Twins' Festival attracts hundreds of Chinese

Hundreds of Chinese twins, triplets and quadruplets dressed in matching outfits celebrated their rare brother-and-sisterhood on Sunday in a country where most people grew up as the only child in the family.In a bustling park decorated with gigantic red lanterns, the Beijing Eighth Annual Twins Festival featured a car parade as well as music and dance performances.At least 500 pairs of twins attended the event on the second day of Chinas week-long National Day holidays, according to local reports.With a few exceptions, giving birth to a second child costs urban families a hefty fine from the Chinese government.In a country where having siblings is a rarity, it is no wonder that 21-year-old twin brothers Du Pang and Du Peng constantly got questions about their brotherly bond.Many Chinese believe that multiple births are a great blessing because parents can enjoy more companionship and care in their old age.A 36-year-old father Du Jun said he was lucky to have quadruplets but almost everybody in his family has to drop everything just to take care of the boys.The 32-year-old Liu Yun also expressed relief that her twin children would get a soul mate for life.Under Chinas one-child policy, each urban family can only have one child unless both parents are single children.Exceptions are also made to rural families and ethnic minorities.