China's Ministry of Civil Affairs has opened a social welfare website where the public can book places in care homes, ask questions and file complaints.

The website, which also featured welfare policies, was expected to offer, in three to four months, more specific services concerning the elderly, the disabled and orphans, said Feng Xiaoli, director of the ministry's social welfare center.

The center would recommend through the website care service products, Feng said.

Visitors could also book places in care homes. "For example, if elderly people from the north want to spend winter in warmer southern areas or those from the south want a cooler summer in the north, they can do that," she said.

Visitors could also ask questions and discuss problems, and the ministry would organize experts to respond, she said.

According to the ministry, China has 42,057 welfare facilities.

(Xinhua News Agency October 29, 2008)