'China takes lead in greens race'

Read it to believe it at http://www.thenational.ae/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090811/BUSINESS/708119986/1005

As We Swelter, Linfen Freezes

People walk on a road covered by the ice surge. On the morning of January 18, a rare ice surge took place near a scenic waterfall spot on the Yellow River in the Jixian County, Linfen City, in north China's Shanxi Province. The sudden ice surge raised the riverbed by four meters along a run of more than 800 meters. Nearby roads and public infrastructures were submerged by the ice. Dozens of houses and shops have been flooded and damaged. The local authorities have established a rescue headquarters to evacuate trapped villagers and tourists. The ice surge has not caused any casualties so far and the full extent of the damage is being assessed. [People's Daily photo]

Yungang’s treasure

Since I lived in Linfen (cough, cough) I've kept up with news of that grotty city with a Google Alert. There is a better spin on the province at http://thestar.com.my/columnists/story.asp?file=/2008/3/12/columnists/ziyingbrush/20581640&sec=Ziying's%20Brush

ZIYING'S BRUSH

Shanxi’s Yungang grottoes are renowned for some of the finest Buddhist carvings in China.

WHENEVER China’s coal-rich Shanxi province is in the news, it is usually for the wrong reasons.

Grim images of the darkened skies and soot-covered streets of Linfen, a coal-mining centre in the southern part of the province, have been featured repeatedly in various international media.

Shanxi Normal University Basketball Finals

I have done a lot of Linfen bashing while I've been here, due to the pollution and the filth, but there is another side to it - the healthy energetic side of the people here, from kindy kids to retired academics. The city squares are often filled with people in the morning doing exercises, lead by a volunteer instructor. They are thoroughly informal sessions and very useful for those stuck inside at home all day or behind a desk or counter. At Shanxi Normal University, all the students have an obligatory physical education unit - something that Australia could implement with great benefit (for students and academic staff). They play basketball or soccer, ballroom dancing, ping-pong, tennis, athletics, and tae-kwon-do.

Two nights ago I was privileged to be invited as a special guest of the university to the Grand Final of the inter-school basketball competition. I went rather casually dressed, not expecting such a grand event. I had seen some of the lead-up games, and they were fiercely competitive but casual in setting and tone. This event was under lights and packed - in the aisles, on all the seating, at court side and even on the roof next door! True to form throughout the world, I would hazard to guess, the English Department weren't in the finals. They very consistently lost every game in the prelims - but they played with spirit and pluck!

The final was between Law and Engineering, and the brouhaha that went with it all was stunning. The music was disco/hip-hop cross, and played many decibels too loud for old ears. The students were ready for a good time and as vocal as any Aussie football crowd - in fact, a lot louder! They chanted and screamed, and clacked their clacker things with great glee and energy. The players were of extremely high standard, and two of the Law team were just short of brilliant - Number 9 and a player without a number, but the biggest player on the team. The referees were in complete control of the game and sent two players off ... The court wasn't a place for the weak-hearted.

But my favourites were the cheerleaders. The Chinese are a very moral people, so the cheerleaders clad in very athletic more than glamorous outfits. My guides for the evening, young female students themselves, were very proud of their 'beautiful girls'. I am proud to say some of my freshmen students were in the squad who certainly had the best choreography and execution. The other s1quad tried to be glamorous, but their routines were not a match for my more sedately dressed girls. The accompanying photos give you absolutely no idea of the din that started and continued throughout the game and especially with the music at the breaks. My ears have just settled down now ...

The upside of Linfen life ...

Blue skies over Linfen - with obligatory white cloud. Plus the little urchins of the night sit astride the basketball courts wall at Shanxi Normal University.