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Just unbelievable: "SOME 29 children from Yunnan, Sichuan and Shandong provinces, rescued by police after being sold by their families, were returned to live with the people who bought them because their real parents have not been found, the Shandong Business News reported. Police in Shandong's Liao-cheng City recently smashed two gangs which sold babies, resulting in 45 people being brought to trial and receiving sentences ranging from life in prison to 18 months in jail. However, police admit they sent the 29 children back to their buyers to prevent them from being homeless, as their parents have not been found. 'We had no choice,' said Yin Guangguo, the team leader of Liaocheng Criminal Police. 'It's the best home we can find these kids for now.'" [Shanghai Daily] more ›

• Urbanatomy informs us that tomorrow's free bar day - not only is Judy's Lounge opening up on Thursday (and offering drinks for free), but Cantina Agave is celebrating its one year birthday the same night (free food and drink) and the new Manhattan bar will also be plying 0RMB drinks to revelers from 10pm to midnight. [Urbanatomy]
• Kellie Schmitt interviews some of the Chinese workers who help make Christmas in Shanghai possible. [CNNGo]
• Did you know there was a netball team in Shanghai? One netball enthusiast tells it all. [Cityweekend]

Tony Birtley of Al-Jazeera reports that between 70,000 and 200,000 babies, children and women are kidnapped each year around China. Baby boys are sold for as much as US$5,000 to desperate childless couples, and some of the abductees even end up overseas in the hands of foreign adopters. Police have had some success in breaking up child trafficking rings, but most of the anxious parents, like the ones interviewed in this report, can only wait. more ›