Thirty-five-year-old farmer Yang Qingping saved his neighbor’s life when the 8.0-magnitude earthquake hit the town of 10,000, killing 74 people, on May 12, 2008.

Thirty-five-year-old farmer Yang Qingping is different from the other farmers at the Bailu township, a mountain town two hours from the Sichuan capital of Chengdu.

He loves singing and writing poems. He inscribed an introduction to his small hotel. And he saved his neighbor’s life when the 8.0-magnitude earthquake hit the town of 10,000, killing 74 people, on May 12, 2008.

"I saw all the houses around jolting and realized an earthquake was happening,” Yang recalled.

He saw his neighbor’s daughter-in-law and grandson run out of their house, and the neighbor’s 80-year-old mother struggling to escape.

"I rushed into their house and managed to help the terrified old lady get out of the collapsing house,” Yang said. “I saw people crying all along the street, but I was optimistic. I believe the government will help us, and our homes will get better.”

When the quake stuck the town, the now local hero, hoped desperately the small hotel he owns would not be affected. The disaster did not ruin his hotel, but it forced him to close.

"During that time, I had no revenue. My hotel business got back to normal by the summer of 2009 when retired citizens in Chengdu started to spend their summer in the town,” he said.

The town, resting next to Longmen Mountain, is a popular summer resort for residents in Chengdu.

Yang dug a swimming pool in his yard to lure more clients after the hotel reopened. He is also planning to upgrade his hotel facilities as the town is building itself into a tourist destination with a French touch.

Under the local government’s plan, the exterior of Yang’s hotel will be decorated with French style at the government’s expense.

"My biggest wish now is a loan from a bank,” Yang said. “I got a governmental subsidy of 25,000 yuan, but that is not enough”.

Despite not seeing any way to get a loan, Yang looks on the bright side. “My life is getting much better, and more visitors are coming,” he said.