BEIJING, Aug. 12 (Xinhua) -- Sixty outstanding representatives from a wide spectrum of social sectors of China have spent a one-week state-sponsored holiday as reward for their contributions.
The representatives, including leading scientists that helped design China's atomic and hydrogen bombs and manmade satellites, winners of China's highest scientific awards and aeronautics heroes, were invited by the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the State Council.
They stayed in Beidaihe, a seaside resort in Hubei Province, from Aug. 4 to Aug. 10, according to a statement of the CPC Central Committee.
The invitation list also included specialists that had made contributions to quake-relief efforts, representatives from circles of philosophy and social sciences, entertainment and art. There were also teachers, doctors and agricultural specialists.
Li Yuanchao, head of the Organization Department of the CPC Central Committee, paid a visit to the representatives from Aug. 4 to Aug. 5.
One of the holiday-goers, Yuan Yifan, a research fellow at the China Earthquake Administration, said the move had positive effect on the society, especially among intellectuals as it was a show of respect for them.