China to mourn quake dead, public entertainment to be suspended

BEIJING, April 20 (Xinhua) -- The Chinese flag will be lowered to half-mast around the country and at embassies and consulates abroad Wednesday in a show of respect for those killed in the April 14 earthquake in Qinghai Province, the State Council ordered Tuesday.

Photo taken on April 19, 2010 shows a view of the quake-devastated Zhaxi Datong  Village, in Gyegu Town, Yushu County, northwest China's Qinghai Province.  Zhaxi Datong Village is the worst-hit area during the April 14 quake in Qinghai.  It has been mostly razed to the ground and 120 of the total about 670 villagers  here lost their lives.(Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)

Public entertainment would also be suspended Wednesday, the State Council, China's cabinet, said in an announcement.

Following the announcement, the Ministry of Culture issued an urgent circular, ordering administrative departments to strengthen supervision of entertainment venues and to punish those violating the rule.

Besides entertainment venues such as cinemas, theaters, karaoke bars, dance clubs and Internet cafes, website groups should also suspend all online services of music, games, comics, films and TV shows.

A 7.1-magnitude quake struck Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Yushu in southern Qinghai on April 14. It has left at least 2,064 people dead, 175 missing, and 12,135 injured by Tuesday.