-- China's landmark property law, which grants equal protection to both State and private property, is approved by the 10th National People's Congress and takes effect on Oct 1.
-- China's first moon probe, Chang'e-I, takes off on Oct 24. It marks another milestone in China's space program after satellites and manned space flights. Chang'e-I is the first step in China's three-stage moon mission.
-- Yu Youjun, governor of the coal-rich Shanxi province, resigns after a forced slave-labor scandal involving illegally-run brick kilns and mines.