2016年CRI A City Rebuilt on Quake Ruins

 

Tangshan, a city about 150 kilometers east of Beijing, was reduced to pebbles¹ in a mega earthquake that hit on July 28th, 1976.

Liang Chunlei was ten when the magnitude-7.8 quake rocked the city.

"It's really hard for those who survived the quake to recall that moment. It's really tragic²."

The magnitude-7.8 quake claimed the lives of over 240,000 people, almost a quarter of the city's population.

Forty years later, the city's population has increased to nearly 8 million. Its per capita GDP was more than 10,000 US dollars last year, ranking 25th in the country.

"The development of Tangshan has been really fast over the past decades. Just take a look at the streets, much better than 30 years or even 10 years ago."

And it's not just that.

A study conducted by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences suggests Tangshan has the potential to become one of China's richest cities by 2025.

"In the light of its geographic³ advantage, we see it as the 'Shenzhen in the North' and the center of the circum-Bohai Sea area because it has a good foundation of industrialization with a complete charred⁴ coal production chain."

Dr. Wang Yufei is Associate Editor of the 2015 CASS report on urban competitiveness.

"Moreover, Tangshan belongs to the Beijing-Tianjin-Tangshan urban cluster, which is one of the country's biggest urban clusters. The development of the cities in the area will reciprocally benefit Tangshan. That's why we've had such an outlook for Tangshan."

As one of China's major steel production bases, Tangshan's steel output makes up one-seventh of the country's total.

It has helped the city generate revenue over the past decades, especially when China's economy enjoyed double-digit growth featuring infrastructure⁵ construction and property investment.

But that former economic strength is now gone.

Wang Yufei notes Tangshan's former life-line has now become somewhat of an anchor.

"Compared with Beijing or Tianjin, Tangshan's industrial structure is just flat, which is a big problem for the city's economic growth."

On top of this, Tangshan has some of the worst air pollution in the country due to the high level of coal used to fire the steel mills.

To cope with the challenges, the city has begun cutting its steel production levels, while attempting to upgrade its industrial chain.

"Whether its transformation⁶ can be successful mainly depends on its industry innovation, including in steel producing technologies. Another aspect it needs to work on is to strengthen the city's 'soft power' in such areas as cultural atmosphere."

In an attempt to put a softer face on the hard-steel image Tangshan has, an International Horticultural Expo will open in the city this Friday.

For CRI, this is Tu Yun reporting from Tangshan.

1 pebbles   

[复数]鹅卵石； 沙砾； 卵石，小圆石( pebble的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• The pebbles of the drive crunched under his feet. 汽车道上的小石子在他脚底下喀嚓作响。
• Line the pots with pebbles to ensure good drainage. 在罐子里铺一层鹅卵石，以确保排水良好。

2 tragic   

adj.悲剧的，悲剧性的，悲惨的

参考例句：

• The effect of the pollution on the beaches is absolutely tragic.污染海滩后果可悲。
• Charles was a man doomed to tragic issues.查理是个注定不得善终的人。

3 geographic   

adj.地理学的，地理的

参考例句：

• The city's success owes much to its geographic position. 这座城市的成功很大程度上归功于它的地理位置。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Environmental problems pay no heed to these geographic lines. 环境问题并不理会这些地理界限。 来自英汉非文学 - 环境法 - 环境法

4 charred   

v.把…烧成炭( char的过去式)；烧焦

参考例句：

• the charred remains of a burnt-out car 被烧焦的轿车残骸
• The intensity of the explosion is recorded on the charred tree trunks. 那些烧焦的树干表明爆炸的强烈。 来自《简明英汉词典》

5 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

6 transformation   

n.变化；改造；转变

参考例句：

• Going to college brought about a dramatic transformation in her outlook.上大学使她的观念发生了巨大的变化。
• He was struggling to make the transformation from single man to responsible husband.他正在努力使自己由单身汉变为可靠的丈夫。