Around the nation: Lunar New Year has Chinese figurine-maker rolling in dough
Also, actor undergoes 'dramatic' weight loss and young man goes on a speed-dating spree
PUBLISHED : Monday, 23 February, 2015, 9:02pm
UPDATED : Monday, 23 February, 2015, 9:02pm
Chinese 'dough master' Liu Gang crafts historical Chinese characters from dough. Photo: e23.cn
BEIJING
Attacked at home
A Beijing couple was attacked in their home by an intruder on Lunar New Year's Eve, Beijing Morning Post reports. The couple, Jiangxi natives, had decided to remain in the capital over the festive season this year. But late at night, the husband awoke to his wife's screams and found her on the floor, bleeding from the head. He then spotted the intruder, who was armed with a kitchen knife, and struggled with the man, sustaining several slashes in the process. The man received 13 stitches for his wounds and the woman required 15. Investigations were ongoing.
Dramatic weight loss
A Beijing actor performing at the Temple of Heaven over the Lunar New Year revealed that he lost 3kg in just five days while acting out his role, China Radio International reports. Zhong Jixian, 31, who has played the emperor role for the past six years, said he performed in 10 shows, each about 70 minutes long, over the first five days of the new year. He said he had to be extremely focused in acting out his part, including keeping the solemn, powerful stance of an emperor as he walked.
GUANGDONG
Factory worker found dead
Police in Guangzhou's Haizhu district are looking into the death of a man in a garment factory, the Southern Metropolis News reports. The 38-year-old Hubei native, Cai Jinming, had been dead for a few days before his body was discovered on Sunday. His co-workers at the factory had been trying to locate him for days. Cai, whose wife died last year, leaves behind an eight-year-old daughter.
Bird flu cases hit 54
A 48-year-old woman from Jinping district was diagnosed with H7N9 bird flu on Saturday, bringing the province's total number of human H7N9 cases to 54, Xinhua reports. The virus strain has so far killed 13 people in Guangzhou. As a precaution, the provincial authorities have banned the live poultry trade until the end of the month. Other H7N9 cases have been reported in Shanghai, Fujian , Jiangxi , Guizhou and Zhejiang this winter.
HEILONGJIANG
Taking the icy plunge
More than 200 people braved the bitter cold to join a swimming event in icy water in Mudanjiang on Sunday, Xinhua reports. Most of them were amateur winter swimmers who were there to prove that they could beat the cold.
One crash after another
About 20 cars were involved in a massive pile-up after a traffic accident on the Harbin Daqing Expressway on Sunday afternoon, Ncnews.com.cn reports. The accident occurred after a car crashed into the rear of another, causing a domino effect as other vehicles came up from behind on the highway. Some cars slid into a roadside ditch. Traffic authorities closed the highway temporarily.
HENAN
Speed holiday dating
A young man from Xiayi county went on 25 blind dates in just five days over the Lunar New Year holidays, Dahe.cn reports. The man is well educated, has a good family background and is reportedly picky about choosing his life partner. Chinese parents are often keen to find matches for their children when they return home for the annual holidays.
Stomping, stabbing rage
A man from Xinyang city stabbed a policeman after the officer ordered him to stop stomping on a car parked on the street, China News Service reported. Mei Chunyang allegedly punched the policeman in the face when he was approached, the Xinyang Public Security Bureau said. He then whipped out a fruit knife and slashed the officer's face and stabbed his arm, police claimed.
HUBEI
Struck with grief
A Maojian district court bailiff attacked a female doctor after hospital staff failed to save his wife's life, People's Daily Online reports. The bailiff, who was overcome with grief when his wife died from a massive stroke in Shiyan People's Hospital, assaulted the doctor on duty, causing her to suffer hearing loss, fractured bones and facial bruises. The matter is being investigated.
Lonely no more
A lonely man in Wuhan tried to commit suicide after his children did not return home to celebrate the Lunar New Year with him, Xinhua reports. The man, in his 60s, had sprained his foot on the eve of the festival and was disappointed that his son and daughter did not plan to visit. He decided to take his own life by jumping into a nearby river, but police found him and contacted his children, who rushed home to tend to him.
HUNAN
Extorted money returned
A woman who was forced to pay a train passenger 1,500 yuan (HK$1,890) for accidentally spilling water on him was pleasantly surprised when police chased down the man and made him return the money, Rednet.cn reports. The woman had bumped into the man on the train and spilled water on him as she was about to alight. He demanded 1,500 yuan compensation and she complied as she was in a hurry. A policeman who heard of the dispute tracked down the man, chastised him and made him return the money. The officer then traced the woman through her local police station and gave the money back to her.
Pungent craving
It appears that Hunan people have a preference for feasting on stinky tofu over the Lunar New Year, the Changsha Evening News reports. A survey conducted by the paper found that people in the province spent an average of about 51 yuan per meal, and the most popular dishes among them were stinky tofu, tasty shrimp and beef vermicelli.
SHAANXI
Poisonous buns
Three people died in Suide county from accidental borax poisoning, China News Service reports. The three were among five in a family who felt sick after eating home-made buns. Preliminary investigations showed the person who made the steamed buns mistakenly used powdered borax - a substance commonly used in household cleaning products - instead of fermented flour.
Long-awaited holiday
The province's coal miners are taking their first Lunar New Year off in 20 years, China News Service reports. The Chinese National Coal Association approved a proposal by Shenhua Coal and 14 other mining firms to let their miners go on paid holidays over the festive season. The miners were ecstatic to be able to spend the new year with their loved ones for the first time in two decades.
SHANDONG
Blinding sparks
The use of fireworks over the Lunar New Year has cost a man his eye, Xinhua reports. The man, from Dezhou , was hit in the eye by a firecracker he lit. Doctors said he would never regain sight in that eye. His hospital also treated three others injured by firecrackers this festive season.
Rolling in dough
A dough-figurine maker has worked through the Lunar New Year holidays for the 17th year in a row, E23.cn reports. "Dough master" Liu Gang, 48, has performed at Jinan's Daming Lake Temple over the festive season for 17 years, spending five to six hours each time crafting historical Chinese characters from dough. Liu said his art had become a rarity and should be culturally preserved.
