Ruin and renewal: A tale of villages
In May 2009, more than 500 people of the Qiang ethnic minority moved from their ancestral homes in the mountains near Wenchuan county, Southwest China's Sichuan Province to a new village located more than 100 kilometers away in Qionglai. Their previous homes in the village of Xige and surrounding settlements had been practically reduced to rubble by the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. There the community had lived a traditional lifestyle, depended on traditional farming and herding techniques to survive, and had little contact with the outside world. Since moving to Qionglai, the community not only has made a switch to tourism, but also was introduced to modern conveniences such as electronic appliances and the internet. However, some chose to stay behind and are slowly rebuilding their old villages. Here is a look into the lives of these two groups of people. (Photos: Li Hao/GT)
Ruins reveal earthquake disaster in Wenchuan
People mourn the victims of the Wenchuan Earthquake on May 12, 2008 at the ruins of the former site of the Beichuan County in Sichuan Province.
A look back at the pandas rescued during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake
Photos show staff from the Wolong Panda Reserve in Southwest China's Sichuan Province urgently rescued pandas when the 8.0-magnitude earthquake hit the Wenchuan County in 2008.Photos: VCG
Earthquake-hit Wenchuan regains life after ten years of hard work
Aerial photo taken on April 17, 2018 shows the playground of the Central Primary School in Qiaozhuang Township of Qingchuan County, southwest China's Sichuan Province. Qingchuan was one of the worst-hit areas when a catastrophic earthquake struck Sichuan's Wenchuan County in 2008. On May 12, 2008, an 8.0-magnitude earthquake struck Wenchuan, razing almost the whole county to the ground. After ten years of hard work, Wenchuan has regained life.
Wenchuan shows effects of ecological restoration after 10 years: report
Remote sensing images showed that the environment returning to normal in the Wenchuan earthquake zone ten years after the event, according to a report by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS).
People from around China head to Sichuan Province to commemorate 10th anniversary of Wenchuan earthquake
This year marks the 10th anniversary of the devastating Wenchuan earthquake that rocked Southwest China's Sichuan Province on May 12, 2008, claiming more than 80,000 lives.
Yingxiu's rebirth after the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake
Yingxiu was the epicenter of the Wenchuan earthquake in SW China's Sichuan Province. The town was devastated: a total 6,566 people died, more than half of the total population. More than 70 percent of all roads were damaged and almost all houses destroyed. The town has since been rebuilt, with a few of the remaining ruins turned into memorials and earthquake museum. Ahead of the 10th anniversary of the quake, A Global Times reporter visited the town to chronicle the destruction and rebirth in remembrance of those who died – and honor those who helped rebuild it.
Shenshuping protection base in SW China's Sichuan now home to over 50 giant pandas
The Wolong Base of China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Pandas was damaged in the earthquake on May 12, 2008. With the aid from the Hong Kong government, construction for the new Shenshuping base began in 2011. The new base is about 100 kilometers from Chengdu, SW China's Sichuan Province and is currently home to more than 50 pandas.
Museum commemorates 2008 Wenchuan earthquake
The Jianchuan 512 Wenchuan Earthquake Museum opened on June 12, 2008, one month after the earthquake hit. The museum is part of the privately-owned Jianchuan Museum Cluster in Dayi, Southwest China's Sichuan Province, founded by entrepreneur Fan Jianchuan. The museum has collected over 100,000 items related to the earthquake, such as media reports, diaries, and the remains of the victims. Due to traffic, the museum set a limit of 2,000 visitors per day. (Photos: Li Hao/GT)
Strong-willed pig goes viral for surviving 2008 Wenchuan earthquake
Zhu Jianqiang, or “strong-willed pig,” became famous overnight during the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake. It was buried for 36 days under piles of rubble and discovered alive, surviving on cinder and rainwater. The sow was purchased by the Jianchuan Museum, a private museum cluster located in Dayi, Southwest China's Sichuan Province owned by entrepreneur Fan Jianchuan. The pig, now 11 years old, lives in the museum's backyard and will live there until she dies (usually after 15 years). She enjoys a balanced diet of vegetables and fruits, a daily walk or nap under the trees, and visits of tourists from all over the country. Photos: Li Hao/GT
Giant panda bases restored after Sichuan earthquake
Giant panda bases restored after Sichuan earthquake
School reconstructed after devastating Wenchuan earthquake in NW China
Students learn to write calligraphy at Zhongxin primary school of Wenquan Township in Mianxian County of Hanzhong City, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, April 25, 2018.
Visitors taken on tearful tour of Wenchuan memorial site
Visitors are moved to tears at a memorial site of the 2008 Wenchuan earthquake in Beichuan County, SW China's Sichuan Province in late April, as the 10-year anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake approaches on May 12. Emotions ran high as site guide Gao Liyuan retold the touching stories of those that tragically died at the site as the 8.0-magnitude earthquake shook the area, including Beichuan county. Photos: Cui Meng/GT
A closer look at the Wenchuan Earthquake Memorial Museum in SW China's Sichuan Province
A group of tourists take a photo with a Party flag in front of the Wenchuan Earthquake Memorial Museum in Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province.
Remembering the Wenchuan earthquake, 10 years later
People visit the Xuankou Middle School memorial site in Wenchuan county, SW China's Sichuan Province on April 22 –in remembrance of the victims of the devastating Wenchuan earthquake that struck the area nearly 10 years ago on May 12, 2008. Photos: Cui Meng/GT
Reborn Wenchuan to mark 10th anniversary of deadly quake
The new Beichuan County, 23 kilometers from the old town demolished by the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, was built with the assistance of eastern China's Shandong Province. This year marks the 10thanniversary of the deadly quake, which left more than 80,000 people dead or missing.
Earthquake epicenter becomes patriotic education hub showing strength of China
The past decade has witnessed enormous changes in Yingxiu, as it transformed from the totally shattered epicenter of the 8.0-magnitude Wenchuan earthquake to a flourishing and vibrant town again.
Earthquake memorial site in Yingxiu, Wenchuan County, prior to the 10th anniversary of the Wenchuan earthquake
Pictured are the earthquake memorial sites in Yingxiu, Wenchuan county, which shed light on how people in the area recovered from the 8.0 magnitude earthquake which hit the region in 2008, and embark on their new life after the disaster in the ensuing years. (Photos: Yang Hui/GT)