Fifty years on, Tangshan center continues care for earthquake survivors

Fifty years after the destructive Tangshan earthquake, a rehabilitation center established for people left paraplegic by the disaster has evolved from providing basic care to offering integrated medical treatment and daily support.

A 7.8-magnitude earthquake struck Tangshan, Hebei province, on July 28, 1976, killing more than 240,000 people, injuring over 160,000 and leaving 3,817 people permanently paralyzed. To provide medical and living support for those left paraplegic by the disaster, 18 rehabilitation centers were established across the city, with the Tangshan Paraplegic Rehabilitation Center becoming the largest among them.

Established in 1981, the center was initially built to provide treatment and long-term care for earthquake survivors with paraplegia. Over the decades, it has developed a comprehensive model combining medical care, rehabilitation, and daily living support as the residents have grown older.

Gao Qingfeng was 19 when the earthquake changed his life. After receiving treatment in different places, he eventually moved into the center, where he has lived for decades.

"The hardest time was after the earthquake," Gao recalled. "I never imagined I would spend the rest of my life this way."

Today, Gao spends his days exercising, playing musical instruments and Chinese chess, and taking part in activities with other residents.

Li Dongmei was 13 when she became paralyzed in the earthquake. After moving into the center in 1981, she began wheelchair training. She would go on to compete in multiple events, including wheelchair racing, shot put, and javelin, winning dozens of medals in domestic and international competitions.

As Tangshan marks the 50th anniversary of the earthquake, the center reflects a broader shift in post-disaster support, from emergency rescue and basic survival assistance to long-term rehabilitation, care, and support for quality of life.