A total of 86 children who have lost one or both parents to AIDS were at a free summer camp program in Beijing that was sponsored by the China Work Committee on Care for Children.
Zhu biao was one of the children at the five-day summer camp. His mother died of AIDS.
"I'm very happy and I want to thank all those who care for me," the 13-year-old said.
The children, who are HIV negative, will visit the Forbidden City, the Great Wall and the Summer Palace. Each will also be invited to a local home to feel the warmth of an integral family, an official with the committee said.
Wang bin, a worker with the Beijing Electric Power Construction Company, invited Yan Hui, a child from Shanxi Province, to his home.
"I have many books for him to read and will show him around the city. I think we can be good friends," said Wang's son.
More than 270 families have applied to be hosts since CWCCC published its "families of love" event plan for these children in June, said Li Guoqiang, an official with the committee.
"The entire society is eliminating its discrimination against those children whose families suffer from AIDS," Li said.
Chinese entrepreneurs also showed their concern about this special group of minors by establishing a special fund, which to date has helped more than 200 children.
"We hope that more business people will get to know such children's life and help them," said Geng Yuan, assistant secretary-general of the fund.
There are nearly 80,000 children whose mother or father or both parents died of AIDS in the country.
The figure is expected to reach 200,000 by 2010, experts say, adding the main problems faced by such children are discrimination, poverty and lack of self-confidence.
"This summer tour will show the public these children deserve to be treated just like any one else," Li said. "We hope we can eliminate discrimination and offer more assistance to these children."
(Xinhua)