The largest annual awards event for China's Internet media, the Sina-Aokang Internet Awards, has been held in Beijing. The hottest topics, news and people of 2006 from blogging, sports, media, culture and showbiz were honored at the event in Beijing on Wednesday night. 

The blog awards were the first to be unveiled at the ceremony. The best celebrity blog prize went to media mogul Hong Huang. And having received over one million hits in less than five months, Xiang Wenbo, executive president of heavy machinery maker Sany Corp, was honored as best business blogger. Back Dorm Boys, famous for their funny lip-sync show, became China's best podcasters. The top grassroots blog award went to a blogger nicknamed Jidi Yangguang (polar sunshine). The best gaming blog award went to Ding Beili.

In sports the Chinese National Gymnastics Team received the annual Sports Contribution Award for their outstanding performances during last year's Asian Games and World Gymnastics Championships. Chinese tennis duo, Zheng Jie and Yan Zi, received the annual achievement award for individual athletes.

The Shanghai-based Oriental TV station was chosen as station of the year for its innovative reality shows Let's Shake It and My Hero.
 
Famous Chinese scholar Yi Zhongtian, who shot to fame in popular cultural TV program The Lecture Room, was awarded Cultural Person of the year. And Su Tong received the prize for best writer.

The awards in showbiz were perhaps the most remarkable. The 2006 Entertainer Award went to famous crosstalk actor Guo Degang. The 2006 Golden Lion winner, Jia Zhangke, received the best director award.

Taiwan pop supertar Jay Chou's album Still Fantasy was chosen as best record of the year. The top film actor and actress awards were presented to star couple Carina Lau and Tony Leung. Best movie was Crazy Stone, the low budget Warner Bros. film.

Martial arts TV series My Own Swordsman or Wu Lin Wai Zhuan was judged the best martial arts TV drama of the year and its leading actress Yan Ni was awarded the best actress award. TV series Conspiracy or An Suan was earned the best drama of the year award with the lead Liu Yunlong being judged best TV actor. 

First held in 2004 the event is the foremost annual awards ceremony for Internet media in China. All of the prizes were identified by votes from Internet users.

Liu Yunlong, the best TV actor award winner.

Yan Ni, the best TV actress winner.

Star couple Carina Lau and Tony Leung got the best film actor and actress awards.

Literate Yi Zhongtian (L) and comic Guo Degang (R).

Back Dorm Boys got the best podcaster adward.

(CRI January 18, 2007)