Ningbo, China to give Milwaukee 2 stone lions

By The Associated Press

Monday, July 21, 2008 1:21 PM CDT

MILWAUKEE — Milwaukee will soon have two lions guarding the Zeidler Municipal Building downtown.

The 6-foot tall stone lions weighing about 3,000 pounds each are a gift from Ningbo, China. Mayor Tom Barrett traveled there in 2005 to advance cultural and business exchanges between the two port cities.

Ningbo’s Vice Mayor Wu Hemin (WOO HIM’-in) will lead a delegation to Milwaukee to present the gift Monday.

A Milwaukee Common Council committee passed a resolution Wednesday, saying the lions are a symbol of the cities’ friendly relationship.

The Milwaukee mayor’s office has given Ningbo are a framed picture of the Milwaukee skyline, Bucks memorabilia as well as a Harley-Davidson leather jacket to the mayor, among other things.

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