Trending news across China on Sept 24

'Protester' released

The father of a 16-year-old middle-school student, who was detained by police for encouraging others to protest a man's death, has denied his son committed any crime and thanked people on Weibo for their care. The boy, surnamed Yang from Zhangjiachuan Hui autonomous county, Gansu province, was taken into custody on Sept 17 and released on Monday, Peninsula Metropolis Daily reported on Sina Weibo.

Coined in

Fifty million new edition five-yuan coins issued by the People's Bank of China on Monday sold well among coin collectors. The limited edition coin, which will be circulated in the currency market with the same denomination as the ordinary five-yuan notes, is already hard to buy in banks due to demand. (www.cnhuadong.net)

Divorce mystery

Chinese pop diva Faye Wong and former actor Li Yapeng did not apply for divorce according to authorities from Urumqi Civil Affairs Bureau in Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region. The high-profile divorce of this perfect celebrity couple, which was announced on Sept 13, prompted many people to search their own marriage records. (www.163.com)

Bunker busted

An official at a local police station in Nanjing, Jiangsu province hired construction workers to build a 200-square meters underground room under his villa. His plan, which has been stopped by local authorities, was to get more compensation when his house is demolished. (www.chinanews.com)

Beijing shooting

Three men sitting in a Mercedes shot people with imitation guns and plastic gun bullet in Beijing on the night of Sept 20, Beijing Morning Post reported. The men were detained by local police on suspicion of endangering public security since the police found four guns in their car with the power to kill people.

Last veteran dies

Fu Xinde, China's longest-living veteran among those who fought in the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression died on Sept 21 in Yunnan province. He was 113. Fu, a native of Henan province, saved a Japanese captive during the battle of Songshan in 1944 when he worked as an army medical worker. The Japanese soldier visited Fu years ago to pay a tribute. (www.ifeng.com)

Millionaire drowns

Chinese business tycoon Tan Shuhai died after drowning on Sept 20 in Hainan province, local police confirmed. Tan, 56, built his wealth worth 5 billion yuan ($800 million) as the founder and chairman of Wuhan Haitian Group. Confident in his swimming skills, Tan refused to stop while security staffers warned him against the possible danger at a beach in Lingshui county. (http://www.hq.xinhuanet.com)

Hippo prison-break

A hippo staged a real-life prison-break on Monday by escaping from a flooded zoo as Typhoon Usagi battered Shantou, Guangdong province. The hippo was found in a river outside of the zoo, causing a stir among passers-by. Typhoon Usagi killed at least 25 people after making landfall in Guangdong province on Sunday evening, with more than 3 million people affected, Beijing News reported.

Elva Hsiao hiding

Even such a well-established beauty as Elva Hsiao was not confident enough to flaunt her makeup free face. The Taiwan pop singer was caught in a hotel for three hours on Sept 21 in Enshi, Hubei province, where she performed, after refusing to bare her face and take a photo with an organizer. The desperate Hsiao asked Jackie Chan for help. (www.northnews.cn)