Yang Wanli: A year of tough assignments and great experiences

Best story: A story about male circumcision was one of my most interesting assignments last year. In June, the Shang Ring - a bloodless circumcision procedure developed in China-was admitted to the World Health Organization's prequalification program, which makes new techniques and medicine available to those in need. The ring is at the frontiers of medical science, and is a great reflection of the differences in reproductive culture between East and West. The topic was of interest to both Chinese and foreign readers, and China Daily was one of the first media organizations to cover the introduction of the Shang Ring. Also, in September, I reported on a new strain of HIV/AIDS virus in the border region between China and Myanmar. It was hard to describe a complicated scientific story in simple terms, but I learned a lot.

Most interesting person: Liu Defeng, a physician at Peking University Third Hospital, who called for greater awareness of erectile dysfunction among Chinese men, and for more doctors and treatment for the affliction.

Most unforgettable reporting experience: In December, I visited an eco-friendly toilet project in a village in Jiangsu province. It made me realize how urgently rural China needs a sanitation revolution. During the trip, I stepped onto a boat that has for decades carried human waste to the fields where it is used as fertilizer. The story was a real eye-opener and a great experience.

Best quote: "People may be surprised to learn that such an innovative idea was nurtured in China, where the circumcision rate is extremely low. My reply is this: No matter how many circumcisions have been done in a country, each one is extremely important to the man concerned, to his health and self-confidence."

Shang Jianzhong, the inventor of the Shang Ring