A week later, prayers, paper cranes, heightened security in Kunming

Premier Li Keqiang urged the Yunnan provincial government to restore social stability and contribute to a safe Yunnan as well as a peaceful China after a deadly attack last Saturday in the provincial capital.

"We have the strength and determination to bring our people a stable life," he said as he participated in a group discussion of the Yunnan delegation at the National People's Congress on Friday.

Peter Haymond, US consul-general in Chengdu, Sichuan province, lays a wreath for victims of the March 1 terrorist attack at the square of Kunming Railway Station in Yunnan province on Friday. PROVIDED TO CHINA DAILY

Li also praised rescuers and security workers after a terrorist attack at Kunming Railway Station on March 1 in which 29 people died and 143 were injured.

According to Zhang Guibai, a member of the armed police in Yunnan, about 6,600 officers have been working on the investigation of the case and maintaining social stability. Police are deployed in and around public places, including parks, schools and train stations. Armed police units also have been strengthened near Yunnan's borders with neighboring countries.

Qin Guangrong, Yunnan Party secretary, said earlier that investigators discovered that the eight suspects tried to leave China to join jihadist groups outside the country, but upon failing to do so decided to launch an attack in Yunnan.

A police officer surnamed Zhang at Kunming Railway Station said most of his colleagues have not been able to return home after the attack and have been working 12 hours a day to maintain security in the area.

On Friday, Peter Haymond, US consul-general in Chengdu — which is responsible for Yunnan province — visited the railway station and laid a wreath of white roses to memorialize victims of the attack.

It was the first official US response after the State Department on Monday, calling the attack an act of terrorism, extended condolences for the loss of life.

Although many countries offered condolences and condemned the attack, some foreign governments and media were criticized by Chinese media for exhibiting double standards in defining terrorism.

Friday was the seventh day after the attack. According to Chinese burial rituals, the seventh day is when souls of the deceased visit their families one last time before leaving for heaven, so it is an important day for survivors to pay tribute to the deceased.

"I felt touched when I saw a foreigner come to mourn the victims. Those terrorists are our enemies, and we should fight them with people around the world," said Fang Guihua, a senior student from Yunnan Normal University, who is also an amateur photographer.

"I've stayed here for three days. People from both Kunming and other cities or even other provinces are coming every day, putting white roses or paper cranes with their wishes to memorialize the victims," Fang said.

Many residents had white and yellow chrysanthemums, a traditional symbol of mourning in Chinese culture, to distribute to mourners.

Piles of fruit and white paper cranes from both local residents and relatives of victims were left near a golden bull sculpture in the center of the square. Papers with words like "Don't cry, Kunming" and "Kunming, stay brave" were posted by the sculpture.

Two monks traveling in Kunming also spent several minutes sitting in front of the memorial site on Friday, reciting Buddhist scriptures for the release of souls from purgatory.

The China Football Association on Thursday called for victims to be remembered during the first round of the 2014 Chinese Super League, which started on Friday.

Contact the writers at yangwanli@chinadaily.com.cn and zhaoyinan@chinadaily.com.cn

Li Yingqing contributed to this story.