Actress Zhou Xun (R, front) and Vivian Hsu (L, front) donate with other performers during a television fundraiser in Beijing, capital of China, on August 20, 2009. [Xinhua]

A star-studded television fundraiser on the Chinese mainland raised more than 310 million yuan (about US$45 million) for victims of Taiwan's deadliest typhoon in half a century.

The more-than-four-hour fundraiser featured entertainment and sport stars from across the Taiwan Strait, such as actress Zhou Xun, sport star Lin Dan and singer Chyi Chin.

All the money raised at the fundraiser would be donated to the typhoon-battered Taiwan, where Morakot, the worst typhoon to hit Taiwan in nearly five decades, had claimed at least 141 lives.

According to Yang Yi, spokesman with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, relief funds and materials donated from the Chinese mainland to Taiwan had already totaled 300 million yuan (US$44 million) by Wednesday night.

The donations included 270 million yuan in relief funds and 30 million yuan of relief materials, Yang said on Thursday.

(Xinhua News Agency August 21, 2009)