To change or retain, it turned out to be a headache facing Beijing's road authority, which has received repeated criticism over the city's bus stop names containing the Chinese character "fen," or tomb in English.

"We have received to date more than 100 complaints and suggestions from the respondents via the Internet and telephone," a woman surnamed Xu with Beijing municipal public transport corporation said.

She added that public opinion is polarized upon whether the ominous Chinese names of "fen" ought to be left out, or to change for a better one.

There are in total 35 local names including "fen" in the capital, according to the Beijing public transport administration.

Most of the criticism come from outsiders and some natives who are superstitious, worrying living near a "fen" place would bring about bad luck.

Some even took advantage of the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games, saying a name of "fen" won't be accepted by foreign travelers.

"As a tourist I cannot make myself like those bus stop or subway names as the character 'fen' sounds no auspicious to me," an outsider from south China is quoted by Beijing Jing Daily as saying.

"I strongly suggest an immediate change. Take the bus stop 'gongzhu fen'(the Princess' Tomb), for instance, it'll be much better to call it 'gongzhu ling/yuan' (a Chinese euphemism for tomb)."

On the other hand, many shrug off the name change inquiry move, launched by the city's related authorities, citing those names' rich cultural origins and their well-knownness among the aged and the young.

"Those 'fen' place names are the best Beijing flavored and they are part of the city's history and civilization traits," remarked a Beijing native surnamed Wang.

Since Monday the municipal public transport authority has publicized a mass solicitation for new bus stop names via its official website www.bjbus.com or the hot line 96166.

(China Daily August 18, 2005)