 | NBA Houston Rockets Yao Ming and Olympic 110-meter hurdles champion Liu Xiang pose for photographers at a ceremony in Shanghai, September 26, 2005. Both Yao and Liu, natives of Shanghai, are chosen as image representatives for Shanghai for the next two years. click to open  |
 | Houston Rockets NBA player Yao Ming of China watches a friendly match in Hong Kong Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005. Yao, the 2.29-meter (7-foot-6) center and three-time NBA All-Star has one year left on his rookie contract, which will pay him more than $5.5 million next season. click to open  |
 | China's basketball star Yao Ming meets with fans in Hong Kong September 22, 2005. Yao arrived on Wednesday for a three-day visit to Hong Kong in his role as an ambassador to the China AIDS Initiative to promote public awareness on HIV/AIDS. click to open  |
 | China's basketball star Yao Ming is seen through a net during a gathering with basketball fans in Hong Kong September 22, 2005. Yao Ming arrived on Wednesday for a three-day visit to Hong Kong in his role as an ambassador to the China AIDS Initiative to promote public awareness on HIV/AIDS. click to open  |
 | Houston Rockets NBA player Yao Ming of China watches a friendly match in Hong Kong Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005. Yao, the 2.29-meter (7-foot-6) center and three-time NBA All-Star has one year left on his rookie contract, which will pay him more than $5.5 million next season. click to open  |
 | Houston Rockets NBA player Yao Ming of China speaks during a fans meeting in Hong Kong Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005. Yao, the 2.29-meter (7-foot-6) center and three-time NBA All-Star has one year left on his rookie contract, which will pay him more than $5.5 million next season. click to open  |
 | Houston Rockets's web site released this 2004 Chinese New Year card featuring center Yao Ming click to open  |
 | An Air China pilot waits in front of an advertising billboard for a CDMA mobile phone service featuring Chinese basketball star Yao Ming, at Beijing airport Saturday March 22, 2003. After appearing in commercials in the U.S. Yao is now being used to promote products and services in China. The Chinese characters read 'Go beyond dreams to lead the future.' click to open  |
 | Houston Rockets' Chinese center Yao Ming click to open  |
 | Houston Rockets' Chinese center Yao Ming click to open  |