Quake museum to open in SW China on disaster anniversary

Source: Xinhua | 03-06-2009 08:17

CHENGDU, March 5 (Xinhua) -- An entrepreneur in southwest China's Sichuan Province plans to open a quake museum on May 12, the first anniversary of the disaster.

Fan Jianchuan, 52, president of Chengdu Jianchuan Group, a real estate development company, stared silently at a half-burned, faded bridal veil Thursday. The 22-year-old bride died in the quake.

The veil, together with 8,000 earthquake relics, will be on display at a 5,000 square meter museum in Anren Town, Dayi County, 40 kilometers southwest of the provincial capital of Chengdu.

"The veil was salvaged from a pond at the Yinchanggou Scenic Spot, Pengzhou City," Fan said. "They were taking wedding photos when the earthquake struck. We also found a gingham umbrella, a garland and a pair of shoes.

"They are witnesses to the disaster," he said. "While the quake left harsh memories, I want to tell visitors to cherish life."

Items on display also include a 330-pound pig that survived 36 days in the ruins of its sty, a motorcycle on which a man carried his wife's body home, a parachute soldiers used in the rescue, ruined concrete pillars and twisted steel bars.