China mourns quake victims one year after quake

Source: Xinhua | 05-13-2009 09:03

by Xinhua Writer Bai Xu

BEIJING, May 12 (Xinhua) -- To the old man who has lived in the Yingxiu township of southwestern Sichuan Province for six decades, scenery by the hillside is slightly different this year with the addition of two new sights -- wild chrysanthemums and a graveyard.

A girl mourns for her relatives in the old county seat of  Beichuan, southwest China's Sichuan Province, May 12, 2009,  the first anniversary of the May 12 Wenchuan earthquake.  (Xinhua Photo)

"These flowers normally only grow on top of hills," 64-year-old Ma Fuyang nagged, pointing at the yellow dotting in the green. "They must be the villagers killed in that disaster, who didn't want to leave their hometown."

He gazed into distance, as rain dropped on his new straw hat which he wore especially for this special day.

Tuesday marks the first anniversary of the 8-magnitude earthquake in Sichuan. It is also the 311st day for Ma and 68-year-old Hu Jianguo to work as guard in the graveyard.