Hao Hao ReportThe best China news and blog posts

MIANYANG, China - Chinese authorities prepared on Saturday to drain a swelling lake formed by a devastating earthquake, completing work on a drainage channel to divert water that threatens hundreds of thousands downstream.

Officials are expected to discharge flood water from the lake into the channel between Sunday and Tuesday, the official Xinhua News Agency reported, quoting Yue Xi, deputy chief of the water and electricity section of the People's Armed Police.

As the weather gets warmer here in Shanghai, in another region of China, Hefei, Anhui Province, where’s China’s fifth largest lake, Chaohu Lake resides, a blue green algae outbreak was discovered, affecting at least 320,000 people who depends on it as a water source. The outbreak is caused by a rise in temperature, allowing algae growth to take place. Of course, some required chemical reagents like ammonia and nitrogen must have existed in plentiful amounts before this kind of algae can take place.

MIANYANG, China - A strong aftershock struck China's quake-battered Sichuan province Thursday, as rising water levels in a lake caused by landslides in the massive May 12 temblor forced evacuations from downstream areas.

There were no immediate reports of new damage or injuries caused by the 5.3 magnitude aftershock. The U.S. Geological Survey reported that it struck at 12:41 p.m. (12:41 a.m. EDT) just south of the town of Qingchuan at the relatively shallow depth of 6 miles.

An article from Angry Chinese Blogger about a little known ceremony that takes place once a year to remember those that suffered and died to build Japan's largest man-made lake.

Built largely by Korean slaves and Chinese POWs during the 1940s, the lake now offers Japan's young and old alike a place and time to reflect on a dark spot in their history.

Have you ever seen a Chinese aircraft carrier? I had not seen one until today, and I was very surprised when I saw one today while driving to Dianshanhu. When we left the highway on our way to the lake, we suddenly saw the huge boat on our right. My first thought was that the Chinese navy has a ship wharf here, and that there might be a connection to the Yangtze river. But it turned out that the boat is fake: it is made out of concrete and a small lake has been dug around it.

Hey folks, I've thrown together a badge and accompanying post for any bloggers or webmasters that wish to add a way for their visitors to get information on how to donate to the China quake relief funds.

A new report out by Canadian group Probe International is questioning whether the Sichuan quake may be the result of the filling of the Three Gorges Dam. Wait, before you shake your head at the "Western bias" - they've Chinese scientists on this too. Since initially filling the dam there has been a couple thousand micro-quakes, and that it rests on a couple fault lines makes one have to at least consider there might be consequences of some sort.

Forget Nessie! Xinjiang's got lake monsters that actually exist.

I had a post on private equity ready to go, but I can’t bring myself to do it. This Sichuan quake, while it doesn’t compare to the Myanmar cyclone in terms of sheer cost of human life, has been on my mind too much. Here are more ways for you to help.