Shanghai begins rebuilding projects in Dujiangyan

By Lydia Chen  |   2008-6-24  |     ONLINE EDITION

THE mayor of Shanghai yesterday announced the start of 23 reconstruction projects in earthquake-ravaged Dujiangyan City in Sichuan Province, marking the first step of a more than three-year aid plan to rebuild the popular tourist destination.

The projects included the construction of permanent houses for quake survivors while schools, hospitals and other infrastructure facilities are also on the list, Shanghai Mayor Han Zheng said at a launch ceremony yesterday in Dujiangyan.

The State Council, China's Cabinet, has required major provinces in booming eastern and central parts of the country to adopt reconstruction work in certain cities and counties in Sichuan.

The provinces of Guangdong, Jiangsu, Shanghai, Shandong, Zhejiang, Beijing, Liaoning, Henan, Hebei, Shanxi, Fujian, Hunan, Hubei, Anhui, Tianjin, Heilongjiang, Chongqing, Jiangxi and Jilin were ordered to adopt work in 18 counties in Sichuan as well as the provinces of Gansu and Shaanxi, according to a statement released by the General Office of the State Council on June 11.

Shanghai was designated to help with reconstruction work in Dujiangyan, home to more than 650,000 people.

Shanghai pledged to offer facilities and equipment that are in short need in Dujiangyan. Experts and professionals in education, medicine and talent training will be dispatched to the county-level city under the provincial capital Chengdu, Han said.

Dujiangyan City, which was renamed in honor of the Dujiangyan Irrigation System built around 250 BC, had more than 80 percent of its buildings damaged in the 8.0-maginitude earthquake on May 12.

More than 95 percent of the houses built in the mountainous areas of Dujaingyan were destroyed.

At least 3,069 people were killed in the city by earthquake. Total economic losses exceeded 50 billion yuan (US$7.27 billion) as of June 10.