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6/12/2005

Finally we had had a free morning since arriving in Beijing. We just used the time to relax and catch up. In the afternoon, we toured Capital Steel, Co., which was the 3rd largest steel producer in China. We saw how ores were turned into iron and iron into steel. The processes were rather impressive. Even more impressively, the entire production was to cease after 2007. This was Beijing city government’s determination to reduce air pollution and be ready for the 2008 games. After the relocation more than 60,000 out of about 80,000 current employees will lose their jobs. The company will retrain them for other job or buy out their contracts. No matter what they will get government pensions for life.

In the evening we went to see an acrobatics show. We were all taken away by the performance. Most of moves were impossible for ordinary men and mind boggling. One of the little girls who performed one act came out and promoted their DVD. She was so cute that three of us bought the product. Nomsa asked her for her autograph and she reluctantly obligated. Her name was Xu Yanru and 10-year old. When walking around, many people asked her to take pictures with them.

posted by Unknown @ 8:09 PM