High school damaged in Sichuan quake reopens

The grand opening ceremony of the newly-built Beichuan High School, which was damaged in the 2008 earthquake, was held in Beichuan County, Mianyang City of southwest China’s Sichuan Province on Aug. 17.

The New Beichuan High School is sponsored by the All-China Federation of Returned Overseas Chinese (ACFROC).

The new Beichuan High School is the sole key high school in Beichuan County and it is still under reconstruction from damage caused by the disastrous 7.9-magnitude earthquake on May 12, 2008.

The symbolic golden color key, which means access to a successful future in China, was presented to Liu Yachun, the principal of the new Beichuan High School, after delivery of delegations from the construction unit, the ACFROC, the Mianyang municipal government and the Beichuan County government.

The newly-built Beichuan High School has an area of 150,000 square meters and can accommodate 5,200 students for study and lodging at the same time.

With a total investment of 200 million yuan, it is designed to endure an 8.0-magnitude earthquake.

The reconstruction of the new Beichuan High School has received positive responses from more than 100,000 overseas Chinese, returned overseas Chinese, Hong Kong and Macao compatriots and other charitable people from 73 countries all over the world, who helped raised the money needed.

By Li Mu, People's Daily Online