Millions of Chinese visited families and sent text messages to friends on Sunday, the first day of the Year of the Tiger, with a traditional love of wordplay taking on a political twist in some telephone text greetings. Fireworks blanketed Beijing skies at midnight on New Year's Eve, and phones beeped continuously with New Year's greetings. Some used the many Chinese words that sound alike to send sly puns on Chinese leaders' names and famous sayings. One text message played on the names of China's President, Hu Jintao, Premier Wen Jiabao, Vice President Xi Jinping, Vice Premier Li Keqiang, and security chief Zhou Yongkang. “In the Tiger year, I wish your cardgames will be as lucky (“hu”) as Jintao, your wallet as thick (“bao”) as Wen Jia, your mood as calm (“ping”) as Xi Jin, your abilities as strong (“qiang”) as Li Ke, your body as healthy (“kang”) as Zhou Yong,” read the message. Other text messages riffed on famous sayings by some leaders of China's ruling Communist Party, Mao Zedong and Deng Xiaoping..
