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Acclaimed scientist and theoretical physicist, Stephen Hawking, arrived in Beijing on Saturday where he will be giving a series of lectures this week.

As part of his Beijing tour, Hawking will attend the 2006 Strings Conference, a high-end mathematics forum organized by the Morningside Center of Mathematics affiliated to the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

This is Hawking's third visit to the city.

Hawking was scheduled to give his lecture titled "The Origin of the Universe" at the Great Hall of the People this morning.

Before he got down to any serious business, the 64-year-old scientist yesterday was treated to a tour of Beijing's Temple of Heaven, accompanied by his eight-person entourage from the UK's renowned Cambridge University.

Hawking, who is wheelchair bound and unable to speak due to muscle atrophy, communicated briefly with reporters through his famous electronic voice machine as he approached the temple.

"Fabulous! I like you!" he exclaimed, before turning the tables on his questioners: "So what do you think of the temple?"

Zhao Qihui, Hawking's medical assistant, had high hopes for the coming week due to the scientist's strong-willed nature.

"I'm confident everything will go well with all the lectures next week, despite his physical condition."

Besides delivering his most popular lecture on the universe, China Daily has learned that Hawking is to unveil a new paper titled "Semi-Classical Birth of the Universe" with research fellows in Beijing.

Wu Zhongchao, a PhD student currently working under Hawking, said the scientist's visit is aimed at enhancing local children's enthusiasm for elementary science.

Hong Kong media reported that Hawking's seminal book The Brief History of Time sold out last week while the scientist was there to give "The Origin of the Universe" lecture on June 15 at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST). During his lecture, Hawking discussed theories on the origin of the universe, explained how time can have a beginning, and the progress made by cosmologists.

"Professor Hawking has long cared about the development of science in China and social issues.... And he agreed to the tour happily on receiving the invitation letter," said Judith Croasdell, his personal assistant.

(China Daily June 19, 2006)