Post-Lending Boom Blues for China's Banks

By staff reporters Wen Xiu, Fang Huilei and intern reporter Feng Zhe

( Magazine) As sunlight beamed through a ceiling dome at the Beijing headquarters of China Construction Bank, Chairman Guo Shuqing couldn't resist a comparison to CCB's latest financial report.

"The sunshine is as splendid as our performance," Guo told reporters who had gathered to review the bank's interim, first-half 2009 report.