Houses that are economically affordable for low and medium incomed Beijing residents are not expected to see the same price falls next year as commercial apartments.

The economically affordable housing units are priced at only 80 or 85 percent of that of ordinary apartments. And according to the municipal government, they are still in a demand, despite the fact that the commercial real estate market is experiencing a downturn.

Meanwhile, more low and medium incomed groups, including some civil servants and teachers are also to be considered as potential applicants for such housing projects, if they meet the necessary criteria.

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If you want to get a glimpse of what Beijing's residential areas used to look like in the late Qing Dynasty about a hundred years ago, there is now another place to check out.

Renovation work has just been completed in downtown Beijing's Qianmen area. 14 Hutongs, with more than 530 residential courtyards, and 5,700 houses have been restored to their former glory of one century ago.

More than 2,300 households have been relocated for the massive project. Another 1,000 residents who temporarily vacated their homes for the renovation are to return to their houses in the middle of this month.

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American researchers warn that cell phone calls distract drivers far more than even the chattiest passenger, causing drivers to follow the car in front too closely and miss road exits.

According to the researchers, the difference between a cell phone conversation and a passenger conversation is due to the fact that the passenger is in the vehicle and knows what the traffic conditions are like, and they help the driver by reminding them of where to take an exit and pointing out hazards.

And using a hands-free device does not make things better, as passengers act as a second set of eyes, shutting up or sometimes even helping when they see the driver needs to make a maneuver.

The research, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology Applied, has added to a growing body of evidence that mobile phones can make driving dangerous.