South China Morning Post reports that the gold medallists tried to go shopping for gold jewellery before a scheduled press conference, but left empty-handed when the media prevented them from choosing their pieces.

Tian Liang and Guo Jingjing, China's diving prince and princess and Luo Xuejuan, who won the women's 100 meter breaststroke, went looking for gold immediately after their arrival.

The trio is part of China's Olympic gold-medal winning team who arrived in Hong Kong for a four-day visit.

Luo Xujuan's father had bought her a gold chain at a Chow Tai Fook branch on the Chinese mainland after her Olympic victory, and she wanted to buy a souvenir for him in return.

However, because they only had a short amount of time, the three gold medallists were unable to pick out anything while they were mobbed by the media.

To compensate, the shop gave them each a diamond pendant.

Pandemonium broke out when they left as television cameramen and photographers fought for the best shot.

The 110 meter hurdles winner Liu Xiang says he is tempted by the shopping but has no intention of staying in Hong Kong to pursue a career as a movie star, despite having been compared to actor Bruce Lee because of his looks.

The gold medallists were scheduled to visit Golden Bauhinia Square, the Avenue of Stars and Tsing Ma Bridge Tuesday and attend a variety show staged in their honour at the Hong Kong Stadium.

(Photo source: scmp.com)