You may already read about the 7.5 Ritcher Scale earthquake in Sichuan today, 5/12.

Epicenter is 55mi NW of Chengdu. It's so strong that some people in Shanghai got out of their building to check what's going on. It's felt as far as Vietnam and beyond.

The Chengdu airport (CTU) is temporarily closed. I think if you have travel plans to the panda reserve center at Wolong in the near future, you can forget it. If you have travel plans to other parts of Sichuan, including Chengdu, Huanglong/Jiuzhaigou and Leshan/Emei Shan; you need to keep a close eye on conditions and situation.

Thanks, rkkwan, Xinghua News Agency is reporting it as 7.8, damage and casualty numbers are rising.

My co-worker is on the phone, trying to reach her dad who's now in China... poor girl! Looks so pale. I couldn't even ask what part of China.

Such a tragedy! http://apnews.myway.com/article/20080513/D90KDMCO0.html

http://www.iht.com/bin/printfriendly.php?id=12823973

I will have to revise my trip plans for October and move my three days of Chengdu to another city.

Monica

monica - If you're just going to Chengdu, you don't need to change your plans. The city itself is mostly unaffected, and whatever things that need to be cleaned up will be cleaned up then. But if you're planning to go to Wolong, that's a different story.

Yes, we were planning to go to the panda reserve.

Someone at work told me that other areas of China would be bringing in food to help support the Sichuan area. However, I can't imagine that affecting the cities we'll be visiting by October (Beijing, Shanghai, the water towns, West Lake, Xian, Yangshuo, HK).

Monica

Monica -- No other areas and cities in China are affected and will not be affected by sending food to the quake area.

What rkkwan is trying to tell you is it's ok to visit Chengdu. Fodorite Pat Rick is there right now, and has headed to Zhangjiajien, their trip to Jiuzhaigou is canceled due to road conditions. When you say you are planning to go to the panda reserve, is it Wolong, which is several hours bus ride into the mountains, or the panda research base, which is a 45 minute cab ride from city center?

Shanghainese,

It's the panda research base that you mentioned - the one that's 45 minutes from the city.

I think maybe we should be fine, especially since our trip isn't for another 5 months plus we aren't buying our inter-China airline tickets until September OR until we arrive in Beijing, so I can revise if needed in Sept.

Monica

The western travelers in Wolong have been airlifted to safer grounds.

As always, after a catastrophical disaster, rebuilding becomes a monumental effort. It is reported 4 million homes are shattered, leavng the residents homeless.

The company I work for has an office in Chengdu, our COO worldwide has announced an initiative to assist in the rebuilding of the communities.

Rick and I just got back from China yesterday. As mentioned by Shanghainese that we had to chancel our trip to Jiuzhaigou as the road there was blocked by rock slide and the bridges collapsed. Our tour company had a 17 people tour group in Jiuzhaigou at the time of the quake, they were rescued on the 5th day, all 17 were safe. They were on the bus when the quake hit, the tour bus before their's and the tour bus after their's both fell off the cliff. According the the tour company, the travelers were all still in shock after they were rescued. Our tour company said it will be a long time before we can visit Jiuzhaigou, probably not this year, because it will take time to rebuild the bridges.

I was in Lijiang Yunnan at a show (Impression Lijiang by Zhang Yimou, a famous Hong Kong director) at 2:28pm when the government announced that's the starting time for a 3-day mourning for the quake victims. The show was moved up by 20 minutes so that it could finish by 2:20pm. They did a very moving presentation with hand signs and words on the screens. Then at 2:28 there was a 3-minute silence. Most people were in tears during the ceremony.

I will post something later about my trip, not a trip report, just some impressions and things I found interesting.

Pat

Pat and Rick,

Glad you made it home safely and thanks for the information you provided. I can imagine everyone in tears during the 3-minute silence.

Looking forward to reading about your impressions of your trip.

Monica

This is the English translation of a poem that spread widely among Chinese netizens after the May 12 earthquake, by an anonymous author on the Internet.

Hold onto Mom, My Child-- In memory of children who lost lives in the earthquake

Come, my child,

Hold onto mom's hands.

The road to Heaven is too dark.

I'm afraid you might be hurt again.

Come, hold mom's hands tightly.

Let mom go with you.



Mom, I'm afraid.

The road to Heaven is too dark.

I can't see your hand.

Since the fallen walls took away the sunlight,

I shall never see your gentle eyes.



Move on, my child,

The road ahead has no worries,

No books that you can't finish,

Nor dad's complaints.

You must remember dad's face and mine,

In the next life,

We shall be together again.



Don't worry, mom,

The road to Heaven is crowded,

There are my classmates and pals.

Don't cry, we all say

Anyone's mom is our mom.

Mom, every child has a mom.

In the days without me,

Give your love to other children.

Mom, mom, don't cry.

Tears won't shed light on our path.

Let us go away.

I'll remember your face and dad's looks.

Let's promise,

In the next life, we'll be together again.

Pat -- I was away for a couple of days, welcome home and so glad everything worked out safely for you and Rick.

Thanks Shanghainese, I am heading back to Beijing and Shanghai for a reunion with 3 other middle school classmates. Hope nothing drastic happens then.

Pat