Chinese welcome "Year of the Ox"

Hundreds of millions of Chinese geared up to welcome the Year of the Ox on Sunday, packing temple fairs, setting off fireworks and firecrackers and hurrying to train and bus stations to get home for the traditional holiday.The Transport Ministry reported that there were more than 63 million trips made on Saturday alone, as people scurried to get home for what for some is their only holiday of the year.In Shanghai, demand for holidays to Europe and Australia over the Lunar New Year has soared, though the figures for domestic tourism are not so rosy

China wins first gold

Chinese weightlifter Chen Xiexia set an Olympic record as she won the hosts their first gold medal of the 2008 Games on the opening day.She took the 48kg class to huge cheers from the partisan crowd, clinching victory with a total of 212kg. Turkey's Sibel Ozkan's total of 199kg earned silver, while Taiwanese lifter Chen Wei-Ling lifted 196kg for bronze.