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Relocated pandas suffering from post-earthquake stressThursday, 17th July 2008 ~ Chris ~ Link ~ Comments (1)
More than two months after the devastation of the 8.0 magnitude Wenchuan earthquake, the psychological scars of the earthquake and its aftermath are only beginning to heal for those who were affected by the massive tremor. In addition to the millions of survivors in Sichuan, Gansu and Shaanxi provinces, the endangered giant panda, also known as China's 'national treasures' (国宝, guobao) are also recovering from the traumatic experience. China's largest giant panda breeding base at Wolong is only 30 kilometers from Wenchuan. Initially the three pandas Si Jia (思嘉), Qian Qian (芊芊) and Mei Qian (美茜) – all females less than two years old – were transported out of Wolong to another base in Ya'an, Sichuan. Due to continuous aftershocks and landslides, it was decided that the pandas would be moved to Kunming, where it is hoped they will recover from what is essentially post-traumatic stress disorder over the next two years.
The Wenchuan quake was catastrophic for the Wolong reserve, where 150 pandas had been living. More than a dozen of the base's 32 pens were destroyed, five pandas went missing and one died. Si Jia, Qian Qian and Mei Qian didn't come to Kunming alone, their zoo keeper Xiao Yi also moved to Kunming from Wolong. According to a Xinhua report, their keeper tries to soothe the three young pandas by saying nice things to them in the Sichuan dialect. "When they feel safe enough, the three pandas will enjoy themselves in the playground," Xinhua quoted Xiao as saying. "They roll all the way down the slope and stack themselves up, one on top of another, but they are extremely scared of loud noises."
According to Xiao, recent thunder in Kunming has had a startling effect on the pandas, who are having the same reactions to thunder as they did to the aftershocks and landslides in Sichuan. There are plans to build a new Wolong panda base, this time in Huangcaoping, Sichuan. Required investment for the project is estimated at two billion yuan (US$290 million). The new base, proposed by the Wolong reserve, Peking University and the Chinese Academy of Sciences, is expected to feature a panda laboratory, panda hospital, a 1,500 square meter cub pen plus a bamboo cultivation area. Kunming's three pandas will have to wait if they want to move back to Wolong – if approved, the project is scheduled to be completed in 2015. Image: clzg.cn Related article: Gentle giants arrive in Kunming Tiger fishing Tags: endangered species, environment, pandas, Sichuan, Wenchuan earthquake, Wolong China coping with its third major disaster of 2008Tuesday, 17th June 2008 ~ Chris ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
First came the great winter storm of 2008, then the devastating Wenchuan earthquake, whose official death toll now stands at nearly 70,000. Now China is coping with its third major natural disaster of the year as heavy rains and floods batter the country's south. Continuing heavy rains in Yunnan and across southern China since June 6 have led to 57 deaths and 1.27 million people fleeing their homes, with more rain expected throughout the region over the coming days. According to Xinhua reports more than 17 million people have been affected by the flooding with more than 10.6 billion yuan (US$1.5 billion) in damage incurred so far. The rains have led to the swelling of rivers in China's south, with key manufacturing province Guangdong experiencing its worst flooding in 50 years. On Monday, Guangdong's provincial flood control bureau ordered local governments in Guangzhou and eight other cities to reinforce river embankments and make evacuation preparations. Although damage in Yunnan has been relatively light compared to Guangdong and other lower-lying areas including Jiangxi, Guizhou and Hunan provinces and Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, rains here are a major concern as many of the flooding rivers – including Guangdong's Pearl River – have their headwaters in Yunnan. China's National Meteorological Center is forecasting more rains in southern parts of the country - including Yunnan - over the next few days. Image: Xinhua Tags: flooding, Guangdong, Guangxi, Guangzhou, Guizhou, Hunan, Pearl River, Wenchuan earthquake, winter storm Olympic torch in Lijiang, next stop Shangri-laTuesday, 10th June 2008 ~ Chris ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
The Olympic torch relay is passing through Lijiang today as it continues its path through Yunnan province toward earthquake-ravaged Sichuan. This morning, 13-year-old Zhang Zilan (张紫兰) of Wenchuan, Sichuan shared her torch relay responsibilities with 12-year-old He Zhensheng (和震生). Zhang is one the many children from the earthquake disaster zone that have been relocated to Lijiang, where they are now attending school. He, whose name Zhensheng literally means "born from a quake", was born during the deadly 7.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Lijiang in 1996. Tomorrow the torch will make its last stop in Yunnan in Shangri-la (Zhongdian). The next day, the ethnically Tibetan area of Shangri-la will hold its annual horse racing festival (赛马节), which was supposed to take place on Sunday but was postponed by the local government – thanks to reader Steph Jensen for notifying us of the postponement. Editor's note: If you have a story idea or a tip you'd like to share with GoKunming please feel free to contact us via our contact form. Image: clzg.cn Tags: Beichen, He Zhensheng, Lijiang, Olympic torch, Olympics, Shangri-la, Steph Jensen, Wenchuan earthquake, Wenlin Jie, Zhang Zilan, Zhongdian China's Ministry of Commerce to participate in Kunming FairWednesday, 28th May 2008 ~ Chris ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
The 16th annual Kunming International Import and Export Commodities Fair - aka the Kunming Fair (昆交会) - will take place again this year at the Kunming International Convention and Exhibition Center (昆明国际会展中心) from June 6 to June 10. The Kunming Fair is a regional trade fair jointly sponsored by the governments of Sichuan, Yunnan, Guizhou, Guangxi, Tibet, Chongqing and Chengdu. Last year's Kunming Fair saw 162 companies exhibit their products and more than US$158.5 million in completed deals over five days. The total reported value of contracts and agreements signed at the event exceeded 68.1 billion yuan (US$8.9 billion). According to Kunming media reports, this year China's Ministry of Commerce will participate in hosting the fair for the first time with the stated goal of increasing the scale and quality of the fair. Yunnan Commerce Bureau Director Sun Xiaohong (孙小虹) said this year the fair will feature 2,318 exhibits, adding that 2,148 exhibitors were already confirmed for the event. Sun said that exhibits by Burmese and Sichuanese enterprises will be slightly fewer in number than last year due to the recent Myanmar cyclone and Wenchuan earthquake, respectively. Under orders from Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, the Kunming Fair will include a "Greater Mekong Subregion Economic Corridor Forum" (GMS经济走廊论坛) for the first time. The Greater Mekong Subregion (GMS) includes Yunnan Province, Myanmar, Laos, Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia. For the third consecutive year the fair will also feature a 'China-South Asia Commerce Forum',(中国-南亚商务论坛) as well as the clumsily named 'ASEAN Chinese Business Investment Southwest Promotion Meeting and Asia-Pacific Chinese Business Forum' (东盟华商投资西南项目推介会 暨亚太华商论坛). A preview of some of the products on offer can be found on the fair's official website. The website also features other information of less obvious value, including 'Britney Spears loses custody of children', 'Goal-driven achievers less prone to Alzheimers' and 'Abdul says she's straight up ready for a baby'. The Kunming Fair runs from Friday, June 6 through Tuesday, June 10 from 8 am to 6 pm. GoKunming called the fair's office, which told us the admission fee had yet to be announced (last year tickets to the fair cost 30 yuan/day). For more information, call the fair at (0871) 6269886 or 3155519. Image: finance.sina.com Related articles: Yunnan-ASEAN trade continues to boom Kunming hosting Asia-Pacific trade meeting Kunming Fair breaks US$150 million mark GMS agreement to facilitate regional transport Tags: ASEAN, Britney Spears, business, Chengdu, Chongqing, foreign trade, GMS, Guangxi, Guizhou, Kunming Fair, Kunming International Convention and Exhibition Ce, Ministry of Commerce, Myanmar Cyclone, Paula Abdul, Sichuan, South Asia, Southeast Asia, Sun Xiaohong, Tibet, Wenchuan earthquake Olympic torch relay in Yunnan delayed by two daysWednesday, 28th May 2008 ~ Chris ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
During last week's three-day national period of mourning in China, many teahouses, restaurants, bars, clubs and other 'entertainment' venues closed or were shut down for three days. The Olympic torch relay, winding through mainland China en route to Beijing, also paused for three days. The torch's delay left Chinese Olympic officials with the new logistical challenge of getting the torch through all the previously planned destinations, but three days faster than before. Not surprisingly, the torch relay schedule has been delayed for several locations, including cities in Yunnan. Originally slated to pass through Kunming, Lijiang and Shangri-la from June 7 through June 9, the Olympic torch will now pass through the three cities from June 9 through June 11, according to Kunming media reports. Related article: China mourns Olympic torch to pass through Yunnan Tags: Beijing, Lijiang, Olympic torch, Olympics, Shangri-la, Wenchuan earthquake Yunnan contributing to earthquake recovery effortTuesday, 27th May 2008 ~ Chris ~ Link ~ Comments (0)
Yunnan's proximity to the devastation of the Wenchuan earthquake in Sichuan has brought out all the concern and compassion one would hope to see when a neighbor is suffering. In addition to local fundraising efforts plus the recent transfer of injured survivors to Kunming for medical treatment, Yunnan is doing its part in other ways. Here are just a few: Shifang orphans relocated to Lijiang The English-language website of People's Daily is reporting that more than 40 orphans from Shifang, Sichuan have been relocated to the Lijiang Orphan School. The relocation was organized by the All-China Women's Federation. In a strange twist of fate, the orphanage – home to more than 460 orphans – was built in 1999 primarily to assist orphans from Lijiang who had lost their parents to deadly earthquakes in 1996 and 1998. Temporary housing shipment leaves Kunming Yesterday a shipment of 5,000 temporary homes left Kunming for the city of Mianyang in Sichuan. Provincial party secretary Ding Shaoxiang presided over a sendoff ceremony for the housing, saying an ad hoc team organized by the Yunnan provincial government was overseeing the production, transport and assembly/installation of the housing in Mianyang and Pingwu County. The temporary housing will reportedly provide more than 100,000 square meters of shelter for earthquake victims. The Yunnan government will also assist in the construction of five primary schools, three middle schools and one trash collection facility. ChinaONEcall offering free interpreting services for disaster area Kunming-based telephone interpreting service ChinaONEcall is offering free interpreting services for people needing to get in contact with the disaster zone: "Following the recent earthquake in Wenchuan County, Sichuan Province, ChinaONEcall is offering free help for victims of the Chinese earthquake, and for anxious family or others needing to contact them or the victims, doctors/nurses in the affected area. Just telephone the service direct within China to 4006 88 66 99 or from overseas to +86 871 805 8503, quoting 'earthquake crisis' and the ChinaONEcall team will do their best to help." "They operate a 24/7 interpreter service for travellers (business or leisure) and are making available their 15 strong team to give interpreter support to those on this present crisis…Please note we will do our best to help, but cannot locate victims, doctors etc as this will be done by the relevant governmental and aid agencies." Image: clzg.cn Tags: ChinaONEcall, Lijiang, orphans, Sichuan, Wenchuan earthquake Thanks to Colin Flahive for providing us with video from the May 18 benefit for victims of the Wenchuan earthquake. The evening of music by Kunming-based performers raised 10,987 yuan, which was donated to the Chinese Red Cross. The above video features that evening's performance by Co Op Sol (邪作社) – video footage of performances by Synthatron, Kris Ariel and Cat and Colin are also available for viewing on YouTube. Tags: Cat and Colin, Chinese Red Cross, Co Op Sol, Colin Flahive, Kris Ariel, Speakeasy Bar, video, Wenchuan earthquake Hope during dark times: Witnessing the earthquake's aftermathSunday, 25th May 2008 ~ Chris ~ Link ~ Comments (1)
Editor's note: The following is a special report by Jo Egil Tobiassen, who visited the disaster zone around Wenchuan County in Sichuan last week. Nearly two weeks has passed since the earthquake in Sichuan. The pictures rolling over the TV screens throughout the world do not lie. The disaster is a tragedy which cannot be explained by words. The death toll has passed 60.000 and keeps rising. Millions have lost their houses and family members. But after spending a week in the disaster area one feels not only great sorrow but also great admiration for the people in the mountains of Sichuan. If one talks to the survivors, observes the rescue workers and listen to the words spoken about the future, the darkness is brightened. In Yingxiu, a small town in Wenchuan County - the epicenter of the earthquake, we were invited to dinner by a handful of survivors. Everybody around the table had lost one or more family members and everybody had lost their house. Still, they would already talk about the future: "Come back in some months and we will give you a house to sleep in." "Yesterday we sat around this table and cried together. We agreed that although we are only simple 'laobaixing', common people - we have to be strong and look forward." "We know the government is going to give us money to reconstruct our houses and lives, but we will refuse to accept the money. There are other people who need it more." Who could possibly need the help more than people from Wenchuan? As we were eating an aftershock suddenly shook the ground. I jumped to my feet ready to run and take photos. The others hardly noticed it and smiled at my inexperience. "Such a small earthquake!" they laughed. Minutes later a group of soldiers started carrying body bags past our table. They were coming from the local middle school around the corner. The bodies inside the bags were children. Again the hosts of the dinner seemed unaffected.
And he was correct. The soldiers, the volunteers and the health workers pour into Sichuan by thousands. Risking their own lives and health they try their best to rescue and help as many as possible. Over 200 rescue workers have already died on rescue missions. It was impossible not to be impressed by their effort. That same night we observed a battalion of rescue workers from Shanghai pull a living man from a collapsed building. It had been more than a week since the earthquake. Among the workers was a 20-year-old volunteer who had found the man. The young volunteer had spent the last 24 hours inside the building talking to the trapped man, convincing him to try to stay alive. It was not the first person he had found and rescued. Ever since the earthquake he had walked the valleys searching and finding survivors. The last thing he told us was that he would go and find more. Jo Egil Tobiassen is a Norwegian student occasionally living in Kunming. He covered the Sichuan earthquake for the Norwegian media. GoKunming thanks Jo for this contribution. If you would like to contribute to GoKunming, please contact us with your story idea via our contact form Tags: Jo Egil Tobiassen, Shanghai, Wenchuan earthquake, Yingxiu Next 1 2 |
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