Wanbao! Wanbao! May 16, 2008: Hu Joins Wen in Beichuan
Chinese President Hu Jintao has joined Premier Wen Jiabao in the quake disaster zone, arriving at Mianyang Airport at 10:30 this morning. Meanwhile, the Baocheng Railway Bridge is now back in service, and 600 people were rescued by the Beijing Fire Brigade. Some improvements in the quake situation -- on the first page of today's Wanbao, 84 days before the Games. Yet not all's well -- 4,432 aftershocks were recorded, with the heaviest one being a Magnitude 6.5 quake.
Today's Wanbao also includes a multi-page tekan, or supplement, all related to the tremors.
Closer to the capital...
• Shops used to crowd an entire sidewalk on You'anmen Outer West 3rd Alley. Thanks to the Beijing city police stepping in, the mess is now gone, giving locals back their sidewalk. (Pic, page 16)
• There's a debate in Yuetan Park about whether or not ball games, amongst others, should be allowed in the park. Seniors, though, are of the opinion that the park is a park -- not a free fitness center. The issue could be put to the vote. (Page 17)
• Snowfall in Beijing? Nope, that's the top of the new Beijing South Railway Station. (Pic, page 17)
• Bomb scare! Actually, nope -- it was a mock bomb scare -- but those working at a Fengtai Bank of China branch got to see how suspicious baggage is supposed to be handled -- by SWAT police. (Pic, page 18).
A mix of rain and clouds, 14°C - 22°C. Cooler.

