By Liang Qiwen (China Daily)
Updated: 2008-05-15 08:00

GUANGZHOU: Deng Cheng-long is trying his best to get to Beichuan county, one of the worst hit areas.

"I have to get back home at all costs," the 33-year-old who works in Shenzhen, said.

"I have more than 40 relatives in the county. I haven't been able to get in touch with any of them."

Deng went to Shenzhen to start his own business in 2002, leaving his parents, sisters and other relatives in Beichuan.

"When I heard on Monday that the epicenter of deadly earthquake was in Wenchuan, my heart sank," Deng said.

"My hometown of Beichuan is only 100 km away."

Deng called his father right away, but he could not get through. He then tried calling his other relatives but again failed.

Deng's parents and his grandmother visited him in Shenzhen during the Spring Festival in February, and returned to Beichuan last month.

"I should have persuaded them to stay with me a little longer," he said.

Deng bought an airline ticket online for Chengdu, the closest city to his hometown. The first available flight was Tuesday morning.

But that was not the end of his troubles. He had to travel to Guangzhou to catch is flight.

On the way to the airport he was told his flight from Guangzhou had been cancelled and he would have to catch it from Shenzhen instead.

He asked his brother-in-law to drive as fast as he could to Shenzhen airport, and he made it just in time to catch his flight.

On his arrival at Chengdu, he was told all roads to Beichuan were blocked due to fallen debris.

"I will ride a bicycle if it is possible," Zhang said. "If I can not, I will walk. I have a raincoat and a torch in case of walk at night."