Gold bars commemorating China's second manned space flight in October were issued by the National Museum of China on Monday. The bar bearing the serial number 1000 will be kept by the Museum and those numbered 0001, 0002, 0003 respectively will be presented to China's first man in space Yang Liwei, and to Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng who piloted the Shenzhou VI on China's second successful manned space mission.

According to Cheng Yongde, director of the Artistic Products Development Center of the National Museum, only 1000 sets of gold bars have been issued, each set with two gold bars each weighing 100 grams. The gold bars will be sold by order only. Those interested in purchasing the gold bars can place their orders with the National Museum and will have to make payment in advance.

The material used for the bar is au99.99 gold. A set of two bars costs 32,000 yuan (US$3,955), or 160 yuan (US$20) per gram, 12 yuan higher than the national average gold price of 148 yuan (US$18).
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On Monday morning, a customer bought a set bearing the serial number 0011.

China launched its second manned spacecraft, Shenzhou VI, on October 12 this year, sending two astronauts into orbit. It was China's first multi-manned and multi-day space flight. It was also the first time that astronauts carried out scientific experiments in space. The two astronauts, Fei Junlong and Nie Haisheng, entered the craft's orbital capsule, took off their heavy space suits, took pictures from the orbital capsule and conducted other experiments and scientific research in work clothes in the capsule. By comparison, Yang Liwei, the country's first man in space, was fastened to his chair and sat in the same position for 21 hours during the first mission two years ago on Shenzhou V.

(China.org.cn by Wang Qian October 25, 2005)