2006 Miss Asia Pageant (Chinese mainland)

Dongyue, Hanyan and Shiyan took 1st, 2nd and 3rd place at the 2006 Miss Asia Pageant (Chinese mainland).The finals of the 2006 Miss Asia Pageant, for the Chinese mainland were held in a studio at the Dalian Broadcast and TV Center on the evening of September 23.

Diplomats' wives take part in Chinese folk dance

Many diplomats' wives actually join in the yangge dance with the local people. Over 20 ambassadors to China and their wives, as well as diplomats and other friends, celebrated "Friendship Day for Diplomats' Wives" at the fifth Beijing Chaoyang International Business Festival on the afternoon of September 23.

'Animal kindergarten' in Chongqing

Staff workers with Chongqing Safari Park pose for a photo with a few tiger cubs at the launching ceremony to introduce the "Animal kindergarten" on September 24, 2006. More than 100 kinds of animal cubs are held in the kindergarten to meet the visiting public.

Russia's Kuznetsova wins China Open title

Russia's Svetlana Kuznetsova returns the ball during the final of the women's singles against France's Amelie Mauresmo at the China Open tennis tournament in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2006. Kuznetsova won the match 2-0.

China's Lin Dan wins men's singles at World Badminton Championships

China's Lin Dan holds his medal at the awarding ceremony after winning the final of men's singles against his compatriot Bao Chunlai during World Badminton Championships held in Madrid, capital of Spain, Sept. 24, 2006. Lin won the match 2-1.

Ship imitates ancient vessel navigated by Zheng He

Photo taken on Sept. 24, 2006, shows the debut of a ship imitating the vessel Zheng He navigated to the west about 600 years ago, in Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province. The 63.25-meter-long and 13.8-meter-wide ship, with a tonnage of 1,300 tons, was built following the size of medium vessels of Zheng He's team.

Performances on Beijing Int'l Cultural Tourism Festival

A team from Beijing performs during the march parade of the 9th Beijing International Cultural Tourism Festival in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2006. Over 2,500 people from 23 countries and regions attended the carnival Sunday.

Charity auction participated by twenty Miss World contestants

Miss Poland Marzena Cieslik shows a doll and a silver cup during a charity auction held at the Hyatt Hotel in Warsaw, capital of Poland, Sept. 23, 2006. Twenty Miss World contestants took part in the charity auction at the Hyatt Hotel in Warsaw on Saturday night. The income will be donated to the children's welfare institute in Warsaw.

Decoration projects for National Day

Gardeners beautify a greenbelt of the North Street with pots of fresh flowers in Xi'an, capital of central China's Shaanxi Province, Sept. 24, 2006. A decoration project for the city is in full sail to greet the coming National Day of China which falls on Oct. 1.

Spain's dou win women's doubles at China Open

Spain's Virginia Ruano Pascual (R) and Argentina's Paola Suarez smile during the awarding ceremony after winning the final of the women's doubles against Russia's Elena Vesnina and Anna Chakvetadze at the China Open WTA tennis tournament in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 24, 2006. Pascual and Suarez won the match 2-0.

Bush meets Musharraf over beefing up anti-terrorism war

U.S. President Bush holds a joint press conference with Pakistan's President Gen. Pervez Musharraf in the East Room of the White House in Washington with the two sides having exchanged views on international anti-terrorism, bilateral cooperation and regional issues of mutual concern on Friday, Sept. 22, 2006. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)

Iran commemorates Iran-Iraq war

Iranian army soldiers march during a military parade to commemorate the start of the 1980-88 Iran - Iraq war, in Tehran September 22, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)