City sees rise in tourists, optimism
DUJIANGYAN: After the horrific devastation of the earthquake that rocked Sichuan province 10 months ago, the restauranteurs of Dujiangyan were not expecting to do the roaring trade they witnessed during the recent Spring Festival.
Liu Yunhong, 31, runs a medium-sized eatery in the city and said she was amazed after making an average of 10,000 yuan ($1,500) a day during the week-long holiday. "It was almost the same as the amount we earned last Chinese Lunar New Year," she said.
Sitting some 60 km from the provincial capital of Chengdu, Dujiangyan is home to the world's oldest working hydraulic irrigation project, built in 256 BC. And despite two nearby temples having been destroyed on May 12 by the 8.0-magnitude quake, the ancient structure stood firm and continues to be a major attraction for domestic and international tourists.