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Students mourn for quake victims

By Huang Zhiling and Zhang Ao (China Daily Sichuan Bureau)
Updated: 2010-04-22 12:41
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CHENGDU: Over 300 students and faculties of Sichuan University gathered Wednesday night in the university square to mourn the deceased in the devastating earthquake that hit Yushu, Qinghai Province.

More than 500 candles were lit and arranged into the shape of heart, the Chinese characters Yushu and the date of the quake.

Students and faculties bowed in front of the candles, wrote their wishes for the quake-hit areas on the 4-m-long paper wishing wall, and stood in silence until all the candles burned out half an hour later.

At 8:00 p.m, words of the mourning ceremony, organized by the school's student union, was spread.

"We didn't expect so many people would come. The 200 white paper flowers were quickly given out," said Liu Heqing, vice president of the student union who is a junior majoring in electrical engineering.

Many other Chengdu-based universities including the Southwest University of Nationalities and Sichuan Normal University also hosted mourning ceremonies on April 21, the state mourning day.

Students have donated money, clothing and blood since the quake jolted Qinghai in April 14, 2010.