Society

Quake-hit Guangyuan takes steps toward better life

By Jiang Wei (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-05-03 17:12

After three years of reconstruction, Guangyuan, a southwestern city devastated by the May 12 Earthquake in 2008, has not only stood up to the test of recovery but its people have succeeded in using the rebuilding as a stepping stone to an even better future.

Situated in the north of Southwest China's Sichuan province, Guangyuan was a beautiful and tranquil mountain city with a forest cover rate of 53%. The huge earthquake in 2008 claimed 4,850 lives, injured 263,000 people, destroyed homes of 1.48 million residents, and caused a direct economic loss of more than 120 billion yuan. But the disaster and post-quake floods didn't defeat the Guangyuan people. They quickly regained their confidence and strength to rebuild their hometown.

As of March 31, 2011, 6,293 of the 6,305 reconstruction projects have kicked off and 5,881 projects have finished. 199,600 farmhouses and 45,400 units of urban houses were rebuilt before the 2010 Spring Festival. 581 schools and 520 hospitals and health-care institutions have completed reconstruction. 33 ecology repair and environment renovation projects have been carried out, recovering 1.26 million mu forest plants.

In 2010, Guangyuan's major economic indicators were at a record high since the city was established 26 years ago. Its GDP reached 32.2 billion yuan, increasing 15.9% year-on-year. The fixed-asset investment was 48 billion yuan, up 9.3% year-on-year. Urban per capita disposable income was 12,509 yuan, an increase of 13.3% year-on-year. The per-capita net income of rural residents averaged 4,036 yuan, up 15.9% year-on-year.

There is a saying in Guangyuan: use my own strength, shed my own sweat, do my own chores by myself. I have hands, I have feet, I have a life, so I can overcome any difficulties. The words were first said by a farmer, but they quickly spread among other local people. They believed that they could recover after the ruthless earthquake, and they did. What's more, they also kick started a better life for themselves.