johngreenhow
06-12-2003, 04:42 PM
some news:
DengFeng today saw what was probably one of the biggest martial arts
displays in the world as over 20,000 kung fu students took to the streets
to officially celebrate the lifting of SARS restrictions.
Each of the 80 odd schools in the area was represented with students
carrying banners, flags, swords and staffs as they were marched to their
allocated places around town.
Once in place they demonstrated their extravagent style of kung fu with
military style synchronisation for a convey of coaches that travelled
along the line of students for several kilometres.
For the past 6 weeks the schools have confined their students to premises,
whilst the city of DengFeng, whose main business is the support of these
schools, has slowly ground to a halt. Internet cafes and convenience
stores have closed in large numbers and hotels have not been accepting
foreigners as they are more likely to have travelled through infected
areas.
Now that Henan has been free of SARS for over a month the call has been
sent out to restore normality. However, the schools are not lifting their
restrictions yet as no one is willing to be the first to turn their back
on the risks of the virus.
With the students still confined and tourism at a fraction of its normal
level it looks like DengFeng's recovery is going to be very slow.
DengFeng today saw what was probably one of the biggest martial arts
displays in the world as over 20,000 kung fu students took to the streets
to officially celebrate the lifting of SARS restrictions.
Each of the 80 odd schools in the area was represented with students
carrying banners, flags, swords and staffs as they were marched to their
allocated places around town.
Once in place they demonstrated their extravagent style of kung fu with
military style synchronisation for a convey of coaches that travelled
along the line of students for several kilometres.
For the past 6 weeks the schools have confined their students to premises,
whilst the city of DengFeng, whose main business is the support of these
schools, has slowly ground to a halt. Internet cafes and convenience
stores have closed in large numbers and hotels have not been accepting
foreigners as they are more likely to have travelled through infected
areas.
Now that Henan has been free of SARS for over a month the call has been
sent out to restore normality. However, the schools are not lifting their
restrictions yet as no one is willing to be the first to turn their back
on the risks of the virus.
With the students still confined and tourism at a fraction of its normal
level it looks like DengFeng's recovery is going to be very slow.