Trending across China

A huge apple goes on sale in Nanjing, a sister has an abortion to save her brother's life, and "My Love from the Star" gets a cold reception in the West – it's all trending in China.

Huge apple, huge price

An apple, as big as a football, is on sale for 6,800 yuan ($1,106) in a market in Nanjing, capital of East China's Jiangsu province. The price is even more expensive than an Apple iPhone 5s.

According to staff, the apple was grown in Japan and weighs 1.2 kg. The apple’s skin features an imprint of Guanyin, a bodhisattva associated with compassion. To create the pattern, a cover that blocks the sun needs to be placed on the apple while it ripens. The cover had to be replaced hundreds of times in order to create the final pattern. It has been on display since before Spring Festival but has still not sold.

Rampant robbery

A man surnamed Chen was grabbed by a woman while commuting on a bus, but instead of shouting, he kept quiet in order to avoid creating a scene. It turns out the woman was stealing his wallet, and he lost 3,000 yuan ($488) and a bank card.

Police advise people to be cautious anytime somebody gets near you in a crowded place. Thieves can employ different tricks to steal your belongings.

Sister has abortion to save brother

Yuan Juan, a woman in Huludao, Northeast China's Liaoning province, aborted a four-month-old fetus in order to donate her bone marrow to her brother, who was diagnosed with leukemia at the end of last year.

Yuan Juan was told by doctors that pregnant people could not donate their marrow. She made her decision firmly stating: "It is painful to lose my baby but I can have another one. But if I lost my brother, there is no way back."

 

First child, no certificate needed

Central China's Hubei province has officially abolished approval procedures for first-born children in families. Couples who are married in Hubei can give birth to their first child without filling out an application.

In the past, the Hubei Health and Family Planning Commission required the related department to issue a birth certificate to families expecting their first baby in advance.

'My Love from the Star' sees cold welcome

Korean drama “My Love from the Star” was a big hit in Asia, while Western countries gave it a cold welcome. Many consider the big cultural difference between the East and West as the main reason for the different receptions.

According to Western media, the love story between an alien and a human is not new or interesting to Western areas, which have more than 60 years of dramatic writing history. In addition, the story is too simple and slow paced. Western audiences are used to dramas with a faster pace and more complexity.

Odd couple

A donkey and a zebra eat carrots at a wildlife park in Qingdao, Shandong province, on Friday. Park officials said the donkey is pregnant with the zebra's baby, though animal experts have yet to confirm this. If it is true, it will be the fifth time that a zebra and donkey have successfully mated in the world.