Di Meng, a native of Changchun who lives in Beijing, is currently attending the University of Southern California.

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Xinhua said she and three other workers were sent to a hospital in the nearby provincial capital of Changchun.

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At first glance, things in Changchun do not look too bad.

ECONOMIST: China

Moreover, Changchun has some thriving private industry.

ECONOMIST: China

Zhou Changchun says he has tried for years to get on the CCTV broadcast as the "king of bike" -- a title he claims for his ability to do bicycle tricks while clad in a colorful superhero-style outfit.

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Volkswagen (Frankfurt: VOW.F), with joint ventures in both Shanghai and Changchun, continues to be the leading brand in China, increasing its total market share to 21.8 percent, while General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) follows in second place with 12.2 percent.

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