This Day, That Year

Item from Feb 3, 1996, in China Daily: An earthquake in Yunnan province, Southwest China, killed at least 228 people and seriously injured 3,700 more. More than 10,000 others suffered minor injuries when the quake, measured at 7 magnitude, hit Lijiang and Zhongdian counties on Saturday afternoon. A relief headquarters, headed by Governor He Zhiqiang, was formed immediately for the search and rescue work.

Lijiang, an ancient town in Yunnan province, is famous for its pristine setting and simple lifestyle, which were successfully preserved and maintained following quake reconstruction work.

Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1997, its Old Town section dates back more than a millenia and receives tens of millions of visitors from home and abroad every year.