Bell rings for first time since earthquake

QINGCHUAN, Sichuan: At 8 am yesterday, 45-year-old Yang Farong, the headmaster of Guanzhuang Middle School, rang the bell for the first time since it was silenced by the May 12 earthquake.

The school, in Guanzhuang township of Qingchuan county, in the north of Sichuan province, reopened in 37 rebuilt classrooms for 220 youngsters who survived the devastating quake, which claimed the lives of 13 of its students.

This was a memorable day for Yang and his students because it was a clear indication of the speedy recovery of a town dealt a hard blow by the disaster. "The relief work over the past 111 days has achieved an important result," Yang said.