Village by Danxia caves, living fossil

The ancient plank road built along the Lijiayan rock cave, Taining County is still in service today. Taining County in southeast China's Fujian Province is known for the Danxia landform, boasting the most complete terra types and biggest area in provinces in southeast China. Corrosion and running water have formed rock caves of various shapes there. There are nearly 100 big rock caves in Taining, with 72 having records of human activities, called "72 caves" by the locals. The Danxia caves were endowed with different functions in history. The small ones were nests of birds, and big ones used as temples and houses, forming a unique view combining human and nature.

China's "Leaning Tower of Pisa" in danger

Photo taken on April 5 shows a pedestrian passes the leaning tower. Built in Liao Dynasty, the leaning tower in Huludao, northeast China's Liaonin province is now 10 meters high and inclines 12 degrees to the northeast. The tower has undergone numerous earthquake- and flood-induced damages, but remained intact. Experts called on relevant departments to step up effort in protecting the tower.

Fashion show in ancient town Xitang

Contestants to the Miss Tourism International contest in China region stage a fashion show in the ancient town of Xitang, east China's Zhejiang Province, April 5, 2006. The pretty contestants cast beautiful reflections on the ancient town. The final contest will be held on April 7 in Xitang.

6,000 battle forest blaze near Kunming

Fire fighters are battling the forest fire on April 5, which broke out on March 29th, 2006 in Anning, in southwest China's Yunnan Province, less than twenty kilometers from Kunming's urban area. The fire has been burning for a week.

Gold jewelry price rises in Hangzhou

A jewelry shop attendant shows a pair of gold bracelet in Hangzhou, capital city of east China's Zhejiang Province, Apr 5, 2006. The price of gold jewelry at Hangzhou Mansion rose from 197 yuan (approx $24.6) per gram to 202 yuan (approx $25.2) per gram on Wednesday.

Golden Qi puts China on course

China's Qi Hui (center) stands on the awards podium with Italy's Alessia Filippi (left) and Russia's Anastasia Ivanenko. Qi won the gold in the women's 400 meter medley at the FINA World Short Course Swimming Championships in Shanghai Wednesday night. The Italian took the silver, followed by the Russian.

Memorial ceremony to ancestor of the Chinese nation

A public memorial ceremony is held at the Mausoleum of Huangdi (the Yellow Emperor), a legendary ancestor of the Chinese nation, in Huangling County of northwest China's Shaanxi Province on April 5, 2006.

Vehicles pile-up kills 4, injuries at least 10

Damaged cars pile up at the Xinxiang section of an expressway linking Beijing and Zhuhai in south China's Guangdong province April 5, 2006. More than one hundred cars crashed due to the thick fog on the Beijing-Zhuhai Highway. Four died and at least ten were injured.

Saddam's trial resumes in Baghdad

Former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein speaks at a court in Baghdad, April 5, 2006. The trial of Saddam Hussein and his seven aides resumed in Baghdad on that day. Saddam and his seven top aides faced charges of crimes against humanity including the killing of more than 140 Shiites in the northern Iraqi town of Dujail following a failed 1982 assassination attempt on Saddam.

Third Confucius Institute set up in Japan

Chinese Ambassador to Japan Wang Yi speaks during the opening ceremony of Confucius Institute at the Japanese Hokuriku University in Ishikawa, Japan, April 4, 2006. The Confucius Institute in Hokuriku University marks the third in Japan and the 42nd in the world.

Chinese premier arrives in NZ

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) shakes hands with New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark upon his arrival at an airport in Wellington, New Zealand on April 5, 2006. New Zealand is the third-leg of Premier Wen's four-nation tour which will also take him to Cambodia. He had paid official visits to Australia and Fiji before his arrival in Wellington.

Wen delivers speech at Pacific island forum

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao reacts while making a keynote speech at the opening of the First Ministerial Conference of the China-Pacific Island Countries Economic Development and Cooperation Forum in Nadi, Fiji, April 5, 2006. Premier Wen arrived here Tuesday for an official visit to the Republic of the Fiji Islands.