I recently had the interesting experience of visiting Beichuan City, which was badly destroyed by the earthquake of May 12, 2008. After the earthquake, the new Beichuan city rose from the ashes alongside the old city.

    I first traveled to the ruins of the old Beichuan City. The sadness of the scene struck me. I saw countless damaged apartment buildings, several inclined basketball stands, and long cracks on the roads. The sound of huge stones falling down from the mountains nearby was terrifying. I couldn’t find the words to express my sadness when I saw how cruel the earthquake was.

    Then, I went to the new Beichuan City, Yongchang Town, which is 23 kilometers away from the old one. The vitality and modern architecture were deeply attractive to me. All I saw were wide and clean roads, beautiful and comfortable residential apartments, green trees and colorful flowers, smiling faces of the Qiang people, a minority group who inhabit Sichuan Province, and students heading to new schools.

    It is true the once-cozy houses were devastated by the earthquake, but now the post-disaster construction has attracted tourists. I’m sure the lives of local residents will be better because of their hard work and strength.