EX-OFFICIAL BACK

Xia Zhenggui, a deposed official in Shanxin province, re-launched his career as the deputy chief of the provincial United Front Work Department, according to Beijing News. Xia was removed from the post as Party Chief in Linfen after a fatal mine accident killed 262 people in the coal mining disaster in 2008. (www.sina.com.cn)

FIRST LADY FASHION

 

Chinese first lady Peng Liyuan made this year's Vanity Fair best-dressed list together with trendsetters including the Duchess of Cambridge and Victoria Beckham. Peng has been known for her elegant style she has demonstrated with smart suits and classic hand bags. (www.vanityfair.com)

SINGER FREED

Singer Wu Hongfei who wrote on Sina Weibo that she wanted to blow up government housing commission offices was released on Friday. Wu was detained for spreading terrorism. (www.cnr.cn)

MISS HK PREVIEW

Organizers of the 2013 Miss Hong Kong beauty pageant have released the list of top 20 candidates, becoming a hot topic on Tencent's microblog site.

TV LINGERS

The influence of the mainland produced period drama The Legend of Zhenhuan still lingers on Taiwan. Some Taiwan tourists said that the scenes in the show, which focused on vendettas among concubines, constantly came to mind when they visited the Old Summer Palace in Beijing, local media reported. (www.chinanews.com.cn)

WHITE TO BLUE COLLAR

A man with a Master's Degree of Arts shifted his career path from an office worker to a technician. Li Qiang, 36, is getting training in a vocational school in Qingdao, Shandong province. Li made the decision after several poorly paid office jobs. (www.163.com)