Unfortunately, I'm unable to explain Class iii, but I'm unlikely to swim in it. I should welcome an explanation of how wonderful is a visibility of 2.27 m (an improvement of 29 cm). Relate these minute measurements to the unreliable government statistics that often appear and I remain pessimistic, but I congratulate any improvement ... no matter how small.

Did any one notice this in the report; "... at 10pm the racket is only starting. The noise interferes with kids doing their homework"

Why on Earth are kids do homework at 10 pm?

@Bob: Have you any idea what the plans may be. I hope that it's more than planning to have another meeting. Experts in global warming (and that is the reason) will suggest that immediate, severe, actions must be taken, for example, double the cost of water.

This simply not a 'fluctuation' - it'll be worse next year.

Records show that snow fall in the Himalayas and the Artic (for example) is no longer replenishing glacier melt - this has been the case for more than a decade ... and continues.

Can you please tell me the start location of the protest march?

Many teachers, both Chinese and foreign, who are aware of this report will make it a subject of comment today. Of course, the greatest contributing factor for these results is financial which results in an energy spiral strengthened by the attraction of foreign experts and, thus, the best students. Therefore, in a way, it goes without saying that the Beijing, Shanghai, Chengdu, Chongqing universities will lead the pack.

Having spent my extended China teaching time equally in Chengdu and Kunming, I am aware of some contributing factors that Liu Shaohuai ignores. Obviously, as a diligent political member of the Party, it is unlikely that his education has concentrated on much more than propaganda and, thus, some very good teachers at Yunnan University (known to me personally) who are not active Party members are given little attention.

I remember meeting a Chinese senior English-language teacher who had been introduced, proudly, with a Ph.D. Upon enquiry, I learnt that her dissertation was about Ethnic Tourism. Is there a link between ethnic groups and language? Yes, but will this knowledge improve the teaching of language in Yunnan? Very little, in my opinion. There is also the memory of my first introduction to a Kunming university - My guide proudly telling me that 90% of the university's teachers had a bachelor degree. Seeking more information, I learnt that of the remaining 9% comprised those with masters and doctorates, but 1% (approximately) only had a college diploma. I understand that this is no longer the case.

Yet, by comparison, I know of an elderly foreign tenured-professor from a top U.S. university, with two doctorates, who visits Kunming for six months every year - he teaches privately during his visit and has never been approached to assist with the university assessments that Mr. Liu seems to advocate.

Finally, I should be interested to know why there is a 60 years-old age cut-off for useful foreign experts ... perhaps related but a whole new subject.