The government of Xiangtan , Hunan , the birthplace of Mao Zedong , will spend 15 billion yuan (HK$18.34 billion) on a major facelift in the lead-up to the 120th anniversary of Mao's birth next year. Mao was born in Shaoshan - a county-level city under the administration of Xiangtan - on December 26, 1893. Planned projects include a highway, a school and drainage in Shaoshan. There will also be three tourism projects, including renovation of scenic spots in Shaoshan and the building of two tourist attractions. Shaoshan's Mao Zedong Memorial Museum will also be renovated. The quoted a local official as saying the original plan called for close to 50 billion yuan to be spent on 20 projects. Louise Ho

A driver who ran over a toddler in a hit-and-run accident that shocked China has been sentenced to three-and-a-half years in prison. The death of the two-year-old, nicknamed Yue Yue, triggered a public outcry after surveillance camera footage of her being hit by two vehicles last October in the southern city of Foshan was posted online. At least 18 people were shown walking past the girl as she lay critically injured, before a woman rubbish collector picked her up and moved her to the kerb. Hu Jun was jailed for accidentally causing the toddler's death by hitting her with his minivan, a spokeswoman for the court in Foshan's Nanhai district said. Hu was given a lighter sentence than he might otherwise have received because he voluntarily turned himself into police and paid part of Yue Yue's medical fees, the China News Service reported. AFP