Yesterday China's basketball superstar Yao Ming and his fiancée Ye Li had full dress wedding photos taken at Tai Huyuan, a scenic resort located in Baisha Village, Lin'an, in east Zhejiang Province. Miss Ye is also a famous Chinese basketball player in her own right.  (Join the discussion here in our newest forum)

Local resort residents later confirmed the news after some netizens uploaded the famous couple's photos onto a local online forum.

Houston Rockets manager Daryl Morey first revealed the wedding plans back in June. The event is possibly one of the biggest events of the year in China. Rumors have spread that CCTV will broadcast the wedding ceremony during the Mid-Autumn Day Gala and that another national sport icon, Liu Xiang, will act as their mc. Liu and the Gala director denied both rumors.

No official information concerning when and where the couple will marry is currently available.

The Yao/Ye couple and their entourage sneaked into the resort at 6 AM yesterday morning while the villagers slept. The superstar couple did attract some excited fans who greeted them at the resort. Yao responded amiably and signed autographs. He and Miss Ye left around 8:30 AM before more tourists arrived.

China's NBA star center Yao Ming takes wedding gown photos with sweetheart Ye Li, also a basketball player in Tai Huyuan scenic resort in Lin'an of east China's Zhejiang Province July 30, 2007. Netizens of a local online forum said the couple shot the photos there and the local residents of the scenic resort later confirmed it.

China's NBA star center Yao Ming (fourth left) walks when he takes wedding gown photos with sweetheart Ye Li, also a basketball player in Tai Huyuan scenic resort in Lin'an of east China's Zhejiang Province July 30, 2007. Netizens of a local online forum said the couple shot the photos there and the local residents of the scenic resort later confirmed it.

China's NBA star center Yao Ming (center) pose with tourists for photos when he takes wedding gown photos with sweetheart Ye Li, also a basketball player in Tai Huyuan scenic resort in Lin'an of east China's Zhejiang Province July 30, 2007. Netizens of a local online forum said the couple shot the photos there and the local residents of the scenic resort later confirmed it.

China's NBA star center Yao Ming (center) pose with tourists for photos when he takes wedding gown photos with sweetheart Ye Li, also a basketball player in Tai Huyuan scenic resort in Lin'an of east China's Zhejiang Province July 30, 2007. Netizens of a local online forum said the couple shot the photos there and the local residents of the scenic resort later confirmed it.

(China.org.cn by Zhang Rui August 1, 2007)