Fathers love without end

BEIJING, May 11 -- Li Yongbing gets up early and busies himself in a neat courtyard at his home in the town of Fuxin. He is preparing to visit his wife, Wang Qin, who passed away in the earthquake last year.

"I'll burn some paper money for her and tell her our son is fine," says the 28-year-old, pushing back his glasses, as if trying to hide the welling tears.

LiYongbingcarrieshissonLiZihaoinawheatfieldinFuxinTownship,
MianzhuCity,SichuanProvince,southwestChina,May3,2009.(Xinhua/Li
Xiaoguo/QinQing)

A year on from the disaster, Li is finally reconciled to waving goodbye to the past and looking ahead instead. The past year has not been easy for him, but like millions of fellow sufferers, he pulled through.

Both Li and his wife worked at the Qingping Township Central Primary School, in the city of Mianzhu. Li taught Chinese, Wang art. They fell in love in 2002, but didn't marry until four years later. Their son Li Zihao was born in December, 2007.

On May 12 last year, Li was teaching as normal, while his wife went to Hanwang Town Central Primary School to exchange teaching methods with other educators. She was buried in the debris. Their son was barely 5-month-old.

Li clearly remembers that the day before had been Mother's Day and Wang bought some vitamins for Li's mother, who lived with them.

Li says after getting the news he was "desperate and numb" for several days. Every time friends and colleagues called, he cried and wouldn't accept their condolences. "I heard that woman was created with a rib from man. I could feel pain all over, especially in my heart," Li recalls as he mixes his son's formula milk powder with boiled water.

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Cross-talk Veteran Li Wenhua Passed away

Chinese cross-talk veteran Li Wenhua died of a cancer-caused chronic pulmonary heart disease early Saturday morning at the age of 82.

FilephotoofLiWenhua[Photo:sina.com]

Li started his stage career in 1962 and become a household name in China in the early 1980s when he partnered with Jiang Kun.

However, he was diagnosed of laryngeal cancer in 1983 and underwent a throat surgery in 1985 which forced him out of performance.

He was awarded one of the top 10 comics in China in 1985.

Earth springs to life during Li Xia

The mercury has really gone up recently in many parts of China, and now it's official -- summer is here. Tuesday marks Li Xia, or the Beginning of Summer, on the traditional Chinese Calendar. As the name suggests, Li Xia refers to the end of spring and the arrival of summer.

The twenty-four solar terms of the Chinese Calendar are closely linked to agricultural production. In the past, people were informed of the beginning of summer by three signals. First, frogs start to croak in the water. Second, earthworms become active in the fields. And third, melon seedlings begin to grow quickly.

FallingonMay5ththisyear,"LiXia"isanofficialfarewelltospring
andanopen-armedembraceofsummer.

Falling on May 5th this year, "Li Xia" is an official farewell to spring and an open-armed embrace of summer.

Xiao Jun, the vice director of Beijing Ancient Observatory said, "Li Xia is a turning point for the climate. After Li Xia, the weather becomes progressively warmer. Every creature on earth is becoming more animated."

Around Li Xia, the temperature rises to at least 18 or 20 degrees in most parts of China. Plants and crops are ripening. It is a good time for urban residents to go on an outing to the countryside to enjoy the beauty of nature.

In many regions, people still keep the tradition of making special porridge, drinking tea and eating eggs on Li Xia. Health experts say it's important to follow a good diet and take some exercise in this transition period between spring and summer.

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Li Shaobais ***-cutting

"Style Watch" today ventures into the artistic world of Li Shaobai.

The artist who was born in Shanghai's traditional residential compound, Shikumen, has been painting and *** ***-cuts the unique architectures in his childhood residence.

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Senior CPC official Li Changchun visits S. Korea

Special Report:Li Changchun Visits 4 Nations

Li Changchun, a senior official of the Communist Party of China, says he hopes the South Korean province of Jeju will play a bigger role in advancing bilateral cultural exchanges.

LiChangchun(Rfront),amemberoftheStandingCommittee
ofthePoliticalBureauoftheCommunistPartyofChina
(CPC)CentralCommittee,meetswithJejuGovernorKimTae
Hwan(Lfront),inJeju,theRepublicofKorea(ROK),April
4,2009.(Xinhua/LiuJiansheng)

During his meeting with Jeju Governor Kim Tae Hwan, Li said China and South Korea are close neighbors. Bilateral ties have witnessed rapid growth in political, economic and cultural areas.

Jeju, a tourism destination, attracts many Chinese travelers and has direct flights to a number of Chinese cities.