea would be nice ...

http://www.lcsd.gov.hk/CE/Museum/Space/e_index.htm

I will go to see the musume soon. Now I am in the data center to tell you see the HK. I like this city that is passionfull and beautiful. I can see many people and good things from all over the world. I will tell you more after I am back.

Good Luck. Favorite Tea? Te Kuan Yin.

I am very sorry for not going to meet you. I am very sad and cried.

I was rejected on the USA visa application. They thought I had the immigrant trend becasue I had no marriage in China and I didnot go abroad. I cried for it. I really want to visit the US and return. I don't know what I should do next step. I wasted $100 on it that is expensive for me.

Can you give me some advices?

Sorry to hear that, Billy.:(
Grab an American tourist and marry her.:)

Thank you for your regards. I am feel a little better to hear you.

In fact, many USA girls don't like Chinese. Just many western guys like Chinese girls.

In fact. I don't like.....

What has marriage got to do with liking someone?:haha:

That's crappy. You could try going to Europe, we don't even ask for fingerprints!

Billy, is the problem that the Chinese government won't let you out, or that the US gov't won't let you in? (if that's the case, isn't it funny how we let in terrorists, but not tourists? somebody in DC has to check their dictionary!)

Good luck Billy. Unfortunately I don't know much about international travel and the requirements. I hope you can make another application at some point and succeed.

Originally posted by jaguar
That's crappy. You could try going to Europe, we don't even ask for fingerprints!

No Jag, it's Europe that's crappy.
I like to be in America!
O.K. by me in America!
Ev'rything free in America
For a small fee in America!

Automobile in America,
Chromium steel in America,
Wire-spoke wheel in America,
Very big deal in America!

Immigrant goes to America,
Many hellos in America;
Nobody knows in America
Puerto Rico's in America!

I like the shores of America!
Comfort is yours in America!
Knobs on the doors in America,
Wall-to-wall floors in America!
:haha:

The US embassy don't let me in. I just want to share my friend's expleasure becasue he realizes his dream of whole life, one boat. He invite me to surf with him. He wrote to the US embassy in Beijing. They replied him they were sure that I can get the visa, but they didnot give them when they saw I didnot marry.

I like Europe and want to travel all over EU, But now I first want to go to the US. I heard it iwas more difficult to get the visa if yuo were rejected. My God, I don't know if I can come there. It is bad that I promised the US friend, Alan to see him this summer.

It's not your fault, Billy. I'm sure your friend will understand.

Originally posted by Billy


In fact. I don't like.....

you don;t like what? chinese girls? american girls? girls?

Originally posted by lumberjim
you don;t like what? chinese girls? american girls? girls?

I don't like cheat in the visa application, that's to say, I don't like fake marriage for getting one visa.

Originally posted by xoxoxoBruce
Grab an American tourist and marry her.:)

How can I find one American woman to marry for getting the visa?

You'll have to hang around where the tourists visit.:D