Wait'Ll They Discover Slinkies

By Janice Castro

Forget Ping-Pong. These days China is crazy for HULA HOOPS. The fad has gathered speed as several People's Republic manufacturers have begun churning them out. Suddenly in Beijing, just about everyone from bus passengers and bicycle riders to students and bureaucrats is hauling around the brightly colored jianshen quan (body-building hoops). Many new aficionados, however, aren't sure what they should do with them. Some roll them like wheels, others twirl them around their arms. As soon as everyone catches on to the classic wiggle, get ready for a new Summer Olympics event. Beats synchronized swimming any day.

With reporting by Wendy Cole