With the eyes of the world on China for the Olympic Games starting today 08.08.08, it only seems appropriate to share some Hot Bits on China’s lucky number…

• Eight is a lucky number in China, because the word for it — ba — sounds so close to the word for wealth (fa) that many people believe eight is a number that is linked to prosperity.

• In China you have to pay extra to have the number 8 in your phone number or license plate. In addition, home and business owners like to have the number 8 in their address.

• Nine thousand weddings will take place in the capital on Friday. According to the state-run Xinhua News Agency, that number will be more than twice the previous single-day marriage record.