SUCCESSFUL DEBUT: The AC313, China's first domestically made civil helicopter, during its maiden flight in Jingdezhen City, Jiangxi Province, on March 18. The helicopter has a maximum takeoff weight of 13.8 tons and can carry up to 27 passengers (ZHANG WU)

Ruins Found

Archeologists have found the ruins of an ancient city in central China's Jiangxi Province dating back to the Eastern Han Dynasty about 2,000 years ago, according to a Xinhua News Agency report.

The site, covering about 18,000 square meters, is located on a deserted mesa atop a hill near Fujia Village in Fengcheng, Jiangxi and is surrounded by a moat, the province's institute of archeology said. About 30 meters of the city wall is still standing in its western area and pieces of broken tiles scatter the ground.

It is thought the ruins will provide new clues for research into the structure of cities of the Eastern Han Dynasty (24-220).

School Tragedy

A man stabbed eight school children to death and injured five others while they were waiting at their school's gate in Nanping City, Fujian Province, on the morning of March 23.

Police arrested 42-year-old suspect Zheng Mingsheng, a former community doctor in Nanping. Zheng is a native of Nanping and used to work at the Mazhan community clinic before resigning in June 2009.

The local prosecutor said on March 24, Zheng, who showed no sign of any mental illness in conversations, told investigators that he developed hatred toward society after failing to find a job and breaking up with his girlfriend.

Poisoned Children

The number of children affected by lead poisoning in Chenzhou City, central China's Hunan Province, rose to 45 on March 22, health officials said.

The children, under the age of 14, were mostly from Haotang Town of Guiyang County. A lead recycling company engaged in illegal melting without certificate is also located in the town, said the local government.

Twenty-eight children were being treated at a designated local hospital while another 17 with slight syndromes were brought home for treatment under doctors' instructions.

Most of the patients were in stable condition. But there could be more reports of sickened children in the following days, said Liu Jianrong, deputy head of the hospital.

The cases emerged about 10 months after 254 children were found with excessive levels of lead in their blood in Jiahe County of Chenzhou City last July. A local factory held accountable for the contamination leading to the poisoning was closed.

Low-carbon Lifestyle

China launched a nationwide campaign to encourage a low-carbon family life on March 24.

The campaign, organized jointly by the All-China Women's Federation, Central Commission for Guiding Ethics and Cultural Progress, as well as the National Development and Reform Commission, will be held nationwide.

The event promotes 15 energy-saving habits, such as water conservation, using recyclable bags for shopping, and avoiding bottled drinks.

"China has 370 million families. If every family saves a kilowatt-hour of electricity, they will reduce carbon emissions by 290 million kg," said Song Xiuyan, Vice Chairperson of the All-China Women's Federation.