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Tourism begins to revive in quake zones

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2009-05-05 13:54

Wenchuan County, the epicenter of May 12 quake, also has a plan for developing tourism by exploring quake ruins, with Yingxiu Township at the forefront.

Sandwiched by two mountains, Yingxiu was connected to the outside world by a bridge. It lost 5,462 of its 18,000 population, and 3,694 other people missing. Baihua Bridge, Yingxiu's only overland link to the outside, was also destroyed in the quake.

People take pictures of the newly-built township in Beichuan Qiang Autonomous County, southwest China's Sichuan Province, Sunday April 26, 2009. [Xinhua]

Large chunks of soil also collapsed from the two mountains during the quake, according to Jiang Yongfu, Party boss of the township's Yuzixi Village, where 268 out of the 269 homes were destroyed in the quake.

A new bridge is being built parallel to the quake-damaged Baihua Bridge which is left in ruins.

According to Jiang, Yuzixi Village will build a tourist reception center, a cemetery for those who were killed in the quake, a quake ruins park, a memorial, and a museum of folkways and culture.

The village is attracting some 1,000 to 2,000 tourists each day, said Jiang.

Hope of Quake Survivors

To Wang Xianhui, a transient worker with Donghekou quake theme park, more tourists means more income to her. Wang, 52, lost three of her relatives in the quake, including her husband and her grandson.

She began to work around Donghekou last September when the park just started construction. But as tourists were few at that time, she only earned 1,000 yuan last year.

Wang Aixin (no relation to Wang Xianhui), another trader who operates a photo service stand near the quake-damaged Baihua Bridge, said she hoped more tourists could visit Yingxiu.

The photo service stand operator puts up a signboard bearing her personal calligraphy saying "you are most welcome to Yingxiu, but please take good care of the environment and hygiene."

"The quake has brought us too much misfortune. But as survivors, we should live well our lives ahead," said Wang Aixin.

"The state and people from other parts of the country have poured us with help. We should not always immerse ourselves in grief," said Wang Aixin, "I think it is the best way to honor the dead to use all available resources here to support ourselves and reconstruct our homes."

Zhu Yuhua, a resident from Mao'ershi Village, Leigu township of Beichuan, runs a stand on the side of the village selling knick-knacks of the ethnic Qiang people. He now earns 100 yuan daily at most.

"My business will absolutely turn for the better if quake ruin tourism is fully developed," said Zhu.

Drive of Other Service Trade

Shen Xingna, chief of Qingchuan County Tourism Bureau, said quake ruin tourism could not only help more people in quake zones get employment, but also boost other related service trade.

A total of 14 restaurants have been built in the vicinity since November 12, 2008 when Donghekou quake ruin theme park was opened to tourists. These restaurants are doing brisk business, causing a surge in sales of farm and sideline products.

Many locals have also found jobs as cleaners, security guards at new businesses, or workers at numerous new construction sites, according to Shen.

Many a people still frown on the idea of using quake ruins to expand tourism. Some locals even consider such activities as prospecting off of grief.

Zhang Tongrong, the Wenchuan County government deputy, said developing tourism on quake ruins was to respect history, as well as a prime way to help local people to raise income.

"The quake ruins theme tourist attractions serve as a reminder of past catastrophe and urge people to treasure lives, which in turn inspire our aspirations in life," said Zhang.

Zhang said the plan to construct a quake ruin park in Yingxiu was conformed by the overwhelming majority of the local people.

Zhang added tourism would contribute 30 percent to the county's economy in five to ten years. At present, tourism only contributes 15 percent to his county's economy.

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