They take turns manning the bridge, from as early as 6am to as late as 7pm when darkness falls and the markets close.

Indeed, at the moment the award was handed over in Oslo, several policemen were pummeling Yu s face, saying, We are going to beat you to death to avenge the government s humiliation.

A closer look reveals that President Hu Jintao s words and deeds are often shaped by a mixture of insecurity and cockiness, and that Chinese officials alternate between playing up and playing down the country s rise.