Beijing to ban avoiding 'unlucky' numbers

Beijing, Aug 20 (IANS) The Chinese capital will prohibit people from avoiding so-called "unlucky" numbers, that include four, 13 and 14, in the registration of addresses.

The move targets Chinese numerology that reflects superstitious beliefs still held by some people, Xinhua reported.

Chinese people continue to avoid the number "four" because it sounds almost exactly like the word for "death" in Mandarin.

"The numbers of storied buildings, units and door plates should be coded and registered in numerical order, and no skipping or selective use of numbers should be allowed," Xinhua quoted an official from the Beijing Municipal Administration of Quality and Technology Supervision as saying.

A new coding criterion for building name plates and door number plates will be implemented Sep 1.

People are also willing to pay extra to register car number plates or phone numbers containing the number "eight" because it sounds similar to the words for "making a fortune" or "prosperity" in Mandarin and Cantonese.

The opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympic Games officially began at 8 p.m. on the eighth day of the eighth month in 2008.