Da Long

My Photo scholarship 2010 entry

China | Sunday, October 17, 2010 | 5 photos

YUSHU – on the 17th of August 2010

I’ve visited this amazing place, named Yushu, there I met a special friend who gently helped me with buying the ticket to the next Tibetan destination, the monastery of Dege.

With the help of a Chinese-English dictionary he then walked me through the city, and through his life. His old family house, his tent, his thoughts, his dreams.

The 2010 Yushu earthquake struck on April 14, 2010, and registered a magnitude of 6.9Mw. It originated in Yushu, Qinghai, China, at 7:49 am local time. 2,698 people have been confirmed dead, 270 missing, and 12,135 injured of which 1,434 are severely injured.

Between them, Da Long’s family and many families were killed and destroyed. In the first picture, you can visit his old house, or at least the place where it used to be. He brought me there, to tell me his father was dead and how it all had happened.

Da Long has a good job in Xining, he is an electrician but wants to become a guide. Foreign help and foreigners are not welcomed in Yushu. Chinese government did a lot for the population, all the blue tents that you can see in the pictures, especially in the last one, are from China Rescue program.

One of them (you have a street view from the inside) is Da Long’s home. He offered me a lot of things, we played guitar and we spoke of the future. People in the streets, and his neighbours wouldn’t speak at all of what happened. They just kept silent.
Yet everyone chose to stay, and this is also where Da Long wants to be. Because he loves his city: Yushu.

Why should you choose me? Because you liked my story, I hope. ?
Thank you.