China has funny mascots

Armed police and an Expo mascot in Henan
Posted by Joel Martinsen, September 29, 2009 7:52 PM
Henan Legal Daily
September 29, 2009

Just two days ahead of the 60th Anniversary festivities on October 1, today's Henan Legal Daily featured a photo of a recent police exercise.

The caption reads:

To preserve overall social stability for the National Day, more than 1,300 police, armed police, firefighters, and security officers in Jiaozuo conducted an anti-terrorism exercise.

But Henan is already looking beyond the 60th Anniversary to next year's Expo 2010, to be held in Shanghai.

The Expo's mascot, Haibao, a stylized ren (人, "people") character with an ocean-wave tuft of hair, will star in the animated feature Shaolin Haibao, co-sponsored by the Henan Daily Press Group.

According to the buzzword-heavy report, the cartoon will combine Henan's native Shaolin and Zen with the cultures of harmony and "sea treasure" (the meaning of Haibao's name), and will be an expression of the friendship that exists between Henan and Shanghai. Five thousand years of history plays a role, as well.
Haibao stars in kung fu cartoon
Date:29/09/2009

Production started yesterday on a cartoon about the Shanghai 2010 World Expo mascot Haibao, who will show off his martial arts skills and embark on a journey exploring Chinese kung fu culture.

Authorities in Henan Province, which is home to the famous Shaolin Temple, where kung fu originated, will organize the production.

Henan Daily Group will be responsible for the program. The animation called "Shaolin Haibao" will show China's wisdom and culture of 5,000 years.
World Expo Mascot Figure "Hai Bao" Debuts in Toronto
By lily Updated:2009-07-01 02:33:51

Annual "Taste of Asia" Carnival was held in Toronto on June 27 and June 28, which was an important content of "Asian Cultural Month" in Ontario. The personal admission ticket of Shanghai World Expo will be officially sold from July 1, 2009. And the debut of "Hai Bao" in "Taste of Asia" Markham Carnival sends invitation and blessing for Toronto citizens.