Yao’s week in review: Oreos, dragons, monks and veggies
March 1st, 2010by John
Raymond in China reports that before Yao’s return to Houston, Yao participated in a nationwide marketing program launch of Oreos last Thursday.
Click here for photos of Yao around a bunch of Oreos and kids. Here’s a video from China of Yao talking about the program, and here’s one of the commercial itself.
Last Wednesday, Feb. 24th, Yao watched his Shanghai MAXXIS Sharks beat the Jiangsu Nangang Dragons in a roller-coaster OT win, 125-121, which put the Sharks in 4th place in the CBA above the Dragons. The win also clinched a playoff spot for the Sharks.
Click here for more photos of Yao at the game.
On Monday, Feb. 22nd, Yao went to the Lingyin Temple (Temple of Soul’s Retreat) ??? in Hangzhou at 6:00 am in the morning with his wife Ye Li to burn incense, a custom during the Chinese New Year that brings good luck. He then sat with the monks for a breakfast that consisted only of vegetables.
One of the monks rushed to Yao with a basketball for him to sign, and told him that the monks in Lingyin Temple will form a basketball team soon. Here a monk is delighted with his prize.
Then at 07:30 am, Yao left the Lingyin Temple for the Lingshun Temple ??? at the Bei Gao Feng Mountain.
This 1,600-year-old temple is known as the God of Wealth Temple to the locals. Thousands of pilgrims make their way up here each year to light some incense and say some prayers to bring them good fortune.
Yao had tea with the head monk there, who gifted Yao and his friends who came with him full sets of Hua Yan Jing ??? (i.e. Avatamsaka Sutra which weighed more than 15 KG for each set). The head monk also gave Yao a bracelet that he had worn for more than 10 years before taking it off and giving it to him.
When asked what Yao did at the Lingshun Temple, the head monk said Yao didn’t ask for his own fortune, but for the fortune and safety of his expected child.
Click here for more photos of Yao’s visit at the Lingshun Temple.