NBA superstars Yao Ming and Steve Nash share a light moment at a charity auction banquet at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing last night. The auction raised seven million yuan (US$932,091), including the 3.6 million yuan Chinese business tycoon Zhu Xinli paid for a package consisting of Yao's sneakers and two tickets for the opening ceremony of the Beijing Olympics and 250,000 yuan donated by Yao. Today, nine NBA stars, including Nash, will play with China's national basketball team in a charity match in Beijing. Proceeds from the auction and match will aid needy students and mentally challenged children in China's west.

Yao Ming (L) of the Houston Rocket addresses a charity gala as Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns looks on at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing on September 13, 2007.

Yao Ming (L2) of the Houston Rocket and Steve Nash (L3) of the Phoenix Suns answer the hostess' questions during a charity gala initiated by the two NBA's household names at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing September 13, 2007.

Wang Zhizhi of CBA's Bayi Shuanglu attends a charity gala initiated by his national team teammate Yao Ming and Steve Nash of NBA's Phoenix Suns at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing September 13, 2007.

Baron Davis (R) of the Golden State Warriors performs during a charity gala initiated by Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets and Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing September 13, 2007.

Yi Jianlian (R), the No 6 pick of this year's NBA draft and a member of the Milwaukee Bucks, attends a charity gala initiated by Yao Ming of the Houston Rockets and Steve Nash of the Phoenix Suns at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing September 13, 2007.

(Shanghai Daily, Xinhua News Agency September 14, 2007)