50 million yuan spent on "Year of the Pig" gold bar in one day

People line up outside Caishikou Department Store in Beijing to buy gold bars for the lunar "Year of the Pig". On November 17 gold bars celebrating the "Year of the Pig" went on sale, marking the start of the consumption growth period that occurs annually at the year's end.

Military exercise in Jinan successfully concluded

On November 19, special warfare soldiers hunt for the target in the exercise.The military exercise, code-named ��Vanguard-206B�� and involving soldiers from the Jinan Military Region, has been concluded in Laizhou Bend, Shandong.

Airbus A380 lands in Japan

The new Airbus A380 landed at Narita Airport, Japan, on November 19. It departed from Toulouse, France, on November 13 for a 17-day, round-the-world test flight.

Expatriate couples hold traditional Chinese wedding in Shanghai

On November 18, a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony for a group of expatriate couples was held in Yu Garden, a famous Chinese garden in Shanghai. Seven couples from the United States, Switzerland, Canada and Australia tied the knot in a traditional Chinese wedding ceremony, receiving the best wishes of relatives, friends and tourists in attendance.

'Farewell to the King's Boat' ceremony in Xiamen

People take part in the 'Farewell to the King's Boat' ceremony in Xiamen, southeast China's Fujian Province on November 19, 2006. The march and ceremony is an ancient folk custom common in Fujian and Taiwan provinces and was listed as a provincial Non-Material Cultural Heritage this year. Locals bid farewell to the king and burn a boat in this ceremony to ensure a good harvest, and national peace. (newsphoto)

Hu Jintao attends inauguration of CRI station in Vientiane

Hu Jintao (2nd L), general secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and Chinese president, attends a ceremony marking the inauguration of an FM radio station of the China Radio International (CRI) in Vientiane, capital of Laos, Nov. 19, 2006.

Six students killed in stampede in Jiangxi

A student injured in a deadly stampede is treated in a hospital in Jiujiang, east China's Jiangxi Province, Nov. 19, 2006. Six middle school students were killed and 39 others were injured in a trampling accident on Saturday, when first-grade students swarmed into a staircase after an evening class at Tutang Middle School, Duchang County, Jiangxi Province.

Hu, Bush meet at APEC Summit

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with U.S. President George W. Bush during their meeting on the sidelines of the 14th Economic Leaders' Meeting of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) in Hanoi, capital of Vietnam, Nov. 19, 2006.

Roger Federer claims Masters title

Roger Federer of Switzerland poses with the trophy during the awarding ceremony at 2006 Masters Cup tennis tournament in Shanghai, China, Nov. 19, 2006. Roger Federer won the title after beat James Blake of the United States 6-0, 6-3, 6-4.

Star-studded wedding of Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes

Actor Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes pose for their official wedding portrait in Lake Braccino, Italy in this photo released to Reuters November 18, 2006.

Network for prevention of child sex abuse launched

Zhu Yantao (L), a division chief at the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ministry of Public Security, Ji Fengwei (C), assistant director of the Legal Aid Center of the All-China Women's Federation, and Rong Weiyi (R), Associate Professor at the Chinese People's Public Security University, attend a seminar on combating child sex abuse.

China Fashion Week in Beijing

A model presents a creation by a Russian designer during the China Fashion Week in Beijing, Nov. 19, 2006. Five Russian designers jointly held the fashion show here on Sunday.

Protest forces Israel to call off airstrike

Palestinians barricade themselves on the roof of a militant's house in Gaza early Nov. 19, 2006. The Israeli army cancelled a planned air raid on the home of a Gaza militant on Sunday after several hundred Palestinians barricaded themselves inside the building, an Israeli military spokesman and witnesses said. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

He serves stone "dishes"

Niu Guang'an takes enjoyment in his stone "dishes" in Zaozhuang City, east China's Shandong Province, Nov. 19, 2006. Niu, 61, spent seven years collecting those rare stones.

Nintendo's Wii makes debut

Isiah "Triforce" Johnson (C) shows off his Nintendo Wii that Reggie Fils-Aime, president of Nintendo of America, had signed after Johnson became the first customer to purchase a Nintendo Wii video game system during the official launch of the console at the Toys "R" Us store in Times Square New York November 19, 2006. (Xinhua/Reuters Photo)

China, U.S. stage search-and-rescue drill

The "rescue team" moves to the ship "in danger" during the search-and-rescue exercise on the South China Sea, Nov. 19, 2006. The navies of China and the United States held a search-and-rescue exercise on the South China Sea on Sunday morning.

Beijing Int'l Auto Exhibition

A model poses inside a car at the 2006 Beijing Automotive Exhibition in Beijing Nov. 19, 2006. The 9-day exhibition opened to the public here on Sunday, attracting 1,500 auto manufacturers from 20 countries and regions of the world.