Dear China Highlights Customer;
On May 12th a giant earthquake devastated cities and villages in Sichuan Province. With a magnitude of 8 on the Richter scale, it toppled buildings, crumbled schools and factories and destroyed many roads in the mountainous and difficult to access area.
In this special report we want to give a short overview over which parts have been affected and what influence it has on tourism in the region.
Thank you and 
Best Regards,
Victor Shu
General Manager
China Highlights
Which areas are affected ? - Top -
While the earthquake caused tremendous devastation in Central Sichuan, most of the big Chinese Cities and Tourist Spots have been spared.
The Sichuan Tourism Bureau stopped all groups from going to Sichuan province in areas badly affected by earthquake. Till now, the following sites are still closed to visitors: including Jiuzhaigou, Huanglong and Dujiangyan. However the Chengdu city area, Emei Mountain, Leshan Giant Buddha have been reopen to visitors already.. More...
Which attractions are affected ? - Top -
Many historical sites and attractions with their history of hundreds or thousands of years have been damaged or even destroyed.
| Attraction | Extent of Damage |
|---|---|
| Mt. E'mei | Roof tiles of most of the buildings hurtled down. Roof of parts of building had been broken, and there are cracks in the walls. Some of the figure of buddha had collapsed. |
| The Thatched Cottage of Dufu | Parts of building had collapsed. Some historical relics had been broken. |
| Wuhou Memorial Temple | Roof of parts of building had been broken. Parts of the walls had peel. |
| Mt. Qingcheng | Most of building had been left a critical damage. The roof and surface had been broken. Most of the buildings sloped badly and some of them became dilapidated buildings. |
Letters from our customers - Top -
We are grateful to everybody who has sent letters and emails of concern and good wishes over to China Highlights over the last few days. Thank you!! Love never fails!
Dear Virginia,
Let us express our sorrow and compassion about the tragic events that touched your country.
The past days has been filled with tragedy and loss for many people who has lived near the earthquake zone.
We believe that you and your families are safe.
Please accept our sincere sympathy,
Tadeusz
---------------------------------------------------------------
Dear Candy,
We've been reading in the papers, and watching on TV the terrible fall-out from the earthquake near Chengdu. So many people killed and missing. I haven't seen anything about Guilin, so I assume you city was not hit? I hope everyone at the office and in your family are safe and unhurt.
Neville and Eleanor
How can you help ? - Top -
After more and more remote villages are reconnected to civilization by the rescuers, it slowly becomes clear what a giant task the rebuilding will be. Roads have to be build, water and electricity lines laid and dams be repaired. The biggest task will be to support the millions of homeless people, that lost everything with a few minutes: not only house & home, but also loved ones.
Many of our customers have asked us how they can help and support the giant task of rebuilding a whole region. Here a short list of organizations that actively support the reconstruction effort More...
China Highlights has put together a Travel Guide Book that includes many, many useful tips for those traveling in or planning to travel to China.
Together with the list of cultural do's and don'ts you will get a list of useful vocabulary to use when you mingle with the natives.