HANGZHOU - The design and title of a statue to be erected in this city in honor of a brave woman's life-saving act were chosen on Tuesday after local residents voted for their favorite plan.

Wu Juping, a 31-year-old mother, cushioned a 2-year-old girl, nicknamed Niu Niu, when the child fell from a 10-story building in July. Wu broke both her forearms in the successful effort to save the child's life. Wu has since been honored across the country as "the most beautiful mother".

The Hangzhou government decided to accept a suggestion from some primary students to erect a statue to commemorate Wu's bravery and two plans, which were both designed by Han Meilin, a renowned Chinese artist, were put to a vote from Aug 25 to 29.

The winning design, titled The Most Beautiful Mom, shows a woman's hands supporting a baby while a little bird stands on a fingertip, conveying the ideas of love and caring.

More than 10,000 residents in Hangzhou voted for the designs and the title of the statue, and 7,234 chose the hands' design.

The statue will be erected at Qianjiang New City, where Wu caught the girl.

Han, a sculptor and painter, designed Fuwa, the five mascots for the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games.

Han spent almost one month drafting the two designs then making a miniature of each, and he will spend another month completing the sculpture.

The other plan shows two hands holding a baby, expressing the ideas of love and responsibility.

"Both plans are beautiful, and it took me a while to decide which was better," said Yan Taohong, a Hangzhou resident. "I voted for the plan with the ideas of love and caring because I think it is closer to the morals of Wu, a selfless mother."

Some residents said two options were not enough.

"I think there are many aspects of Wu's actions that can be better depicted by more designs, such as courage, bravery and selflessness," said Guo Shuping, another resident.

In response to the announcement that the statue will be completed in a month, Wu said the hands in the statue represented everyone's hands, instead of just hers, according to Hangzhou Daily.

Wu is currently receiving treatment at the Fuyang Traditional Chinese Medicine Bone Fracture Hospital and her condition is improving, according to her doctor, Qiu Xiaodong.

Niu Niu, the toddler, is also recovering from her injuries and can now stand upright and walk for several minutes, according to her doctor at the Second Hospital Affiliated to the Zhejiang University's College of Medicine.

China Daily

(China Daily 09/01/2011 page4)