BEIJING, Sept. 13 -- A total of seven million yuan were raised at a charity auction on Thursday in Beijing, attended by Chinese basketballers and NBA stars.

Members of the Chinese men's national basketball team attend a charity auction party in Beijing, Sept. 13, 2007. Chinese basketball star Wang Zhizhi and Yao Ming, together with some NBA stars, will play a charity game on Sept. 14. All the income of the charity game and the auction will be donated to help improve educational environment of children from families of poverty in west China. (Xinhua/Luo Xiaoguang) Photo Gallery>>>

    Houston Rockets center Yao Ming and Phoenix Suns guard Steve Nash appeared at the banquet, part of the charity activities jointly sponsored by themselves, that also includes a charity game on Friday.

Yao Ming (L2) and Steve Nash (L3) attend a charity auction party in Beijing, Sept. 13, 2007. (Xinhua Photo) Photo Gallery>>>

    All the money collected from the auction and from Friday's game will be used to aid schooling for kids in China's poorest regions.

    Seven people became winners after fierce bidding at the salesroom where precious items, including Beijing Olympic tickets and the jersey Michael Jordan wore in the NBA final, were on sale.

    Every winner will gain a set of articles with a special theme. The pack - featuring the Beijing Olympics - that includes tickets and a pair of sports shoes once worn by Yao Ming - was auctioned at the highest rate - 3.6 million yuan.

    6.75 million yuan were collected from the auction and Yao Ming, who enjoys a high reputation both in China and in the US, contributed another 250,000 yuan to the sum.

    The charity game between the Chinese national team and the NBA Stars is scheduled for Friday evening, at the Shougang Basketball Centre Gymnasium.

    (Source: CRIENGLISH.com)