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Kathmandu touched by 'good Chinese men'

(People's Daily Online)    15:15, April 30, 2015
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People enjoy free meals provided by Yang Jianguo's restaurant in Kathmandu, capital of Nepal. (Photo/provided by Yang Jianguo)

"Just trifles, not worth mentioning", Yang Jianguo, the owner of a Chinese restaurant in quake-struck Kathmandu, capital of Nepal, waved his hand when being interviewed.

Yang's left middle finger got injured when he was helping carry water at a place where Chinese tourists stay in Kathmandu. The finger nail was ripped off.

In other people's eyes, Yang's deeds are not small things. Since the earthquake hit the city on April 25, he began to offer free meals for Chinese tourists and Nepalese residents. The simple food - just a bowl of rice and a dish - gave people warm feelings. After the earthquake, most restaurants, hotels, and shops closed their doors. It is not easy to even have a warm meal.

Yang Jianguo, from Chengdu, capital of southwest China's Sichuan Province, has been in Nepal for more than 10 years. His whole family now lives in Kathmandu.

"The restaurant was open when the earthquake came. All the customers rushed downstairs, having no time to take their personal belongs. A wall in the kitchen collapsed, and it takes more than one month to fully resume operation," said Yang as he recalled the earthquake with a lingering fear. His restaurant is in a shopping center close to the old royal palace in Kathmandu. The shopping center has remained empty four days after the quake. The walls have cracked; there are rubbles and ruins everywhere.

The busy life in Kathmandu has stopped. Lots of Chinese tourists were waiting to go back home. Yang decided to do something within his abilities. He brought out all the stocked rice and bought one ton more to offer free meals for people around. The temporary "dinner" is a big courtyard near his restaurant.

"Once you come, you can eat. More than 500 people have eaten in my restaurant. That's all what we can do," said Yang. The cook has gone back China. Yang's son-in-law Dan Zhiyuan took over the job. According to Dan, they have also provided meals for people who stayed in the Chinese embassy and the airport, and donated more than 300 boxes of apples. "We have never thought about becoming famous. Two Chinese tourists have put down the restaurant name on a piece of white cloth after they ate to express their gratitude," said Dan.

Yang said that the free meals could last one more week. "At present, the commodity prices have not risen, but it's hard to say in the future. Our stock is limited and we are running out of gas."

Chen Shengjun, who is in charge of logistics in Cloud Leopard Rescue Team, came to rescue with nine other team members. He had participated in rescue work in China's Ya'an earthquake and Ludian earthquake before. Cloud Leopard, together with other China's civilian rescue teams including Blue Sky, Blue Leopard, and Snow Wolf, formed a Chinese volunteers' alliance. They worked hard at the rescue sites and exchanged progress of rescue work every day.

Jiang Xuhui, vice team leader of Blue Leopard Rescue Team, told People's Daily that the 15-member rescue team arrived at Kathmandu at 1:30 a.m. and started rescue work at 8:30 a.m. on April 27. Now, there are few Chinese tourists in Kathmandu, however, Chinese rescuers can be seen everywhere.

This article was edited and translated from 《中国好人感动加德满都》, source: People's Daily, author: Lyu Pengfei.


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