Changes in our lives in 2004

Pedestrians in Hangzhou city are fined for violating the traffic regulations when crossing the street. Since China¡¯s Road Traffic Safety Law took effect on May 1, 2004, the road and traffic safety management has been included into the legal system. The maintenance of road traffic safety largely depends on every citizen¡¯s consciousness of law, making the awareness that yes to traffic law means yes to life and violation of traffic law is an offense against law strike root in the heart of the masses.

27, 000 Afghans to go to Mecca for pilgrimage

Some Afghans queue for the safety inspection at the airport before leaving for hajj in Kabul, capital of Afghanistan on Dec. 30, 2004. Around 27,000 Afghans will go on a pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

Coldest winter period in Beijing since 1991

Tourists wearing thick clothes and scarfs stand at the Tiananmen Square in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 29, 2004. The daily average temperature stands consecutively at minus three degrees centigrade for a week in Beijing, three degrees centigrade lower than usual. According to the Beijing Observatory, this is the coldest period in the winter in Beijing since 1991, forming a sharp contrast with an earlier period of warm winter.

China's peacekeeping medical team offer aid in Congo (Kinshasa)

Liu Xiliang (L2), head of China's peacekeeping medical unit to Congo (Kinshasa) and Zhao Guichen (R2), a doctor of the unit, operate on a sick Congolese in Kindu, city of east Congo(Kinshasa) on Dec. 30, 2004. China's peacekeeping medical unit offered medical aid to both the UN personnel and local people in Congo (Kinshasa).

State leaders attend New Year Evening

Chinese President Hu Jintao (7th Left, 2nd Row) and other Chinese leaders pose for a photo together with performers after a Beijing Opera Evening was held in Zhongnanhai, the compound of China's central government in Beijing, capital of China on Dec. 30, 2004.

Chinese rescue team to Indonesia, tsunami-hit countries step up relief efforts

Members of the Chinese International Search and Rescue team get prepared to leave for Indonesia at Capital International Airport in Beijing, capital of China, Dec. 30, 2004. The team of 30 experienced Chinese rescuers flew to Indonesia Dec. 30 to assist the rescue work in areas hit by quake and tsunami in the Southeast Asian country.