CHINA: BEIJING: INTERNATIONAL AUTOMOBILE SHOW

Mandarin/Nat China's love affair with the automobile is just beginning. At Tuesday's International Automobile Show in Beijing, car fans came to look at sleek new models from some of the world's biggest manufacturers. Car manufacturers will do just about anything to get their cars noticed in the Chinese market. Even Peking Opera actors got into the act, bringing old Beijing and the modern commercial reality together. At this week's International Automobile Show, which opened on Tuesday in Beijing, catching the visitor's eye seemed to be the main idea. With almost one human model for every car model on display and more circulating through the exhibition hall, visitors had to wonder exactly what the focus of the show was. However China's growing number of car enthusiasts were there for horsepower and burning rubber, not leggy models. And more were there to buy than ever before. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) "I'll see what my economic situation is. If I'm doing well, I'll buy a better car. Most likely, I'll buy a car between ten and twenty thousand yuan."(1200 - 1400 U-S dollars) SUPER CAPTION: Mr. Lin SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) "We're very interested in the progress of automobiles now. I want to buy a car, so I came to have a look.' SUPER CAPTION: Mr. Wang Owning a personal or family car is still only a dream for most Chinese. Even a low-end Chinese brand can cost ten thousand yuan (1200 U-S dollars), more than the average worker makes in a year. Despite a growing number of car exhibitions in China and increased investment by foreign manufacturers, it is well-known that for now, auto shows are still for lookers, not buyers. However, international car giants are hoping that China's next generation will be ready and waiting to buy cars when they grow up. Chinese car buyers don't have the tradition of kicking tires just yet, but they enthusiastically look under the hood and check to see that moving parts operate properly. One young show-goer can't wait to get behind the wheel for real. SOUNDBITE: (Mandarin) 'The cars here, they're beautiful, really good-looking. I really like cars. Here they have foreign cars, Chinese cars, imported, every kind. My father came because he uses his car for work, I came because I really love them." SUPER CAPTION: Master JIN In Beijing, one thousand new cars hit the road every month, adding to both traffic and pollution problems that are already major concerns. Once known for being a nation that moved on bicycles, China's bike lanes may soon disappear as roads are widened to accommodate more cars. Until car prices drop or salaries increase, this little hot rod may be as close to the real thing as aspiring Chinese drivers will get. You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/youtube/f9492628c6b975c0e2f059c217f30f1b Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork