"In China's primitive ages, dogs were regarded as intelligent animals," Wu Bingan, a professor of Folklore, said. "In the mythology of Han Nationality, the dog is revered as one of the 28 constellations in the Heavenly Palace."

    Among the ethnic minorities located in southwest China, dogs are even treated as their creators or ancestors. A fairy tale of Yao Nationality said, "The Nanyue King was captured by his enemy so the King's mother promised to marry the King's daughter to anyone who could save the King. It was the dog named 'Panhu', raised by the Nanyue King, that saved the King in the end. Later,'Panhu' married the King's daughter and their descendants are the Yao Nationality."

    Nowadays, dogs in China make their contribution to pushing forward China's economic development, which is the core task of China at this current stage.

    The number of dogs registered as pets has exceeded 400,000 in Beijing, including those that have not been registered, the total number is thought to be over 1 million. Experts predicted that the annual sales of pet-related products in the country might exceed 6 million yuan (741,000 U.S. dollars) in 2006.

    A glance at well-preened dogs walking on the streets or gardensby their owners can prove dogs are pampered by their owners as thefavorite pet during this "pet craze" in better-off Chinese cities.

    The dog is thought to be loyal, reliable, persistent, resourceful, unselfish and honest. "Dogs are often portrayed in modern Chinese novels and movies as heroes for their loyalty and honesty," Zhai Yunduan, a professor with the Liaoning Normal University, said.

    People born in the "Year of the Dog" are also considered to have similar merits. Thus many wannabe parents prepare to have their babies in the "Year of the Dog". "My wife and I both love puppies, which are lovely, cute and loyal," Ao Tian, a fashion chain store owner, said, who will greet his baby in October 2006.

    Meanwhile, in the coming "Year of the Dog", the lunar cycle begins relatively early and will last for 385 days until Feb. 17, 2007 -- a phenomenon that has occurred only 12 times in more than 2,300 years between 221 B.C. and 2100. The last 385-day lunar yearwas 1944.

    As the year is unusually long, it will have 13 months, with an intercalary month between the seventh and eighth month of the Chinese lunar calendar, as well as two "lichun" on Feb. 4 of 2006 and 2007 respectively - the auspicious day marks the beginning of spring. Enditem