US Navy destroyer visits Qingdao

US Navy Aegis guided missile destroyer Curtis Wilbur cruises into Qingdao port in east China's Shandong Province for a fout-day visit September 13, 2005. This is the eighth port call by US Navy ships to Qingdao. There are 311 officers and sailors aboard and their commander is John T Lauer. (newsphoto)

"King sponge gourd" in Hebei

On September 12, a group of foreign travelers visited a "sponge gourd corridor" in an eco-agriculture garden at Qinhuangdao in Hebei Province. It is learned that there grows a four-meter-long sponge gourd here. The extra-long sponge gourd is 1.2 meters longer than the one that was selected from the garden and listed in the Guinness Book of World Records in 2003. And now the king sponge gourd is still growing.

Protestants riot in Northern Ireland for 3rd day

A man walks past a burning vehicle in a Loyalist area in North Belfast September 12, 2005. Belfast ground to a halt on Monday evening after Protestant demonstrators blocked roads and nervous commuters, fearing a resumption of the weekend's rioting, scrambled to leave the city early.

Underwear show at the 17th Dalian International Garment Festival

Models present a "show of underwear" at the 17th Dalian International Garment Festival.

US WWII veterans pay homage to aviation martyrs in Nanjing

A team of US World War II veterans, including 40-plus members of the renowned "Flying Tigers", visited a cemetery for aviation martyrs of WWII and paid homage to the martyrs in Nanjing Monday.

President Hu visits Mexico

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) and Mexican President Vicente Fox review an honour guard during a welcoming ceremony in Mexico City's Campo Marte military parade ground September 12, 2005. Hu Jintao is in Mexico on a two-day official visit.

Chongqing held anti-terror drill

Armed policmen slip from a high building during an anti-terror drill in Chongqing, southwest China, Sept. 12, 2005. The drill was part of the preparations for the Fifth Asia and Pacific Cities Summit (APCS), to be held in Chongqing in October.

Second Int'l Conference on Birth Defects and Disabilities in the Developing World held in Beijing

Chinese Vice Health Minister Jiang Zuojun addresses the opening ceremony of the Second International Conference on Birth Defects and Disabilities in the Developing World, in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 12, 2005.

China beats Japan 86-53 at Asian Men's Basketball Champs

Yao Ming (R) scored 16 points and grabbed 13 rebounds to help China beat Japan 86-53, celebrating his 25-year-old birthday at the Asian Men's Basketball Champs.

Srichaphan suffers an early exit at China Open

Spain's Carlos Moya returns to Paradorn Srichaphan of Thailand during a match of the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 12, 2005. Moya won 2-0.

Singapore commemorates end of WWII

World War II veterans attend a ceremony to mark the 60 anniversary of the end of World War II in Singapore on Sept. 12, 2005.

Russian delegation arrives in Beijing for six-party talks

Russian deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Alexeyev, who heads the Russian delegation for the six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue is interviewed at the Capital Airport in Beijing upon arrival on Sept 12, 2005. The Russian delegation for the 4th-round six-party talks on the Korean nuclear issue arrived in Beijing Monday.