China Takes in Bullfights

Several hundred curious spectators watched as China staged its first bullfights Saturday, complete with matadors from Spain and bulls from Mexico.

“It’s really something different,” said city government worker Yu Liang at the event in a soccer stadium in Shanghai’s northern suburbs. He then called, “Be careful!” as a bull made another pass at matador Guillermo Alban.

Beijing called off a similar event earlier this year in the face of protests. Shanghai went ahead, with some changes.

Bulls were taunted, pricked and stabbed -- but then ushered out of the ring.

“In keeping with Chinese cultural sensitivities, the bulls will not be killed,” an announcer at Yangpu Stadium said.

The bullfights added to a list of sometimes bizarre spectacles organized to build Shanghai’s image as a cosmopolitan city and to take advantage of the rising incomes -- already the highest in China.

Recent high-profile events have included China’s first Formula One race, an Italian festival featuring a five-story-high replica of the Leaning Tower of Pisa.