The bright full moon on Thursday night was the perfect occasion for millions of residents in this East China city to take to the open spaces with their families and eat moon cakes in celebration of the Mid-autumn festival.

The sound of cheers, jubilation and music were also heard from behind the barbed wire of the Nanjing Women's Prison in the city's south, where the inmates can forget for a while their absent families in this time of family reunion for Chinese people all over the world.

The prison was staging a performance by prisoners for fellow inmates and prison officers.

"I can't spend the festival with my aged parents, but the atmosphere today eased my homesickness," said 30-year-old actress Su Wen, who has performed in the prison four times in the past 9 years.

It is hard to believe that this smiling and pretty woman was sentenced 9 years ago, when she was 21, to imprisonment for life.

The 1200 prisoners were dismissed from correctional classes earlier than usual on Thursday so they could prepare for the evening dinner party and song and dance performances.

Each jail cell, some decorated with orchids or soft toys, usually accommodate 12 women. "Such decorations are encouraged to ease their psychological troubles," said woman officer Jing Wei.

Besides a shop and a bookstore, there is also a beauty shop inside the prison. Inmates who behave well can get a facial mask treatment and a massage for free on Saturday or Sunday, Jing said.

"The beauty shop was opened primarily for the purpose of providing training for prisoners," said Zou Liqi, director and teacher in the shop, who has 12 students at present. 5 Such training, as well as computer classes, is intended to help prisoners make a living after they served out their sentences, Zou said.

"I'm learning things here," said the prisoner actress Su, "I hope I can have a job and be the same as other people around me when I'm out of here."

For her "outstanding" merits and behavior, Su has had her sentences reduced from life to 12 years by judges.

"I'll be dismissed in three years and then be able to eat moon cakes with my family," Su said with tears in her eyes.

Close

Today's Top News		Top Lifestyle News
+Official delegation sent to lobby Moscow on oil ( 2003-09-12) +Dalai Lama's US visit denounced ( 2003-09-12) +Commentary: China's diplomacy serves development ( 2003-09-12) +China, Germany agree to tighten ties ( 2003-09-12) +Comment: US should look before leap ( 2003-09-12)		+Mid-Autumn Day behind bars ( 2003-09-12) +'Piercing the veil' of beggary ( 2003-09-12) +Flu and you ( 2003-09-12) +Going the distance ( 2003-09-12) +Art gala debuts in Beijing ( 2003-09-12)