Total eclipse seen across China

The near total eclipse seen in Tongchuan north of Xian

Thousand watched a total eclipse across Russia and China on Friday. Many gathered in the north western province of Xinjiang autonomous region and neighbouring Gansu province. Hotels raised their rates to astronomical prices according to some reports. In Shaanxi province the total eclipse was also visible north of the city of Xian. Astrologers and feng shui experts in China said earlier the eclipse might "spook the superstitious" a week ahead of the Beijing Olympics. But they added that Chinese authorities had nothing to fear. "Protests and chaos on the street are very likely but they will not do any permanent harm to the Chinese authorities," one of China's most renowned feng shui and astrology experts, Mak Ling-ling, told AFP.

[tvnewswatch in Xian, Shaanxi province, central China]