Chinese tourists A record 1.2 million Chinese tourists visited Australia in 2016, according to statistics released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) on Monday. Jessica Noack from the ABS Migration Analysis and Reporting Team said there had been “phenomenal* growth” in the number of visitor arrivals from China over the past 40 years, explaining that in 1976, just 500 Chinese tourists visited Australia. Soldier returns home A Chinese soldier who was stuck* in India for more than 50 years after he crossed over the border following the 1962 war arrived in Beijing on Saturday with his Indian family members to an emotional reunion with his Chinese kin*. Wang Qi, 77, was received by his close Chinese relatives, besides officials of China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Indian Embassy when he arrived in Beijing along with his son, daughter-in-law and granddaughter from Delhi-Beijing flight. His Indian wife Shushila, however, stayed back. ‘Qigong master’ dies Self-proclaimed “qigong master” Wang Lin, who was facing several criminal charges, has died in a hospital in East China’s Jiangxi Province following an illness. Wang died from a multiple organ failure from ANCA*-related vasculitis* and peripheral neuritis on Friday afternoon, said Fuzhou City Intermediate People’s Court. The man, who claimed to be a master of qigong, a traditional martial art combined with meditation, came to public attention in 2013 when images of him posing for pictures with celebrities were unveiled. Fingerprint collection China began taking the fingerprints of foreigners entering the country starting Friday, the Ministry of Public Security has announced. The new system was first tested at Shenzhen International Airport on Friday, before being gradually rolled out across China by the end of this year, according to an announcement on the ministry’s website. An officer from Shenzhen’s exit and entry inspection office said that 10 fingerprints will be collected. (SD-Agencies) | 